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

BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES April May June 2011

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

Welcome...... The BCRA Hall of Fame selections his son Nick a few years back. The McVay family have been made and Biographies of the inductees are was represented by Jimmy McVay, who along with included in this issue of the Newsletter. For those his brother Eddie, raced in BCRA. Jimmy's attending on June 24th and 25th remember to contact the grandson Todd, would run the family midget on this Days Inn 402-477-4488,on West O street in Lincoln for night. Jimmy and Eddie were two of the finest open accommodations and just mention you are with the wheel shoes of the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. Jonny BCRA Hall of Fame for the special rates. and Jimmy had a great time discussing racing Grain Valley. R Cunningham during that time. With the BCRA Hall Class set for 2011 it was time to After leaving the pits, (we snuck in without a pit go racing for the first time since the Chili Bowl in pass), Jon and I proceeded to the grandstand where January. The venue was Valley Speedway,in Grain we saw and talked to Hall of Famer Junior Valley, Missouri, for the POWER I Midgets. Hall Parkinson, and his son Chris. Chris Parkinson it was of Famer"Jonny Boy" Backlund was behind the learned, will drive a non wing sprinter this summer wheel, as we drove to this dirt short track at Grain Valley on a weekly basis. outside of KC on a beautiful spring evening in early The feature race was outstanding, 2008 Power I May. Valley Speedway has become the home to Champ Brett Anderson took the win over former wingless sprint car and midget racing in the area for National Midget Driver of the year Brad Kuhn, the first time in decades.From the 1930's, until the and point leader Nick Knepper. BCRA Member Joe mid 1970's, Olympic Stadium in Kansas City, MO Boyles finished third in his heat, and 9th in the was the home to weekly midget, and later super feature. We talked with Joe, and later his father Ray modified racing every Sunday nite during the before the races as well. The entire Boyle's family summer months. BCRA Hall of Famer's Backlund, has been a big part of the KC racing scene Ray Lee Goodwin, and Dick Sutcliffe, among for several decades. Also at the races were BCRA others honed their racing skills running the rough followers Dave Tyson, his mother Judy, and and tumble supers during the 1960's there, before Dennis Chaney. assaulting the ranks of the BCRA. The Valley Speedway will be running non wing When the midgets were King of Olympic Stadium, sprint car races every Friday throughout the drivers that included , Jud Larson, Bob summer. If your in KC drop by, and see sprint cars Slater, and A.J. Foyt, were among many that race the way they did in the BCRA, without as competed at Olympic. In 1957, A.J. Foyt won his Leroy Byers coined, the "Hogsheds"on top. See you first USAC race at the Stadium in midget at the races. competition. In 2011 USAC returns to race at Grain Valley on August 14th, running a non wing sprint car race, but on this night the midgets were in town, and they ran a great program. A trip to the pits before the races found Jonny holding court with several second and third generation race teams. Backlund spoke with the Knepper's, Siner's, and McVay's. Steve Knepper, son of Junior, and nephew of Indy vet Arnie Knepper, spoke with Jon about racing in the midget ranks. Knepper won two Belleville Nationals, before turning the family midget over to

