A season of progress awaits the Bay Cities Racing Association in 2005 with a major tire rules change for the midget division, the midget "Pacific Northwest Championship Series" has been expanded, and the midget lites will again run both winged and non-winged events.

TIRES ON THE FRONT BURNER: The topic of tire brand for the midgets began in June and culminated with the Board of Directors decision in late December. The BCRA midget division has used the Hoosier brand for many years, with the BCRA midget lite division has been on American Racer tires since its inception in 1994.

Midway through the 2004 season, a segment of the midget owners and drivers began inquiring about changing from the Hoosier brand to the American Racer brand. Co-sanctioned races over the past two years with the northwest's WMRA and IMRA, who run on American Racer, prompted some members to embrace the American Racer for its grip, endurance and lower cost on pavement.

In June 2004, a serious investigation and tire review was initiated when the board formed the Tire Review Committee.
Owner-driver Pete Davis, a lead advocate for tire change, was elected chairman of the tire review committee. Owners and drivers were polled for several months and tire manufacturers were asked to submit competitive bids. While some BCRA members preferred to stay with the Hoosier, the majority favored the American Racer. At each subsequent
board meeting the topic was of priority and the committee recommendation was anticipated.

At the December board meeting Davis delivered the committee's recommendations - to change over to American Racer for 2005. After much pro-and-con debate, the vote was taken with a majority vote for the change to American Racer.

At a subsequent board of directors meeting in late December, the decision was made to allow Hoosier tires per the 2004 BCRA Midget Rules specification during a transition period. A listing of the allowed tire combinations for both brands went out to the membership in the BCRA newsletter.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIP: This series, initiated in 2003 with a race at the Shasta Speedway co-sanctiond with the Washington Midget Racing Association, has been growing steadily. Last season the series was run in the WMRA's region at Roseburg, Oregon. The two organizations work very well together and the idea of expanding the series has developed into a four-race series for 2005.

The two BCRA-area events will take place at Eureka's Redwood Acres Raceway and at the final Shasta Raceway Park event in Anderson. For the WMRA-region events, we will have to put on our traveling shoes and head to the Meridian Raceway outside of Boise, Idaho, in July (Actually, this is IMRA territory). This will be a two-race BCRA-WMRA-IMRA event hosted by Davey Hamilton, nearing the $30,000.00 purse mark.

It was in the '03 Shasta event that the American Racer tire situation became apparent. Of the nine WMRA entries, they captured the eight fastest qualifying times and they get two to three main events from their right rear tires.

TO WING OR NOT TO WING - THAT IS THE QUESTION: The wingless experiment in the midget lite division in 2004 proved very popular within the owner-driver ranks. Many would prefer to go all-non-wing, but several of the track promoters want the lites with wings, thus, in 2005, the schedule will be split between the use and non-use of the airfoil appendages.

The lites will be running six races at the Twin Cities Speedway in Marysville, six at the Placerville Speedway, two each at Antioch, Petaluma, Reno-Fernley, Sacramento and Chico, plus one race at the Santa Maria Speedway for a 23-race season. This schedule could change slightly as one of the tracks is still in the planning stage.

Scott Kinney will be back to defend his one-point championship win over Scott Clark.

BCRA popular vintage division will run a full slate, all with the midgets or midget lites.

50-50 MIDGET SCHEDULE: Thomas Meseraull will be back to defend his 2004 driving championship aboard the Bill Ferrari pavement and dirt machines. The full midgets will go with a near even split between dirt and pavement if several final negotiations are worked out.

On the dirt, the midgets return to the Antioch Speedway for one race after an absence of several years. Two races each will be held at Placerville, Marysville and Reno-Fernley. The Santa Maria Speedway will host three races, the final of which will be the 3rd Annual Johnny Baldwin Classic to close out the season.

On the pavement, in addition to the previously mentioned "Pacific Northwest Championship Series" events, the midget will compete three times at the Lakeport Speedway, including the annual Fourth of July spectacular. The season will open at the Shasta Speedway and we return to Carson City after several seasons on the Memorial Day weekend.

The Madera Speedway, site of BCRA/USAC co-sanctioned races over the past years, is now under new management and no race has as yet been booked. The annual "Gerhardt Classic" has been moved from Madera to the Stockton "99" Speedway. At this writing it is not known if BCRA will join with USAC in this April event.

As the new season shapes up, the midget division will regain the talents of Ken Bonnema. Ken sold his two midgets prior to the 2004 season and went TQ racing. He is now looking for a pavement midget and will return this season. During his tenure with BCRA he was a very competent board member. Welcome back Ken!

BCRA Board of Directors President George Chandler has resigned from the board. VP Ralph Cortez takes over the top spot on an interim basis, although I'm sure he will hold the position for the remainder of the year. George did a great job, and I'm sure Cortez will also.

Have a few BCRA T-shirts that we need to get rid of at $5.00 each, plus $2 shipping. Midget "T" only in large plus one 4X. Lite in large plus several youth medium. Also have embroidered BCRA patch at $4.00 plus $1 shipping. Make checks to BCRA and send to: Buzco Enterprises, PMB 116, 1955 Monument Blvd. 4B, Concord, CA 94520.
Suggest a call to reserve at (925) 825-1043.

VUKOVICH - an inspiring story of American achievement: This is the title of the new 320-page book on the life and times of racing legend Billy Vukovich....and what a great book it is! Packed with color and black-and-white photos and extensive research. "Vukie" drove midgets in the United Racing Association, but also competed at times with BCRA and in BCRA vs URA races at such tracks as the Bayshore Stadium near San Francisco. Of course he went on to become one of the all-time greats at the Indianapolis 500 where he won twice before loosing his life while leading the race. The book is an extension of the Vukovich family with information about fellow driver and brother Eli and complete sections regarding son and grandson, Bill Jr. and Billy III. Bill Jr. was the 1967 BCRA midget champion
before going on to many runs in the Indy 500.

The book can be ordered through Bill Jr. and he will autograph it if you wish. The cost for softbound is $30 and hardbound $40 plus California tax. (No tax if outside California). Both prices include shipping and handling. Order from: Vukovich Motor Sports, 2727 West Bluff #113, Fresno, CA 93711. (559) 432-7339.