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Big Car Racing Association and Hall of Fame

Big Car Racing Association and Hall of Fame

Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, COLORADO SPRINGS CO

October-November-December 2016 Welcome to the bcra hall of fame newsletter 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)

Merry Bcra Staff:Christmas Dave Tyson(Mo) to All Ray and Cunningham(Ks), a Happy BoydNew Adams(Tx), Year……… Bruce Budy(C0),local Gerry driversMiller(Tx), before Tom Davey(Co), he and Wayne son Panter(Tx), Bob went Gary to Wolfe(Ne) Lincoln a nd This year five new inductees were Inducted at Speedway bought a chassis and Ranger motor from Bob Rager. Bob Motors. This addition warranted some changes to the Nelson of Inland Ne and Lloyd Beckman would drive the BCRA Wall while maintaining the appearance. We have #43 roadster. The Bower’s ran the last race at Capital had some nominations for inductees for 2017 (If you have Beach with Frankie Brennfoerder who set a track record. someone to nominate contact us on the web at bcrasprints.com) And reportedly, this was the car little Joe got his first ride which include, in. And….. Fred would begin in the Sprint cars with a stretched midget and driver Bob Nelson around 1955. He also teamed with a young Paul James who was the Driver/owner of the Lloyd Wilander Wayne Chevy. Fred wrenched the team as they ran the UMCA and IMCA in the area. In 1958 James suffered a horrendous wreck at Sedalia Missouri in which he was killed. New son-in-law, Dan Mcown began in the modifieds in 1959 at Wichita Ks while stationed in the Air Force. The Wilander sprinter set in the trees for a couple of years as the family continued racing when Fred went to Lincoln and bought a Modified from Bob Rager and Bob Nelson and Lloyd Beckman would chauffeur the White 5. When a new club came on the horizon in the Midwest, Bowers revived the historic Wilander car and enlisted driver Bob Nelson to engage the Big Car Racing Association. With Nelson’s retirement in 1963, Bower would continue with drivers like Lloyd Beckman, Frank Brennfoerder , Wayne Holz and Tom Root of Colorado. With the purchase of the John Leverance 5x sprinter, Mike Cacak of Lincoln would Fred Bower Chevy and driver Bob Nelson of Inland Ne at Norton Ks 1962 drive from ‘71 to ‘76. Fred Bower Fred later built an Orange #5 Modified that son in law, Fred was born at Fairbury Ne in 1905, worked on the th Dan drove from ‘68-‘72. Fred would retire from racing in family farm and attended school until the 8 grade. He 1977 with the termination of the two premier Sprint clubs was needed on the farm at the time and this began a career in the Midwest. Fred Bower competed for 26 years in hard work, and mechanics. Fred later married Verna running with the Nebraska Racing Assoc, The UMCA, the Gudgel in 1926 and they lived on the farm relishing a new BCRA and IMCA. Fred passed away in 1990 commodity in Electricity in 1934 and living was enhanced with a brand new refrigerator. In 1941 Fred opened his own shop at the corner of Hwy 136 and 15 in Fairbury. His early success yielded a new brick Garage. In 1951 Fairbury started racing Hot Rods and Fred wrenched for

and Buddy Taylor and all those guys were running at ," Jerry Miller said. "Frank Crosby was promoting it. It was quite a show." After suffering serious injuries in the crash at Manzanita, Miller took a job selling cars at Darwin Buick in Albuquerque "to pay his medical bills," his son said. Thus began a long career in auto sales."He had his own used-car lots here in town, and he had a big one in Roswell," Jerry Miller said. Then he was used-car manager for Wayne Lovelady Dodge and then at Frontier Ford.

