Tomiko Robinson—wife, soulmate, and business partner of Big Willie Robinson—died of heart failure at 57 years old on April 29th, 2007.
Big Willie is the founder/president of The International Brotherhood of Street Racers. Married in 1968, Big Willie and Tomiko devoted their lives to campaigning for safe venues for "street people" to race their cars. When Chrysler Corporation sponsored their racing program—giving them matching Hemi Daytonas—Willie and Tomiko barnstormed the country in the stereo Mopars, spreading the gospel as they went. What began as a six month tour turned out to be two years of match racing (by popular demand), with Tomiko winning her fair share.
In the early ‘70s, they got permission from Orange County International Raceway to use the facility after midnight. In 1975, they opened Brotherhood Raceway on Terminal Island (in the L.A. Harbor), after years of negotiations and red tape. That 'strip would operate under a cloud of controversy from day one, and efforts to reopen it are still going on today. Tomiko spread an awareness until her dying day that Brotherhood Raceway was becoming more vital with every southern California drag strip that closed.
In the new millineum, young street racers may feel that even Brotherhood Raceway is too established—and therefore mainstream—to appeal to their underground sensibilities. Tomiko sincerely cared about these people—but won't be there when they finally realize that they need her help. Big Willie and the Brotherhood of Street Racers continue the fight, at Brotherhood Raceway and thousands of other tracks around the world. There are chapters of the club in all fifty United States and several countries around the globe.
A heart-shaped stone in the Robinsons’ front yard is inscribed with "Big Willie loves Tomiko". He put it there on their wedding day.
—Scotty Gosson