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

BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES Jan Feb March 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…. With the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction under Curly Doggett has been in the hospital in our belts the BCRA selection committee began the task Anchorage. Curly and Erma‟s address is of assembling information on the 2011 Nominees. This 3330 Capstan ct Anckorage Ak 99516, they would group of competitors was one of the most interesting love to hear from you. ever with car owners, officials, mechanics and top AND…………. drivers. The list was narrowed to 25 finalists and the “For those of us that were there, we were actually selectors went to work. This past week we got the results blessed to see those days and especially the drivers and are proud to announce the results at this time. Thad from that era. I think those of us who lived it, Dosher was one of the few BCRA drivers to go on to appreciate racing a lot more because we did live it win the IMCA Championship and the Knoxville and realize how dedicated the people of that era Nationals. California born Bill Robison of Topeka was were. Gladiators they were, missed they still are. I a stellar BCRA and IMCA competitor and Knoxville Hall of Fame inductee. Master Mechanic Wayne House thank each and everyone of them for what they gave provided a phenomenal amount of expertise on the me. If you received this from Betty I apologize for motors of several champions including Lloyd Beckman, the duplication.” Roger Rager and Thad Dosher. Grier Manning started Dennis Johansen in the Stockers went to the Midgets,Sprinters and Champ Cars on the Colorado circle tracks and at Pikes Peak. LUTHER BREWER(July 1929 to July 2010) Don Brown was a California Phenom who began racing By Ray Cunningham in the 50‟s(even running a NOVI at the Dry Lakes)and Luther Brewer, formerly of Drexel Mo, and Olathe Ks ventured East to run the dirt ovals with the BCRA and passed away at this home in Daytona Beach Florida. th IMCA. The innovator responsible for the Mechanical (KC Star, July 29 2010.) Rabbits ended his career at Indianapolis repairing Mr Brewer was much more than a name and a date, wrecked cars with AJ Watson often working all night Luther was a husband, Father, Grandfather, Gas station ”Prince of Darkness”. Don passed away a couple of owner, postmaster, mechanic, racing promoter, builder, years ago but not before we had the opportunity to tape owner and pretty much a friend to everyone he met in several interviews with this master craftsman. Last car the racing community. he worked on was in 2002 for Mark Randol. And was A who‟s who of Heartland racing drivers drove for the NSCHOF inductee in 2007. Drexel nice guy that included BCRA Hall of Famers, Larry Clark, the 73‟ BCRA Champ and Ralph Ray Lee Goodwin, Dick Sutcliffe, Jon Backlund and Parkinson Jr rounded out the drivers with officials in Grady Wade, Eddie Leavitt, Jack Belk, Thad Dosher, Bill Hill, Mearl Holbrook and Clarence Froid. Wes Farrand and Harlan Johnson. Long time RMMRA and BCRA Flagman Art Luther first became interested in racing when he was 19 Walsh passed away in Colorado recently and word year old truck driver delivering milk to the Kansas City was received that Kansan Jerry Everhart also area. On Sunday nights after working during the day, Brewer would go to Olympic Stadium to watch the passed away and 50‟s Nebraska Roadster, Sprint midget races. Luther became a fan of the little buzz and Stock driver Ardean George from Sutton bombs and the stars of the day, drivers that included Nebraska passed away recently and ….Ralph Eddie McVay, Jud Larson, Mac McHenry, Bob Slater, “Pappy Parkinson” passed away Christmas Eve and Vito Calia, Buzz Barton and Cecil Green. we have included a story by Nick Gholson on Ralph After a stint in the military and several more years of Sr. Maybe he was a “Big fish in a small Pond”once watching the racers Brewer decided to to become a upon a time, but Pappy raced with the best in the participant in 1961. The first three cars Luther built were nation during a stellar career in