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Big Car Racing Association and Hall of Fame

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Big Car Racing Association and Hall of Fame Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, COLORADO SPRINGS CO th (50 Anniversary 1958 - 2008 ) BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES July August September 2010 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) absent from last years exhibits and even added new Welcome, During the past year we have again assembled pictures to the portable units in use. The four panels of the critical history associated with the BCRA. Biographies existing BCRA History Murals were staged on easels at the were produced and turned over to the selectors who once entrance for all to view. The overhead display was running again provided a tremendous class of Inductees for the Hall a recently updated CD of BCRA photos and the slideshow of Fame at the Collection of American Speed at Speedway continued throughout the Induction ceremony. motors. Once again we were all reminded of the All inductees were on hand except Warren Hamilton and significance of commemorating this most special time in Kenny Slocum who are deceased and BCRA Champ Steve American Open Wheel racing and how fortunate the Troxell who was unable to make the event. Davey Ross of BCRA staff is to have collaborated in the preservation of Jetmore Ks left the wheat harvest in Western Ks and this history. The reward came on Friday night as we arrived in Lincoln nearly at the start to receive his rubbed shoulders with some of the greats in BCRA history award and delivered a stirring address about his years at the 2010 BCRA Hall of Fame induction . Many thanks with the club. to Jim Mcniel and the Speedway crew who had the Davey wasted little time after the event to return to plaques fabricated and staged in the museum upon arrival the wheat fields to beat the rain and bring in the and to Dave Tyson of KC for helping out at the event. harvest. The Decroce family was present in force to Jack and Jackie Kline of Colorado were the first of the represent Ernie whose contributions to the BCRA and inductees we encountered along with KC”s Craig open wheel racing have become near legendary. Hitchcock hauling the Gessford Machine black #7. 2010 Accompanying daughters Gina and Christy were inductee Dick Sutcliffe and wife Vicky along with BCRA Ernie’s wife Bernie and son in law’s Keith Rauch and inaugural inductee Harry Ivers and wife Linda arrived early Joe McCarthy both top Midget and Sprint competitors. at the Motel and once again it was a pleasure to reunite Keith Hightshoe of Lincoln had a racing career which with this Colorado couple whose efforts in the original spanned five decades and included the BCRA, a most BCRA and their contributions to the BCRA Hall of Fame have been significant since its inception. interesting competitor and a fitting inductee. Edd A trip to Joe Haags Speed Shop yielded another group of French of Texas won as many features as anyone as he BCRA standouts gathered to view the Swanson Chevy traveled the circuits in the US and even Old Mexico on recently acquired by Joe and Larry Swanson for restoration occasion. Still active in winged racing in Texas Edd will at the Lincoln Speed Shop. begin the 2011 season in a new ride. Lincoln’s Gary Swenson received his award and remembered the days when Ray Lee piloted the Swenson –Williams Chevy to several Feature wins and Championships in the Midwest. Partner and father-in- law Charlie Williams was a tremendous influence on the success of the team and was honored posthumously at the ceremony. Jack Kline of Denver was the wrench for the only three time BCRA Champ Gordon Herring of Golden Colorado. During the weekend we were able to visit with Kline and learned of the 330 Cu in Offy Gordon had built and installed in the Shiliah built #54. Gordon Woolley once drove the car at Winchester stating,”The motor in that car was STOUT.” He also added that during the race he was cut off by another driver and slid Swanson Chevy ready for restoration at Joes Speed shop upside down 1056 feet with the paved surface nearly Back at Speedway Motors and Historian Bob Mays, we eroding the roll bar in half. It was at Owatonna Mn in toured the meeting area arranged the pictorial display the next race that Gordon was killed. Dick Sutcliffe was one of the great Kansas City stars in the open wheel ranks and his list of accolades are common to a great champion of the era