Welcome…. With the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction under

our belts the BCRA selection committee began the task

of assembling information on the 2011 Nominees. This

group of competitors was one of the most interesting ever with car owners, officials, mechanics and top

drivers. The list was narrowed to 25 finalists and the

selectors went to work. This past week we got the results and are proud to announce the results at this time. Thad

Dosher was one of the few BCRA drivers to go on to

win the IMCA Championship and the Knoxville

Nationals. California born Bill Robison of Topeka was a stellar BCRA and IMCA competitor and Knoxville

Hall of Fame inductee. Master Mechanic Wayne House

provided a phenomenal amount of expertise on the motors of several champions including Lloyd Beckman,

Roger Rager and Thad Dosher. Grier Manning started

in the Stockers went to the Midgets,Sprinters and Champ Cars on the Colorado circle tracks and at Pikes Peak.

Don Brown was a California Phenom who began racing

in the 50‟s(even running a NOVI at the Dry Lakes)and

ventured East to run the dirt ovals with the BCRA and IMCA. The innovator responsible for the Mechanical

Rabbits ended his career at Indianapolis repairing

wrecked cars with AJ Watson often working all night ”Prince of Darkness”. Don passed away a couple of

years ago but not before we had the opportunity to tape

several interviews with this master craftsman. Last car

he worked on was in 2002 for Mark Randol. And was NSCHOF inductee in 2007.

Larry Clark, the 73‟ BCRA Champ and Ralph

Parkinson Jr rounded out the drivers with officials in Bill Hill, Mearl Holbrook and Clarence Froid.

Long time RMMRA and BCRA Flagman Art

Walsh passed away in Colorado recently and word

was received that Kansan Jerry Everhart also

passed away and 50‟s Nebraska Roadster, Sprint

and Stock driver Ardean George from Sutton

Nebraska passed away recently and ….Ralph

“Pappy Parkinson” passed away Christmas Eve and

we have included a story by Nick Gholson on Ralph

Sr. Maybe he was a “Big fish in a small Pond”once

upon a time, but Pappy raced with the best in the

nation during a stellar career in motorsports. A great

story and thanks to Mr Gholson for the ink.

Curly Doggett has been in the hospital in

Anchorage. Curly and Erma‟s address is

3330 Capstan ct Anckorage Ak 99516, they would

love to hear from you.

AND………….

“For those of us that were there, we were actually

blessed to see those days and especially the drivers

from that era. I think those of us who lived it,

appreciate racing a lot more because we did live it

and realize how dedicated the people of that era

were. Gladiators they were, missed they still are. I

thank each and everyone of them for what they gave

me. If you received this from Betty I apologize for

the duplication.”

Dennis Johansen

LUTHER BREWER(July 1929 to July 2010) By Ray Cunningham

Luther Brewer, formerly of Drexel Mo, and Olathe Ks

passed away at this home in Daytona Beach Florida.

(KC Star, July 29th 2010.)

Mr Brewer was much more than a name and a date, Luther was a husband, Father, Grandfather, Gas station

owner, postmaster, mechanic, racing promoter, builder,

owner and pretty much a friend to everyone he met in the racing community.

A who‟s who of Heartland racing drivers drove for the

Drexel nice guy that included BCRA Hall of Famers, Ray Lee Goodwin, Dick Sutcliffe, Jon Backlund and

Grady Wade, Eddie Leavitt, Jack Belk, Thad Dosher,

Wes Farrand and Harlan Johnson.

Luther first became interested in racing when he was 19 year old truck driver delivering milk to the Kansas City

area. On Sunday nights after working during the day,

Brewer would go to Olympic Stadium to watch the midget races. Luther became a fan of the little buzz

bombs and the stars of the day, drivers that included

Eddie McVay, Jud Larson, Mac McHenry, Bob Slater,

Vito Calia, Buzz Barton and Cecil Green. After a stint in the military and several more years of

watching the racers Brewer decided to to become a

participant in 1961. The first three cars Luther built were successful at the local tracks racing in what evolved

overtime into full blown super modifieds.In 1964 Luther

built his first sprint car from a CAE blue print.This car

Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, COLORADO SPRINGS CO

(50th Anniversary 1958 - 2008 )

BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES

Jan Feb March 2011

Bcra Staff: Dave Tyson(Mo) Ray Cunningham(Ks), Boyd Adams(Tx), Bruce Budy(C0), Jerry Miller(Tx), Tom Davey(Co), Wayne Panter(Tx), Gary Wolfe(Ne)

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was first driven by Wes Farrand and later Jack Belk. With this car Brewer raced with fuel injection and

alcohol as well as a Magneto, for the first time.