motorsports. A great successful at the local tracks racing in what evolved story and thanks to Mr Gholson for the ink. overtime into full blown super modifieds.In 1964 Luther built his first sprint car from a CAE blue print.This car was first driven by Wes Farrand and later Jack Belk. before the 1968 season and the white #97 was With this car Brewer raced with fuel injection and chauffeured by some of the best ever Ray Lee, Thad alcohol as well as a Magneto, for the first time. Dosher, Grady Wade, Eddie Leavitt and Dick Sutcliffe. Luther traveled across the heartland with his fourth Luthers final win as an owner was with Dick Sutcliffe at creation racing at Knoxville,Topeka, Lakeside, Olympic, the State Fairgrounds in 1969, sending Sedalia and with the BCRA at Colorado State Fair in Brewer out a winner in his final race. Pueblo. Racing with this car took Brewer to another Luther was well respected at the track and his love for level in his understanding of how a high performance dirt track racing led him to promoting races at the Mid- short track car should work successfully on both the America Fairgrounds in Topeka from 1971 to 1974 after bullrings at Olympic and the big half miles like Topeka. his retirement as an owner. I remember my Dad on For the 1966 season Luther built a new Super Modified several occasions talking to Luther before or after the and asked Olympic track champion Ray Lee Goodwin to races and he was always courteous and friendly with drive it for him. Over the next two seasons this car questions about his race promotions. Luther was a gas would help two of the nicest guys in racing to three track station owner and Postmaster in his hometown of Drexel championships, Olympic in 66‟ and Topeka in 1966 and and the last years of his life were spent in retirement at 67‟. Daytona Beach Florida. Brewer‟s wife Lou and children This Super Modified was designed by Luther from Diana, Brenda, Jeff and Garet Sherman, and sisters plans he developed from one of the most successful Maxine and Onieta survive Luther. Donations can be sprint cars ever raced out of Kansas City, the Willie sent to the Central Auto Racing Boosters in memory of Davis built, former C&T Automotive Special. That Luther Brewer at 17580 Stubbs Station Road, Platte City sprint car was built for Clem Tebow out of California Missouri 64079. but was bought in 1965 by Greg Weld and driven by him Rest in Peace Luther, you were a great competitor and to a second place finish in the USAC Sprint Car division friend to the Kansas City racing community. You will be final standings behind champion Johnny Rutherford in deeply missed by many. RC 1965. Luther‟s fifth creation turned out to be one of the most successful Super Modifed Sprint cars in the history of racing in the heartland. After selling the car to Cunningham, Topeka‟s Thad Dosher won the Knoxville Nationals in 1967. In 1969 the now red #14 racer(Jack Cunningham‟s signature color and number)with a sprint car tail(instead of a box one )had the most prolific season in Heartland super modified racing with another Kansas City racer, “Tiger” Bob Williams behind the wheel. During the 1969 campaign, Williams won over 40 races while winning three track championships at Topeka, Knoxville and Olympic. Luthers creation also finished in the top three at the Knoxville Nationals, when Williams Many “Thanks”to The Red Fox crew for the great service finished a close third behind Jan Opperman and winner Kenny Gritz. Luther‟s winning car was then sold to Kansas owner Gary Hanna in 1970, and the winning ways continued as Thad Dosher behind the wheel once again took the track title at Topeka, the 7th championship in 5 years for the Brewer car. The final stop for the car was with the Bailey Brothers Speed Shop in Sacramento Ca, in 1971. Brewer built 6 more cars after the dominate 5th car. Among those was the #92 driven and owned by Stan Borofsky, “ The Mad Russian”, of Kansas City This car was driven by by Doug Hjermstad at Belleville Ks where the young Dakota driver was killed when his seat belt belt broke. Brewer also built a beautiful sprint car Stan Borofsky “The Mad Russian”(Ivers Photo)