“Hill on Wheels” Bill Hill began in racing as a fan at Olympic Californian Bill Robison was born in 1946 and the Stadium in Kansas City after an enlistment in the family later moved to Independence Mo and he Army and College, Hill returned to and began racing Jalopies in 1964 at Topeka Ks. With was Publicity Director for the Rocky Mountain the help of Red Andrews, Bill entered the new Midget Racing Association and the Big Car Racing class of “Hoodoo” racing with success and then Association in Colorado. During this time he also went back to the Jalopie class and met Thad Dosher began announcing for the RMMRA and the BCRA who had an old USAC motor he sold to Bill. in several states in the Midwest. In 1960 Bill Robison went out and won the next six Features, became a columnist for National Speed Sport News paying Dosher for the motor. Spider and Richard with “Hill on Wheels”, as he reported the racing in Walker built two Sprint cars in 1970 and Bill would the Heartland for many years. Hill went to work for drive for the next three years. He then joined the JC Agajanian in 66‟ and in 1972 began a long Gary Mussato team driving this car for two years. tenure with the Auto Club as He was runner-up to Edd French in the Big Car Assistant News Director and then moved to the Racing association in1973 running against drivers Terre Haute, “Action Track” with Don Smith and likeRager, Backlund, Maxwell,Woodside, Cecak, was in charge of Publicity. Bill Hill‟s next stop was Troxell and Jensen. In 74‟Bill took the helm of the the Devils Bowl in Texas and then the Tulsa Charlie Jones Trostle with great success until a Speedway. Hill‟s tireless work along the circuit horrendous crash at Lincoln in 74‟ put Bill in the yielded him a wealth of experience resulting in pits for the next season. He returned to competition prolific methods of promoting Auto Racing in the and became a force to be reckoned with on the new Midwest and Southern United States. Hill spent NSI and NSCA circuits. He began driving for Gill nearly twenty years accumulating information Sonner in 81‟ and would win his first race at Knox- for a book on Midget Racing and in 1998, “One ville followed by two more impressive victories and Tough Circuit” on the history of Midget racing in would finish 6th in points in 83‟ and 84‟. Bill Kansas City, was released to an eager public and Robison would drive for owners including Leonard was hailed as the “Best Ever” on the subject. McCarl, Marty Johnson, Fred Caine in the Soon another Stellar effort in “Decades of 4J,Marvin Metcalf, George and Buddy Marsh and Daring”on the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing hit Bob Trostle and left the Sprint ranks for the the shelves and both publications are now common Modifieds in 1986 and is still competitive to this to every racers collection across the U.S. Bill and day in a career that has spanned over four decades. life long partner and wife, Ruby are retired and live Robison‟s dynamic personality and lead foot in Arkansas where Hill is engaged in a Prison brought him recognition with the induction into the Ministry in the area. Knoxville Speedway Hall of Fame in 1993.

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“Don Budy’s Wingman” “Prince of Darkness” Clarence Froid was born in Colorado in 1910. California‟s Don Brown became involved with Clarence was a railroad artist and became involved racing in the early fifties working for George with the Big Car Racing Association from the start Shilala and later Luigi Lesovsky and Eddie Kuzma becoming Don Budy‟s right hand man involved in on the state of the art Indy Cars. In1961 Brown built nearly all facets of BCRA operations. Froid was his own Sprinter and won “Rookie of the Year” a man of many talents and served the club as a honors with the California Racing Association timer,scorekeeper,BCRA secretary for 8 years before moving on to USAC and the International and.... as an artist. In need of an Association Logo Motor Contest Association in 1963 where he finish- Froid developed the art work of the Open wheeler, ed 13th in IMCA points. Over the next two seasons the color scheme Bonnie Ivers took the work Brown had good success on the IMCA circuit with and reproduced several copies in the form of Jacket a 7th place point standing in 1965 behind such Patches, with needle and colored thread for drivers as Gordon Woolley, Jerry Richert, officials, competitors and friends of the BCRA. Jimmy Moughan and .True to form, When the BCRA would go into a town to Brown would run the Big Car Racing Association in compete drivers and owners would seek out 66‟and ran to a 6th in points after winning the last sponsorship from local merchants in the form of Feature of the season at Hutchinson Kansas.On the advertisement on the cars. Clarence would then IMCA,Brown would win a Feature at Spencer Iowa. create an ad or recreate an existing ad, on the car or In 1966 Brown‟s fabrication expertise would on white Butcher paper which was then affixed achieve a new pinnacle with the design and to the car. It is not known if Froid was ever an auto fabrication of his “Mechanical Rabbits” that racing competitor in his younger days but he was a were,“As good on dirt as they were on pavement”. Pilot for a of years. Clarence would also Working with USAC great and Joe serve the Rocky Mountain Midget Association for Saldana three of Brown‟s Roadsters were put to the many years as a club official with son-in-law test beginning in 66‟. Weld ran the USAC with four Isador Lucero, he passed away in January of 1986. Feature wins and 3rd in 68‟ points with The Froid family continues in Midget racing to this Saldana barely missing a 67„ day based out of Denver and are regulars at title and outran the field at the Highbanks in Belleville and McCool Junction as well as 69‟.Brown and his were as fast as anyone other locations in the Midwest region. on the USAC in 68‟. Don would become a resident of Indy repairing wrecks with AJ Watson in the cool of the night during the time trials at the Brickyard and became affectionately known as the“Prince of Darkness”.