1960 Rookie of the year, Bruce Budy#93, Orv Nance 88 and Bob Nelson in the Bower Chev at Norton Ks.

Wayne and Jerry Miller native Wayne Miller's career in racing began as a driver/owner in Indiana in the ‘40s racing Midgets before a move to New Mexico, and ended prematurely in the mid-'50s with an accident at in Phoenix. There was no end however to his love for the automobile, or to his influence on auto racing in Albuquerque. Miller stayed active in racing as a car owner with successful drivers like Taylor, Larry Demaree, Harold Brooks, Billy Powell, the Blaney’s and his own son, Jerry, all drove Miller-owned cars. Demaree and Jerry Miller won New Mexico Motor Racing Association titles while driving for Wayne Miller. Sometime in the '70s Miller got behind the wheel at Speedway Park in an old-timers competition. The car didn't have power steering, and his shoulder was bad from the Midget crash at Manzanita. I think he ran third in the main event, and he said he could have won it if his shoulder hadn't given up on him. Away from the track and the auto business, Jerry Miller

Wayne Miller in 1952 picture (stdng at Front of his #7) remembers his father as a devoted but firm parent. Jerry and Wayne were regulars on the BCRA and Jerry won a "He was pretty much an icon in the sport," said Richard th Blaney Jr., one of many local drivers who raced in a feature at Belleville in 1967 for Wayne who finished 5 in Miller-owned car as did Blaney's father, Richard Sr. "He Owner points. Jerry also drove for Jerry Hammer in ‘72 raced himself, he owned cars in the Speedway Park days before moving back to Indiana. and won championships." Jerry Miller was born October 12, 1942 at Salem, Indiana Jerry Miller, Wayne's son and himself a former champion and excelled at and made a 3 year foray driver, recalls his father racing stock cars at a track off into Championship Cars. One of the top sprint car racers Wyoming Boulevard and Midgets at Rio Grande Speed in the Midwest, Miller attempted to complete rookie Bowl in the late '40s. In 1952, Wayne Miller became a orientation for the 500 in 1979. Later that New Mexico Motor Racing Association champion while year he competed in his first Champ Car race, a USAC competing at Speedway Park on Eubank Southeast. He event at the , finished 9th and earned him won that title just as the sport in Albuquerque was really 25th place in the USAC National Championship points. In revving up."He was one of the forces in the early '50s 1980 Miller made his only CART start, a 14th place in the during the golden years, when was racing season-ender at Phoenix International Raceway. In 1981 2 he brought the same Chevrolet powered King chassis back Russ quit driving in the late 70’s and with kids growing to Indianapolis to qualify for the "500" again. up, got involved with academics and sports with a son now a High School football coach. Brother Rich and son Seth are still running sprints at Knoxville. Russ helped them for a time. Russ and wife are retired and living at Wisner Nebraska.

As the USAC/CART split continued that year, Miller made two more champ car starts, this time on the dirt oval events that had become a part of the USAC "Gold Crown"

