News & Columns

June 2005

Mother Nature was again in charge of the 2005 season for the BCRA Vintage midgets. She filled the Reno-Fernley Speedway with water so that date was cancelled. Stu called me about 15 minutes before I was to leave for Fernley. He and I scrambled to try to catch everyone by phone asap.

Stu received a call from Dan Fleisher who is the P.R. person for Tulare Thunder Bowl in Tulare, California. Dan was in need of another class of racecar to fill the May 14th Saturday night show. Because this was not a date on our regular BCRA schedule Stu presented Dan's request to the BCRA Board and received the OK for the Vintage to travel to Tulare as part on the night's program. With little time to pass the word 7 BCRA Vintage midgets were able to make the date. # 00 Frank and Kay Goularte, #3 Mike Luddon and Alison, # 47 Me and Rosemarie, # 16 Tommy Belfiore and Tommy Jr., # 36 Paul and June Ferreira, # 95 Mike and Theo Mosekian and last but not least Stu Donaldson and K7 with his just completed # 60 Benson Diamler midget. This would be the first time on the track as a BCRA Vintage midget. Everyone had a great time with plenty of track time and we hope that we can return next year with all three divisions of BCRA.

On May 21st. In Madera at the "Valley Children's Hospital" Bob and Shirley Munier were the driving force behind the Second Annual "Karz for Kids" car show. There were over 200 Street rods and Custom cars that made the show. This was the first time they have had a race car division for the show. Paul and June and Rosemarie and I spent the day displaying our toys for the fans. Paul and June's 1951 Black custom Ford pickup (Tar Baby) and their 1936 rail V8-60 powered Midget (Pickles) were the hit of the race car division. In the final tally Bob said that the show raised over $11,000 for the kids in the Hospital.

On May 28th BCRA midgets and vintage were invited to Carson City, Nevada's Champion Speedway. Sadly this will be the last season for this great paved track. It has been sold to developers and will pass into history as so many great racetracks have recently done.

But before that happens we had a great time showing the race fans the sites and sounds of the Vintage midgets for the last time. Nine vintage midgets and 20 Modern Midgets were there to have a fun night of racing. The following Vintage cars made the show. # 3 Mike Luddon, # 00 Frank and Kay, # 16 Tommy and Christine and their two sons, # 36 Paul and June, # 23 Ron Dunn, # 28 Dick Nelson all the way from Lafayette, Oregon, # 3X Don Scott for his first Official time in his just completed K. K. Chevy II. Don's car has been in a state of resurrection for about eight years. One could say that Don is not a quitter. # 47 Rosemarie and I, # X87 Bill and Rusty Browning from Carlton, Oregon. Rusty is the talent and inspiration behind our great Vintage calendar and also our Vintage Children's Racecar Coloring book.

On Sunday A.M. we gathered at The Nugget casino to watch the Indy race then have lunch and then head for home. But before I left I collected my $35.00 winnings from the Casino Bookie for my bet on Dan Weldon to win the 500 race.

See you at Lakeport on June 4th.

Pete