March 2003 - Inside Line Column - by Floyd Busby

The 2003 season will begin with a "bang" on Sunday afternoon, March 30 at the Stockton "99" Speedway. In the neighborhood of 40
midgets are expected in this co-sanctioned event with USAC. What makes this race different is that it is a USAC National event,
bringing out more than a dozen cars and drivers from the East and Midwest who will be looking for the national points. It has been more
than three decades since a national race has been held at Stockton. Friday, April 18 the same scenario will take place at the Madera
Speedway with a 33-car 100-lapper.

BCRA is ready to challenge the "outsiders" with a strong field of cars and drivers, perhaps the most potent in recent years.
BCRA's standard-bearer Floyd Alvis will return to defend his 2002 championship. The 68-year-old veteran will begin the season
looking for his seventh such title.

Among the most promising competition looking to topple Alvis will be Lee Yetter. Yetter ran with BCRA on a limited dirt track
basis last season, but comes out this season swinging with a new pavement car in addition to his dirt machine, and an eye on the top
prize. Yetter's background includes the All-Pro Championship at the Antioch and Petaluma Speedways in 1993. In '95 he campaigned in the super modifieds, taking the "Rookie of the Year" honors and won the prestigious "Vukovich Classic" the following year. In 1997 he
destroyed one of his supers and had held a low profile leading up to this season.

Last season he appeared at the Placerville race with an unusual "snub-nose" Beaber midget with Gaerte power, built in Ohio,
and immediately showed that he has what it takes to be a prime contender. He was leading the main event when he made a slight
bobble, and low-and-behold, Alvis shot by for the win. Yetter always sports the number 22 on his cars, a tradition that stems from his
racing beginning in dirt track motorcycles.

The addition to the Yetter stable is a Hawk Gaerte-powered pavement machine. Both cars are owned by Lee father, Ron, who also
was a top competitor in the sportsman, super modified and sprint car ranks some time ago until a sever injury sidelined him from the
driving chores. The dirt car will sport #22 and the pavement machine #22P.

Also with an eye on the Championship will be John Sarale. John basically took last season off, during which time he married his sweetheart Shay. In 2001 John drove an abbreviated season, winning the feature at Reno-Fernley aboard Terry Caves car and placing ninth in the standings. The previous year he placed fifth, claiming two wins for Caves.

This season John also comes out blasting with two new midgets, one for dirt and one for pavement. For pavement, John has hooked up with Rick Arata, with John providing a new Beast chassis and Rick a new Gaerte powerplant. The dirt car is a Stealth that John has had garaged for several years

2003 will also be a celebration in the Sarale family with Shay expecting their first child in September.

Ken Bonnema, who at one point had decided to run only selected pavement races in 2003, changed his mind is a big way. Ken
purchased a pair of midgets that won the 2002 USAC Western States championship from Jeff Pinkston of Simi Valley. Danny Stratton drove for Pinkston and placed second in driver points last season.

Both the dirt and pavement cars are powered by Esslinger. In the sale Ken obtained almost the entire racing operation with many
spares such as shocks, tires, etc., as well as a 24' enclosed trailer. The car will retain the Pinkston color scheme with the pavement car numbered Ken's traditional 42 and the dirt machine 42X. "I'm really excited", Bonnema said. "This is certainly the best car I've ever had, and I am hoping to be among the fastest group in BCRA!". Bonnema also said that it is a dark day for midget racing to lose an owner and gentleman such as Pinkston, who has retired from racing.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR....That is the award Ken Molica received from the Motor Sports Press Association at the annual Green Flag
Dinner held in Oakland on March 5th. The award was not given because Ken had won a championship or a lot of main events, but for his
courage and determination as a driver with an adverse physical history. Ken has undergone three total heart transplants over the past dozen years or so, as well as a liver transplant....and "keeps on ticking!"....and placed sixth in driver points last season. Ken's wife, Janet, is listed as the owner of the two cars. MSPA President Bill Sessa made the presentation to Molica at the event that also included awards in other categories. Last year Floyd Alvis was awarded the "Motor Sports Person of the Year" honors by the MSPA.

The BEST COMPETITION award was garnered by Frank Guerrini Jr. at the recent Oakland Rod, Custom & Motorcycle Show held in the Oakland Coliseum Arena. Frank actually won two awards, first the "Track Competition" trophy, then the "Best Competition" category, an overall award consisting of a plaque and $300.

Frank was a last-minute replacement for the midget of Marc DeBeaumont who sold his roller shortly before the show. Frank worked
hard to get his #63 Stealth/Gaerte pavement car ready for display and it looked spectacular. The descriptive sign also included the tracks
where BCRA competes and several hundred handout midget, midget lite and vintage schedules were scooped up by the patronage. The car was up against other competition vehicles, most of which were drag racing machines. The show cars are judged very much like a Concourse 'dElegance with very special emphasis on detail by the very knowledgeable judges. It was learned later that Frank's edge over the competition was his pristine engine detail. Congratulations to Frank, Beth and Frank Sr. who were on hand all three days of the prestigious show.

The BCRA midget lite schedule is complete with 19 races on the agenda plus one tentative. The season kicks off on April 5 at the
Twin Cities Speedway in Marysville. A total of six programs will be presented on the quarter-mile dirt track. The Placerville Speedway
hosts five shows with the first coming on April 12, as does the Antioch Speedway with the first race set for April 26. The Petaluma
3/8th hosts two shows, the first on May 31. The lites will make their first call in Nevada at the Reno-Fernley 3/8th mile on August 23 with
the midgets and vintage division.

Darryl "Moose" Lacy continues his duties as midget lite Referee as does Kay Wilson, Registrar and Pit Steward.

In the midget division two additions have been made to the officiating crew. Greg Tyler, longtime BCRA photographer, has been
kicked upstairs and has accepted the post of Assistant Referee. Greg's son, Ryan, will act as a helper in the pits. Officials continuing this season will be Referee Rick Eisenbeis, Scorer Floyd Busby, and Registrar and Pit Steward Jimmy Montgomery, BCRA's
infallible historian.

BCRA board member Jeff Trout (midget owner) resigned for business reasons. His place has been taken by midget lite owner/driver Scott Clark. Clark formerly competed in the midget division from 1998 and into 2001, winning two features and coming within an eyelash of several other wins before misfortune knocked. Car owner Bill Montgomery decided that was enough and sold his car. Scott purchased
a lite and began competing in the division last season.

The photographic chores in the midget division will be taken up by Mark and Matt Sublett, two very well known and respected motor
sport photographers. The twins will shoot at most midget and many midget lite events except on several occasions when they have other
commitments. At those times Anne VanBlairicom, Greg's former partner, will trip the lens at the midget events. Jim Abreau will continue
shooting at the Placerville midget lite races as he has done so well over the past years.

Former BCRA and USAC champion Marc DeBeaumont will again offer a new Stealth chassis at year's end as he did last season
through his Stealth Motorsports West distributorship. The format to determine the winner will be announced at a later date. Marc will
also be competing in the BCRA Shasta Marina Resort Pavement Championship Series, contested in the seven stand-alone BCRA pavement events at the Shasta Speedway, Stockton "99" Speedway, Lakeport Speedway and Redwood Acres Raceway.

For schedules of all three divisions and other information, check out the BCRA website at: BCRAracing .com.