Championship, with finishes of 9th and 19th. Mike Cacak in the Fred Bower Chevy Mike Cacak started racing in 1963’ running 6 cyl Modified Stock open wheelers at Fairbury, Beatrice and Lincoln Ne, driving his own creation. By 1968 Mike ran with a new class of V-8 modified s and won a feature at Belleville Ks. 1971 was his first full year in Sprinters and was BCRA rookie of the year. He also ran at and won Rookie of the Year honors with Nebraska Modified Racing Assoc . With the BCRA Cacak went to McCook and ran nearly every race at Erie Co and Belleville Ks, driving for Fred Bowers. In 1972 the team ran IMCA at the Nebraska state fair and Topeka Ks. In 1972 Mike also drove for the Goodrich family at Belleville and ran IMCA at Topeka Ks and State fair at Lincoln Ne. In 1973 Mike was driving the 5X for Bower’s again with BCRA and Neb Mike Cacak in the “Belle” and Jerry Miller Mod assoc and ran Belleville, Ks. “We always ran Belleville” . After that Mike got busy and would pick up a ride on occasion. Russ Brahmer, In 1978 he built a and went to Beatrice and won Russ Brahmer started racing in High school in 1953 and first time out. He also ran at Lincoln on Pete Liekams N 27th ran at the Wayne County Fairgrounds inWayne, Ne in a Street speedway and at Eagle at first ever late Model race, and jalopy. About ‘55 he drove at the Washington County Cacak won the feature. He sold the car at the end of the Fairgrounds for owner Tom Ronin. He then went to the season. 1981 was the year Lincoln started running sprinters in a service and when he came back, the Columbus track 360 class of competition here Mike drove a sprint car for Dean opened and he got a ride with Harold Potter and the RNM Orth numbered 30D . He drove a couple years for Dean then went into ¾ midgets, built his own car and raced for a number Garage #20. He would drive for Harold about 5 years and of years, winning dozens of races with the 750 Honda powered mostly at Columbus where he tried to beat Wilbur Hecke. mini. Mike Cacak drove his last race on 4th of July 1991 and At Norfolk they tried to beat Ray Haase on brother Bob won the feature. The next day a guy showed up from Tampa Haase’s, race track. When Columbus went to Modifieds Florida and took the car home. Russ went to work for Leroy Culway who bought a “First time at Belleville was like going to Daytona”. Cacak Swenson Modified and Russ drove for several yearrs in finished about 6th with drivers like Dick Sutcliffe, Ray Lee, Roy Columbus, Hastings, Doniphan, Midwest and Eagle. He Bryant and it was a great experience. Another highlight was his then drove for Bisping with BCRA and a won state fair first year in sprints winning rookie of the year with BCRA and th th race, after a tough battle with Wilbur Hecke. Russ finished 7 in points and 10 with Neb Mod Racing celebrated with a Feature win at Belleville Ks, driving for Association. In later years Beatrice set up a hall of fame and Lonnie Jensen and finished third in points with the BCRA Mike was the first inductee. Mike Cacak was also honored by the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame with 2008 Gordy . Shuck Sportsmanship Award . 3 Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dick's race car career was cut short by a serious sprint car accident at Knoxville just before the 1976 Nationals. He had several quick times that year at Knoxville and he had won features throughout the Midwest, including at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Dick and Larry Swanson won at Belleville in ‘76, one of the last BCRA races and non wing events. Dick Morris is now retired and living with his wife Marilyn at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. He and his long-time pit crew (Larry Swanson, Larry Nelson, Gerry Lemoine, Gale Murkle and Joe Orth) have restored the Don Maxwell-built number 49 sprint car to its 1976 condition.

Jon Backland. Mile Cacak and Ray Cunningham. Eagle Raceway

No longer driving Mike became the Sprint car tech inspector at Midwest Speedway until it closed and then moved to Eagle Raceway in the same capacity. An Accident in pits changed Mike’s duties at Eagle when he was hit by an IMCA Modified and spent 3 and a half months in the hospital. Mike still helps out at Eagle Raceway where you are likely to see him on race nights.

Jerry Miller, Leon Lahodney and Lloyd Beckman, Doniphan Ne .‘72

1975 ‘Rookie of the Year’ Dick Morris, originally of Sioux City, , and now residing in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, Dick Morris The racing career of Dick Morris started at a young age at Raceway Park in South Sioux City Nebraska in the middle Sixties, where he won several main events and was annually in the ‘top five’ in the point standings. 1968 saw Dick move to the ranks of modified stock car racers at the Collins Field in Lemars, Iowa. He won the track championship there and also at the Interstate Speedway in Jefferson, South Dakota, in 1970. Picture of the Morris/Swanson car at Knoxville from BCRA HOF’er Larry Then, in 1973, he and his pit crew decided it was time to move Swanson. on to the super-modified division at the Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota. He won ten feature events in 1974, but R and H Farms* Three farmers from Iowa bought one of lost the track championship on the last night following an the top sprint cars from the era, and in 1970 they went accident on the final lap of the main event. In September of racing across the heartland, becoming one of the greatest 1974, he had a chance to partner with well-known car owner sprint car teams of Larry Swanson. the decade. In the 1960's teamed with Gary Hannah, the Dick was ‘Rookie of the Year’ at Knoxville Raceway in 1975. two would win two track titles in 1968 as well. He also won races throughout the Midwest, including at the In 1970 Hannah would sell his black #29 sprint car to 3 South Dakota State Fair at Huron, South Dakota, the Belleville Colfax, Iowa, farmers, John Ricke, and brothers, Stan, and High Banks in Kansas, the Midwest Speedway in Lincoln, Tom Hill, Dick Sutcliffe would be the driver . In 1970, the Nebraska, and the Jackson Speedway in Minnesota. Dick also race team raced on dirt, and pavement, in BCRA, IMCA, won the 1975 ‘Cheaters Day’ race at the Sioux Empire 4 and the super modified circuits in the car now known as competition before moving back to North Platte in 64’. the R&H Farms sprinter, #40. The team would race in Once in Nebraska, Ron began working with ‘55 Nascar BCRA competition at Belleville, and would win at Erie, Sportsman Champ Mearl Miller of North Platte on Colorado. Sutcliffe, and the R&H team would finish 2nd Miller’s Chevy Stock Car. He and good friend Marty place in the final BCRA standings, behind Champion Thomsen built a Ford Stock Car, the #6 in ‘65 and was Lonnie Jensen. In IMCA, the Iowa race team won a first driven by Don Ostendorf of North Platte. Ostendorf pavement race at I-70, and finishing 4th in the final would nearly total the car in its first outing at the historic standings. North Platte oval. Williams would soon engage the By 1972 Sutcliffe had moved on to the Cornbelt racing construction of what would become the 6-2 Modified team. The R&H team would hire Thad Dosher, and Stocker. He would run this car at North Platte, Kearney in mechanical genius Wayne House as chief mechanic. A Nebraska and Norton and Oberlin in Kansas. The list of some of the greatest sprint car pilots of the time competition was tough on the circuit with such drivers as would race different versions of their black beauty over Bob Oneil, Wayne Carpenter, Phil Simmons, Stan Hack the years, including Roger Rager, Thad Dosher, Eddie and Willie Hecke. The Kansas contingent was represented Leavitt, Bob Williams, and . The R&H by Bob Salem, Tony Malsom and a host of others. Ron Farms car, with a Roger Beck Chassis would win the enjoyed the First of many championships IMCA title in 1973 with Dosher behind the wheel. Thad In 1966 Williams began building and driving modifieds on would also race at Belleville, and Wakeeney in BCRA the local circuit which included North Platte, Kearney competition, winning at Wakeeney over BCRA Hall Of ,Broken Bow, Lexington and again at Oberlin,Wakeeney Famer Grady Wade. Their IMCA campaign included wins and Norton in Kansas. At this time Ron and Marty went to at 81-Speedway in Wichita, Lincoln Nebraska, and Pennsylvania and with the help of were Spencer Iowa. Thad also finished in the top five eleven able to buy a Lloyd Sprinter and hauled it to Nebraska. times, including a incredible run at Tampa, where in the This car was raced in central Nebraska, Kansas, South five race winter series, Thad finished second twice, and a Dakota and Iowa at Knoxville. At Knoxville Williams was third, over drivers that included Jan Opperman, Kenny in the chase for the lead when he hooked the left front and Weld, and Rick Ferkel. At the end of the IMCA campaign, survived a horrendous flipping, barrel rolling crash. An Thad would take the title over Gene Gennetten, Bill Utz, Opperman /Maxwell sprint was purchased and Williams Ray Lee Goodwin, and Buzz Rose. In 1975 the R&H continued to rack up Championships in the area but he Farms team would win at the , with also branched out to Eagle Raceway , Erie Colorado with Eddie Leavitt behind the wheel. With a new coil over the BCRA and State Fair Park in Lincoln. sprinter built and designed by House, the black #40 race team would have a outstanding season in 1977 as well. With Arizona's Ron Shuman at the controls, the R&H Farms team would win the Western World At Manzy, and the Pacific title at ! In the 1970's whether racing in outlaw races, BCRA, IMCA, CRA, WOO, or USAC among others, the R&H Farms team was a force to be reckoned with

Ron Williams, North Platte, Ne Ron was born at North Platte Ne in April of 1941. His Summer time interest became the local Nascar Sportsman series active in the area. With drivers in Cal Fisher, Don Ostendorf , The Mann Brothers, the Wolfe brothers, Bob Courtney , Leroy”Punch” Pounder and Billy Eacker. Ron was later involved in racing, first with Dragsters and then Go-Carts. Competing in different venues including Kearney and Julesburg Colorado where he eventually became an official. The Williams moved to Colorado in The Modified ranks of Kansas were evolving into one of 1961. While in Colorado he continued in the drag the toughest circuits in the country, with Dale Reed, Grady 5 Wade, Herb Copeland, Harold Leep and others. Jim Ellet from North Platte Ne was the team motor man and pit man about 6 years during this time. In 1970, Ron won the first Central Nebraska Racing assoc Championship at North Platte in the Modified Division, and with the North Platte Stock Car association again, in ‘71.

