Welcome to the Big Car Racing Association and Hall of

Fame. At this time the date for the BCRA HOF reunion at

Lincoln will be the last weekend in June(26 and 27) as usual

with tours of the museum and bench racing at Joe Haags

Speed Shop and On Track at Eagle Raceway. The Model T

Speedster group will have their reunion at Speedway, their

Hall of Fame and Hill Climb along with other activities. The

Red Devils Car Group will have their annual Car Show at

Pioneers Park. The BCRA Hall of Fame salutes the

following teams and individuals.

GENE AND GERDA HEFFLEY(CO Hall of Fame Bio)

Gene moved to Denver from Missouri Valley Iowa in 1957

after serving five years in the military. In 1951, he met and

married his wife Gerda. They started a trucking company

and had two daughters Helen and Patti. By 1960 this couple

was operating four trucks. A year later he began to operate a

salvage business in the Denver metropolitan area and sold

parts to two individuals that were building race cars. When

one could not pay for the parts, they ended up with the race

car. With some help from some friends Harry McCool and

Bart Manley, They ran the #70 car at Lakeside Speedway.

That is when Gene really got hooked. In 1964 one of their

drivers was Hall of Famer, Sam Sauer. Later that year they

all went to a big race at Hanford, California. It was the first

time they had seen a real Late Model race and he and Gerda

decided to build a speedway designed for Late Models.

That was just part of the story…..

In 1965, using the money from their trucking company they

purchased an 80 acre parcel of farmland. On that site at Erie

Colorado, they designed and built a speedway, calling it

Colorado National Speedway and ran a few races. In 1966

they raced a full season with the idea of making racing

possible for anybody that wanted to participate. The track

had four foot retaining walls for the safety of spectators and

they continued to make improvements both on and off the

track. During the years they added Motorcycles, Sprint Cars

and Midgets to their racing program. The Heffleys sold

Colorado National in 1972 to George Butland and later the

track was sold to Jim Opperman and paved. Gene Heffely

was a 2009 Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee.

Jack Hahn(1925-2015) at Erie Co.Byers Photo

*While nearing completion of Erie, two time Big Car

Racing Association Champion Jack Hahn of Wyoming, was

requested to take a test run on the track. A famous photo

taken by Hall of Fame Photographer Leroy Byers and

published in several racing publications, caught the historic

moment as Hahn traveled at speed on two wheels near

Byers . The BCRA would run 10 races on the oval with the

last event taking place in 1977 at the Roger Mauro Gold Cup

Classic. This was also the last sanctioned race of the BCRA

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

(50th Anniversary 1958 - 2008 )

BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES

December 2014-February 2015

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

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with Sammy Swindell winning the Sprint event and the final

championship of the club. Interesting to note that Bob And

Al Unser ran the BCRA in the early years and Bob Jr and Al

Jr were present in ‘ 77 at the final event.

R and H Farms* Three farmers from Iowa bought one of

the top sprint cars from the era, and in 1970 they went racing

across the heartland, becoming one of the greatest sprint car

teams of the decade.

In the 1960's the team of Gary Hanna and Dick Sutcliffe

would win in the BCRA, IMCA and two track titles in 1968

at Topeka and Knoxville. In 1970 Hanna would sell his

black #29 sprint car to 3 Colifax, Iowa, farmers, John Ricke,

and brothers, Stan, and Tom Hill, Dick Sutcliffe would be

the driver . In 1970, the race team raced on dirt, and

pavement, in BCRA, IMCA, and the super modified circuits

in the car now known as the R&H Farms sprinter, #40. The

team would race in BCRA competition at Belleville, and

would win at Erie, Colorado. Sutcliffe, and the R&H team

would finish 2nd place in the final BCRA standings, behind

Champion Lonnie Jensen. In IMCA, the Iowa race team won

a pavement race at I-70, and finishing 4th in the final

standings.

