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

BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES October 2013-February 2014

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

“ Mr. Stock Car”, Ernie Derr passed away Wed Jan 8th 2014

Welcome ….. And a belated “Merry Christmas” to all. A little late but Christmas Cheer is suitable all year round. We have been hard at work on a Web Site for the BCRA the last couple of months and you will find the site at, “ bcrasprints.com”. The site is under construction but a lot of good history and photos are loaded and ready. 2013 was a good year for the BCRA. It was ten years ago that the original Big Car Racing Association was revived in We also have an Interesting story from “Uncle”Gerry Colorado. Eight Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies, Miller on Mearle Holbrook and Tom Van Swearingen in this Numerous Vintage meets, nearly 200 biographies composed issue. and the pleasure and privilege of meeting hundreds of Master Ray Cunningham taps his vast History resources previous competitors from all over the U.S. This challenging with a Harold Leep Obit and Memories from 1974 with a project has been most memorable and worthwhile to say the nostalgic account of one of the toughest seasons on the least and continues……At one of the first meetings in BCRA circuit. Our best to the Leep family, Harold was one Denver of the BCRA ,I had the pleasure to meet Harry Ivers of the greatest competitors of all time and a hero to many a and Tommy Van for the first time. At the conclusion of the young race fan. A in depth Biography on Leep is posted on meeting we all headed to “Q’s” Grill and it was here that we the web site, Don’t Miss It ! were entertained by these two long time racers as they Alice Goodwin has been experiencing serious health issues related the regional history of the Peak, Roadsters, Midgets and reports are, she is doing better as time goes along . and Sprints. The next time I seen Tommy Van was at the Please remember her and Ray Lee in your prayers. Oberlin Kansas track where he would announce and he put me to work gathering driver information for his use at the Harold Leep Mic. By Ray Cunningham Once Again…Many thanks to Racing photographer Gerry One of the greatest open wheel drivers passed away when Miller of Dallas Tx, for the beautiful high quality BCRA Harold Leep died after a fall at his home in Muskogee, OK decals. These vinyl decals are the best quality available on on February 6th . Leep won at least 15 different titles during the market. The quality of the artwork is the best to date as his career in Jalopies, Super Modifieds and sprint cars. taken from an original decal Gerry retrieved from the Les Harold cut his teeth in racing as a teenager at his hometown and Beryl Ward collection and executor Wayne Dake. Gerry tracks Cee Jay Stadium, and 81 Speedway in Wichita, KS. is one of the great resources for the BCRA as we go about Harold came to fame driving Chet Wilson's "Offy Killer" preparing newsletters, biographies and induction ceremonies. Sprint Car to Championships in 1957-58 racing in the Many of the historic pictures we use have been reworked National Speedways group. with his skillful hands and computer.

Harold in Jellie’s Modified(mid 60’s) From there he terrorized groups that included the BCRA and 1974 BCRA Memories IMCA. He was so successful he was able to use his winnings Ray Cunningham to open a bowling Alley in Wichita that he ran for many The BCRA had many great races and seasons during it's years. In the states of Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma he is three decade run. In the late 1950's and early 1960's drivers also remembered for his prowess in the Super Modified from Colorado, and Wyoming hoisted the championship ranks. And when the NCRA started in 1971 he was a prolific trophy when the dust settled. Then came the Kansas drivers winner and champion. At the Kansas State Fairgrounds in who won five titles from 1965-1971. In between the Kansas Hutchinson, Harold, along with fellow Wichita racers Frank onslaught the Nebraska contingent took the title in 1969, Lies and Roy Bryant dominated the Modified Nationals, 1970, and once again in 1972. In 1973 the BCRA borders each winning a minimum of 3 times. It was there in 1983 were stretched as El Paso, Texas hot shoe Edd French won that Harold at age 50 won in a epic battle over another the title in his own car the historic #777. Coming into the Wichita legend, Jerry Stone to cap his brilliant career. RIP 1974 season French would be back, this time in the beautiful Great Champion! #7 Grant King built, Bruce Edwards, and Jim Gessford Sprinter. But, for the first time in over a decade the BCRA homeland of the Rocky Mountains would have a contender in midget legend Steve Troxell who would be driving a brand new state of the art sprint car. Steve Troxell for over a decade had been one of the brightest stars in the RMMRA midget series. Steve had won the title, and for a time had chased his racing dreams by going back to race with USAC. After returning to Colorado, Troxell had once again established himself as a top star in the RMMRA Midget ranks. In the Early 1970's Steve would also team up with Colorado's Ken Slocum to run in the BCRA. In 1974 the Denver area duo decided to get very serious about by buying a brand new Roger Beck sprint car. Beck had previously built some of the top sprint cars to race in the Midlands and the West Coast. Included among them was the BCRA Championship car of 1969 driven by , the 1973 IMCA Championship car driven by Thad Dosher, and the 1973 CRA Championship car driven Don Hamilton. The new Slocum Beck was a beautiful Orange #95 with silver leaf numerals. The exotic creation also had long tail pipes, and a starter, making it look and sound like the Big Cars of old. The new car would give Troxell the opportunity Harold Leep and Chet Wilson to win the first title for a Colorado racer in BCRA since 1963. The road would not be easy though. Standing between Troxell and the championship trophy were drivers that included young rising star Larry Clark from Arizona, New

