Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, SPRINGS CO th (50 Anniversary 1958 - 2008 )

BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES July August September 2009

BCRA Staff: Ray Cunningham(Ks),Boyd Adams(Tx),Bruce Budy(C0),Dave Tyson(Mo)Jerry Miller(Tx),Tom Davey(Co),Wayne Panter(Tx),Gary Wolfe(Ne)

Welcome…. The Big Car Racing Association celebrated its hard to be objective when it comes to John and daughters Jenn and Jess who were instrumental in getting the Hall of Fame off 5th Hall of Fame induction ceremony in on June 26th. the ground. The guy has been smoking the Salt Flats for over In a discussion surrounding the event the “5” became three decades setting new records with the Speedway the focus with the #5‟s of ‟s Larry Clark and Streamliner, wrenched on the Ed Smith Sprinter in 70‟while Colorado‟s Eddie Jackson winning Championships, 5 all time also competing at the Hill Climb and Indianapolis with Carson leading feature winners in Jack Hahn, Lonnie Jenson, Dale Smith on the Speedway Motors entries and… contributing to Reed, Roy Bryant and Lloyd Beckman with 6 each. The Club the evolution of the American Collection of Speed in Lincoln. ran five races in 68‟ as Beckman sets a new World‟s half mile The Belleville High Banks Hall of Fame inducted two BCRA record at Belleville in the Larry Swanson Chevy, an owner Hall of Famers in Jack Hahn of Moran and Curt who won five features as did Pop Goodrich and …Curly Stockwell of Denver. Hahn made the trip from Wyoming with Doggett who also drove his Circle 5 Kurtis to 5 BCRA feature Chris Clark of Jackson and Bob Sommer of Cheyenne. Jack wins. And the fives go on as the club ran 5 times at the and Bob go back 5 decades as the pair built motors, Bob for State Fair at Hutchinson Ks, ran 5 times at Pueblo in 61‟ and Dragsters and Jack for circle track. Many times we have later BCRA member and incredible competitor, Doug witnessed a favorite old joke between the two as one would Wolfgang would include 5 Knoxville championships to a most start with,”Did you get that box of Pins I sent ya”, to which the stellar open wheel career. Club member Jerry Stone won the other would, innocently enough reply,”what Pins? Followed NCRA 5 times while , the last BCRA Champ by, ” You know the pins you use on those Hand Grenades in 1977, has won an amazing 5 Chili Bowl victories to date. you‟re building”. The BCRAHOF are grateful to Harry and Linda Iver‟s for At Belleville Hahn received his award, briefly addressed the their dedication over the years and most recently for their crowd on hand and then surprised all with a presentation to donation of Harry‟s BCRA Board of Directors jacket. I would Bob Sommers of the recently conceived but highly coveted add that during the Summer Harry has been helping to promote ”Pin” award. This was the third time these gentlemen had the new Colorado Park at Byers Colorado while traveled out of the mountains to return to the plains they once displaying his Sprinter static and on-track. competed on, over 5000 miles all total. Chris Clark, originally I recently received a large box in the mail from 73‟ BCRA came from where he worked on different Sprint teams Champ Ed French of Justin . French has been in before coming West to Jackson Hole and operating a Car competition for almost 35 years of late in the 305 sprinters, Quest Auto Parts store. Clark has been running IMCA “I‟ll run until it isnt fun any more”. Enclosed in the box were Modifieds in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah powered by Hahn V- some great pictures and his 1973 Owner/Driver Championship 8‟s,winning Rookie of the year honors in 2006 and becoming a jacket, donated for the BCRA exhibit at Lincoln. This tough competitor as he continues to challenge the best in the memorabilia will be a great addition to the Hall of Fame and region while”Living the Dream”to race. Good luck to Chris in thanks again to the Ivers and Ed French. the Mountain region Modified ranks. The Hall of Fame has recognized the stellar careers of two BCRA members in Chuck Kidwell (2ND Table of contents PTS IN 68‟)who ran late Models, Midgets, Sprints and Page 1 Welcome. G Wolfe wrenched for ten years with owner Ricky Nix and driver Page 2-4 2009 BCRA Hall of Fame. G.Wolfe Page 5 Belleville Highbanks. Ray Cunningham on the dirt miles. Chuck has worked hard to Page 6 -7 Pikes Peak and . G Wolfe advance racing for the countries youth in the Junior Drag Page 8 So Folsom Street Speed Shop. Gwolfe Racing program and is President of the National Modified Page 9 Andy Anderson. G Wolfe