Luther traveled across the heartland with his fourth

creation racing at Knoxville,Topeka, Lakeside, Olympic, Sedalia and with the BCRA at Colorado State Fair in

Pueblo. Racing with this car took Brewer to another

level in his understanding of how a high performance short track car should work successfully on both the

bullrings at Olympic and the big half miles like Topeka.

For the 1966 season Luther built a new Super Modified and asked Olympic track champion Ray Lee Goodwin to

drive it for him. Over the next two seasons this car

would help two of the nicest guys in racing to three track

championships, Olympic in 66‟ and Topeka in 1966 and 67‟.

This Super Modified was designed by Luther from

plans he developed from one of the most successful sprint cars ever raced out of Kansas City, the Willie

Davis built, former C&T Automotive Special. That

sprint car was built for Clem Tebow out of California

but was bought in 1965 by Greg Weld and driven by him to a second place finish in the USAC Sprint Car division

final standings behind champion Johnny Rutherford in

1965. Luther‟s fifth creation turned out to be one of the most

successful Super Modifed Sprint cars in the history of

racing in the heartland. After selling the car to Cunningham, Topeka‟s Thad Dosher won the Knoxville

Nationals in 1967.

In 1969 the now red #14 racer(Jack Cunningham‟s

signature color and number)with a sprint car tail(instead of a box one )had the most prolific season in Heartland

super modified racing with another Kansas City racer,

“Tiger” Bob Williams behind the wheel. During the 1969 campaign, Williams won over 40 races while

winning three track championships at Topeka, Knoxville

and Olympic. Luthers creation also finished in the top three at the Knoxville Nationals, when Williams

finished a close third behind Jan Opperman and winner

Kenny Gritz.

Luther‟s winning car was then sold to Kansas owner Gary Hanna in 1970, and the winning ways continued as

Thad Dosher behind the wheel once again took the track

title at Topeka, the 7th championship in 5 years for the

Brewer car.

The final stop for the car was with the Bailey Brothers

Speed Shop in Sacramento Ca, in 1971.

Brewer built 6 more cars after the dominate 5th car.

Among those was the #92 driven and owned by Stan

Borofsky, “ The Mad Russian”, of Kansas City This car

was driven by by Doug Hjermstad at Belleville Ks where the young Dakota driver was killed when his seat

belt belt broke. Brewer also built a beautiful sprint car

before the 1968 season and the white #97 was chauffeured by some of the best ever Ray Lee, Thad

Dosher, Grady Wade, Eddie Leavitt and Dick Sutcliffe.

Luthers final win as an owner was with Dick Sutcliffe at

the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in 1969, sending Brewer out a winner in his final race.

Luther was well respected at the track and his love for

dirt track racing led him to promoting races at the Mid-America Fairgrounds in Topeka from 1971 to 1974 after

his retirement as an owner. I remember my Dad on

several occasions talking to Luther before or after the races and he was always courteous and friendly with

questions about his race promotions. Luther was a gas

station owner and Postmaster in his hometown of Drexel

and the last years of his life were spent in retirement at Daytona Beach Florida. Brewer‟s wife Lou and children

Diana, Brenda, Jeff and Garet Sherman, and sisters

Maxine and Onieta survive Luther. Donations can be sent to the Central Auto Racing Boosters in memory of

Luther Brewer at 17580 Stubbs Station Road, Platte City

Missouri 64079.

