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

BCRAWelcome Staff. Dave to the Tyson(Mo) bcra hall Ray Cunningham(Ks)Boydof fame newsletter Adams(Tx)Bruce hall of Budy(C0)Gerry Miller(Tx) Tom Davey(Co)Wayne Panter(Tx)Gary Wolfe(Ne)

Welcome to the Big Car Racing Assoc newsletter, Hall of Fame addition Bcra Staff: for Dave 2015 Tyson(Mo). The good Ray Cunningham(Ks), Guys Hot Rod Boyd club Adams(Tx), came to Bruce Budy(C0), Gerry Miller(Tx), Tom Davey(Co), Wayne Panter(Tx), Gary Wolfe(Ne) Lincoln on this weekend and with the sponsorship of Speedway Motors had a number of activities including the Cone Racing event, “Day at the Hay” held at the Haymarket facility in Lincoln. Somewhat new to the area, the event was a big success and will return June 25th of 2016. The Model T Speedsters returned for a great weekend of showing us how it once was. I was able to take in the Hill Climb event and this is a must see for “T” enthusiast. The Model T club will return in 2017. Tours of the Museum included the new addition which is partially complete with cars and significant motors of the fuel and fire evolution.

Jim Petty program on early Stock Car days and Jack Petty’s horrendous wreck and fire at Hutch, Ks. This was a most interesting presentation by Jim and we Joe’s Speed Shop with members (Lto R) Gene Kruback(Ne),Joe Haag(Ne), look forward to more in the future. Jon Backlund(N.M.),Dave Tyson(KC),Jack Petty(Ks), Iran(Ks)and Jim Petty(Ks)

Flat Head Hill Climb, an amazing display of power from the early days

Ramona and Gene take a ride in the Haag Hot Rod At the meeting held at the South Folsom Speed Shop a discussion centered around the five BCRA Hall of Fame Inductees for 2015 which include: Colorado Springs native. Bill Mytan was one of the original incorporators of the BCRA but was also instrumental as the

Glen Majors was another of the original incorporators of the Big Car Racing Assoc and served as first secretary/ treasurer. He began racing in 1947 in Colorado with the Midgets and in 1951 began driving for George Peterson piloting his #24 Stock car and later raced the Colorado tracks including Greeley . Glen also ran briefly with the Wyoming Racing Association and ran Pikes Peak in ‘57.These two Officials along with Art Meyers , Don Budy and Karl Mismach brought Sprint racing to the Midwest in a big way, thrilling fans for the next 20 seasons. Dick Frenzel was Production Manager at Merrill engineering in Denver and in ‘49 attacked Pikes Peak with the first of two standout Frenzel Cars and driver Walt Killinger who began competition in 1931 on the circle tracks and Pikes Peak. Enjoy… DICK FRENZEL and the Frenzel Lincolns.

Bill Mytan was one of three frontline officers who formed the BCRA beginning in 1957 at Colorado Springs, Colorado first Vice President. As a competitor, Bill Ran Pikes Peak (’58- ’59), the Wyoming Racing Association and ran the BCRA in his Hemi powered big car. Some may remember Erma’s Kitchen in the Springs where Bill and wife Erma provided hot coffee and quick meals to their clientele.

“Frenzel Cars Always Pose Top Threat in Peak Contest”.. July 4th 1959 Colorado Springs Gazette. Harry Ivers Dick Frenzel who works as production manager of Merrill Engineering in Denver annually takes time out from his work with the Pioneer Electronic Balancing firm to invade Colorado Springs with his two race cars.