Midget Association. Larry Swanson, BCRA owner Champion Page 10 CARB reunion Lakeside. Ray Cunningham and BCRA Hall of Famer loved the High Banks at Page 11-12 Photorama

Belleville.”Our car always ran real good in Kansas”, and the Curt Stockwell competed in the open wheelers for over fifty record books reflect their success at Belleville with the BCRA years in the Midwest first with a Nash Big car then a rare and at Knoxville Ia. A most deserving competitor indeed as is Nash-Healy powered sprinter that, for a time, was the car to Museum of American Speed Curator, John Mackichan. It is beat and then, “all those Offy‟s”.

Four years ago the BCRA HOF spearheaded a project with five other Vintage Associations to hold an event at the Belleville Ks High banks. After a year and a half of formulating an on-track protocol endorsed by a major racing insurance carrier(as requested by the Republic County Commissioners) an event was Ok‟d and scheduled to take place the weekend before the USAC Midget Nationals, only to be scrubbed ten days later when a conflict arose surrounding a Horse show on Sunday. Word has it the Colorado Vintage Oval racers and the Kansas Antique racers have once again cracked the nut at Belleville for an event in 2010 reportedly the weekend before the USAC show. Having jumped through the hoops myself, we applaud the efforts of the CVOR, KAR,Belleville Track Committee and others…. in procuring the site for this event. This should be the premier Vintage racing event for the 2010 season. 2009 Hall of Fame Induction….. at the Museum of American Speed was a great program held to honor our members for their contributions to the Big Car Racing Association and Open Wheel Racing and… this class of inductees and their families provided a unique experience for all on hand.. Larry Swanson, owner of the Swanson Chevy which and presented the 1958 Championship trophy to the broke the 20 sec barrier at Belleville with Beckman proved BCRA HOF for display in the museum, making a great most entertaining to the crowd with his recollections of those addition to the BCRA exhibit. Many thanks to Bertie and days of the “Perfect Storm” that formed over the BCRA Vicky Blanot. Circuit as the Swanson team with Lonnie Jenson would win two driver/owner championships, congratulations to Larry.

Jimmy Selenke of Wichita accepted for his father Pius Selenke the 65‟ owner champ and also for Pete Forshee whose health would not allow the travel to Lincoln. As Jimmy The 1958 Owner Champions of the BCRA ,Burt and put it, “We practically lived together back in those days” as Bertie Blanot of Colorado Springs spent five decades in both teams utilized the Parker Oil Co shop. Pius and Grady competition at both the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and the oval Wade would win the 65‟BCRA Championship after one of the tracks. Bertie accepted the award for he and his father most competitive seasons to date. Burt……. Con‟t on column 2 The Pete Forshee Chevy successfully ran the BCRA and IMCA for many years with one of the highlights at Hutch in 1959 as Dale Reed in the Forshee #3 won a feature against the best IMCA drivers ever. Thanks again to Jimmy Selenke and Parker Oil Co of Wichita Kansas. 2 winning 36 features at Manzy and 11 Modified Championships before his fatal crash in 78‟ at age 52. Rausch who previously ran Sprinters and Midgets brought along his Hank Henry built #3 Chuck Allen USAC Sprinter (Buddy ran against this car)for display. Earl Kouba was a colorful figure in the Midgets for over five decades and when he sat in the Big Cars he ran the Pikes Peak Hill climb and…. on the BCRA ovals he finished in the top ten five times. Sons Jimmy and Joe with wives, Janie and Kathy made the trip to accept for Earl. These Sprint champs brought along Earls Offy Midget which was a big hit with the fans at the Induction ceremony and at Eagle the next evening.Thanks to one of the premier Midwest racing families. F.Y.I….Jerry Richert Jr won the annual “Earl and Ethel Kouba Memorial” race this Summer in Minnesota. The Kouba tradition lives on in Minnesota! Jimmy Selenke Mike Rausch,the son of BCRA car owner Bill Rausch of Albuquerque NM who ran during the 60‟s and 70‟s with many drivers including the great Buddy Taylor, came to Lincoln from his home in Hayes Ks. With Buddy‟s daughter Janice Anderson, also from Albuquerque, unable to