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Grier Manning was born in New York in 1929 and came to Colorado in 1951 with the U.S. Army. Manning‟s first taste of Auto racing came as a partner on a Stock car as he worked the Pits but The “Kansas City Texan” watched and learned. He went to work for Emmit Ralph Parkinson “Junior” was born in 1948 at Mann at the Antlers Hotel Garage in Colorado Wichita Falls Texas and grew up assisting Ralph Springs and started driving for Mann in 53‟,crashed, Senior at the race tracks. In 65‟ Junior and brother built a second car which he also destroyed. Frankie took advantage of Ralph Senior‟s absence Manning then built his own 32‟ Ford and became a on the IMCA trail and took his sprinter to Lawton top driver on the local speedway. In 59‟ Manning Ok and finished ninth at age 17. Junior would move drove for Clyde McFarlin with the Big Car Racing to Kansas City in 1970 and worked for Whitey Association finishing 8th in points behind fellow Harmon an IMCA regular, while becoming a Midget ace Earl Kouba. In 61‟ Manning built a 348 regular himself on the IMCA and BCRA circuits. cu.in truck motor and won two Features at Junior would win his first IMCA Feature in 1970 at Englewood Speedway in the Podell #7 with the Lincoln Nebraska driving for Red Forshee and BCRA. In 62‟ Grier became partners with John followed with a 71‟Feature win at Smith Center Ks Hollansworth, Buck Shaver and Chip Wendt on a making the Parkinson‟s the only Father and Midget, started driving in 63‟winning eight Main Son team to each win a BCRA Feature. Junior soon events and finished runnerup in the RMMRA.Over moved to Pennsylvania and became a full time the next five seasons Manning finished in the top racer. He found a ride with Russ Smith and in the three four times winning the RMMRA #17 car engaged the tough competition on the Championship in1969. From 63‟ to 70 Grier 73‟ All Star Circuit of Champions which included finished in the top ten 6 times at Pikes Peak driving , Kenny Weld and Bobby Allen. for J.C. Agajanian, Art McKee and others. Parkinson would not win a race that season but Mannings superb skill as a mechanic took him to would finish second in points to Jan Opperman at the USAC with Hollansworth and Lindsey Hopkins seasons end.The 70‟s were a great decade for Junior and the the new Gurney Eagles. Manning became a and in 75‟ while driving for Conyers and Ward won top technical inspector at the Hill Climb for over three Features and finshed 4th in IMCA final points three decades behind Bill Utz, Jan Opperman and Ralph at the Springs where he still works his garage 8AM Parkinson Sr. Junior moved to Gladstone Mo in till 8Pm six days a week and has assisted in the 1977 and engaged the USAC circuit for three restorations of several historic Vintage Pikes Peak seasons with a great finish at Terre Haute in 77‟ and oval track open wheelers most recently the behind Bubby Jones and . Vince Conzy Offy which now resides in the Unser During the 80‟s Junior would win a championship family Museum in New Mexico at I-70 in Odessa Mo and would win his first race at Knoxville becoming the first father and son to win events on the Iowa track.