2 Finney qualified fastest in the 1953 time trials and won fourth place on race day. The next year, 1954, was one of the hottest competitive races ever held on the Hill and Finney, after qualifying fastest, only finished third in the race although his time was less than the old record.. In 1955, however, the Finney and Frenzel combination really got working broke the record and took first place in the time trials and first place in the race for Dick Frenzel. In 1956 Finney timed in one second behind Bob Unser who won the event with Finney second. But Dick was sure enough of his design to build another car like Finney’s for the driver that who had been finishing right behind Finney for two years in Bill Grover’s little Chevy 6, Slim Roberts. The two cars Dick entered in 1957 finished one and two, the first finish if its kind on Pikes Peak. Roberts and Finney drove the two cars to second and third places in 1958 to prove that it took a new record to beat Dick’s design. In the 1959 Hill Climb Hill Climb Champ and BCRA hall of famer Slim Roberts at BCRA Canyon Roberts finished second and Finney fourth. City 1958 At the 1961 Hill Climb Roberts would finish second behind The two “Rocky Mountain Paving Specials” are driven by Unser while new driver to the team, Charlie Lowderman took Slim Roberts and Bob Finney. Slim Roberts placed the number the Frenzel #58 to a fourth place finish. 85 first in the time trials Tuesday while Finney drove Number The 341 cubic inch Lincoln engines used in both cars had been 58 to third place. modified by Dick and carried four Stromsberg 97 carburetors Frenzel’s racing activities started in 1947 when he built a on an intake manifold of his own design and manufacture. The midget race car and raced it for that season and during 1948 on power was carried through a Ford transmission with a Special the Colorado circuit. Midget racing was at its height then and second gear, a Halibrand quick change center section, an open Dick was racing his car five nights each week , three in Denver tube rear end that Dick fabricated and magnesium wheels. at the Lakeside track and one night each at Colorado Springs Both racers have tubular steel frames and differ chiefly in the and the Pueblo speedways. body design. Finney’s no. 58 with its blunt nose and square grill In 1949 Frenzel had designed an overhead valve modification design has an all aluminum body while Roberts Low, wide for Ford and Mercury Flathead engines and decided to test his snouted car uses fiberglass for the nose and tail, and aluminum design by running the Pikes Peak Hill Climb(Frenzel/Stephans for the hood and cockpit sections…….. Overhead). Walt Killinger raced the car to 12th place that year th Slim Roberts would run the first BCRA race at Canyon City in and 6 in 1950. a Frenzel and the cars would move on to the BCRA running In 1951 Bob Finney took over the wheel of Dick’s racer and th from Pueblo in 1958 until Bob Daly of Broomfield would retire took the Frenzel modified Ford to 7 place money. In 1952 the his Frenzel in about 1970 after a decade of the Hill Climb and racer was out of the race with a broken valve and Dick decided IMCA, MVRA and BCRA. Harry Ivers acquired the Finney to change to another engine. The engine chosen by Frenzel was driven Frenzel and ran it until about ‘64 in the IMCA MVRA an overhead valve Lincoln V-8 and the choice was evidently a and BCRA. Bob Daly still has the running and mint condition good one, because he hasn’t had one of his racing machines th Roberts car to this day. Bernie Shires was born in 1926 at finish below 4 since then. Deming NM. Shires began racing in 1953 running midgets and ran the Carrera Pan-Americana road race, considered one of the most dangerous of the day, with a V-8 Ford and partner Norman Patterson. He later came to the BCRA at Pueblo driving the # 7 for Joe Taylor of Amarillo and his own # 321 at Pueblo and other locations in the years to come . He later would drive for Gordon Herring in his