About Our Business
Willim Vintage Engines came about after a long history
of the Willim family's involvement in hydroplane racing.
The hydroplane racing was started by Charles Willim
and later he was joined by his son Richard as well as
other cousins, uncles and family friends
Currently it is Richard Willim who is still working on the
flathead V8-60's. The engines he builds have not only
been used in the vintage hydroplanes but cars and
midget racers as well. His son Ronnie has recently
branched out into installing and repairing high
performance parts on current model cars.
www.bluecollarperformance.com
Rich has offered advice on many of the chat sites for the
old ford flaheat v-8's and enjoys talking with other
flathead enthusiaists. Check the links page for chat sites.
If you have any questions please contact us. (See
contact us page.)
of the Willim family's involvement in hydroplane racing.
The hydroplane racing was started by Charles Willim
and later he was joined by his son Richard as well as
other cousins, uncles and family friends
Currently it is Richard Willim who is still working on the
flathead V8-60's. The engines he builds have not only
been used in the vintage hydroplanes but cars and
midget racers as well. His son Ronnie has recently
branched out into installing and repairing high
performance parts on current model cars.
www.bluecollarperformance.com
Rich has offered advice on many of the chat sites for the
old ford flaheat v-8's and enjoys talking with other
flathead enthusiaists. Check the links page for chat sites.
If you have any questions please contact us. (See
contact us page.)
About Us
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| Father-Son Racing Team Is Winner |
This article is a reprint of an article that ran in
the Mellus Newspaper in 1969. Was put in
the Local 387 UAW union paper by Mark Lett
in the July/August 2006 issue.
the Mellus Newspaper in 1969. Was put in
the Local 387 UAW union paper by Mark Lett
in the July/August 2006 issue.
Charles Willim of Allen Park, and his son, Richard ...roll hydroplane out
foranother day of racing....
foranother day of racing....
Richard Willim is following in his Father's roostertail.
After 20 years of hydroplane racing, beginning in
1947, Charles Willim decided to turn over the driving
chores to his son. He couldn't have left them in better
hands.
Richard at 21, is one of the youngest drivers on the
hydroplane circuit. He is also one of the most
successful. With his father serving as chief mechanic
and advisor, he has captured several trophies in his
racing career and is well on the way to matching his
father's collection of more than 100 trophies, ribbons
and awards.
Recently he finished second in the New Martinsville,
West Virginia, hydroplane races in a class A boat, rebuilt
by his father. IN other competition this season, he has
captured a third overall finish at the Northern Kentucky
Boat Club Regatta held in Belleville, Kentucky, and a
second place trophy at the Grosse Ile Regatta held last
month on the Trenton channel of the Detroit River. In the
Grosse Ile event, Willim was edged out of first place by a
mere five feet.
A photograph, published in The Mellus Newspaperss
of Willim taking a practice run on the Detroit River in
preparation for the Grosse Ile Regatta has brought him
unexpected publicity. The picture has been used in
newspapers, magazines and on racing regatta programs
throughout the country.
After 20 years of hydroplane racing, beginning in
1947, Charles Willim decided to turn over the driving
chores to his son. He couldn't have left them in better
hands.
Richard at 21, is one of the youngest drivers on the
hydroplane circuit. He is also one of the most
successful. With his father serving as chief mechanic
and advisor, he has captured several trophies in his
racing career and is well on the way to matching his
father's collection of more than 100 trophies, ribbons
and awards.
Recently he finished second in the New Martinsville,
West Virginia, hydroplane races in a class A boat, rebuilt
by his father. IN other competition this season, he has
captured a third overall finish at the Northern Kentucky
Boat Club Regatta held in Belleville, Kentucky, and a
second place trophy at the Grosse Ile Regatta held last
month on the Trenton channel of the Detroit River. In the
Grosse Ile event, Willim was edged out of first place by a
mere five feet.
A photograph, published in The Mellus Newspaperss
of Willim taking a practice run on the Detroit River in
preparation for the Grosse Ile Regatta has brought him
unexpected publicity. The picture has been used in
newspapers, magazines and on racing regatta programs
throughout the country.
The Willims live in Allen Park and use the garage as their
engine repair shop.
Willim, a Tool and Die Maker for the Ford Motor Company finds
that there too his son is following his example. Richard is working
as an apprentice Tool and Die Maker at Ford's Woodhaven
Stamping Plant.
With the hydroplane racing season rapidly drawing to a close,
the father-son team travel to Sylvan Lake, in Pontiac, for probably
their final outing of the year. They have installed a new engine in
their boat for the event.
Race in Nationals
Among their plans for next season's racing, the Willims have
included competing in the national championships to be held at
Ford Lake near Ypsilanti.
If their success continues, it is quite possible that next years
national champion will be Richard Willim in a Willim-owned,
Willim-operated and Willim built hydroplane.
engine repair shop.
Willim, a Tool and Die Maker for the Ford Motor Company finds
that there too his son is following his example. Richard is working
as an apprentice Tool and Die Maker at Ford's Woodhaven
Stamping Plant.
With the hydroplane racing season rapidly drawing to a close,
the father-son team travel to Sylvan Lake, in Pontiac, for probably
their final outing of the year. They have installed a new engine in
their boat for the event.
Race in Nationals
Among their plans for next season's racing, the Willims have
included competing in the national championships to be held at
Ford Lake near Ypsilanti.
If their success continues, it is quite possible that next years
national champion will be Richard Willim in a Willim-owned,
Willim-operated and Willim built hydroplane.