2 Mexico hot shoe Roy Hicks, Huskers Lloyd Beckman and Russ Brahmer, and super modified and midget racer Jerry Stone.Four races in Colorado, four in Kansas, and two in South Dakota would make up the 1974 campaign. Larry Clark came up from Arizona for the lid lifter and let it be known he would be a contender when he won in his own car at Erie. Troxell quickly countered with his own win at Erie in the next one. The traditional Memorial Day shoot out at Belleville was paired with a race at Wakeeney, also in Kansas. Defending champ Edd French took both, and a new player in the championship hunt surfaced. New Mexico lead foot Roy Hicks took the next two at Erie in his Lyle Dill #61. At this point there was no clear cut favorite as 4 Steve Troxell and Leo Tucker different racers had won in the first 6 showdowns! As the summer wore on the BCRA boys returned to Rapid City, South Dakota for the first time in 5 years for a two day program. Troxell lowered the boom on the competition by sweeping the two day program. As it had been before the title would be settled at the Belleville, High Banks during fair week. On night one, Wichita's Jerry Stone won his first ever sprint car race for owner Pius Selenke. The 25 year old had concentrated on supers, and midgets up to this point, but before his retirement would win several championships in the NCRA. For Pius it would be his last win in BCRA, after winning with racers that included Grady Wade, Harold Leep, Dale Reed, and Davey Ross. On the final night of BCRA action at Belleville, the seventh different winner of 1974 would be Lincoln veteran Lloyd Beckman, driving for 3 time BCRA Car Owner champ Larry Swanson. This Lincoln duo had first teamed together in 1967 with mechanic Wayne House. Swanson had bought for the 1974 campaign one of the new Maxwell built machines, and his car was once again lightning fast. The Maxwell car of Speedy Bill would dominate the BCRA in 1975, but that's another story. For 1974 it was all about the Colorado duo of Troxell and Slocum. They had once again put a Colorado team in first place in BCRA competition, joining legendary racers, Roy Walker, and owner Burt Blanot, driver/owner This story was received some time ago. But is timely with the passing of Tommy Van. Gordon Herring, and Eddie Jackson who won the last BCRA Once Upon a Time Sprint title in 1963 for Colorado hot shoes. This season was a historic one for the BCRA, and was Article by Gerry (GT) Miller highlighted by the exploits of old guard BCRA stars like

Beckman, and French, but also established new sprint car Once upon a time a young man climbed into the seat of a stars like Troxell, Clark, Hicks, and Stone. Big Car Sprinter and won a race. You want more? Oh, OK… The time was 1977. The place was George Butland’s wonderful old Colorado National Raceway. The car was Ernie DeCroce’s and the driver was . Still not enough for you? Right! That race was the final scheduled race of the BCRA and by virtue of winning it Sammy became the last BCRA Champion! This is a fact not generally know by Swindell’s legion of fans, (or a lot of other people either.) Of course he’s gone on to fame and fortune in the