Curt Stockwell,”the old guy in the dirty coveralls with all those OFFY‟s”, was somewhat of a mystery until make the event because of pending surgery, Mike was daughter Doris Peterson was found shortly before the gracious enough to travel up from Kansas and accept the induction ceremony. The Peterson family showed in force award for the Taylor family. Buddy Taylor was one of the with Doris accepting for her father. We had the opportunity most significant figures in Southwest Open Wheels racing to tour later with the family and witness the profound effect grandpa had on the kids as they are continuing to compile information on Curt‟s career. Curt Stockwell may have been the oldest BCRA competitor beginning his career in the early 20‟s in Kansas with the AAA as a driver. Many thanks to Doris & the Peterson family.

3 Ray Lee Goodwin would win Championships at Eagle, Knoxville and on the IMCA. Ray lee and the Swenson Williams team dominated the Midwest short tracks for five seasons. Teamed with Bill Smith in 75‟ they won the season opener at Belleville before a crash at Knoxville forced an early retirement after the 1975 season .Congratulations to Ray Lee.

Curts daughter, Mrs Doris Peterson of Brownsburg Indiana was on hand to accept his award and to see the “Mechanical Rabbitt” he drove to the top of the Midwest Sprint ranks. Saldana would win nearly every major Sprint car event in the country before moving on to Indiannapolis.

08 Don Budy Memorial Award recipient Tom Davey of Denver has enjoyed auto racing as a driver in the 40’s- 50-s and 60’s,running Midgets, Sprinters and as a photojournalist during a career/hobby which has now spanned six decades in the Midwest.Tom received his award at Belleville, presented by son Mike and Ray Cunningham and captured in this Boyd Adams photo.

Ralph Parkinson Sr was one of the most versatile drivers in racing history and one of the most consistent on the IMCA. During his 32 year career Parkinson became one of the most popular drivers in the Midwest. The 76‟ IMCA Champ now known as”Pappy”, reminisced of the those days on the Don Holbrook came to Lincoln and took home the “Don Budy IMCA and BCRA circuits and a flip he took off the South end Memorial Award” for his father Mearl, whose hard work and of Belleville that no one saw except Bill Smith who got the dedication while serving the Big Car Racing Association is officials to stop the race. still remembered by many to this day. Mearl was the right man for the job and the perfect recipient for this award. Congratulations Don.

4 The Belleville Highbanks… was once again the A purple #44 racer out of the Smith stable hadn't been seen at setting for a Summer get to together for BCRA Hall of Famers Belleville for several years. That changed on Friday night as and members during the first weekend of August. son Skip brought a beautiful Smith #44 midget to race against On Thursday BCRA Hall of Fame inductee's Curt Stockwell the USAC regulars. The car was painted to resemble the #44 (Leroy Byers Photo)and Jack Hahn were inducted into The Maxwell, that sprint car builder and driver Don Maxwell raced Belleville High Banks for the Smith's in the mid 1970's.

