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.
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....
...roll hydroplane out 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.
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.