3 and other racing ventures but technically you could say that his roots are in the BCRA. And just to prove that he hasn’t lost his touch after thirty- two years, he showed up at this year’s Chili Bowl in a machine that he helped to design and build and cleaned house! Won every race he entered including the first ever Race of Champions, heat races, Pre-lims and the Feature Event! Hell, he even won hot-laps! While we were on the subject of things and people that have been overlooked over the years an old friend came to mind. Not all those that made the BCRA what it was were drivers. There were a lot of people behind the scenes that didn’t get their share of the Glory sometimes…and we think Mearl Holbrook was one of those. Mearl got his start in racing as a driver after WW II but soon found his niche in the Public Relations and Officiating He died of heart failure at the age of 71, in Pueblo, ranks. He was an early member of the Pike’s Peak Hill Colorado on July 10, 1996 and his ashes were scattered, at Climb Association and did much of their PR work. The his request, to the four winds from the top of Pikes Peak. “Climb to the Clouds” was, in fact, his great love and he was I received a call last night about the passing of legendary involved in one way or another with the Peak for the rest of racing announcer Tommy Vansweringen. Tommy passed as his life. a result of complications following surgery. Details were He became active in the BCRA at the beginning and in limited but I was told that he had been ill for several months. 1963 became assistant Pit Steward, rising to the post of I remember Tommy from his announcing of the sprint car Chief Steward in 1967. During the 1970’s he moved to races at Colorado National Speedway and Rocky Mountain Oklahoma City where he became active in the old NCRA National Speedway. He was what they now call “Old group until he moved back to Pueblo, Colorado. And, as if School”, touring the pits before an event gathering he wasn’t busy enough he was also an active writer for information from the drivers and the crews. Tommy will be National Speed Sport News for many years, and was still missed. covering the Hill Climb at the time of his death. In Addition…….. Mearl was a large friendly man, with a voice to match; if he was in the room you knew it, but he knew his racing and the William "Tom" Van Swearingen one thing that infuriated him more than any other was someone who pretended to be a racer. One of his lines we will never forget was when he encountered one of those “wannabes”. “That dumb SOB,” said Mearl,” Don’t know a Jacob’s ladder from a step-ladder!” A truck driver by trade he retired at the age of 50…and spent the rest of his life chasing race cars. Literally! In his later years his legs gave out on him so he obtained one of those little tiny motor scooters…and we mean tiny! As we said Mearl was a big man…and he got bigger. At times, when he would race through the pits on that mini-scooter it looked as if he were floating in the air…in a sitting position!

!I I William T. Van Swearingen was born March 24, 1939 at Porter Memorial Hospital in Denver, Colorado to John and Alice (Mckim) Van Swearingen. He passed away November 25, 2013 at Littleton Hospital in Littleton, Colorado. William is survived by his sons Tom and Chet(Amanda) Van Swearingen as well as many nieces, nephews and