By 1972 Sutcliffe had moved on to the Cornbelt racing team

. the R&H team would hire Thad Dosher, and mechanical

genius Wayne House as chief mechanic. A list of some of

the greatest sprint car pilots of the time would race different

versions of their black beauty over the years, including

Rager, Thad Dosher, Eddie Leavitt, Bob Williams, and Ron

Shuman.

The R&H Farms car, with a Roger Beck Chassis would win

the IMCA title in 1973 with Dosher behind the wheel. Thad

would also race at Belleville, and Wakeeney in BCRA

competition, winning at Wakeeney over BCRA Hall Of

Famer Grady Wade. Their IMCA campaign included wins at

81-Speedway in Wichita, Lincoln Nebraska, and Spencer

Iowa. Thad also finished in the top five eleven times,

including a incredible run at Tampa, where in the five race

winter series, Thad finished second twice, and a third, over

drivers that included Jan Opperman, Kenny Weld, and Rick

Ferkel. At the end of the IMCA campaign, Thad would take

the title over Gene Gennetten, Bill Utz, Ray Lee Goodwin,

and Buzz Rose. In 1975 the R&H Farms team would win at

the Knoxville Nationals, with Eddie Leavitt behind the

wheel. With a new coil over sprinter built and designed by

House, the black #40 race team would have a outstanding

season in 1977 as well. With Arizona's Ron Shuman at the

controls, the R&H Farms team would win the Western

World at Manzy, and the Pacific title at Ascot Park!

In the 1970's whether racing in outlaw races,BCRA, IMCA,

CRA, WOO, or USAC among others, the R&H Farms team

was a force to be reckoned with. RC

Dick Morris, originally of Sioux City, Iowa and now

residing in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, started racing at a

young age at Raceway Park in South Sioux City, Nebraska,

in the middle Sixties, where he won several main events and

was annually in the ‘top five’ in the point standings. 1968

saw Dick move to the ranks of modified stock car racers at

the Collins Field in Lemars, Iowa. He won the track

championship there and also at the Interstate Speedway in

Jefferson, South Dakota, in 1970. Then, in 1973, he and his

pit crew decided it was time to move on to the super-

modified division at the Huset’s Speedway in Brandon,

South Dakota. He won ten feature events in 1974, but lost

the track championship on the last night following an

accident on the final lap of the main event. In September of

1974, he had a chance to partner with well-known car owner

Larry Swanson.

Dick was ‘Rookie of the Year’ at Knoxville Raceway in

1975. He also won races throughout the Midwest, including

at the South Dakota State Fair at Huron, South Dakota; the

Midwest Speedway in Lincoln, Nebraska; and the Jackson

Speedway in Minnesota. Dick also won the 1975 ‘Cheaters

Day’ race at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls,

South Dakota. Dick's race car career was cut short by a

serious sprint car accident at Knoxville just before the 1976

Nationals. He had several quick times that year at Knoxville

and he had won features throughout the Midwest, including

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at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia and Belleville Ks. Dick

Morris is now retired and living with his wife Marilyn at the

Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. He and his long-time pit

crew (Larry Swanson, Larry Nelson, Gerry Lemoine, Gale

Murkle and Joe Orth) have restored the Don Maxwell-built

number 49 sprint car to its 1976 condition. RC

Mike Cecak started racing in 1963’ running 6 cyl Modified

Stock open wheelers at Fairbury, Beatrice and Lincoln Ne,

driving his own creation. By 1968 Mike ran with a new class

of V-8 modified s and won a feature at Belleville Ks. 1971

was his first full year in Sprinters and was BCRA rookie of

the year. He also ran at Eagle Raceway and won Rookie of

the Year honors with Nebraska Modified Racing Assoc .

With the BCRA Cecak , went to McCook and ran nearly

every race at Erie Co and Belleville Ks driving for Fred

Bowers. In 1972 the team ran IMCA at the Nebraska state

fair and Topeka Ks. In 1972 Mike drove for the Goodrich

family at Belleville and ran IMCA at Topeka Ks and State

fair at Lincoln Ne. In 1973 Mike was driving the 5X for

Bower’s again with BCRA and Neb Mod assoc and ran

Belleville, Ks. “We always ran Belleville” . After that Mike

got busy and would pick up a ride on occasion. In 1978 he

built a Late Model and went to Beatrice and won first time

out.

