From spectator to teammates, William Mei's co-driver tells of their friendship

William Mei, one of the Malaysia's most celebrated racing driver, known for his success in both circuit and rally racing between the '70s and '90s, has passed way on 4-June 2021 after a valiant battle with cancer. He was 77. The following post is by Mei's former co-driver Bernard Chin.

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I first came to know of William Mei in the ‘70s when I accompanied my dad to the Batu 3 circuit to watch the races there. From the spectator stands, I vividly remember his name on the PA system and how inspiring it was to watch him in his Mazda rotary beating the thoroughbred Alfas.

I finally met him in person when I began stringing for Asian Auto Magazine in the early ‘80s. I would run into William a few times a year at all the races and rallies. Each time, he was easily approachable and would eagerly share racing anecdotes.

The opportunity to get to know him better came when he was rallying for Toyota. He had crashed out of one event even before it began and ended up being a spectator. We shared a car for the next few days and while I was busy chasing the story during the event, he would be hobnobbing with the fraternity, a lit unfiltered Lucky Strike perpetually in hand.

Despite the age gap of some 20 years between us, we hit it off and developed a friendship where we spent a considerable amount of time either over lunch near his downtown office or at the racing workshop in the evenings.

While his passion was in motor racing, William never turned down a good challenge – any challenge. We participated in the annual AAM treasure hunt and typically, he would seek something to raise the ante. One time, he organized a swimming relay competition in the hotel at the end of the hunt and in typical William fashion, he wouldn’t just jump in from the end of the pool. He’d make a running start all the way from the bar, saving himself those few strokes in the water.

For a period, the challenge turned to snooker. Then it was karaoke. He even converted a floor of his office building to become a lounge where his insurance agent guests could croon the night away.

Despite neither of us having any ability to read Chinese, he decided to challenge ourselves to learn and perform a duet of Alan Tam’s Pang Yau (friend in Cantonese) within a month. We spent countless hours transcribing the lyrics into romanised phonetics before trying to memorize the entire song.

Needless to say, we got plenty of laughs that night but that was typical of William Mei. Anything for a good laugh. You usually hear his hearty laugh long before you actually saw him.

In the early ‘90s, the opportunity finally came for me to ride shotgun in the rally car with the man himself. William was driving for Ford and was in need of a co-driver so I got the job. It was hardly a job as there was never a dull moment with William in the car. He would sometimes burst into an Elvis song in the middle of a stage or stop the car dead in the middle of a stage because a snake was gingerly crossing the path.

Everyone in the team was given code names over the team radio ranging from howling wolf to briefcase, Buddhist Monk and curry chicken.

It took me a number of years to realize the charade he pulled whenever we suffered a puncture during a special stage. I always thought he was helping me change the wheel. It was only when I’d finished one time and found him missing did I realize he hadn’t been helping at all apart from jumping out and opening the boot. After searching for a couple of minutes, I found him around the corner smoking his Luckies and chatting with a fellow competitor who had earlier crashed. His explanation was that I was doing such a fine job, he needn’t bother. Besides, it would mean getting tired and dirty.

We partnered through the Ford days before they pulled the plug mid-season while we were leading the championship. We were forced to borrow a Mazda 323 for the penultimate event while waiting for a Galant VR4 he bought from Hong Kong to arrive.

Thankfully, he took the championship that year. He returned to Toyota in the Celica the following year before finally ending his rallying campaign in the Perodua Kancil.

The challenge behind the wheel continued but this time, it was with a golf buggy. Of course neither of us were good at it but it didn’t stop him from giving it his all as always.

The call of motor racing was always strong and hooked William once again nearly a decade later when he tried his hand in the short-lived Malaysian 4x4 Rally Championship in the 2007 behind the wheel of an Isuzu D-Max. Drawing from his immense talent, William easily won the series in 2007 and 2008 before finally hanging up his driving gloves for good in 2009.

Nearly half a decade later, he was diagnosed with cancer and true to his character, he fought it with verve. William went through a series of treatments in his effort to beat the disease but sadly, this was a battle that he was destined not to win. 

Thankfully I was able to spend a good part of my adult life learning through this man. We spent countless hours in the car together preparing and running in rallies, through work, on holiday and even on the golf course. I developed immense respect for this man for his amazing tenacity and attitude in life where he puts everything in proper perspective. “When you walk in the rain, you get wet; When you run in the rain, you get wet and tired.” 

Thank you William for the good times and the rainy days. I am privileged to have called you my Pang Yau.

Also read: YS Khong: A tribute to William Mei – race & rally champ, teammate & friend

Image credit: Bernard Chin, YS Khong, Hanifah Yoong Yin Fah, Ian Khong, Azad Jasmi