| Brotherhood Raceway Park | |
| Nicknames: | "Terminal Island Raceway" |
| Time: | UMT -0800 |
| Opened: | 1974 |
| Closed: | 1995 |
| Layout1: | Drag Strip |
| Surface: | Concrete |
| Miles First: | true |
| Length Km: | 0.402 |
| Length Mi: | 0.25 |
Brotherhood Raceway Park (sometimes referred to as Terminal Island Raceway) was a drag racing venue on Terminal Island which is between the neighborhood of San Pedro in the city of Los Angeles and the city of Long Beach.
In 1974, "Big Willie" Robinson and his wife Tomiko, opened the drag strip which hosted mile drag racing. It opened on an old Navy airfield paying $1,000 per month to lease the facility.
Willie opened Brotherhood Raceway Park with the motto "Run Watcha Brung," to promote the idea that all people from around Los Angeles were welcome.[1]
Over the course of 20 years, Willie fought with the LA Harbor Commission in order to keep Brotherhood Raceway Park open. According to the Brotherhood, the track would open and close 11 times during this fight. The track would lose and regain the temporary lease several times but would permanently close in 1995, displaced by a coal-handling plant.[2]
The LA harbor collected an incident report of at least eight incidents between November and January 1995 which suggested safety issues with the racetrack. Unprofessional management of the racetrack lost the interest of the LAPD and LAFD who facilitated the racetrack.[3]
Willie's 20-year connection with Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley was lost in 1993.[4] Publisher of the LA Times Ottis Chandler was one of the racetrack's largest advocates in local press, also seen in Ottis's letter endorsements of Big Willie following Richard Riordan's Mayoral victory in 1993.[5] Riordan approved the renewal of the racetrack's permit in 1993. The track was closed for a final time in 1995.
Subsequent attempts to revive racing on the Terminal Island site, particularly when the coal facility closed, have not been successful.[6]
The Red Bull Global RallyCross event in 2014 took place on the same piece of land as Brotherhood raceway park.[7] The area is now considered berths 45-49 in the outer harbor and was the host of the 2014 and 2015 racing event. The area of the racetrack is an open leasable space called "outer harbor" which hosts concerts and special events.
The drag strip was featured in a 1995 episode of Visiting with Huell Howser.[8]
Willie made connections to famous figures in Hollywood in order to spread his influence. Prominent people like Arthur Newman, Paul Newman's brother, and Barry Meguiar, the host of Car Crazy could be seen wearing Brotherhood jackets or vests.[9]
Filmmakers from the street racing film Two-Lane Blacktop, released in 1971, also received Brotherhood clothing. Although the movie was not a box office success, it spread the influence of street racing and the Brotherhood.
At the height of Star War's popularity in 1977, "Big Willie" Robinson organized a drag racing event themed around the film franchise. Lucasfilm, the production company behind the film, supported and provided the rights to the characters in the events.
While working on the street-racing movie, Two-Lane Blacktop, Willie became friends with producer Gary Kurtz. Kurtz, who produced on the set of Star Wars, allowed Willie to use the characters at the racetrack.
Many notable figures from around Los Angeles came to see the drag race. Mayor Tom Bradley, Councilman Robert Farrell, and Tookie Williams were found in attendance.
After the release of The Empire Strikes Back, Willie organized a second "Star Wars" race day in 1980. Notable characters including Darth Vader and Boba Fett shared the drag strip with Willie.