He also ran at Lincoln on Pete Liekams N 27

th speedway

and at Eagle first time for late models ever, Cecak won the

feature. He sold the car at the end of the season. 1981 was

the year Lincoln started running sprinters in a 360 class of

competition. Here Mike drove a sprint car for Dean Orth

numbered 30D . He drove a couple years for Dean then

went into ¾ midgets, built his own car and raced for a

number of years, winning dozens of races with the 750

Honda powered mini. Mike Cecak drove his last race on 4th

of july 1991 and won the feature. The next day a guy

showed up from Tampa Florida and took the car home.

“First time at Belleville was like going to Daytona”. Cecak

finished about 6th with drivers like DickSutcliffe, Ray Lee,

Roy Bryant and it was a great experience. Another highlight

was his first year in sprints winning rookie of the year with

BCRA and finished 7th in points and 10

th with Neb Mod

Racing Association. In later years Beatrice set up a hall of

fame and Mike was the first inductee. Mike Cecak was also

honored by the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame with

2008 Gordy Shuck Sportsmanship Award thru Neb Hall. No

longer driving Mike became the Sprint car tech inspector at

Midwest Speedway until it closed and then moved to Eagle

Raceway in the same capacity. An Accident in pits modified

Mike’s duties at Eagle when he was hit by an IMCA

Modified and spent 3 and a half months in the hospital.

Mike still helps out at Eagle Raceway where you are likely

to see him on race nights. RC

LEROY BYERS(Bio from Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame)

Born in Oklahoma, his love for racing began when he

attended a sprint car race at the Oklahoma State fair. Moving

to Aurora, he struck up acquaintances with several of the

midget drivers, climbing over the track fences into the pits

on several occasions due to grand stand sell outs. He once

landed on Lloyd Axel’s tool box on his way over. His

interest would take him to races at the fairgrounds in Pueblo

and the track in Brighton.

He drove his first midget race in a v-8 ford midget and still

owns that car today. In 1952, after attending numerous races

in Indiana over a three month stretch, including the Indy

500, he raced in various states running several AAA races

during that period of time. After the 1956 season he stayed

busy taking photos for over forty years at various tracks to

numerous to mention in this presentation. He continues to do

so until this day. You would run into him at tracks in

Colorado, as well as venues in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri,

Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona and New Mexico. He started

shooting photographs at CNS after the track was built. He

retired from the U.S. Post office for a number of years which

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gave him an opportunity to take photos at the races.

Although being a race car driver and owner were important

to him, being a photographer was where he really found his

niche. He became famous for not only his photos, but his

extensive racing collection. It seems he kept almost every

race car he ever touched and every photo he ever took.

Among the racing community he was known as a pack rat

but most of us new him by “by golly”, as this was a phrase

he always used when he talked to anyone. He has been

involved one way or another with Colorado racing for more

years than one can remember. And………

B.C.R.A. 3-3-04

My memories of BCRA RACING experiences are all

very special! I started running BCRA in the early

'60's.Many drivers drove my sprint car, the number 4X,

BCRA, IMCA, USAC, OUTLAW AND WOO. Some of

these drivers included Joe Saldana, Lloyd Beckman, Ray

Lee Goodman, and of course the legendary Jan Opperman.

Jan drove my car to win the 1969 BCRA CHAMPIONSHIP. We always had great times with Bill Hill on the mike, and Don Buddy who ran the shows. Les and Beryl Ward were always on hand to get their great photos and stories in SPEED SPORT NEWS and other media.