On this night second generation racer Don Droud Jr. was behind the the wheel of the Smith midget(shown above in this great Bob Mays photo). Don's dad Don Droud Sr. raced with Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Belleville High. Former the BCRA in the 1970's in his #2 sprinter at Belleville. Stockwell driver Gene Pastor accepted for Curt, and Jack Hahn Unfortunately the Smith, Droud combination was not made the long drive from Wyoming to receive his hardware. successful on this night, as they had car trouble. Hopefully this will not be the last time this Lincoln, Nebraska duo races at Belleville with this classy looking buzz bomb. BCRA history was also relived when the Goodrich Family was honored with a name change, to the street that runs by the Former Goodrich Machine Shop. The name change will insure that the name Goodrich will stay prominently in Belleville for years to come. As usual the Belleville race weekend went by too quickly. Hopefully next year everyone will be able to return for the 33rd annual Belleville Midget Nationals. Pikes Peak “Over the Hill Gang” Two weeks after the BCRA Hall of Fame it was time for a trip to the Pikes Peak Over the Hill Gang reunion at the Garden of the Gods Trading Post at Manitou Springs. As I approached the Trading Post there sat the Hahn built #31 two- Many BCRA regulars attended the race weekend festivities, time BCRA Championship car as driven by the builder which including Boyd Adams, Jerry Miller, Tom and Mike Davey, later became the 1970 and 1980 Pikes Peak Open Wheel Jon Backlund, and Ralph Parkinson, among others. Champion with Ted Foltz driving and wrenched by Grier On Saturday at the downtown pool hall, a lunch time Manning.(the little guy in the photo finally found his way to the seat) gathering met to honor Tom Davey for his June selection into the BCRA Hall of Fame. Tom was given his award, and expressed his thanks to everyone involved with the BCRA Hall of Fame. At the race track, BCRA history was relived through the participation of a second generation driver, and owner. In the 1960's and 1970's Ed Smith and his ETS sprint cars raced at the Belleville High Banks. The purple #44 sprint cars were some of the sharpest cars on the track. In 1973 teamed with BCRA Hall of Fame Lonnie Jensen, Smith's Trostle won at fair time. The win was Lonnie's 6Th BCRA victory, in six years at the vaunted half mile oval. 5 Inside the Banquet hall was a host of Hill Climb competitors Back in Nebraska we revel in the events of the past month and and enthusiasts including Leroy Byers, Errol Kobilan, BCRA once again it is the members who have made the revived Hall of Fame Nominees Bob Daly and Gene Pastor along with BCRA and the Hall of Fame what it has become . John and BarbMackichan. It was a pleasure to meet with BCRA HOF‟er Bertie Blanot and wife Vicky at the luncheon Eagle Raceway, Lincoln Nebraska 09 a we all enjoyed a great presentation of Hill Climb History. The Eagle on track Saturday proved an interesting night with A trip to BCRA nominee Grier Manning‟s Garage followed the Personalities and four cars on hand in the Andre Hemi, the reunion and I had the good fortune to find Grier waiting on The Ivers Chevy, the joe Haag Roadster and the Earl Kouba parts and he was able to talk racing, giving the HOF more Kurtis Offy from Minnesota. The cars were staged for static insight into the career of one of the finest mechanics in racing. near the front gate with a bustle of activity surrounding the When I asked how he got into mechanics,” my dad gave me a th drivers preparing to run and fans stopping to check out the new set of box end wrenches on my 8 birthday, I still got historic Speedsters. some of them and still use them regularly”. His mastery of nearly all engines is well known but the Dynamite Chevy 2 in his Midget brought many victories on the RMMRA circuit for Manning. Grier served as a Tech Official at the Hill Climb for years inspecting engines. A visit with Manning is a walk through time and racing history as he talks of his younger days on the tracks and of the friends he met along the way. One intriguing personality was Joe Pittman of Phoenix. Joe was the guy who brought up a young Wayne Wieler who drove Pittman‟s Fergie Midget in the Southwest and in . Joe used to travel up to Grier‟s in the Springs and the two became fast friends and accomplices in the fuel and fire evolution on the circle tracks and the Hill Climb. More on Grier as a bio is compiled. Many thanks to Bertie, Vicky and the PPHCA for the meal and the ticket for Saturdays Hill Climb. Larry Swanson drove the Haag Roadster around the pits as On to Denver and an opportunity to meet with Diane and Harry Ivers and Jon Backlund outfitted the Kouba boys who Isador Lucero, Daughter and son-in-law of Clarence Froid, readied BCRAHOF‟er Earl Kouba‟s 46‟ Kurtis Offy for on- 2007 Don Budy Memorial winner. Few know of the impact track, these guys are good proven by the rapid fire of the 110 just coming out of storage. The Offy whine was mesmerizing.

