Jim Willy

Jim Willy developed an interest in stock car racing in 1953, when he put together a 1939 Dodge to race at Peoria Speedway in Illinois with “little to no success”.  After spending two years at Fort Carson as part of his time in the Army, he decided to stay in Colorado, open his own automotive shop, and get back into the racing scene.  He realized he was not interested in driving; his real pleasure was found in building race cars.  Beginning with Mike Wooley, Jim provided mechanical help for dozens of drivers competing on southern Colorado tracks.  His engines were well built, and popular—there were seasons where fully one-third of the field at Pikes Peak Speedway in Colorado Springs were powered by Jim’s engines.  He formed a racing partnership with Ronny McDowell in 1966 that lasted 25 years and enjoyed great success.  Jim estimated they won over 400 main events in the cars he built, as they competed at local track and big events held at tracks across the country. They also entered a 1957 Chevy in the Baja 1000 off-road race, followed by a sixth-place finish in the 1969 Baja 1000 in a factory-backed Saab 99.  While these were significant achievements, there was no doubt that Jim was most at home when competing on the oval tracks in Colorado, where he and Ronny won dozens of quick times, heats and main events.  Their accomplishments included winning the opening main event of the season six years in a row at Pikes Peak Speedway, and a remarkable four track championships in one season.  They built and won with a variety of 1955-57 Chevies, Novas, Chevelles, and Camaros against some of the toughest competition one could find inside and outside of Colorado, and always with the number 119 on the side.  Jim cited the legendary Harry Hyde of NASCAR fame as a mentor and good friend, as well as Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame member Ralph Young as a source of friendship and racing knowledge over the years.  His years of building winning race engines and cars were a source of pride, and Jim will be remembered as a fierce and innovative competitor.  We were all deeply saddened by Jim’s passing in August of 2021, but it is with great pride that we now accept Jim Willy into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame.