Novebmer 2004 - Inside Line Column - by Floyd Busby

We're in that vacuum time of the year between racing seasons
- the '05 season is over and the '06 season looms in the future.
Actually, at this writing, the BCRA annul awards banquet is one week away to put the final touches on a very successful season.
At the banquet the point fund money will be divided between the midget and midget lite divisions to the top ten owners and drivers. The driver and car owner winners from both divisions will also receive their beautiful championship rings...that's John Sarale as both driver and owner for the midgets and Doug Hunting as driver in the lites with dad Ted taking the owner title. Also, the '05 rookie of the year and most improved drivers in both divisions will receives their laurels sportsmanship awards. For the first time in the midget division separate points were also kept during the season for the pavement and dirt races and the winners will be acknowledged with special trophies.
Unverified scuttle but has seven-time BCRA midget driving and five time car owner champion Floyd Alvis returning to the racing wars. Alvis took off most of the season, running only late in the year at the non-BCRA race at Stockton. Cliff Servetti is in the midst of selling his very successful Custom Engine business in San Francisco and also plans to return after a one-year hiatus. Ken Bonnema, missing from the midget scene for two years, plans to return with one of Jack Walker's Esslinger powered Stealths that he has purchased for the pavement runs. Also missing for several years and rumored to make a return is the Arata team, Jeff, Anthony and dad Rick, as car owners. No word as yet about the driver....and, missing for five or six years and possibly returning is car owner Jim Wellington. The rumor mill says that he'll put a top female Ford Focus driver into the cockpit. I look forward to that. We've had some really talented ladies race with us including Shannon McQueen who we anticipate will return in '06
On the midget lite front Joey Hoover is planning on a return.
Hoover was injured in mid-season at the Silver Dollar Speedway and sat out the remainder of the season. I assume that he will again drive for his grandfather, Ken Hoover. Ken will be making his master of ceremonies debut at the awards banquet, handing the midget lite awards while Bob Roza does the same for the midgets.
Nothing verified on the '06 race schedule at this time. Most of the races are contracted during the annual Promoter's Workshop in Reno in December. Its assumed that most of the tracks that we raced at this past season will be back on the schedule. The midget division has possible dates at other tracks.
The return for a third season of the Pacific Northwest Midget Championship Series between BCRA and WMRA looks very probable. The series likely will not return to Meridian, Idaho, and will probably again be contested at Redwood Acres in Eureka and the Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson on the BCRA side. The WMRA track will possibly be at Roseburg where we ran in the 2004 season.
The annual General Membership Meeting was held on October 22.
Remaining on the board of directors is Bob Roza and Billy Graham Jr.
New and re-elected board members are Joe Lindsey, Stu Donaldson, Gary Dickenson, Rick Holbrook and Kay Goularte as Member-At-Large.
The vintage division held their annual picnic at the home of Frank and Kay Goularte in October 15 in Brentwood. No rain this year!
Paul Ferreira was awarded the perpetual Sportsmanship trophy and all enjoyed a really great BBQ lunch. Ferreira owns a 1936 Ford V8-60 railer and sometimes tows it with a 1951 Ford truck.
Saddened to hear of the passing of Clyde Palmer. Clyde was primarily known for his super midified exploits, but he was also an accomplished midget driver. He was inducted into the BCRA Hall of Fame in 2004. The dapper gentleman was very appreciative of his induction and had a great time at the venue talking about the "good old days" with others of his era. We always looked forward to seeing him at his hometown Lakeport Speedway when the midgets ran.
The 2004 100-page full-color 2004 BCRA yearbook is still available for $20.00 (Original price: $32.00 plus tax and shipping).
this includes tax and shipping.
The new full-color 2005 yearbook is in the works and will be available shortly after the conclusion of the awards banquet, to be shipped by December 1 for Christmas orders. The price is $23.00, tax and shipping included. The '05 version will be primarily the midget division with statistics on the lites and vintage. About 64 pages.
Orders for the '04 and/or '05 can be sent to: Buzco enterprises, 1114 Lovell Ct., Concord, CA 94520. Checks or money orders accepted.