Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, 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 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 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 . 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 . Paul brought Saturday Morning the group got together at Joe’s out his old 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 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 , 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, , Lonnie Jenson, Ray Lee Goodwin, 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. The race and IMCA Championship. team won several races in the super ranks(with a cage)and several in the Sprint car ranks. This included Dick’s first wins in both BCRA and IMCA during this time. In 1970 Gary sold the #29 to the R&H Farms team out of Colfax . Both Hitchcock and Sutcliffe went with the winning Sprinter. The only change was the of the car to #40. After another successful campaign Dick and Craig moved on to other race teams.

The historic Mcgown 5x on display in the Museum. This car had an interesting history with drivers like Slater, Opperman and Cecak. Dick Sutcliffe and Craig Hitchcock R.Cunningham Dick Sutcliffe was one of the the greatest Sprint Car drivers of his era. Racing primarily in the heartland but also venturing out to the West and East coast. Dick thrilled fans across America in the 1960’s and 70’s with his mash the button style. Dick was a stellar performer in the Super-Modified ranks, winning championships in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas. Dick Sutcliffe and Craig Hitchcock at Eagle Racing in the BCRA and IMCA ranks in Sprint car In 1973 ’s Grant King had become one of the racing, he was a contender at every venue. Sutcliffe hottest builders in . Craig went to finished 2nd for the BCRA championship in 1970 and King’s shop and built a Sprinter that would be owned by challenged for the IMCA title in 71 and 72, finishing in Bruce Edwards and would race as the Blue Diamond the top three both years. Concrete Sprinter with Engines by Jim Gessford(BCRA 3 Hall of Fame Nominee)both of Nebraska. A dispute with the IMCA kept Dick out of the club for the 73’ and 74’ seasons, this was not good luck for the local race tracks. Armed with the new Grant King sprinter Sutcliffe went on a mission to destroy the competition and destroy them he did. Sutcliffe and Hitchcock raced and won wherever they went in in 1973, but it was at Knoxville where they simply could not be beat. During one stretch the Black #7 won seven straight features at the Marion County Fairgrounds on the way to a dominating track championship. In 2008 Craig Hitchcock reproduced the beautiful black sprinter with the Gold Leaf #7. In June mechanic and driver would be reunited at the BCRA Hall of Fame Aerial view of the Haag Speed shop meeting room induction ceremony at Lincoln Ne. Afterwards Sutcliffe flat out told me in a style all his own, “ Craig Hitchcock was the best mechanic I ever worked with”, “The black #7 was the best car I ever drove”. Sutcliffe further states, “Craig deserves to be in the BCRA Hall of Fame”. The next evening at Eagle, driver, car and Mechanic were reunited in another way while racing at one of the tracks Sutcliffe raced during his hay days at BCRA Vintage get together during the local Saturday Night show. I would like to say the results were as good as 1973 but they were not as they fought the car to get it to run right. Both the looks on the faces of Sutcliffe(who had not been in race car since 75)and Hitchcock said it all with, “ We were both in our element and …….for a moment it was 1973 all over again!

BCRAHOF nominee Mike Cecak and old friend the Mcown Chevy

BCRAHOF nominee Jerry Weld and the Henry built Les King Sprinter

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Denver Colorado Plane back in the morning to work the pits during the day. 8-16-10 How many people would of done what Mearle did for as he never blew his own horn but auto racing was Hi Gary, After talking to you on the phone I will send you better off for Mearle Holbrook. a note about Mearle Holbrook that you might not be aware Another thing, any time a driver was hurt and went to the of. I have known Mearle since shortly after he and Don hospital Mearle would be there also. And another funny Budy got out of the service. Both were great guys and thing was when Mearle moved back to City really enjoyed auto racing. about the time the speed limit on the interstate highways Me and Mearle were Oakie’s and of course Mearle was a was 55 mph and Mearle would drive down to Dallas to long time Pit Steward but he was much more than a pit visit his sister that lived there. When I asked Mearle about steward. Mearle worked with track owners , promoters, all of the miles and miles of highways in Texas did the sponsors and anyone else connected with auto racing. He Texans pay any attention to the 55mph speed limit as it was responsible for lots of publicity in the auto racing would take forever to drive across Texas and Mearle said,” papers not just of BCRA but with Midgets and the Pikes “Any time you saw a Texan driving 55mph he was out Peak Hill Climb. changing a tire.” Well, this is only a note, not a book but I In about 1965 when BCRA sanctioned a two day show at hope you will find a little more about Mearle Holbrook Bethany Mo and Mearle was so sick that he couldn’t even that you didn’t know, disregard the spelling but you will drive a car and should have been in bed but he asked me if get the drift. Keep up all the good work that you are doing I would drive him back there and we were gone three days for the BCRA and auto racing. but he was that determined to do his job and the BCRA. Sincerely Another funny thing happened there as Jack Hahn was Leroy Byers using his Piles Peak setup in his new Sprint car with a full and he cleaned the field with his heavy set- up. And any time at any race track when you needed some help to gather up people or race cars for a photo for a news paper , Mearle would handle it like the Trophy Queen at Greeley in 1965 when Lloyd Axel came out of retirement to win the BCRA Feature. Mearle got the Trophy Queen Sharon positioned in just the right position for a great photo. After a three day BCRA show at Hutchinson Ks I asked Mearle if he could help me get the three feature winning cars, drivers and owners together for a group shot for the front cover of NSSN and he said, “I’ll handle that just give me a few minutes”, and it was done. Well Mearle was a lot more than a Pit Steward for BCRA and I would like to BCRA Photographer Leroy Byers with Junior Ward and Ms Berl Ward point out just a few of them.