Jan set the Belleville High Banks record in 1975 at 19.06, which was almost a full second quicker than Lloyd Beckman's earlier record. That was the year we won our second BCRA CHAMPIONSHIP. One unforgettable experience was when my old racing buddy, Ralph Parkinson, went over the first turn fence at Belleville, during the feature. None of the officials saw it happen. They ran the race three more laps before I was able to get to them to put out the red flag. End of the story...Ralph was lucky...only shaken up. As a car owner who raced for the prize money, BCRA was always a good pay day for the number 4X SPEEDWAY SPRINTER. Its great that the legend of the BCRA is being preserved. I hope the legacy lives on.

BILL SMITH SPEEDWAY MOTORS, INC. LINCOLN, NE.

BCRA Champions moment………

Speedy, “What Cam did ya run in that Chevy, Jack ?”

Jack Hahn hard of hearing, replies, “ Bill, do you take that

hat off at nite when you go to bed?” True story

Charlie Lutkie(1913-2015) in his Black Panther.Bville Ks

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1966 BCRA Champ Jay Woodside(1939-2004). Ted Hall Chevy

Dale McCarty, Racing is his first love. RC

Former Kansas City area resident Dale McCarty has been

involved in racing since he was a wet behind the ears

teenager! Racing first around Hutchinson, KS in the 1940's

and 1950's. McCarty later moved to the big city, Kansas

City, where he raced for many years locally, and nationally

in supers, sprints, and midgets

Ray Lee, Gennetten #3, McCarty in #6

Jr Parkinson and Dale McCarty

Dale McCarty was born in 1931 in tiny Louis, Kansas. He

became interested in racing after seeing a demo derby, and a

jalopy race at a young age. After growing up on the family

farm, where chores started at 5 AM, Dale would learn a

work ethic, that would serve him the rest of his life. As

young man Dale moved to Hutchinson, KS where he started

racing jalopies at tracks that included, Mohawk in Hutch,

Jayhawk in Newton, and 81 Speedway in Wichita. Some of

the racers he ran against in those early years were National

Sprint Car HOF members Jay Woodside, and Harold Leep,

as well as Bill Mears, whose son Rick would later win 4

Indy 500's. By the 1960's McCarty would move to KC to

work as a millwright, while raising a family. McCarty still

works as a millwright today at age 83! During the 1960's

McCarty became a fixture at tracks that included, Lakeside,

Olympic, and later I-70 in supers and sprints. McCarty

would also race weekly at tracks that included Topeka,

Knoxville, Marshall, and Jeff City. Dale would a become a

regular competitor on the fair circuits of the BCRA and

IMCA sprint ranks. McCarty would race as far away as the

Florida State Fair in Tampa, and once raced for fellow

Kansas City owner Bill Hoback at Winchester, Indiana

finishing in 5th place against some of the greatest pavement

racers of the era. In the midget ranks, Dale participated in

area races, while also running in IMCA, and USAC, at

venues that included Kokomo, in Indiana, and Sun Prairie in

Wisconsin.

But, his favorite racing venue was tiny Olympic Stadium in

KC. At the bull ring that honed the racing skills of HOF

racers, Greg and Kenny Weld, Dick Sutcliffe, Eddie Leavitt,

and Ray Lee Goodwin among others. Dale always felt at

home, having two clean sweeps, one coming after Jerry

Weld asked Dale what he was going to do that evening, and

McCarty replying "I'm going to win everything but the

grandstand tonight"! McCarty never won a major title, but

loved to race, and always finished well. Dale raced into the

1980's when a terrible crash in a sprint car curtailed his

activities. In the last decade McCarty has come back to

racing with McCarty Motor Sports #9 Winged Sprint Car,

primarily as a owner, but also as a racer in Knoxville's

Master Classic, among other races.