stable of big cars and proved an excellent driver and competitor. Bernie was a constant at the Belleville Nationals for years and passed away in 2006 Chuck Mauro built, owned and maintained some of the most successful open wheel, Midget, Sprint and “Big Cars” of the ‘50’s-‘90’s. Many of these cars were piloted by some of the nation’s top drivers that competed anywhere. Chuck built his first car in 1936, a 29 Model A he turned into a roadster and Jim Merrill, Potsy Gow,Tony and Merle Finney,Lou and Dick Frenzel, Bob Finney won the Main at Derby,Co.. Mauro bought his first Sprint 3 modified it, including a Pop Meyers Cragar and in ‘45 raced it mark on the decade by competing in over sixty Champ Car at Pueblo and in Nebraska and Wyoming. In ‘48 Mauro went to races. His record included four wins, while amassing twenty Pikes Peak with driver Jimmy Good and the Cragar and Good six top five finishes, leading 477 laps, and grabbing nine pole went off the road . In 1958 Chuck and driver Eddie Jackson positions, including the Indy 500 in 1954. Jack McGrath, AKA came to the BCRA with the Mauro Miller and would compete "The Splendid Splinter" was that driver, and teamed with with the club throughout its tenure in the Midwest all the while Wichita Oilman Jack Hinkle in 1950 they would become one of fielding an Offy sprinter and some top Midgets with drivers the top race teams in Champ Car racings Golden era. Jimmy LaMana, Jim Beckley, Larry Rice, Buzz Tapply, Dave In 1950 Hinkle obtained his first Champ car the Strickland sr, Ted Foltz, Earl Kouba and Gene Pastor. flat tailed KK 3000. With this speedster Hinkle and McGrath Charlie Lowderman Drove Midgets and once owned would have a great season in 1950 winning twice, first at and drove the Van Buskirk Kurtis Kit car. Charlie also Langhorne, PA., and later at Syracuse, NY. This car was also drove for Sam Rodriquez in ’57. He later drove for Dick raced by the team in three straight Indy 500's from 1950-1952, Frenzel one year and would drive for Harry Ivers in his finishing third in 1951, after starting there, and starting third in Frenzel Lincoln . Others he drove for include Ray 1952, while finishing eleventh. In 1951 a new sleek Champ car was built for the dirt events for the team. The Kurtis Kraft 4000 Newbill, Vince Conzy and Dale Young owner of a Kurtis debuted at Milwaukee when it was still a dirt track after Indy Sports car later modified to a Roadster style Champ car . that year. Unfortunately the first outing found McGrath Ray(Charlie)Lowderman would compete at thr Pikes Peak Hill spinning out after completing only one lap, resulting in a last Climb from 1953 till 1974. An Ardent Supporter and th place finish! From there though the car became the primary dirt Competitor in the BCRA, Charlie s top finish was a 5 in 1959 machine for Hinkle and McGrath until the end of the 1955 behind Gordon Herring, Curley Doggett, Jack Hahn and Roy season! Walker. The Kurtis Kraft 4000 won at Syracuse in 1952, and at From Indy To Englewood Milwaukee in 1953. Winning a champ car event during that RC Cunningham time was very difficult. The races as they are today were for 100 laps, but without power steering on mostly mile tracks. Wrestling those big machines was a chore. The typical race also only included eighteen starters, which meant everybody else went to the trailer after time trials. McGrath was a master at time trialling, as well as racing in traffic. In 1953 the KK 4000 got its shot at racing in the Indy 500, after the KK3000 was benched for the first time. The results included the upright machine starting on the front row in the third spot. This was significant because it would be the last non roadster to start on the front row at Indy. The 1953 Indy 500 was to be remembered for the grueling heat that caused many drivers to be relieved during the 200 lapper. Jack McGrath however went the distance in his trusty KK 4000 powered by a 270 Offy. Unfortunately Carl Scarborough was not as fortunate.