4 extended family. Tom loved everything about life! First and foremost, he loved being a dad. Just recently, he said, "I am the luckiest person in the world because 1 get to see both of my boys every day." He loved working at the Denver Post for 29 V2 years and then at EPW for 25 years. He loved people, making friends everywhere he went. He was so giving to everyone he knew, doing everything he could to help out, anywhere he could. He loved dirt track racing. He attended his first race in the 40's and that sparked a life-long passion. Beginning in the 60's and ending in 2007, he served in a variety of capacities in the racing community, from official to announcer to pit steward. After that, he settled for 1967 and 1968 races, he fielded radical, turbine-powered spectator. This aspect of his life brought him great joy. He cars that did well but ultimately lost out in both races.In ’67, loved the outdoors-fishing and hunting. He loved to play the lost a potential win with only a few laps to go piano. He loved hockey. He loved to make people laugh with when a transmission bearing failed and forced him to retire. his extraordinary sense of humor, whether it was telling Then in ’68, suffered a fuel pump shaft failure stories about the trouble he would get into with his brother while leading and also had to retire in the final moments. Terry, telling inanimate objects to "Stay" and "Give it a But in 1969, Granatelli finally had his day at the cookie," or tapping his fingers in Morse code to the beeping Motor Speedway as , driving of the machines in the hospital and saying "Come in Yellow with a more conventional engine, took his STP-backed Knife." Tom's love for these aspects of life brought joy to all No. 2 machine to victory over . of us in one way or another. He will be greatly missed! Granatelli expressed his appreciation by kissing Andretti on Every time we would leave him, he would say, "You be the cheek in Victory Lane, creating one of the most beloved careful," so 1 will leave you with those words.A celebration images in “500″ history. Andretti has tweeted the following of life will be held at the Bullock Colonial Chapel onFriday, on Granatelli’s death this evening: December 6, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. with a reception immediately Four years later, in 1973, Granatelli would earn a second and following at Frank "The Pizza King" (from 10:00 am to final “500″ win as a car owner thanks to driver Gordon 11:00 am)located at 4701 South Broadway in Englewood. i Johncock. “The thing that gave him the most gratification in his life was what he did at the ,” Vince Andy Granatelliwould visit the famed high Granatelli told the AP.But while Granatelli made an impact banks for either tJ. Douglas Boles, on the track, he did the same off of it as well by making STP .The president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has one of the most well-known automotive brands in the world. issued the following statement regarding the death of Andy In addition to serving as the product’s spokesman, Granatelli Granatelli this afternoon: was instrumental in bringing STP on as a sponsor for “ – known appropriately as ‘Mister 500′ – NASCAR’s “King,” Richard Petty.After a brief understood better than anyone the spirit and challenge of the disagreement over what color Petty’s car would be Indianapolis 500 and had a remarkable ability to combine (Granatelli wanting his STP day-glo red, Petty wanting his innovative technologies with talented race car drivers to traditional ‘Petty blue’), a compromise was struck with both make his cars a threat to win at Indianapolis every year. colors set to be used on the car.The final result was one of “Andy leaves a legacy of historic moments that will live the most iconic paint jobs in all of American motorsports, forever in Indianapolis 500 lore including his famous and to this day, Petty’s partnership with STP continues even turbine that dominated the , the Lotus though he ended his driving career in 1992. It is considered 56 of 1968, and giving the great Mario Andretti a kiss on the one of the most important sponsorship deals in NASCAR cheek in victory lane after his 1969 win. Our thoughts and history. prayers are with Andy’s family, friends and legion of fans.” Granatelli also served as a promoter of racing events during — World War II, and is remembered especially for his work as Andy Granatelli former CEO of the STP motor oil company president of the Hurricane Racing Association, a group that and one of the more notable innovators in the history of the fielded both hot rod and stock car events at Chicago’s Indianapolis 500, has passed away at the age of 90. Soldier Field. Our thoughts and prayers are with Granatelli’s According to the Associated Press, his son, Vince, confirmed family and friends at this time.e M that he died of congestive heart failure earlier today in a hospital in Santa Barbara, California.A member of multiple Roy would drive t h bbbb racing Halls of Fame, Granatelli was a significant figure for the “500,” especially in the late 1960s and 1970s. In the