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BCRA original Gene Pacheco, at Pikes Peak 68’

BCRA HOF nominee Eddie Leavitt at Lawton Ok

2011 BCRA HOF inductee Grier Manning in Aggies #98

Jerry Stone (Ivers Photo)

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Thad Dosher GHOLSON: PARKINSON WAS KING OF DIRT TRACK By Nick Gholson

Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Robison of Topeka Ks Published Friday, December 31, 2010 In the mid-‟60s, Ralph Parkinson went to work every day, just like any average Joe. He was a mechanic from 8 to 5, five days a week at his garage on North Scott Street. But when the sun set each Friday evening, Ralph Parkinson was anything but average.He turned into Elvis.Wichita Speedway was his stage.The roar of an engine was his song. And the fans adored him. As the red 1937 Chevy coupe roared from the back of the pack to take the checkered flag — as it did just about every Friday — they stood and shouted to the heavens.The king of the dirt track had driven old No. 6 to another feature victory. And life was good. That‟s how I most Jerry Weld and his Hank Henry built (Les King) sprinter remember the popular Parkinson, who died of pancreatic cancer just two days before Christmas. He was a racing hero. A big fish in a small pond. At the time, Wichita Falls had a bigger fish in a much bigger pond. Parkinson grew up in the huge shadow cast by Lloyd Ruby. But if Rube were alive today, he would be the first to tell you that his good buddy Ralph could drive with the best of them. Parkinson moved to Kansas City in the late ‟60s and won lots of races driving midgets and sprint cars at tracks across the corn belt. He dominated the Midwest fair circuit. He once won 12 feature races in a row at the old state fair half-mile track in Oklahoma City and won nine straight features at Devil‟s Bowl in Dallas. “Ralph could drive any kind of car. He was a real racer,” longtime friend Steve Young said. “And not only could he drive them, he was the best mechanic I have ever known. A lot of guys can drive them, but they can‟t work on them. Ralph could do both.”“He had unbelievable reflexes. He was so smooth,” added Scott Hunter, whose family owned the

BCRA ace and Hall of Fame nominee Bart Manley -powered midget car that Parkinson won a

4 lot of races in. “He was also an inspiration to everybody around him. He would keep a cool head when everybody else lost theirs.‟ Parkinson raced his way into national halls of fame in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. He also added the IMCA national championship to his resume‟ in 1976. But most people can‟t tell you what IMCA stands for — International Motor Context Association. So if Parkinson was so good, why was he not up in Indianapolis driving in the 500? Why did he not go to NASCAR and challenge Richard Petty for his kingdom?“Lloyd had him a couple of leads to run champ cars, but it would mean he would have to be away from home three or four days a week. Dad stayed home to take care of his family,” older son Ralph Jr. told me. Junior said that when his parents divorced in 1968, his dad “took care of my brother and helped get him through high school.”“With him, it was family first and racing second,” he pointed out.“Ralph had a chance to drive an

Indy car for a big owner down in Houston. Bobby Unser BCRA original Slim Roberts after a 300 ft., 13 flip tumble off wound up with the ride because Ralph was a strong the mountain in 62’. “13 always my lucky number” (Ivers) family man,”Hunter said.Young said that Parkinson was with Ruby in Indianapolis one day when a car owner came in and asked Ruby if he knew anyone who could drive his car at an Indy race in Milwaukee.“Lloyd pointed to Ralph and said, „That old boy right there can drive it for you.‟ Ralph called home and asked his wife if he could stay up there a few days and drive in Milwaukee. She told him to get home. That was his big chance,” Young said. “He was a very congenial man and a master mechanic,” friend Joe Raines said. “Ralph was one of a kind, a true champion.” Simply put, Ralph Parkinson was one of the best “good old boys” you‟ll ever know.Rest in peace, my friend. Sports columnist Nick Gholson can be reached at

Don Brown Sprinter restored

Great shot of 2011 HOF Inductee Roger Rager at work Ace Jerry Blundy of Galesburg Ill

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Bart Manley Leads Al Unser Sr at Pueblo Aug 62’

