News & Columns

September 2005

Brenda and Johnny Anderson of West Capital Speedway Alumni Association Invited the BCRA Vintage midgets to be a part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of the All-American Speedway at the Placer County fairgrounds in Roseville, California. The date was July 16th and just so happened that we were not running the Vintage that date.

The event included a Static Display and a small amount of on track time for the racers that wished to participate. After a few laps around the track all the cars stopped on the front straight away and the fans came down on the track to meet the drivers and enjoy the cars up close. There was a great barbecue a fund raising raffle of several great prizes. Frank and Kay Goularte won a 10 x 20 canopy that will be put to good use at our annual Vintage picnic later this year.

Rosemarie and I surprised Stu Donaldson and Kay Goularte with a birthday cake for all to enjoy. The weather was hot, hot and hotter. We were glad to be under several shade trees for the day. That made a small difference but not enough.

A total of 29 racecars of several types that had at one time or another run at the speedway in the past were on display, Hardtops, Super Modifieds, Sprint cars and midgets. Bob Neilson from Ukiah brought his restored Super Modified and Johnny ran his sprint car. There were 7 BCRA Vintage midgets that were there including Harold Dickerson with his newly restored K.K. Falcon powered midget. Harold could not get the falcon to run right so Kay and Frank suggested that he bring the car to Franks shop and let Frank tune on it. Frank set the correct timing and the fuel flow and bang! It was a screamer. Harold took the car to Marysville a few weeks later and the car ran strong. Harry and Irene Craycroft brought their newest possession a newly restored Edmonds midget with a Chevy II power plant. Harry had just returned from Colorado where he traded one of his other street rods for the midget. The car is a showpiece and we were placing bets to see if and when he would put the car on a dirt track or just run pavement. It is Too Pretty to run on dirt and chance getting any dings in the paint.

On July 30th the annual BCRA Hall of Fame picnic was held at Marysville at the Peachtree Golf and Country Club. This is the first time that the event has been catered and it was a great success because the BCRA Board members were not required to work so long and hard all day except Linda and she always works hard for the club. The food was great and plenty of parking for the racer’s rigs and lots of shade to stay out of the sun. It was hot and the shade did help but never enough.

Rosemarie and I were not able to attend the picnic this year due to a funeral. I believe seven candidates were inducted into the BCRA Hall of fame this year. Check out Floyd Busby’s story for information about all of the inductees. All three divisions of BCRA were there that night for a great night of racing. Nine (9) Vintage midgets were there on display and later moved to the track for several on track race exhibitions.

See you at the races

Pete