Sad news this past few weeks with the passing of industry legend, racer and technician, Glenn Willing, the youngest of the famous three Willing brothers. Here you will find his memorial details and some history on his career... Pics: Willing Family Archives
Australian and International motorcycle industry members are mourning the loss of one of the greats of our sport, with the sad news of the passing of the great racer and tech, Glenn Willing. Glenn’s memorial service will be held tomorrow in Sydney. Details are below.
Glenn Willing was a huge part of the motorcycle testing we have done over the past two decades and we were very fortunate to work with him, particularly at the Rapid Bikes shootouts, and even some fun Ninja Cup races over the years.
“It is with much sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of the youngest of the Willing siblings with the passing of Glenn, after a courageous battle with illness, a legend off and on the field of motorcycle racing, he is much loved and very missed.” The Willing Family
Born in Ryde, NSW, on February 21 1964, Glenn Paul Willing grew up surrounded by motorcycles and all things mechanical, being the younger brother of the late Warren Willing and Len Willing, both champion motorcycle racers during Glenn’s younger years, and his other relo’s the Sayle brothers Murray and Jeff. Glenn was the youngest of five siblings, his two brothers, and two sisters, Julie and Rhonda (Sayle).
The youngest member of the ‘Macquarie Mafia’ a nickname Murray Sayle came up with in Christchurch at the end of Marlboro Series when Jeff, Muz and Warren finished 123 in series, that was famously put in print by Don Cox, Glenn’s first road race was in 1982, when he was just 18-years-old, at Oran Park Raceway. He debuted on a new Yamaha RD250LC in a production class, which would be his specialty.
He went on to race multiple classes from 250 Production, with success on an MVX250 built by Dudley Lister, including multiple top finishes at Bathurst in 1983, as well as a KR250 in 1984 (see YouTube Video), and he also raced some four-strokes over the years. A fast, technical rider, fellow competitors have stated that when he was on form, Glenn was as hard a charger as both of his big brothers were, and that was blindingly fast.
Glenn spent much of his time in the garage with Len, Warren and with Dudley Lister, “As he got older Boof as we called him would come over and he would help us prep my TZ prior to Len and I going to England to meet up with Warren,” said Dudley. “He would help us with whatever we had to do. Warren gave his TZ750 to Len for Bathurst and Boof helped prepare and maintain it. During 1980 and 1981 he was spending time with Lenny and Rodney Brown, and then from 1982 I sponsored him with his racing on his RD LC, MVX and KR”.
But as successful as he was on track, it was off the track and on the tools where Glenn Willing, a quiet man who let his results do his talking, would make a huge impact in motorcycle racing and forge the careers of many top riders, both Australian and International. A race technician with, as his family put it, “CAD software in his brain, he could see and build things and check how they worked in his head”, Glenn would build a huge career for himself working on some of the biggest race teams in the world, as well as run his own fabrication and racing businesses here in Australia.
With stints living and working in Spain and Holland, Japan and Malaysia, Willing worked on the Marlboro Yamaha Team from 1986 to 1990, Tech21 in 1987, and he worked as a race technician on the international racing scene up until 1994, when he permanently focussed on Australia. Glenn married Leanne in March 1992, and they had their daughter Makayla in Dec 1993, so Australia became full time home for Willing.
Focussing on his businesses over the years – Willing Racing, Willing Race Engines, Willing Race Engines and Fabrications, Willing Race Suspension and Willing Edge, Glenn worked with many riders and built countless lap record setting engines and bikes. He also travelled and worked with the late Liam Magee until his tragic passing, and he started work at Kawasaki Motors Australia in Rydalmere in the early 2000s, where brother-in-law Murray Sayle also worked. Glenn ran the race teams, the race workshop and all of the tech side of Kawasaki, including press bike preparation for us lucky media. Glenn’s Kawasaki press bikes were always the best in the business…
In later years, Glenn worked very closely with superbike ace Matt Walters, and they had great success over many seasons together in ASBK. Glenn and Team Green were well and truly part of the pits at every track in Australia, and he will be sorely missed by everyone.
Glenn leaves behind wife Leanne and daughter Makayla. Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the Willing immediate and extended family, and friends of Glenn. We will have a full feature on Glenn’s vast career in the near future…
Watch Glenn Willing racing the Kawasaki KR250 in 1984
Glenn Willing’s Memorial Service will be held tomorrow June 24 at 12:00pm midday at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park North Chapel, Camden Valley Way, Leppington NSW, or via livestream via the link here…
Glenn Willing Gallery
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