Subject: MANY A DRIVER GAVE HIS LIFE IN PURSUIT OF INDY GLORY

I saw the following story in National Speed Sport News and I wanted to pass it on. thought you might find it interesting..., As we all know Racing isn't Baseball and Jimmy McVay and the Gary Blackman Chevy the risks can be enormous ” . Our sport has become so safe that safety is a subject seldom discussed anymore. There is a large legion of fans who probably don‟t realize how dangerous racing was. In doing research for the 100th , I discovered some eye opening facts. Ninety-eight drivers competed in the ten 500”s from 1950-1959. Thirty-nine of them gave their lives to racing....a staggering amount ( 40 % ). Various people have made the cars safer and the track's, too. The drivers seem to be burdened with a lot of protective gear, but I guess they don't mind that much. A big factor is that fire is mostly out of accident equations. We sure love our 1950‟s racing, but we didn‟t get to love the drivers that long. Six drivers...Chuck Weyant,born in 1923, the eldest, Eddie Russo, Don Edmunds, Jim Keith Hightshoe in the explosive Ed Smith Chevy 1966 Ivers Rathmann, Paul Goldsmith, and A.J. Foyt are the last survivors of the 1950,s Indy 500 drivers. Rathmann actually drove in the 1949 500 Mile Race. Hopefully most all of them will be able to accept the IMS invitation along with all of the past living drivers “

Recent passing of Orville Nance in Colo Sprgs.

Thomas, Saddened to hear of Orville's passing please give our best wishes to the family. Orv was one of kind and will be missed. Orville Nance was an Inaugural inductee into the Big Car Racing Association Hall Of Fame at Lincoln Ne in 2006. His selection prompted a trip to Colorado Springs where we made our Rare shot of Harry Ivers (58)and Bob Daly(76) in the Frenzel Lincoln’s along with Vaughn Eggers at Holyoke 1966 presentation to Orv and had a great time getting acquainted. We met again the next morning and as we sat gazing at the Peak from the Train Wreck restaurant, Orv related many of his past experiences at the Hill

6 Climb and the circle tracks but, his mind was up on the mountain. He would regularly shift glance to the West, and Pikes Peak, and it was if he was challenging the treacherous old road again. He talked of Glen Cove, Devil's Playground, 11 Mile Water Hole, the Switchbacks and even the present weather patterns along the course as we watched from our air conditioned seats below. It was a most memorable morning indeed! Please advise as to Funeral arrangements, memorials etc.... Gary Wolfe BCRA. Hall of Fame