Rest in Peace Luther, you were a great competitor and friend to the Kansas City racing community. You will be

deeply missed by many. RC

Many “Thanks”to The Red Fox crew for the great service

Stan Borofsky “The Mad Russian”(Ivers Photo)

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BCRA HOF nominee Eddie Leavitt at Lawton Ok

Jerry Stone (Ivers Photo)

BCRA original Gene Pacheco, at Pikes Peak 68’

2011 BCRA HOF inductee Grier Manning in Aggies #98

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Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Robison of Topeka Ks

Jerry Weld and his Hank Henry built (Les King) sprinter

BCRA ace and Hall of Fame nominee Bart Manley

Thad Dosher

GHOLSON: PARKINSON WAS KING OF

DIRT TRACK

By Nick Gholson

Published Friday, December 31, 2010 In the mid-‟60s, Ralph Parkinson went to work every

day, just like any average Joe. He was a mechanic from

8 to 5, five days a week at his garage on North Scott

Street. But when the sun set each Friday evening, Ralph Parkinson was anything but average.He turned into

Elvis.Wichita Speedway was his stage.The roar of an

engine was his song. And the fans adored him. As the red 1937 Chevy coupe

roared from the back of the pack to take the

checkered flag — as it did just about every Friday — they stood and shouted to the heavens.The king of the

dirt track had driven old No. 6 to another feature

victory. And life was good. That‟s how I most

remember the popular Parkinson, who died of pancreatic cancer just two days before Christmas. He was a racing

hero.

A big fish in a small pond. At the time, Wichita Falls had a bigger fish in a much bigger pond.

Parkinson grew up in the huge shadow cast by Lloyd

Ruby. But if Rube were alive today, he would be the

first to tell you that his good buddy Ralph could drive with the best of them. Parkinson moved to Kansas City

in the late ‟60s and won lots of races driving midgets

and sprint cars at tracks across the corn belt. He dominated the Midwest fair circuit. He once won 12

feature races in a row at the old state fair half-mile track

in Oklahoma City and won nine straight features at Devil‟s Bowl in Dallas. “Ralph could drive any kind of

car. He was a real racer,” longtime friend Steve Young

said. “And not only could he drive them, he was the best

mechanic I have ever known. A lot of guys can drive them, but they can‟t work on them. Ralph could do

both.”“He had unbelievable reflexes. He was so

smooth,” added Scott Hunter, whose family owned the Offenhauser-powered midget car that Parkinson won a

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lot of races in. “He was also an inspiration to everybody around him. He would keep a cool head when everybody

else lost theirs.‟ Parkinson raced his way into national

halls of fame in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.

He also added the IMCA national championship to his resume‟ in 1976. But most people can‟t tell you what

IMCA stands for — International Motor Context

Association. So if Parkinson was so good, why was he not up in Indianapolis driving in the 500? Why did he

not go to NASCAR and challenge Richard Petty for his

kingdom?“Lloyd had him a couple of leads to run champ cars, but it would mean he would have to be away from

home three or four days a week. Dad stayed home to

take care of his family,” older son Ralph Jr. told me.

Junior said that when his parents divorced in 1968, his dad “took care of my brother and helped get him through

high school.”“With him, it was family first and racing

second,” he pointed out.“Ralph had a chance to drive an Indy car for a big owner down in Houston. Bobby Unser

wound up with the ride because Ralph was a strong

family man,”Hunter said.Young said that Parkinson was

with Ruby in Indianapolis one day when a car owner came in and asked Ruby if he knew anyone who could

drive his car at an Indy race in Milwaukee.“Lloyd

pointed to Ralph and said, „That old boy right there can drive it for you.‟ Ralph called home and asked his wife if

he could stay up there a few days and drive in

Milwaukee. She told him to get home. That was his big chance,” Young said. “He was a very congenial man and

a master mechanic,” friend Joe Raines said. “Ralph was

one of a kind, a true champion.”

Simply put, Ralph Parkinson was one of the best “good old boys” you‟ll ever know.Rest in peace, my friend.