All cars ran perfectly and during the on-track the promoter this pilot, artist, musician and officer of the BCRA had on the Roger Hadan had the Eagle tech crew play a video of over 100 club as he and Budy brought the club out of obscurity during pictures of the BCRA era on the Monster TV screen located in its early days. Clarence was the creator of the BCRA logo as turn 3 for the fans. This was big surprise to the drivers as he freehanded the insignia used by the club throughout it‟s Harry later exclaimed, “I was going through 3 looked up and tenure. Never a more enjoyable evening than this visit . The there was Shorty Burkholder and the next lap there was Lee Lucerno‟s have been involved in racing for nearly 60 years Smith”. starting with Clarence then Isadore who worked as a Midget official and now the boys are racing Midgets. It was indeed a great pleasure to meet and enjoy this extraordinary family.

6 Eagle. Mike ran the BCRA in the 70‟s, drove the Belle of Belleville in 72‟ at Belleville would later finish 8th in BCRA points in 73‟. He was a tough competitor and is still involved in racing even after an accident in the pits severely damaged both legs. Mike is shown here between Jon Backlund and Ray Cunningham as they reconnoiter during intermission at Eagle.

The BCRA program came off withour a hitch and we are scheduled back into Eagle in 2010 during the Hall of Fame which will again be the last weekend in June.

Many thanks to Roger Hadan and the Eagle crew for their hospitality and the opportunity to exhibit these classic machines in classic fashion. It was a privilege to be at the historic Eagle facility and witness the some of the best Sprint and Modified racing in the country.

We later had the opportunity to catch Tighe Jenson, son of The BCRA Event Officials are shown here from their perch Lonnie as he strapped in for the next 360 event. Tighe has above the pits offering support for the competitors. This group done well after a terrific crash at Eagle left him healing for is invaluable as they can do anything from supplying over a year. refreshments to loading cars at the nights end.

Jamie, Jimmy, Joe and Kathy Kouba await the next vintage At the pit gates we ran into veteran modified and Sprint driver, BCRA competitor Mike Cacak, now an official at 7 Event while checking out the 360 competitiors for their remarkable restoration by this team from Kansas City. planned return to Nebraska in 2010 with their team of 360‟s These guys have been around awhile and many will with drivers Jimmy Kouba, Joe Kouba Jr and Jerry Richert Jr. remember Elmer Layne and Owner Tom Randol and the Radndol Excavating Offy.

The Kouba Stable of racers include the Offy above with Jimmy at the wheel , the old Horn Sprinter that Earl drove on the BCRA and IMCA and the Bob Lively Midget Earl also ran in the early days. Folsom Street Speed Shop Lincoln Nebraska Saturday morning the BCRA gathered at the Folsom Street Hot Speed shop of Lincolnite Joe Haag. Joe a long time enthusiast and recently has restored the Denny Oltman Sprinter and has another staged for completion in the upcoming months. Joe opened the doors to his museum and shop for the BCRA members and guests and everyone was able to tour his facility. Joe broke out a couple of giving rides to the attendees and the Backlunds and Larry Swanson who was having so much fun he missed his ride home. Lunch and refreshments were served and everyone had a great time Bertie Blanot walks through the pits between races and bench racing, snapping pictures of the cars and the extensive checks out the new suspension components under the memorabilia on hand. Modifieds. Bertie has a couple of restored hot rods and the old

Blanot Rear Engine Sprint that ran the Hill Climb, IMCA and BCRA is awaiting restoration in his garage at Colorado Springs Co.

