News & Columns

Vintage Views
January 2005

Get ready for a great season of Vintage Exhibition of the B.C.R.A. Vintage midgets. Stu and I just returned from the R.P.M. Workshop in Reno. Rick Holbrook, George Chandler, Gary Dickensen, Billy Graham, Joe Lindsey were also there to finalize the B.C.R.A. 2005 schedule of races. The schedule is still being arranged and final dates are coming together. Stu should have the Vintage dates ready for the next newsletter if all goes as planned.

I have had several reports from vintage members about their trip to Willow Springs Walt James Meet this last Thanksgiving Day weekend. The weather was great Friday for the Swap Meet but turned cold and windy for Saturday and then Sunday back to no wind and warmer. All reports are that everyone had plenty of track time and the car count was great along with some good bench racing after dark. Ron Dunn (as usual) has the best hard luck and good luck story so far. His big car hauler that he uses to carry his midgets around had transmission trouble after he arrived at Willow. Ron said that he tried every place in the desert to find a shop that could make the necessary repairs but had no luck. Wonder if it was because of the four-day holiday? The bottom line is that he lost second gear in the transmission so Ron decided to try to make it home. He traveled several miles out of his way to try to stay on flat ground. His luck held out and he and Bobby made it all the way back to Santa Clara to the shop.

The best on track story is that Paul Ferreira put on a driving show with the biggest rooster tail from his fast midget. When Paul got in his rhythm he put on the best driving show of the day with his 1936 rail V8-60 midget. I remember this past season Paul was really beginning to get the driving handle on his car because he and I had plenty of on track fun running together.

Eric and Geri Lieder from Oregon were there with Eric’s newly built K.K. V8-60. Eric at first had some problems getting the car to fire until Ron and some of the guys came to his rescue. After some checking they discovered that the timing was 180 degrees out and his kill switch was grounded. These two things were fixed and Eric was off and away much to Geri’s dismay.

Mike Luddon and Alison made the trip to put some more laps on Mike’s new engine. Earlier this year Mike had fuel pump problems and as a result had to rebuild his Chevy II at the end of the season. He had the new motor in for Santa Maria and it ran great but because of the rain out he did not get much time on the track. Frank and Kay Goularte stopped by on their way back from the Turkey Night Grand Prix midget race in Irwindale on Thursday night.

The B.C.R.A Annual Awards Banquet was well attended by our vintage members this year. I counted 16 vintage members and Sandy King and Andrea and Steve Rosello and son Paul.

The Vintage calendar made National Television when Dave Despain on Speed channels “Wind Tunnel” Showed our calendar that I had sent to him about a week before. I said in my accompanying letter to please post it on the wall behind him for all to see. I also gave him our web site address in hopes we could sell a few calendars. I have received several call and emails telling me they saw the calendar on the show. Calendars are still available so order yours soon for 2005.

See everyone at Ron’s shop on 10 A.M Saturday. February 21st. 2005 for the annual Vintage membership meeting.

Pete