Sports columnist Nick Gholson can be reached at

Great shot of 2011 HOF Inductee Roger Rager at work

BCRA original Slim Roberts after a 300 ft., 13 flip tumble off the mountain in 62’. “13 always my lucky number” (Ivers)

Don Brown Sprinter restored

Ace Jerry Blundy of Galesburg Ill

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Jimmy McVay and the Gary Blackman Chevy

Keith Hightshoe in the explosive Ed Smith Chevy 1966 Ivers

Rare shot of Harry Ivers (58)and Bob Daly(76) in the Frenzel Lincoln’s along with Vaughn Eggers at Holyoke 1966

Bart Manley Leads Al Unser Sr at Pueblo Aug 62’

Subject: MANY A DRIVER GAVE HIS LIFE IN

PURSUIT OF INDY GLORY

I saw the following story in National Speed Sport

News and I wanted to pass it on. thought you might find

it interesting..., As we all know Racing isn't Baseball and

the risks can be enormous ” . Our sport has become so safe that safety is a subject seldom discussed anymore.

There is a large legion of fans who probably don‟t

realize how dangerous racing was. In doing research for the 100th Indianapolis 500, I

discovered some eye opening facts. Ninety-eight drivers

competed in the ten 500”s from 1950-1959. Thirty-nine of them gave their lives to racing....a staggering amount

( 40 % ).

Various people have made the cars safer and the track's,

too. The drivers seem to be burdened with a lot of protective gear, but I guess they don't mind that much. A

big factor is that fire is mostly out of accident equations.

We sure love our 1950‟s racing, but we didn‟t get to love the drivers that long. Six drivers...Chuck Weyant,born in

1923, the eldest, Eddie Russo, Don Edmunds, Jim

Rathmann, Paul Goldsmith, and A.J. Foyt are the last survivors of the 1950,s Indy 500 drivers. Rathmann

actually drove in the 1949 500 Mile Race.

Hopefully most all of them will be able to accept the

IMS invitation along with all of the past living drivers “

Recent passing of Orville Nance in Colo Sprgs. Thomas, Saddened to hear of Orville's passing please

give our best wishes to the family. Orv was one of kind

and will be missed. Orville Nance was an Inaugural inductee into the Big Car Racing Association Hall Of

Fame at Lincoln Ne in 2006. His selection prompted a

trip to Colorado Springs where we made our presentation to Orv and had a great time getting

acquainted. We met again the next morning and as we

sat gazing at the Peak from the Train Wreck restaurant,

Orv related many of his past experiences at the Hill

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Climb and the circle tracks but, his mind was up on the mountain. He would regularly shift glance to the West,

and Pikes Peak, and it was if he was challenging the

treacherous old road again. He talked of Glen Cove,

Devil's Playground, 11 Mile Water Hole, the Switchbacks and even the present weather patterns along

the course as we watched from our air conditioned seats

below. It was a most memorable morning indeed! Please advise as to Funeral arrangements, memorials etc....

Gary Wolfe BCRA. Hall of Fame

Gary,

Thanks for your email. It's good to hear things like this.

Orv was adamant that he not have a funeral or service...I

don't think he wanted anyone standing around looking at his body and crying over him. At least that's my

assumption. My understanding is that he will be

cremated later today. Even though no service was his wish...having no service

is especially hard on my mother (his baby sister) and his

two remaining living brothers Roy and Everett. It would

be really nice if either the BCRA or the PPIHC could do something during the PPIHC festivities this year. I

would like to know more about your Hall of Fame and

any performance records or data you might have on him? I'm going to share your email with my mother and

uncles if you don't mind?

Thanks again for your response. Tom Lewis

National Speed Sport News

1934-2011

On March 23rd, 2011 the most influential racing

newspaper in the history of the sport ceased publishing.

National Speed Sport News, also known as (NSSN) for short was racings bible for over 76 years, and covered

the BCRA from its first year of operation in 1958, until

its last in 1977. National Speed Sport News started life as a weekly

racing section in a North New Jersey Newspaper named

the Bergen Herald. In 1934 the racing section became a weekly racing paper and was named the National Auto

Racing News.

A 13 year old boy sold the paper for a nickel at Ho-Ho-

Kus Speedway,and within a couple years would have his own column.Chris Economaki born in 1920, would stay

with the fledgling racing paper for the next 76 years,

through a name change in 1943 to National Speed Sport News, and later as editor starting in 1950. After

becoming editor, Chris would later become the owner

and publisher as well.

