History The Wild Willie Winged Express & H.L. Harrell early connection

Most of us know the later years when Willie was the wild man and famous but this history is of his early years and how he got started on the path to glory.

A few words on the Harrell side of the partnership is in order as like myself not to many people know his part in all this.





















To be continued below out of room

 

So that is the early Willie story we all know it comes out well for him and most of us spent many years enjoying his style.

 

I had the good fortune of talking with Mr. Marcellus at the hot Rod reunion some years ago. What a character, he had some great stories and didn't pull any punches. Thanks for the post as I did not know a whole lot about the Harold- Borsch years.

 

Thanks !

 

Great Stuff.............thank you posting this history

 

This is great ! Up for the lunch bunch ...

 

Good stuff. Thanx, Gary

 

THANKS BUD FOR POSTING THIS !!! THIS CAR AND THIS TEAM HAVE BEEN ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES!!!

 

One of my favorite cars and a great history. Thanks.

 

Thanks for the post! A very good read!

 

Thanks, one of the cars that left a huge impression on a young man!

 

Thanks for putting this together.
I wonder what a chain driven blower sounds like? Looked pretty exotic.
I was also wondering, was this wing the first time used in drag racing? and if so, is the Winged Express The Godfather of the use of a wing that is now a staple in today's dragsters?

 

thanks for putting the post together....great history there !

 

A tin can full of gravel.

 

...one of my favorite pics...

 

Mine too rusty1

I've looked at that shot many times and not been able to conjure up an appropriate caption.
How about "Larger Than Life".

 

Thanks for posting this! The Winged Express sure did make a mark on the history of drag racing.

 

NEVER LIFT! LOL.

 

This is my favorite picture of Wild Willie and the Winged Express. It is essentially the same as the photo above but there isn't a car in the way and it looks like the Winged Express is leaning a little harder into the slide.

 

"On A Pass"!

 

As I posted in a much earlier post about seeing Willie at the original Fontana "Drag City" Raceway.

The picture above of the later named..."Winged Express" (post #2 above, and the original form another thread) brought back a memory.

Back in about 1965/66, at Fontana Raceway, while watching some friends racing a new car, the Harrell and Borsch roadster was there also.
I recall with a fairly vivid recollection of three runs the car made, of which I hope I never forget.
1. Run one, "no" wing. After a small wheelstand, the car started bouncing...hard, side to side from about 60' out. Willie got out of the throttle and coasted to the end of the track.
2. Run two, "giant wing" mounted. The car ran hard but only to about half track (as I recall). "looked" like the handling was MUCH better.
3. Run three, "giant wing" mounted. Hard full pass with small wheelstand, and what sounded like full power the full 1320.

Great day in SoCal.

Mike

 

The only problem with that GREAT photo is he is driving with TWO hands LOL.

 

How to break the bead on a tire from the rim 101. Failed
Just love how that slick held on the rim...yeehah!

 

Local folklore says he drove F/C for Walts Auto Parts in Inkster, MI. I heard it was only a couple races, my buddy at the time got to meet him once and quoted Willie, "Man, I love the burnouts!" I always liked in the Revelle promotion of F/C they had a dummy hand on the window of his car, tribute to his never lift, hang on style. How can we not love drag racing above all other forms of motorsport? Add nitro, oh yeah. From my son, "Dad, what's it smell like?" "Like the breath of the Jolly Rodger son. Best I got." Yes he knew of the Jolly Rodger

 

The eyes and the front wheels pointed the way that they are show determination, not fear. A true racer and one of my favorite shots. Beast of a car, helluva driver.

Sent from my XT1585 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Hey neighbor.
I think it's those goggles and mask that help make this photo appear so "other worldly".

 

What always intrigued me about this photo was the guy in the back ground digging into his bag for another peanut. Looks like he's watching a float go by in the Macy's parade. I wonder what the hell would get him to show a little emotion.

 

That happens so quick, he might have froze and the camera got it. I remember a pass in Top Dragster IHRA, a Fiat bodied altered gig on a F/C chassis. It got out of shape so fast I grabbed the fence to hold on! Watched a "never lift" pass from a guy in alky F/C, he grazed the cement guard wall at about 1000', never lifted, dust and sparks, ran a 5.90 about 240+ for his last shot to make the field. DQ'd and the whole crowd moaned about it. That was a fence grabber too. Blink of an eye, you'll miss it. Was at the 'big end' one night, the ugliest sound in the world is a F/C, or any drag racer, wrecking in the top end. I couldn't believe he lived from the sight, the sound, the speed at which it happened. The ET/MPH registered on that one, 6.02 at 230, crashing. It's a risk that's chosen, I get that, but fuck I hate when it happens. Heart breakers!