Drivers Biography
Willie Phee began his racing
career at the age of 14 in
Alamogordo, New Mexico at
Holloman Air Force base where his
father was stationed. His father
purchased a used Honda S65 for
him to ride in the desert
surrounding his home. It became
clear that the little Honda would
not hold up to the off-road riding
that Willie was attempting on a
regular basis, so his father
purchased a new Honda CL70 for
Willie to use. Willie continued to
improve his riding skills on the
little Honda and joint the local off-
road motorcycle club. The club
would put on several events
during the year, including hare
scrambles, gymkhanas, and road
rally’s. Willie’s first race was a
hare scramble in the 100cc class,
where he finished 2nd.
In 1972 his father retired from the
Air Force and moved to Satellite
Beach, Florida. In Florida Willie
traded to CL70 for a Kawasaki 100
G7 and started riding in the sand
trails around his neighbourhood.
Eventually Willie purchased his
first race bike, a Yamaha MX100
and at his first motocross race in
1973 at Bithlo, Florida Willie
finished 3rd in the 100cc class.
This started a 32 year career in
off-road motorcycle racing, mainly
in motocross and led to several
championships, riding with
support from manufactures like
Hodaka, Kawasaki, Husqvarna and
eventually Honda.
.
At the age of 47 Willie had the
opportunity to start racing cars
thanks to the encouragement of
Tommy Byrne, Tony Kester and
Calvin Fish of the Mid-Ohio
Driving School. Through Willie’s
work as a Zone Manager with
American Honda Motor Co.,
Willie was able to attend several
schools while hosting Honda
dealer personnel at the Mid-Ohio
School. Being considered a
“regular” by the instructors and
by striking up a friendship with
the key instructors Willie was
able to learn if he could make
the transition from motocross to
car road racing.
November 2004 at the Atlantic
Road Racing Championship
should have been Willie’s first
race in a Mazda Miata owned by
Tommy Byrne. However car
problems on the test day prior to
the race prevented Willie from
competing in Tommy’s car. Willie
did have the opportunity to co-
drive with Colin Meaders in the
enduro on that same weekend.
Colin was a friend of Tommy’s
and had been racing for about a
year, and was looking for a co-
driver for the 3 hour enduro.
Tommy convinced Colin that
Willie would be a good choice to
co-drive with him. Keep in mind
this was Willie’s first time at
Road Atlanta, first time in a race
car, first time in race traffic, and
first time qualifying.
Sixty-six cars started the race and
Willie qualified the car 21st in class
and 43rd overall, actually out
qualifying Colin in Colin’s car.
Willie actually started the car and
ran for the first 80 minutes and
turned the car over to Colin. They
finished 15th in class and 28th
overall.
In 2005 Willie was racing
motocross and selected SCCA
events in the Spec Miata class by
renting cars from Evans Racing
and BSI Racing. Over the course
of the year Willie decided to focus
his attention on car racing for
2006 and WRPMotorsports was
formed.
Special thanks to my wife Angie
and my daughters Jenny and
Michelle for their support
throughout my racing career.