The new racing season is drawing near. BCRA's midget lite division has announced it's '06 schedule, while the midget division is holding off until a few last-minute details are worked out.
Likewise, the vintage division's slate is coming along well but is not ready to be announced.
The lites have scheduled 23 races at six different tracks, including a new venue that is expected to draw the top cars and drivers from throughout the western states. Scheduled are six races each at the Placerville and Twin Cities Speedways, four at Antioch, three each at Petaluma and Reno-Fernley and one at Silver Dollar. On September 30 the BCRA lites will hold their first annual Mini-Sprint Nationals (name may change) at the Reno-Fernley Raceway with entries expected from other racing organizations. This is intended to be the first of an annual premium event for the lites. The lites are fast-fast-fast on Reno-Fernley's sweeping 3/8-mile high desert dirt oval.
The midget schedule is still awaiting the outcome on several dirt races, but the organization has announced its first four events of the season as well as two others of note. In April the midgets open their season on the first on the Shasta Raceway Park's 3/8-mile paved oval in Anderson. One week later, April 8, and its the first of several races at the Madera Speedway. Onto the dirt next at the Placerville Speedway on April 15, then to Stockton on the 29th. The Stockton "99" Speedway race will be the annual Gerhardt Classic, co-sanctioned with USAC with 33-cars starting three-abreast over the 100-lap route. This probably will be the final race with a BCRA sanction at the venerable old track. 2006 is the final year before the wrecking ball hits it for "development"! The very first race at the track was a midget race in 1945. BCRA gets together with the Northwest's WMRA for a co-sanction at the Roseburg Speedway in Oregon on July 29.
The three BCRA divisions get together for the annual picnic and Hall of Fame, returning this year to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds and Placerville Speedway on August 12.
The midget entry list is looking good! A number of new and re-entering cars and drivers should bolster the pits.
Expected back this season after a one-year hiatus will be seven-time BCRA midget champion Floyd Alvis. The 70-year-old veteran plans to run selected races this season. Veteran Cliff Servetti, missing from action last season, will return.
Former owner/driver Ken Bonnema will be back on the pavement.
He recently purchased the Ray Neveau Edmonds/Mopar out of Long Beach.
Last year's BCRA president Ralph Cortez has purchased a midget and Bill Lindsey is expected back after a two-year hiatus in his trusty 'ol VW. Among several new owner/driver members is Paul Eskesen.
Arizona's Adam Young plans to run a number of BCRA events. Young charger Darrin Bolton of El Dorado Hills is inked in.
The midget lites should also be gaining several new entries in '06 and will again divide their schedule between winged and non-wing racing.
BCRA was represented by two vintage midgets at the annual San Francisco Rod, Custom & Motorcycle Show in the Cow Palace over the January 13-15 weekend. Paul Ferreira displayed his 1936 Ford V8-60 powered Kurtis copy and Harry Craycroft his 1961 Haliband with Chevy II power.
The midgets and midget lites are a natural progression for serious racers who want to move up through the ranks. BCRA is producing a brochure targeted at the young up-and-coming competitors in the 250, 600 and outlaw kart ranks that will be distributed to them at their various venues.
Among the current BCRA midget competitors who came from the 250's, 600's and karts are midget champions John Sarale and Thomas Meseraull, plus Brian Gard, Garrett "Surfer Dude" Boyden, Eric "Nature Boy" Mostin, Michael Hubert III, Scott Pierovich, Shannon McQueen, Jimmy Christian, Brad Galedrige, Ralph Cortez and Cameron Beard, among others. Graduates currently competing in BCRA's midget lite division include champion Doug Hunting, Tyler Franklin, brothers Greg and Jeff Griffin, Richard Bailey, Marshall Sexton, Kevin Hunter and Joey Hoover.
Several new officials are being sought for the midget lite division. Anyone aspiring to become an official can call the office in the evenings at (209) 830-9928.
The 2005 BCRA Midget Yearbook is available at $20.00 plus $3.00 shipping. Sixty-eight pages, all in full color. A "must" for midget devotees. Send check or money order to: Buzco Enterprises,
1114 Lovell Ct., Concord, CA 94520.