Can you guess who this is? Taken in 1946(Bumpus photo)

Speed Sport News would cover every aspect of car

racing over its 76 years plus of operation. The weekly racing paper ran the gamut of racing coverage, from

Formula One at Monza, Italy, to the local Jalopie races

at Pumpkinville Speedway.

NSSN brought BCRA to the world with its coverage of the Big Car Racing Association. BCRA Hall of Fame

Members Tom Davey, Bill Hill, Beryl & L.A. Ward,

Mearl Holbrook, and Leroy Byers all contributed to the number one racing paper. When Lloyd Beckman set a

worlds half mile track record for sprint cars at the

Belleville High Banks, NSSN featured the story with a

picture in its next weeks edition. Throughout the BCRA's history, Hall of Famers that included Jan

Opperman, "Speedy" Bill Smith, Ray Lee Goodwin, Joe

Saldana, Eddie Jackson, Grady Wade, Harold Leep, and many, many, others were featured in NSSN articles and

pictures, that were submitted from the before mentioned

contributor's. Because of this coverage the Belleville High Banks was mentioned in the same league with the

greatest tracks of the era, and racing, and winning in the

BCRA became a career highlight for many drivers,

owners and mechanics. The impact of NSSN on members of the BCRA was

documented, and I would like to share some of the their

reflections with you. Long time racing journalist, photographer, and now Internet talk show host Boyd

Adams had this to say about Speed Sport News.

"As a contributor to NSSN from the late 1970's to the 1990's, the paper let me hone my hobby into a craft.

Photos from my home speedway, the Tulsa Fairgrounds

were often labeled as "Tulsa Tussle". As my travels

increased I was able to cover some races with photos as well as writing results. My biggest fans were always

Jack Miller and Bill Hill. Both advised me to write and

be passionate about my sport. Bob Mays, racer, photographer, and author, has worn

many hats in auto racing over the last 30 years, his

reflections speak to the importance of NSSN.

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"If a race was run and not reported in NSSN, then did it really happen? There was a time when the obvious

answer was NO! "I heard a former Indy winner once say

he knew he had made it as a race driver when he saw his

name mentioned in Chris' Column." Jim Schmitt, who has been a race fan for over 50 years,

and has been friends with the Weld family, most of that

time, spoke about the anticipation of getting NSSN every week. "When we lived in Hutchinson, I

would meet your father at the post office in the evening

and get the bible (NSSN) from my post office box....that was when the mail was carried by train!"

Speed Sport News was a part of auto racings culture

through the Great Depression, World War II, and many

other life changing events over the last 8 decades. Boyd Adams said it for everyone when he finished his

comments with this statement. "Goodbye old friend. I

will miss you." RC Cunningham

2011 BCRA Hall of Fame at Lincoln

The 2011 Hall of Fame ceremony will be on June

24th at the Speedway Motors Museum in Lincoln

Ne. The ceremony will be held at 6 PM in the

Meeting room. There will be a free tour beginning

at 2 PM for any BCRA members who wish to see

the Museum before the Induction Ceremony. Meet

at the front door before 2 PM and let the guide

know you are with the BCRA and HOF group.

There is a lot to see in this, the most colossal Auto

Racing collection, in the country.

Tours will follow the ceremony on Friday Night.

Saturday the 25th

we will meet at Joes Speed shop

on South Folsom another great time of Bench racing

and Hot Rod rides. Joe Haag has graciously hosted

the event since the inception of the Hall of Fame

and has been an avid supporter of Vintage for

twenty years. He has restored several cars over the

years and is in the process of bringing another

significant part of BCRA history back to life in the

Larry Swanson Chevy. Jimmy McNiel, who has

been involved in the Hot Rods for decades and a

lifelong member of the Red Devils club, is busy on

the Plaques, Hats and Calenders, its guys like these

that make the show happen and many thanks for the

dedicated efforts and support.

By the Way…… The unidentified photo on page 6 is a 26 year old Chris

Economaki in 1946, reportedly taken at Flemington NJ.

And……..2011 Dues are now due so please forward to

306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Ne 68927. Thanks for the

support, see you in Lincoln!!