5 would race their own midget, with first a Chevy V4, and later, the first Wilson V-4. It was tough sledding for father and son, because they faced off with many of the greatest midget teams of the era, in the USAC ranks. Meanwhile, when they weren't racing the midget, Jerry would race supers, for owners that included Jerry Wilson, Jelly Wilhelm, and Shot Hampton. Stoney got his first sprint car ride in 1974, driving for Pius Selenke in the BCRA ranks. And for his first Sprint Car race, how about the Belleville High Banks! Once again Jerry was thrown right into the frying pan! Stoney was up to the challenge though, driving the 8 year old sprinter against state of the art mid 1970's models, Stoney hung the old racer on the rim at Belleville, and won his first ever sprint car race! Jerry Stone and “Jelli” Wilhelm at Belleville 2013 Jerry Stone raced in five decades! He won races in Sprint Cars, winged and non winged, dirt cars, midgets, and super modifieds, after his start in go carts as a kid. Jerry started his career in super modifieds as a baby faced teenager in his hometown of Wichita in 1967, at age 17. Jerry and his father Melvin owned their own super, but this was no golden spoon kid with a rich Daddy! Melvin worked as a butcher, and He and Jerry raced their super against the likes of Leep, McWhorter, Wade, Bryant, Lies, Coleman, and Everhart among others. Talk about a baptism under fire! But the young Pius Selenke’s Chevy at Des Moines in 1972 Stone had plenty of grit and determination, and when his career ended over 30 years later, race drivers across Jerry, had now shown he could put "sprint car racer" on the Heartland, and the nation would know about Jerry his resume as well. Stone would finish 9th place in Stone! BCRA points in 1974. From there Stoney would From 1967-72, Jerry would concentrate on the supers, become a much sought after driver, in supers, and driving the family #5 car, and others, including the sprints Stoney's original midget was destroyed in 1976 potent Zephyr Transfer #69. As the 1970's wore on the at Belleville. In 1977, Stoney and Jelly would Stone Family decided they would jump to the midget collaborate on a new car, with the Wilson V-4. They ranks, hoping it would some day lead to Indy, and a job would travel to Seattle to race in the brand new as a professional driver. From 1973-1976, the Stone 's Kingdome, home of the Seattle Seahawks. The finest USAC drivers of the era were there, names like Bettenhausen, Parsons, Kenyon, and Tripp. Under the glare of the spotlight, Stoney would pull off the upset, beating them all on his way to his first USAC victory. The next season a huge break came for the Wichita nice guy as he was offered the ride in Loyd K. Stephens, Offixco dirt car. In 1980 Jerry would win his first of 5 NCRA titles, following that up with a 3 peat in 1982- 83-84. After moving to Pennsylvania to race with the Posse in the mid 1980's in winged sprinters, Stone would return and settle down for good in the Tulsa area winning several races around Oklahoma. In 1991,

6 Stoney would win his 5th NCRA title, the first 4 in the This big track experience, that also included successful dirt cars, and the fifth in the sprint car division. runs, at the big half miles of Lakeside, Topeka, and Gene Gennetten * Driver, Owner, Builder, those were Knoxville, Iowa, in the super ranks, would prove in the hats that Missouri's Gene Gennetten wore when he valuable, when he came to the baddest half mile of all, competed in racing in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's, the Belleville Highbanks!In the BCRA ranks at driving first supers, then sprints, and finishing his Belleville, and later in the midgets, Gene was ultra fast! career in the Mighty Midgets. In the 1960's, Olympic Racing against the likes of Steve Troxell, Don Droud, Stadium had transferred itself from the premier midget Ray Lee Goodwin! Jan Opperman, and Larry Clark track in the Heartland, to one of the premier super among others, Gennetten, would hold his own. He modified tracks. BCRA Hall of Famers, Jay Woodside, would not win at Belleville, but would finish as high as Jonny Backlund, Dick Sutcliffe, and Ray Lee Goodwin second place at the worlds fast oval, With the demise of would all compete there. At this venue, Gene the IMCA, and BCRA, in 1977, Gene like BCRA Hall of Famer, Jon Backlund turned his attention to the midget ranks.While driving, building, and owning, his own midget, Gene became a holy terror in the midget ranks in the 1980's, racing and winning, in series that included SLARA, SWIMS, MARA, and USAC, among others.During this time he won two titles in SWiM's and the Skoal Dash Series, and three titles in MARA, while also winning races at Belleville, and wins in USAC across the country, at venues, in New York, Indiana, and Illinois. Gene was also successful in the early days of the Chili Bowl, making three A main