Jack McGrath 1953 The veteran driver passed away from heat exhaustion after Almost 60 years ago at a bar in Colorado the BCRA was being relieved that afternoon. The next year Hinkle followed the formed so drivers could race their big cars at events besides the trend and bought the KK 500C Roadster for the team. The Pikes Peak Hill Climb around the Rocky Mountain region. Cars results were memorable as McGrath sat on the pole, led 47 laps, that raced in the AAA, and later USAC in the Indy Car ranks but a bad pit stop contributed to the team finishing third while were some of those used in this endeavor. One car originally took his second win in a row. owned by a Wichita, Kansas, Oilman would be one of those In 1955 McGrath would also put on a show at Indy. Starting cars. The car built for the 1951 AAA season by Frank Kurtis on the front row for the fifth straight year, in three different would race in the BCRA in all three decades of its existence, Kurtis Kraft race cars, McGrath had a torrid battle with Vuky and still exists today as a vintage car,restored to its original during the first quarter of the race, unfortunately it was too form and look. much for the 500C roadster and McGrath retired after 57 laps. After WW II racing in general, and in Vukovich wouldn't be as lucky, he was killed while leading the Indy Car series gained a new level of popularity by the start when he couldn't avoid a three car wreck in front of him. of the 1950's. Drivers that included , Jimmy McGrath and Hinkle soldiered on that season. Jack had always Bryan, Billy Vukovich, and would become some been the chief mechanic, as well as the driver for Hinkle. As of the decades greatest stars. One driver from the CRA Roadster they entered the last race of the year the trusty KK 4000 had ranks of California was on par with those drivers, and etched his been with them for five seasons, but was about to be sold to a 4 upcoming owner/mechanic named George Bignotti. McGrath After that the KK 4000 which still raced with the same 270 had bought a new front axel for the team during this time, but Offy it ran with the AAA since 1951. decided not to use it because of the upcoming sale of the car. The move proved to be a fatal one. As the race came to close that day, McGrath started to fade in the standings, the front axel broke, and the former CRA Champ took a wild series of flips that resulted in his death. Bignotti was so upset he couldn't buy the car, and temporarily quit the sport. He came back a short time later and became one of the top mechanics/owners in the history of Indy Car racing. Hinkle was so upset, he sold all his Champ car stuff, but later became one of the greatest competitors in the history of the SCCA, The Wichita racer would win thirty three sports car events across America racing into his Golden years. But, what happened to the KK 4000? One of the top cars in The former McGrath car was then obtained by longtime open Champ car racing from 1951-1955 would later return to racing wheel owner Curt Stockwell. Stockwell ran the Former Hinkle in the newly formed BCRA under the ownership of Gordon Big Car up until his death in the early 1970's. Drivers that Herring of Golden, Colorado. Herring would buy it, as well as included Shorty Burkholder, Gene Pastor, and Rich Blaney of the Blakely Oil car formerly driven by Bobby Ball. Both cars New Mexico raced the famous car for Stockwell. Pastor said in were obtained from RD Whittington a car dealer/racer who later a recent interview that the car that once started on the front row would become more famous as the dad of Indy Car racers Don at Indy was a pleasure to drive, and that the Offy motor sure and Bill Whittington. Both cars ironically enough had raced in could sing! Towards the end of the cars run for Stockwell, Colorado at the Centennial Park Horse Track in Denver. In another Jack, Jack Hahn finished in the top ten with it at Pikes 1951, and 1952 J.C. Agajanian brought the AAA Champ Cars Peak. From Indy to Englewood and beyond, the true story of a there. Former BCRA pilots Harry Ivers and Gene Pastor legendary Kurtis Kraft racer once raced by Jack McGrath, and remembered both racers and cars participating then. The 1951 later by some of the all-time greats in BCRA history! race was won by Bettenhausen, and the 1952 race by Vukovich. McGrath would finish third in the Hinkle mount in 1951, and Ball would finish third in the Blakely Oil Car in 1952.