and it was an honor to have Dick and Vicki on hand at the event. Jon Backlund received for Steve Troxell of Denver the 75 BCRA Champ and being a great open wheel competitor himself who ran with Troxell told of the Slocum Chevy with Troxell at the helm was a time to remember. Harry Ivers received for Warren Hamilton who was still running in the top ten with the club in his late 50s. Warren began racing in the 20’s in Missouri. later finding his way to Colorado where he not only competed but was active as President and as an official for a time. Kansas City’s Dave Tyson received the award for BCRA Car Owner Champ and President Ken Slocum who put Don Droud Sr and his nearly restored sprinter at Eagle together the winning combination during one the most competitive seasons with Steve Troxell and the Slocum It was a pleasure to finally meet up with Don again as Chevy yielding a BCRA Championship. it was Paul Tainter of Fremont Nebraska. Paul brought Saturday Morning the group got together at Joe’s out his old Wyoming Big Car for the event and put her Speed shop to bench race and view the cars on hand. A on the track where it competed in fine fashion. It was great time was had by all and the air conditioning felt great to see Paul again. good on this day where the temp reached 105 deg. Dick Sutcliffe put the Hitchcock replica on the track French , Sutcliffe and Backlund recalled such days gone and showed his talent at the wheel of the Gessford by as they stood with sweat filled racing shoes ready to Machine Sprinter. run the next race. The engine was missing a little until Dick cleared her throat going down the back chute every other lap or two. The Ivers Chevy performed flawlessly during the event as did the Andre Hemi and the Joe Haag piloted Indy Roadster. Dan Andre was accompanied by son Tim and his wife Sheila at Eagle. Original BCRA competitor Ed Bowes displayed the Haag Model A Speedster on track much to the delight of the fans before an electrical short sidelined the classic speed machine. A Great time was had by all and another Vintage exhibition came off without a hitch. Dave McGown brought the Bob Slater ride to town for The last car Don Maxwell built. Notice the wing shaped hood. the event. Dave and his father Dan acquired the car Bill and Joyce Smith were on hand as we looked over the soon to be restored Swanson Chevy and the last Don Maxwell creation ever fabricated. Bill was able to enlighten the small crowd as to BCRAHOF Nominee Don Maxwell’s career. Old friend and BCRA supporter Wayne Panter of Lubbock Tx was on hand for the event having spent the Summer in Belleville and taking in some of the great regional racing. By 4PM we all headed to Eagle Raceway, the nights racing, the Midwest Old Timers reunion and the Vintage on-track. Several of the Lincoln areas Midwest competitors came out and among them were Don Droud Sr and his nearly restored sprinter he competed BCRAHOF nominee Mike Cecak with his old ride the, McGown 5x in the BCRA with. years ago from Grandpa and car owner Fred Bower who’s Racing history goes back decades as does Dan 2 McGown’s in the stockers and Modified’s. Dan passed This Kansas City driver who towered over the away last year and we’ve all missed his great competition in stature and ability(Sutcliffe was built personality and racing savvy. like a defensive lineman and had the height to match)raced against many of the great drivers of the era including Jerry Blundy, Eddie Leavit, Joe Saldana, Lonnie Jenson, Ray Lee Goodwin, Jan Opperman and Jay Woodside. Dick raced for Kansan Gary Hanna in his black #29 Sprinter and R&H Farms famous #40. The combination of Sutcliffe, owner Dave Van Patten and mechanic Bob Trostle with Corn Belt racing in the #19 and #18 sprinters, was one of the best in the early70’s. Based on his accomplishments on the track with some of the best racer’s of the era, with some of the best mechanical minds, Sutcliffe had a favorite car, and mechanic during this time and he hasn’t been mentioned yet. Craig Hitckock owned a beautiful #82 sprint car in the late 60’s with drivers that included BCRAHOF’er Grady Wade and Jay Woodside who raced for the Missouri nice guy. Hitchcock had moderate success with his Sprinter, but was learning the lessons that would make him one of the best sprint car wrenchs in the 1970’s. Craig first worked with Dick when he worked for Gary A corner in Gary Swenson’s trophy room in Lincoln includes a Hanna on the #29 sprinter in the late 60’s.
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