Hutch Ks : Lloyd Beckman, Gordon Woolley and Don Brown When the BCRA ran a two or three day show at the Oklahoma State Fair and although Mearle was working his BCRA Induction ceremony. Speedway Motors. Lincoln Nebraska 2010 regular job, he worked the pits for the day show and caught a plane home and worked his regular nite job and caught a 5

Warren Hamilton during his competitive days

Dick Sutcliffe receiving award

Five decade competitor Keith Hightshoe receiving from Ray C

Colorado’s Jack Kline and three time champ Gordon Herring’s wrench accepting award in Lincoln

Lincoln’s Gary Swenson receiving for himself and partner Charlie Williams

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Texan Edd French proudly displays his award in Lincoln before heading back to Justin Tx and a new ride for the upcoming season. Gentleman Davey Ross accepting award and recalling the good old days on the BCRA

Colorado’s Ernie Decroce was a dedicated car owner and Driver Steve Troxell and Champ owner Ken Slocum strong supporter of the open wheels for decades

Ray Lee Goodwin and Gary Swenson at Gary’s shop in Lincoln. 5-2005 Charlie Williams and Gary Swenson 7

Ralph Parkinson Jr, Ralph Parkinson Sr and KC’s Dave Tyson Tim and Dan Andre with the #16 visiting with Harry Ivers at Eagle

Eagle Raceway 2010

Bill Smith and Joe Haag discuss the last car of Don Maxwell’s

C.A.R.B reunion Lakeside Spdwy Kansas City Ks Aug 2010

Dick Morris 1976 Bench racing at Joes Speed Shop under the air conditioning

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A young fan takes the seat of the Haag Indy Roadster

Jesse Hockett “The Rocket”” We don’t often write about racers that didn’t race before 1980, but one driver from the Heartland was a throwback to the “Good Old Days”. A time when drivers raced without the “Hog Sheds” above their heads. When sprint car racing in the BCRA and IMCA dominated the fair circuits of the Midwest and tracks like Topeka, Olympic, Knoxville, Eagle and Marshall raced every week without wings!! Drivers that included , Carl Williams,

Jack Kline looks over #52 with the Swanson Chevy in the background Dick Sutcliffe, Jan Opperman, Lloyd Beckman, Ray Lee Goodwin, Joe Saldana and a host of others raced the 60’s and 70’s on the circuits. These drivers raced and won in the BCRA, IMCA and USAC and they raced Indy. Yes Indy! And were on the cover of NSSN and … Magazine. They raced and won on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. After many years without a great non wing Sprint car driver in the Heartland a driver rose up from winged Sprint car racing. Running in the 305,360 and 410 class this driver impressed in winged racing. He won the WOW circuit, the ASCS and with many local groups. #58 Harry Ivers exiting the track at Eagle In 2006 and 3007 he became a National sensation racing with the Sprint Bandits Series against top drivers in , Dave Darland, Bud Kaeding and Damion Gardner. Hockett nicknamed the “Rocket” from Warsaw Missouri took on the best non-winged drivers in the country winning back to back Classics Ron Shuman Classics at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City Kansas while winning the series title both years\ From there the former High School football star ventured to the West coast where he won two of the

Keith Hightshoe, Harry Ivers, Ray Cunningham and Dave Mcown biggest races of the year for non-winged Sprint cars 9 with victories at the Oval Nationals, Perris Ca. and the Western World Championship at Manzanita in in 2008. Hockett also raced in the USAC Dirt Car Series and the Midget Ranks making back to back Chili Bowl A Feature starts.

Open wheel champion Jesse Hockett, one of the best ever.

2009 was the greatest season for the six foot driver as Jesse won 22 Feature events including the Crown Jewell coming at the Ultimate Challenge Non-Winged race at Oskaloosa Iowa. This year Hockett was off to another impressive start winning races in Winged Sprint cars as well. The last weekend of his career he won all three races he competed in. The final day of Jesse’s life was spent preparing his Sprint car team to race in a Non wing show on Thursday and an ASCS Jon Backlund with Championship Jacket donated to Museum winged double header over the weekend. Jesse Hockett was a tough customer and not someone you would believe would die at a young age unless it was behind the wheel of a fire breathing Sprint car. But life doesn’t always make sense and for the fans friends and loved ones of the Warsaw driver his death will always be a great tragedy. Jesse was born in 1983 and was just 26 years old in May when he lost his life. He was recently married to wife Tina Marie and had many great years ahead of him, on and off the race track. “Rest in Peace Rocket”, you were one hell of a racer and a great person as well. R. Cunningham

BCRAHOF nominee Thad Dosher receiving trophy 10 The Unser Family in BCRA: Little Al &Bobby Jr at Erie 77’ Bobby Sr and Al Sr & flagman Karl Mismach- Pueblo Co

BCRAHOF nominee Leo Tucker before BCRA win at Century 21 speedway Denver Co

Arizona’s BCRA Champ and BCRAHOF nominee Larry Clark

Tennessee’s at Erie Co 77’. The last BCRA Champion

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L to R Dave Tyson for Ken Slocum, Harry Ivers for Warren Hamilton, Jon Backlund for Steve Troxell, Keith Hightshoe, Gina McCarthy for Ernie

Decroce, Davey Ross, Gary Swenson for the Swenson/Williams team, Dick Sutcliffe, Edd French and Jack Kline .

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