Gary, Can you guess who this is? Taken in 1946(Bumpus photo) Thanks for your email. It's good to hear things like this. Orv was adamant that he not have a funeral or service...I Speed Sport News would cover every aspect of car don't think he wanted anyone standing around looking at racing over its 76 years plus of operation. The weekly his body and crying over him. At least that's my racing paper ran the gamut of racing coverage, from assumption. My understanding is that he will be at Monza, Italy, to the local Jalopie races cremated later today. at Pumpkinville Speedway. Even though no service was his wish...having no service NSSN brought BCRA to the world with its coverage of is especially hard on my mother (his baby sister) and his the Big Car Racing Association. BCRA Hall of Fame two remaining living brothers Roy and Everett. It would Members Tom Davey, Bill Hill, Beryl & L.A. Ward, be really nice if either the BCRA or the PPIHC could do Mearl Holbrook, and Leroy Byers all contributed to the something during the PPIHC festivities this year. I number one racing paper. When Lloyd Beckman set a would like to know more about your Hall of Fame and worlds half mile track record for sprint cars at the any performance records or data you might have on him? Belleville High Banks, NSSN featured the story with a I'm going to share your email with my mother and picture in its next weeks edition. Throughout the uncles if you don't mind? BCRA's history, Hall of Famers that included Jan Thanks again for your response. Tom Lewis Opperman, "Speedy" Bill Smith, Ray Lee Goodwin, Joe Saldana, Eddie Jackson, Grady Wade, Harold Leep, and National Speed Sport News many, many, others were featured in NSSN articles and 1934-2011 pictures, that were submitted from the before mentioned On March 23rd, 2011 the most influential racing contributor's. Because of this coverage the Belleville newspaper in the history of the sport ceased publishing. High Banks was mentioned in the same league with the National Speed Sport News, also known as (NSSN) for greatest tracks of the era, and racing, and winning in the short was racings bible for over 76 years, and covered BCRA became a career highlight for many drivers, the BCRA from its first year of operation in 1958, until owners and mechanics. its last in 1977. The impact of NSSN on members of the BCRA was National Speed Sport News started life as a weekly documented, and I would like to share some of the their racing section in a North New Jersey Newspaper named reflections with you. Long time racing journalist, the Bergen Herald. In 1934 the racing section became a photographer, and now Internet talk show host Boyd weekly racing paper and was named the National Auto Adams had this to say about Speed Sport News. Racing News. "As a contributor to NSSN from the late 1970's to the A 13 year old boy sold the paper for a nickel at Ho-Ho- 1990's, the paper let me hone my hobby into a craft. Kus Speedway,and within a couple years would have his Photos from my home speedway, the Tulsa Fairgrounds own column.Chris Economaki born in 1920, would stay were often labeled as "Tulsa Tussle". As my travels with the fledgling racing paper for the next 76 years, increased I was able to cover some races with photos as through a name change in 1943 to National Speed Sport well as writing results. My biggest fans were always News, and later as editor starting in 1950. After Jack Miller and Bill Hill. Both advised me to write and becoming editor, Chris would later become the owner be passionate about my sport. and publisher as well. Bob Mays, racer, photographer, and author, has worn many hats in auto racing over the last 30 years, his reflections speak to the importance of NSSN.

7 "If a race was run and not reported in NSSN, then did it at the front door before 2 PM and let the guide really happen? There was a time when the obvious know you are with the BCRA and HOF group. answer was NO! "I heard a former Indy winner once say There is a lot to see in this, the most colossal Auto he knew he had made it as a race driver when he saw his Racing collection, in the country. name mentioned in Chris' Column." Tours will follow the ceremony on Friday Night. Jim Schmitt, who has been a race fan for over 50 years, Saturday the 25th we will meet at Joes Speed shop and has been friends with the Weld family, most of that time, spoke about the anticipation of getting on South Folsom another great time of Bench racing NSSN every week. "When we lived in Hutchinson, I and Hot Rod rides. Joe Haag has graciously hosted would meet your father at the post office in the evening the event since the inception of the Hall of Fame and get the bible (NSSN) from my post office and has been an avid supporter of Vintage for box....that was when the mail was carried by train!" twenty years. He has restored several cars over the Speed Sport News was a part of auto racings culture years and is in the process of bringing another through the Great Depression, World War II, and many significant part of BCRA history back to life in the other life changing events over the last 8 decades. Larry Swanson Chevy. Jimmy McNiel, who has Boyd Adams said it for everyone when he finished his been involved in the Hot Rods for decades and a comments with this statement. "Goodbye old friend. I lifelong member of the Red Devils club, is busy on will miss you." RC Cunningham the Plaques, Hats and Calenders, its guys like these

that make the show happen and many thanks for the 2011 BCRA Hall of Fame at Lincoln dedicated efforts and support.

The 2011 Hall of Fame ceremony will be on June 24th at the Speedway Motors Museum in Lincoln By the Way…… Ne. The ceremony will be held at 6 PM in the The unidentified photo on page 6 is a 26 year old Chris Meeting room. There will be a free tour beginning Economaki in 1946, reportedly taken at Flemington NJ. at 2 PM for any BCRA members who wish to see And……..2011 Dues are now due so please forward to the Museum before the Induction Ceremony. Meet 306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Ne 68927. Thanks for the support, see you in Lincoln!!

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