The lounge area of the Speed Shop became the center of the bench racing for the forty plus visitors and pictured The Mechanical Rabbit Saldana drove in the 60‟s is here standing is Wyomings Bob Sommers, Joe Haag, picture here with Joe between John Layne and Mark Harry Ivers with his BCRA Directors Jacket, Jon Randol that restored the car for Bill Smith. Another truly Backlund, Jack Hahn and Gary Wolfe. 8 1967. Don and Andy piloted the BCRA through some tough times as the roster grew and the field of cars at the events in the Midwest continued to grow. The first president of the BCRA, Art Myers got Andy involved at the Speedway as an official a position Anderson would hold for 26 years. Anderson would continue with the BCRA until 1977 in one capacity or another and began holding annual picnics for the racers at this home. With the birth of the Big Car Racing Association and Hall of Fame Anderson was front line again with his tireless support of the Historical organization and continued to do so until his death. We will all miss Andy and best of luck to Andy‟s family in Colorado.

A photo from upstairs at the South Folsom Street Speed Shop Shows the crowd digging into lunch before heading out to Eagle Raceway.

It was a great pleasure to offer this plaque to Andy Anderson in 2005 when he was an inaugural inductee into the BCRA Hall of Fame. It was at this time that the Roadster Association Champions health was on the decline and we would see less of Andy at Lincoln and Belleville. Our go Best wishes go out to Mary and the Anderson family. Everyone had a great time at Joe‟s and the excitement at the prospect of running the Eagle was soon at hand as the members gathered and caravanned out to the facility. Many thanks to BCRA‟s Joe Haag for the great hospitality at the most interesting South Folsom Street Speed Shop and museumwhich is quickly becoming another Lincoln Nebraska shrine to the Fuel and Fire evolution.

Andy Anderson is a name synonymous with auto racing For over fifty years now . Andy recently passed away in June at this home in Denver Colorado. Andy was with the Goodrich family of Belleville Ks in the early days as he piloted the first “Belle of Belleville” Roadster to championships in the Midwest. Later the Belle was converted to a sprinter for the IMCA and with the same Goodrich Ford Flathead once ran to 9th in points among a field of 19 . Andy would also drive for a host of owners before moving to California and running with the CRA. Upon his return to Colorado he served as a flagman for the Rocky Mountain Midget Association and then moved to Central Auto Racing Boosters…Lakeside Speedway Don Budy‟s Big Car Racing Association at first as an official Each year the Sprint Bandit Series roars through the plains and then as Secretary when Clarence Froid stepped down in producing some of the most exciting races of the year. Not

9 since the days of the BCRA and IMCA, have traditional (non One of the best parts of the race weekend is the old timers get winged ) been prevalent in this region. together before the races on Saturday evening. The turnout this Former BCRA racer and racing legend, year was fantastic, over two hundred former racers and car after retiring from sprint car racing as a driver in the late owners, as well as long time fans participated in the old timers 1990's made it a priority to bring traditional sprint car racing picnic. back in vogue. BCRA regulars in attendance at the races or picnic included, Ron Shuman, Ralph Parkinson, Junior and Senior, Ray Lee Goodwin, the great "Jonny Boy" Backlund, Gary Wolfe, and Dave Tyson shown below at right with Pappy Parkinson and Parkinson Jr .

Shuman successfully launched several tours of traditional sprint car racessince that time in the heartland. Racing at venues that included, Eagle Raceway, City, 81 Other attendees included Bob Mays,Virgil Chapman, Bud Speedway, and Lakeside Speedway, among other others, these Hunnicutt, Howard House, Dick Howard, JD McCormack, races introduced non wing racing to a new generation that had Sam Helmuth, John Layne, Mark Randol, "Tiger" Bob never seen sprint cars with out hog sheds on the top of cages. Williams, Ray Boyles, Jerry Bishop, Dale Moore Curt Grogan, Though Shuman quit running these races the last few years, and Pinky Cunningham among many others. Chili Bowl King Pin Emmitt Hahn, continues the tradition The pictures and stories that were passed around at this event with his TNT Sprint Bandit Series. were incredible and over whelming. I could have spent a week One venue has been on the schedule every year since the listening to all the stories and pictures that were floating beginning, Lakeside Speedway, in Kansas City Kansas. around. Drivers that have included JJ Yeley, Tony Elliott, Dave The Central Auto Racing Boosters (CARB), and Marc Olson, Darland, Rip Williams, Richard "The Gas Man" Griffin, and the promoter at Lakeside, are to be congratulated for a first , are just some of the drivers that have made class event, that has gotten bigger every year since it was the trip to Kansas to race on the fast half mile oval. started. The Crown Jewel of this series is called the "Ron Shuman Classic", because of Ron's dedication to "real sprint car racing". This season the "Ron Shuman Classic" hosted one of the wildest sprint car races I have attended in recent memory at Lakeside. For thirty breath taking laps traditional sprint cars assaulted the half mile oval like they did at the old Lakeside Speedway a few miles away. In those days drivers that included , Carl Williams, Jud Larson, and Don Branson, thrilled fans with jaw dropping action. The 2009 version found third generation driver Brady Bacon, Jesse "The Rocket" Hockett, Casey Shuman, and JJ Yeley, among others racing their hearts out for the 10,000 dollar first place prize. When the dust settled after several wild wrecks, and slide jobs, 19 year old Brady Bacon sat in victory lane with a fat check, and the beautiful pedal car that goes to the victor each year. (Casey Shuman, who finished third both nites, drove his 21X sprinter that was painted to resemble father Ron's sprint car from 1984 that he won in at Terre Haute, Indiana.)