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Thad Dosher of Topeka Kansas began racing at Nebraskan Roger Rager began racing Super Shawnee Speedway in the late 50‟s. Thad would Modifieds in the late 60‟s and by the early 70‟s win the inaugural “Jayhawk Nationals” in 1961 Rager was one of the top drivers in the region with driving a Super Modified for owner Duane Vobach. back to back 3rd place finishes on the Big Car Thad continued to gain experience over the next Racing Assoc in 72‟ and 73‟ winning a Feature on few years before driving for Jack Cunningham. At the Belleville Highbanks for Larry Swanson. In the “Indy of ” at Knoxville Iowa 1975 Roger won the track championship at Dosher ran 2nd to for 14 laps before Knoxville after finishing 2nd to Fast Eddie Leavitt overtaking the future Sprint star and winning the in the Knoxville Nationals and finished 5th with race. In 1968 Thad bought the Bill Hoback ride IMCA. In 76„ Rager moved to USAC finished 23rd painted it Lavender and White and the #74 ran the in points and won Rookie of the Year. From 76‟ to IMCA and BCRA in the Midwest. His success 78„ Rager would run 59 USAC Sprint car Feature continued as he tied with Dick Sutcliffe for events. At in 78‟ Rager set a the track championship at Topeka. He also won a new track record won his Heat race and was on his feature at Eagle Ne driving the Swenson-Williams way to a clean sweep when his flawless effort was #24. In 1970 Thad was reunited with his Knoxville spoiled by Doug Wolfgang. In 1980 Rager fulfilled Nationals winning ride now owned by Gary Hannah a life long dream of racing as he and won the Topeka Championship and the financed a “Low Buck Ride”with the now “Jayhawk Nationals” both for the second time. In Legendary “School Bus Motor” built by Wayne 1972 Dosher, now teamed with R&H Farms and House. Roger qualified 10th gaining National mechanic Wayne House finished 5th in IMCA attention and at one point led the race later to spin points and won his first IMCA race at Lincoln. A out missing Jim McElreath who had lost control. 1973 trip to the IMCA Winternationals in Florida Roger continued in USAC with a 4th place finish at yielded two seconds,a third and a fourth place Flemington driving the Robinson Fiberglass Special finish. Thad‟s first big win of the season came with in 83‟followed with a 4th at Williams Grove for the Big Car Racing Association at Wakeeney Ks “Boston” Louie Seymour, Rager retired for a time followed by IMCA wins at Lincoln and Spencer but was back in the late 90‟s and won the Wissota Iowa. Of the twenty races held Dosher finished in Championship for Winged Sprinters and in 2000 the top five eleven times and was the 73‟ IMCA and 2001 won the Midwest Sprint Series. He added Champion. In 75‟ Dosher ran USAC for Bobby three victories at the Knoxville Masters Classic in Hillin and finished in the top ten four times. Thad 99‟,01 and 05‟. Roger Rager raced, and won in five Dosher was one of the few drivers to win the decades, a BCRA Legend that has made an impact Knoxville Nationals and an IMCA Championship. on American Racing History. Thad is retired and lives in South Carolina.

