February 2003 - Inside Line Column - by Floyd Busby

BCRA's new Shasta Marina Resort Pavement Championship Series has attracted several teams that would otherwise not be competing. In the case of 1995 BCRA champion Marc DeBeaumont, the series has drastically changed his plans for 2003. Marc had planned to sit out the season and concentrate on his Concord-based Stealth distribution business, Stealth Motorsports West, that encompasses the western states. In fact, he has a buyer for his roller midget. But, at times plans do change, and when his mom, Joan, learned of the great prizes for the first and second place finishers in the series, she decided a week-long vacation on a luxurious houseboat on Lake Shasta was an ideal vacation, and prompted Marc to rethink the season! Now Marc will be putting together a new chassis - Stealth, naturally! - and join the seven-race series in serious contention for the championship.

John Harkrader, owner of the Shasta Marina Resort at Lakehead on Shasta Lake, originally had in mind a special vacation prize for BCRA midget races at the Shasta Speedway in Anderson, John had retired from racing several years ago when he purchased the marina, but coming down to see the midgets at Anderson a couple of years ago
helped stem an interest into becoming involved. At first the idea was to have a promotional vacation giveaway at the Shasta Speedway facility. John broadened his interest by purchasing the same Fontana-powered Beast that he had sold several years before. John ran regularly on the pavement last season, all the while expanding his idea of a vacation prize. He approached BCRA with the now implemented package that includes the seven BCRA pavement races with a one week vacation in prime season on a 14-person luxury houseboat awarded to the series champion. Second place receives the same award, except during mid-season - very exceptional awards from an exceptional guy who is providing all of this to BCRA strictly because of his keen
interest in the sport and in BCRA.

The seven Shasta Marina Resort Pavement Championship Series events are "stand-alone" BCRA sanctioned races. The one exception is on June 14 when BCRA co-sanctions one of two races at the Shasta Speedway with the Washington Midget Racing Association. As a points race for WMRA, coupled with a good purse paying $1,500.00 to win, $150 last-place money and $300 tow money, most all of the northwest teams are expected to join BCRA for what should be a real "shootout" between the two organizations. The September 27 race at Shasta will award double points

While WMRA is co-sanctioning in the far north of California, BCRA's first race in Banks, Oregon, is not co-sanctioned.
WMRA is primarily a pavement racing organization, but some members take to the dirt and a representative group from WMRA are expected at the quarter-mile dirt Sunset Speedway in Banks.

The midget schedule has added a second race at the Reno-Fernley track on May 17. The BCRA midget lites and vintage
division will join with the full midgets at the Fernley, Nevada facility at the second race on August 23. At both race all cars will be allowed to use any compound on the right rear wheel, but must remain a Hoosier for the midgets and an American Racer for the lites. The reason is the rubber grinding properties of the fast 3/8-mile oval. Located in the desert of Nevada, the surface is high in sand content and when packed created a very abrasive condition. The midgets have run the Fernley oval once each of the past two seasons. The abrasive qualities make it very expensive to run, with most cars going through two to three right rears, at least one, sometimes two, left rears, and most using up a right front during the evening. BCRA, through the efforts of the track operators, have added "tire" money to the purse for the midgets and lites. Despite the cost factor, all of the midget owners and drivers have loved running at the track, which affords great speed coupled with very competitive racing. It's so smooth that the cars can run closely side-by-side through the turns without worry of a rut propelling one car into another. The fans at Reno-Fernley Speedway are great too! The August 23rd race will award double points to both the midgets and midget lites.

BCRA is greeted by great fans most everywhere we run. That is especially true at both the Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka and at the Shasta Speedway. At Redwood, where BCRA will kick off it's season of non co-sanctioned races on May 10 following co-sanctions at Stockton (Sunday, March 30) and Madera (Friday, April 18) with USAC National, it took several years for the fans to "come-around"! When the BCRA midgets returned to Eureka in 2000 after a twelve year hiatus, the crowd was not particularly good. The second year it was not much better, even though the racing had been outstanding. But last season that changed and a very good and enthusiastic crowd was on had. According to Rich and Linda Olson, the track operators, it took a while for the populous of this far-northern California community to understand what a "midget" was. In the early-going the
Olsons' would get inquiries about the midgets, with many people thinking that they were some sort of go-kart.

When the midget lites take to the Reno-Fernley Speedway, it will become the largest track on which they have raced. The Petaluma Speedway is regarded a 3/8-mile, but the Fernley 3/8th's is larger and faster.

Dallen McKenney became the highest-placing BCRA car/driver at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, OK. Dallen placed 15th in the A-Main after flipping. He moved into the main feature after placing sixth in his B-Main. With 15 main events over the four-day event, it was quite a mark to make the A-Main. Greg Nelson, driving the Thurston V4/TCR, placed ninth in one of the C-Mains and Floyd Alvis, in his Interstate Batteries/Champion Automotive/Chandler Garage Door Service Esslinger/Stealth placed 13th in the same C-Main. Alvis was running in the front half of the pack, in a possible position for a transfer, when P.J. Jones shunted him from behind, spinning Alvis into he infield. Pete Davis and Jimmy Christian took 15th and 16th in their C-Main and Ralph Cortez in the Haugh Chevy II placed 16th in a D-Main. Glenn Carson missed the transfer from his F-Main by one position, finishing fifth. Carson lost an engine in the Doug Bock Esslinger/TCR early in the week. The team flew in parts from California and Dwayne Esslinger and his son rebuilt the engine. Chris Walker's car, with Iowan Jamie "Jammin" Ferrell at the wheel, took tenth in a G-Main. Cliff Servetti, who had planned to drive until he broke several ribs in a fall the day before Christmas, had Indy
driver Tyce Carlson in the cockpit of his hew Stealth. Carlson put the car upside-down early in the week, destroying the front and rear axles. After repairs he placed fifth in one of the G-Mains, the same event that Johnny Rodriguez placed fifteenth.

BCRA car owner and board member George Chandler provided funds to help the Alvis and Servetti teams through his Chandler Garage Door Service business.

BCRA's midget division is currently seeking an Assistant Referee. Interested parties are asked to call the BCRA office at (209) 830-9928, evenings. Also, push trucks are needed for the two BCRA Stockton races on May 31 and August 30.

A little "self-promotion" here - Several years ago I produced what I call "Signature Cards", autograph-style cards for drivers and
teams to give to fans. I have been receiving several calls to produce the cards again. To do so in an economical way, it is necessary to "gang" the print run with six or more different cards, so, I'm seeking owners, drivers or teams that would like to participate in the next print run. The cards are 4" x 5-1/2", full color on the front and black/white on the back. Printed on heavy coated gloss stock. I provide the complete graphic design service, using photos and information provided by you. I send you a color proof, etc. The price is $225.00 for 1,000 cards. If interested call (925) 825-1043 or email to buzco@buzco.com.