Rich Blaney in the Novotny GMY at Erie Co 1971 Rich Blaney, Albuquerque NM Rich Blaney, began racing in California in 1948 driving jalopies and soon moved to Midgets and Roadsters. In 1951 Rich moved to Albuquerque New Mexico and continued driving Jalopies,Midgets and Modifieds for Al Forbes at Cornit Speedway. In 1955 Blaney began driving Ron Williams #29 and Wille Hecke #1 USAC Stock Cars in Kansas City and, Oklahoma City in The 70’s saw Williams branch out to include Rapid City 1956. In ‘57 he drove Modifieds for Floyd Darrow and and running second in feature, broke a fuel line bracket placed second in the Southwest Modified Championships and fuel line and lost 1200.00 for a second place finish. and spent 1958 driving for Lou Trujillo. Williams was the 73’ and 74’ modified pts champ at Mid In 1959 he helped Bud Gilliam and Cecil Trantham build a Continent in Donipan Ne. Also in ’74 was Points Champ th car which Blaney drove. In 1960 Rich finished second in at Hastings, Triple Crown at Doniphan and finished 4 at the B Division driving a Flathead powered car for Warren Black Hills Speedway in the Black Hills Championship Peck. He also drove an Olds powered rail for Tony race. Carrie. In ‘59 and ’60, Rich traveled and drove for Wayne 1975 saw a new car built from a Speedway Motors Roger rd in Martin and Tex Jones at Farmington and Aztec. In ‘63 Beck style spring front Kit, and the # 29 finished 3 Martin stretched a Midget and with a fuel injected Chevy, points at Doniphan Ne. A 76’ wreck at Knoxville slowed the car ran great until Blaney flipped it 6 times. Williams for a time but he came back and finished 4th in th McCallister and Grady Summey bought a car from Wayne Triple Crown Championship and 4 in the annual world Miller and Blaney was back in the top ten in point modified championship at Doniphan. Ron Raced Eagle, standings. Blaney raced Tucson, Phoenix, Amarillo, El ran the Hartford track at Sioux Falls running with Jim Paso, Denver and Pueblo in Colorado in the 1960’s.This Goettsche, Sam Liebig , Don Mack, Jerry Franzen, and top-notch New Mexico leadfoot, drove for a host of Don Weyrich. BCRA owners including Gordon Herring, Wayne Miller In 1979 Williams returned to Erie Colorado and the Curt Stockwell, Joe Taylor, and loved to drive the highlight of the night was a close race with Jr in Novotny,”BumbleBee” Horning-Fisher Six. Blaney would which Ron was able to pass Al Jr in the late stages of the often fly from New Mexico to Midwest venues to drive race for the win. Ron and Gary Herbst of North Platte built the car. Rich Blaney passed away in 2006 in New Mexico. a car in the 80’s and won 2 Championships at North Platte, won a B Feature at Midwest running with Wolfgang, Jensen, John Riggins and Lloyd Beckman Son Tom began racing in 86’ won championships at North Platte and ran the United Rebels circuit for several years with good success.

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Rich Blaney in the Stockwell Offy at Erie Co. 1971.Byers

A young Al Sherman at Geenwich N.Y .1934

Photo Received from UNK. Was Wrong side out. Guy in 2nd row outside? Norton Ks

Al Sherman, late 40’s Midget action

A tense Moment captured at the “Haag Reverse Steer Clinic”, Lincoln Al Sherman #30, leading BCRA at Pueblo Co,1958

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BCRA Member, Gene Pacheco’s Pikes Peak Upright

Restoration of the Blanot “Lotus Blossom”, 2nd Rear Engine car.

Del Schmidt in the #29 at Topeka.Ks

Big Car Racing Association 306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Ne 68927

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