5 Jerry Everhart 1936-2010 Former Wichita racer Jerry Everhart passed away October, 8th 2010 in Arkansas. Everhart was one of many great stars who cut his teeth racing in the rough and tumble jalopie contests that took place around his hometown. Everhart's first season of racing was in 1953 when he was just a teenager. During this early period he had to race against drivers that included Harold Leep, Frankie Lies, and Billy Mears. Everhart came from a racing family that included his dad and uncle. His cousin Tony Everhart who has lived in California for several years, drove a midget in this years Chili Bowl, in Tulsa, Oklahoma and has competed regularly with the SCRA, Sprint Bandits, and USAC in Non Wing Sprint Car racing. “House Power” After several years of racing in the jalopie and later Nebraskan Wayne House burst onto the racing super modified ranks, Jerry moved into the sprint scene in 1968 when history was made at Belleville car ranks in the mid 1960's. Everhart raced with the Kansas as Lloyd Beckman in the Swanson Chevy BCRA and IMCA Sprint Car Clubs during this wrenched by House, turned the worlds fastest half time. Racing with the BCRA in 1967, Jerry finished mile at Belleville Kansas. Lonnie Jensen would win 7th place in points behind champion Roy Bryant, the 1970 BCRA Championship and in 1971 House Keith Hightshoe, Dale Reed, David Ross, Lloyd turned his talents and expertise to the R&H Farms Beckman, and New Mexico's Jerry Miller. The cars out of Iowa. In 1972 teamed with owners John competition that year was stellar, as the top 5 points Ricke and the Hill Brothers and driven by Thad are all now in the BCRA Hall of Fame! Dosher, R&H won at the State Fair in Lincoln and Everhart also excelled in the super modified ranks, finished 5th in IMCA points. At the 1973 IMCA winning several races over his career. Jerry had one Winter Nationals held at Plant Field in Florida the of the top rides in NCRA Super Modified racing in R&H Farms Sprinter finished second twice, third 1971. The 35 year old veteran finished 6th place in once and fourth. The success was even more points at the Tulsa Fairgrounds that year, while amazing considering the field of drivers included finishing 4th in the NCRA race at Tulsa.Over the Jan Opperman and Kenny Weld who were at the years Jerry could be found at the races, or spending pinnacle of thier historic rivalry.Back in the time with best friends Dale Reed and Grady Wade. Midwest at the BCRA contest in Wakeeney Kansas At one point all three best friends had retired Dosher and the R&H team outran Grady Wade and together in Arkansas, eventually Reed moved back the Nance team for the win and repeated the feat at to Wichita to be close too relatives. The bond 81 Speedway in Wichita in IMCA, another at between these former racers would last a life time Spencer Iowa and at Lincoln. In 75‟ House and though, and everyone involved in open wheel racing driver Eddie Leavit would win the Knoxville in the BCRA, IMCA and NCRA, who came in Nationals and in 77‟ Wayne built a new Sprinter contact with the Wichita threesome will be the and with driver won the “Western richer for it. World” at Manzy and followed with the Rest In Peace Jerry, you were one hell of racer, and “Pacific Title”at Ascot in California.Wayne built an great friend to everyone in the racing community. engine for Roger Rager in 1980 when Rager made the field at Indy. House would also build motors for Subject: : J.Hower :Dave Tyson and R. Cunningham Klatt Racing and with Dave Strickland Jr won in the Jr. Hower was a great one. He was one of the top RMMRA. Wayne is retired and lives in Lincoln drivers at Olympic Stadium and greater Kansas City Nebraska area for a number of years. And raced against (and

often beat) some of the greats that would go on to

6 Knoxville Nationals titles, IMCA titles, and to race in Indy 500. My folks really liked watching Jr. Hower race at Olympic. The story "Speedy" Bill tells about coming to KC to race against the best and losing to Jr. Hower is one of the best of stories. Bill Smith's car came in 2nd and he knew something was up with the car Jr. won race with. And said so to a number of people. Years later Freddie Vance said he was at an auction and found the tricked out carburetor Jr. used to win that race. Speedy Bill wanted that carburetor. It now sits in Speedy Bill's wonderful museum up Lincoln. ----- Forwarded by Dave this is a shot of Jr. Hower Butch Hardman and one of the last uprights on the Hill.

who was a race winner where ever had put his car on the track from the late 40's to the late 50's. BCRA at Pueblo Colorado 1958 And I go to his house and "chat" with him on Saturday mornings and scan and make copies of his pictures. He raced many of the Indy 500 guys on the dirt ovals and beat them all while raising a family and working 60 hours a week. Remember…… We will start at the Museum at 2PM (24 June), meeting at the front door for the tour, Don‟t be late…At 6 PM we will gather at the meeting room inside the museum for the Induction ceremony with tours of the facility to follow. On Saturday Morning We will meet at Joe‟s Speed Shop on South Folsom around Noon for Bench Racing until time to go to at 4;30 PM. Sunday morning is breakfast at the Days Inn restaurant before departing Lincoln. Any Bob Unser spinning his way to the top of Pikes Peak questions call 308-325-5455. Thank you GW

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Three time BCRA champ Gordon Herring receiving Trophy for RMMRA Feature win

Great shot looking down at Herring and Mechanic Jack Kline at Continental Divide Raceway (60)

Big Car Racing Association 306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Ne 68927

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