Gennetten, in Bill Rhine's "Batmobile" would also starts, with a top three finish in 1989.Gennetten was a compete, and win three track titles in 1967-68, and great car builder for others. Gene built several 1970.In 1971-1972, armed with a new Emerald Sprint championship caliber midgets and sprints that were Car that he built himself, Gene would once again win driven by, Steve Enlow, Danny Frye Jr, , the track championship at Olympic, but also branch out Tom Corbin, Scott Hatton and Terry Wente. Gennetten beyond the super modified tracks of the Heartland left this world in 2006, but his racing legacy as a driver, where he was so successful, to the sprint car circuits of and builder of supers, sprints, and midgets, will always the IMCA, and the BCRA. In IMCA, Gennetten would be remembered in open wheel racing history. win his first race at Spencer, Iowa in 1972, while finishing 12th in points. The very next season Gene R and H Farms* Three farmers from Iowa bought one Gennetten, known as a master engineer in the world of of the top sprint cars from the era, and in 1970 they hydraulics, would also become a master of the half mile went racing across the heartland, becoming one of the ovals of the fair circuits. Over the course of that greatest sprint car teams of summer, Gene would have a great campaign, while the decade. R&H Farms, and their black number 40 finishing second in IMCA's final point standings to sprint cars Dick Sutcliffe BCRA Hall Of Famer, Thad Dosher, but ahead of Bill In the 1960's teamed with Gary Hannah, the two would Utz, Ray Lee Goodwin, and Buzz Roze. Until the end win two track titles in 1968 as well. of the IMCA's reign in 1977, Gennetten, and his green In 1970 Hannah would sell his black #29 sprint car to 3 #3 sprinter, would be a force to reckon with finishing in Colifax, Iowa, farmers, John Ricke, and brothers, Stan, the top five in the point standings in 1974, and and Tom Hill, Dick Sutcliffe would be the driver . In 1976.Gene would also prove his mettle in the BCRA 1970, the race team raced on dirt, and pavement, in ranks. Gene known for his prowess on the short tracks, BCRA, IMCA, and the super modified circuits in the after winning 5 titles in six years at Olympic, showed car now known as the R&H Farms sprinter, #40. The he could race on the big fast half miles by winning at team would race in BCRA competition at Belleville, venues in IMCA that included, Spencer, Des Moines, and would win at Erie, Colorado. Sutcliffe, and the and Eldon, in Iowa, as well as Knoxville, in Illinois. R&H team would finish 2nd place in the final BCRA standings, behind Champion Lonnie Jensen. In IMCA,

7 the Iowa race team won a pavement race at I-70, and Kenny Weld, and Rick Ferkel. At the end of the IMCA finishing 4th in the final standings.By 1972 Sutcliffe campaign, Thad would take the title over Gene had moved on to the Cornbelt racing team . the R&H Gennetten, Bill Utz, Ray Lee Goodwin, and Buzz Rose. team would hire Thad Dosher, and mechanical genius In 1975 the R&H Farms team would win at the Wayne Houseas chief mechanic. A list of some of the , with Eddie Leavitt behind the greatest sprint car pilots of the timewould race different wheel. With a new coil over sprinter built and designed versions of their black beauty over the years, including by House, the black #40 race team would have a Roger Rager, Thad Dosher, Eddie Leavitt, Bob outstanding season in 1977 as well.With Arizona's Ron Williams, and Ron Shuman. The R&H Farms car, with Shuman at the controls, the R&H Farms team would a Roger Beck Chassis would win the IMCA title in win the Western World at Manzy, and the Pacific title 1973 with Dosher behind the wheel. Thad would also at Ascot Park! In the 1970's whether racing in outlaw race at Belleville, and Wakeeney in BCRA competition, races, BCRA, IMCA, CRA, WOO, or USAC among winning at Wakeeney over BCRA Hall Of Famer others, the R&H Farms team was a force to be reckoned Grady Wade. Their IMCA campaign included wins at with. 81-Speedway in Wichita, Lincoln Nebraska, and Spencer Iowa. Thad also finished in the top five eleven times, including an incredible run at Tampa, where in the five race winter series, Thad finished second twice, and a third, over drivers that included Jan Opperman,

Thad Dosher

.Big Car Racing Association

306 Montrose Ave

Bertrand Ne 68927

nt43, Williams-Swenson #24, Bill Smith 4x and Larry Swanson #14 were also multiple winning cars at Belleville in BCRA competition.

One of the benchmark events in Belleville racing history came during a BCRA on August 23, 1968 when Lloyd Beckman behind the wheel of the Larry Swanson Chevy broke the magic 20 second barrier when he toured the high banks with a lap of 1at Belleville in B

One of the benchmark events in Belleville

8 racing history came during a BCRA on August 23, 1968 when Lloyd Beckman behind the wheel of the Larry Swanson Chevy broke the magic 20 second barrier when he toured the high banks with a lap of 19.94 seconds.

9