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The USAC show at Belleville brings out a host of racing Personalities and were we surprised to find Clara and Lorene Goodrich at the Museum on Saturday morning. Both near 90 yrs of age still reside Belleville. Lorene was the wife of ray who competed for decades on the circuits and Clara was the wife of Charlie(“Buss) Goodrich. I couldn‟t help but ask how Charlie‟s car was Few know of the impact Clarence Froid (pictured above always called “Clara‟s Car” and she sheepishly replied, during his flying days)had on the BCRA. Clarence and “because I financed it”. What a pleasure to see Lorene Don were best of friends and many call Clarence Budy‟s and to finally meet Clara. “Right Hand Man”. In the early days the BCRA would go to a town to race and the drivers would seek sponsorship from local merchants. Once achieved Clarence would sketch an appropriate advertisement for a business sometimes on meat wrap common to the groceries or on the car itself.As many know Clarence was the artist who conceived the BCRA logo but would never tell whose car he used in the work. His early days as an aviator lead us to believe he had to of sat in a Midget or Sprint back then and we are still looking for info to complete an interesting bio.

Here are two outlaws if there ever was in Bob Sommers and Jack Hahn with Bob holding his “Coveted Pin Award”. I would like to have a nickel for every pound of rubber they burnt off and every piston they threw out the side of an engine block while learning their trade.

We also got word of the passing of Dan McGown of Endicott Ne just after the Hall of Fame in Lincoln. Dan was in the hospital at Lincoln during the BCRA hall of Fame and did leave to attend the event at Eagle. He We caught this photo at Belleville of Jack Petty and passed away just a few days later. McGown and father in Jack Hahn visiting about the fiery crash Petty was law Fred Bowers raced for decades in the Midwest and involved in what is known as the “Hutch Fire”in 1974 Dan and son Dave have been out to the vintage events running with Jack Merricks circuit. The Petty‟s are still with the old Bob Slater car. We will expand on this story going hard in racing with Jeremy running the ARCA in the future, and there is a lot to tell. Best wishes to the series. Another hall of Famer here, without a doubt. McGown‟s

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The last time we saw Dan and Dave McGown at Beatrice in 2008 with the Bob Slater car. Dan did a lot of racing in Kansas Here is a great shot of Isadore Lucero and father in law and Nebraska in his younger days and was an ardent supporter Clarence Froid at Englewood in the early 60‟.The Lucero of the Vintage clubs in the region. boys are still hard at it in the USAC Midget ranks. P.S. For those who missed the Nebraksa Hall of Fame. Linda Vaughn, Miss Hurst Golden Shifter, the first lady of As per the Nebraska Hall of Fame Website > and Trophy Queen at many types of automotive competition was the guest speaker. Linda has been the sweetheart of race fans from the „60s through the „80s. In recent years, she attends automotive events to speak and share her experiences as well as sign autographs for her many fans.

Big Car Racing Association 306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Nebraska 68927

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