Herring would become the dominate owner and driver in the early years of the BCRA. With the former Hinkle car, and the former Blakely Oil Car. Herring would win the drivers title in 1959, and 1961, and the owners title in 1960, and 1961. For the 1962 season Herring would also add a brand new Shilala built sprint car with a 330 Cubic Inch Offy motor to the team. This car would take Herring to his third drivers, and owners titles in 1962. During the previous seasons drivers that included Bernie Shires, and Pastor were successful in the former AAA Big Cars. Both Cars were very fast at the 3/8 mile Englewood, Colorado, track. Herring would win in the Hinkle KK 4000 in both 1959, and 1960 there. After the untimely death of Herring who succumbed to injuries suffered in a IMCA sprint car race in 1964. The Hinkle car Jack Hinkle at Lake Afton near Wichita Ks. 1966 would be raced by 1958 BCRA Champ Roy Walker in 1965.

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“My Prince Charming has Arrived”, Jon is Speechless for the first time ever. Take note June 26th, 2015

Champions Don Droud of Lincoln and Jon Backlund. with the Swanson Chevy

Frenzel Lincolns in 1965

6 after he slipped through the hole. Once inside, he would watch the Midget cars race and got hooked on racing. From then on he couldn’t wait until he was sitting behind the wheel of a race car and in the summer of 1946 he got his chance. He started by working on Harry Conklin’s pit crew, and that is where he met Keith Andrews, who drove Harry’s Midget. When Keith decided to move on and drive for someone else, Keith asked Blu to be part of his pit crew, which Blu accepted. That was the beginning of a long friendship that lasted until Keith’s untimely death at Speedway in 1957. Blu started his racing career at Englewood Speedway in 1954 and went on the race at most of the tracks in Colorado and Wyoming, where he raced with greats like Bobby and Sr. Then in the fall of 1954, Keith Andrews asked him to be his co-pilot in one of the most grueling and challenging races anywhere - the La Carrera Pan Americana. This race would cover over 1,900 miles in five days from Tuxtla to Juarez, Jon Backlund,, Hostess Autumn and Jack Petty at Days Inn, Shortly Mexico. after arriving. Autumn was a great help during our stay in Lincoln. Keith started by putting together a pit crew of friends that would challenge the best money could buy. So it was Keith, Blu, Wilson Mclure, Luther Baughman, Bill Weiher and Al Rogers against some of the best drivers with millions of dollars in sponsorship money that they were going to try and beat. The cars started one minute apart at each leg of the race and were only allowed one hour at the end of each leg to work on their cars. As co-pilot it was Blu’s job to make sure that they stayed on coarse and to alert Keith as to which was the road turned and he did this with a map that Al Rogers had made up for them. After five days, 1908 miles, being run off the road, stopped by a train that should not have been there, they rolled across the finish line in third place. This was a huge accomplishment by Jack Petty is running off with Ramona in the “Wedding Wagon”, IF Iran gets any standards! They were paid for finishing third but never it started received their trophy or the Mexican 20 dollar gold piece they were told came with third place.

Blu retired in 1978, after his good friend Sam Sauer was killed driving a Midget at Colorado National Speedway. During the 32 years he raced, he received 3 or 4 perfect attendance awards, best looking pit crew and in 1972 he won the Modified Season Championship at Lakeside Speedway. Blu drove Stock Cars, Midgets and Modifieds throughout his career and he drove for Harry Conklin, Doug Plu, Bert Jones, Tom Burton, Gene Plu, Elmer Sauer, Barney Manley, Don Clark and Dick Ducate. Although Blu is retired from racing, he still loves going to as

Mike Evans collection. Ken Schulz Sprinter with BCRA driver Shawkeet many races as he can and he loves watching and helping his Hindi at the wheel. Late 70s. they also ran a V-6 in this car. (Racing from the grandson Todd and great-grandson Michael when they race Past) their Sprint Car and Midget. To this day, no matter where he goes he runs into peoplewho remember him from “the good old BCRA Member Blu Plemmons days of racing.(Colorado Racing Memories) Blu was born in Amarillo, Texas in 1927. When Blu was about 11, he began sneaking into Lakeside Speedway through a hole in the fence that he had made by removing nails in the bottom One of the most popular drivers in the Midwest passed in of the board and then bending the board out and then back in October 2015. Racing in the Jalopies, Modifieds, Late

7 Models, Sprinters and Midgets, Dean Ward was known and respected throughout the Midwest. An Idaho native and ex Marine, Dean would race for over 30 years winning Hall of Fame recognition in Nebraska and the High Banks at Belleville Kansas.

Edd French. Les and Beryl Ward photo

Built 63-64 by Hank Henry for John Capel’s, sold in ‘68 to Yeatwood Electric and Speed Supply of El Paso for Ernie Nunez to drive. It was then sold to Edd French who won BCRA Championship in ’73 converted to a sprinter . John Josephson photo

Big Car Racing Association 306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Ne

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