Dale 1971

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JM Photo

1965 USAC Sprint Division wining mechanic Don

Shepherd passed away today in Indy. Don was the brother

of sprint and Indy driver AJ Shepherd, and cut his teeth

racing and owning Jalopies In the 1950's. Don and AJ raced

against the likes of Harold Leep, Billy Mears (Ricks Dad)

and Frankie Lies among others at Cee Jay Stadium in

Wichita their hometown. Don and AJ would move to

California next where they became associated with Jim

Hurtubise and Parnelli Jones, racing in CRA, and in the

Midwest with IMCA. During this period Don became a top

flight mechanic, and AJ a driver. Later both came to Indy

pursuing their racing dreams. AJ would get to the brickyard,

but after a horrendous crash at the Indy Fairgrounds, his

career ended with him moving back to Wichita. In 1965 Don

teamed with Jack Colvin to race the KEY Special with driver

Bobby Unser in USAC Sprints winning the coveted owners

and chief mechanic titles. Though Johnny Rutherford won

the drivers title that year by a scant 2.5 points over rookie

Greg Weld, the KEY #3 Special was the team to beat as they

utilized the talents of Bob Wente, Greg Weld and Jud Larson

when Unser was not available. Don was later inducted into

the NSCHOF. RIP great champion! RC

Bob Unser in the Shepherd owned Sterling Plumbing sprinter

Remember The Classic, “Tom and Jerry Show”?

The Show What has happened to today’s racers? Oh, the racing is

fine in most cases but whatever has happened to the

spirit of fun that used to go along with it? Everybody’s so

serious these days…they’re all in the Motel by midnight

it seems. Ever since Kevin Olson retired there isn’t one

good practical joker left that we can find. There was a

time when no self-respecting group of race- car drivers

would depart a town without leaving a memory behind.

Usually a vivid one. One such story comes to mind as told

to us by our friend the late and greatly missed Cotton

Farmer.

It seems the lads were in some little Midwest town,

back in the 60’s, for a “weekender” at the local

Fairgrounds. It was the night before and things were dull

at the Motel where they were staying and, as we all know,

there is nothing more dangerous than a couple of bored

racers.

Their lodgings were right at the edge of the town;

farmland stretching off into the distance and, just a few

hundred feet from where they sat… a single lane dirt

road that led about a half mile up to ‘Farmer Brown’s’

front yard.

In a remarkable spirit of cooperation the City had been

doing some road construction a few blocks uptown and

had gone off and left their barricades and detour signs

and lanterns and things out where anyone could stumble

over them. (Don’t get ahead of us now.)

It took only a few minutes for Cotton and his friend to

capture a portion of the City’s property and re-distribute

it. And very soon the traffic departing the town that

evening found themselves detoured up a half mile single

lane road…and into Farmer Brown’s yard. Well. The

first few, upon realizing where they were, and that they

could go no farthur, began trying to turn around. This, in

turn, served to disturb the loose chickens that owned the

yard and they set up a din. This apparently upset the cow

which also set up a din.

All of this then brought the farmer out “ what the hell-

ing” to see what all the noise was about. We’d give

anything to know what went through his mind when he

beheld this sea of headlights stretching off into the

distance…cars backing and filling all through his front

yard and terrifying his livestock.

Now. The few that had managed to get ends swapped

soon discovered that it did them no good because the

(single lane) road was blocked by all the inbound cars. So

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they did what every good motorist does in such a

situation. They began blowing their horns! Not to be out

done, and having no idea what was going on up front, the

incoming folks began blowing their horns. (We’re

tempted to say something about the Cow blowing her

horn…but we won’t).

About this time the Police arrived on the scene and

they were at a complete loss. They couldn’t drive up to

the seat of the disturbance where a livid farmer was

shouting to just as angry a group of motorists to, “get the

hell off my propitty.” Finally getting a grip on the

situation the Constables tore down the barricades and

began walking up the road, sorting out the traffic as they

went. The shouting and tumult gradually died down and

Cotton and his friend decided that they had had enough

entertainment for one night and so went off to bed.

Don’t see that sort of thing anymore. Too bad! T & J

Note: For over sixty years this team hit the tracks with

cameras and pens. Photos and articles adorned the pages of

several national racing publications! Their OFFICE? The

Pikes Peak Hill Climb Road, turn one at Belleville, the

infield at the Chili Bowl and many points between.

From the Past . I recently came across this letter from Andy

Anderson. Andy had a real passion for racing from his early days

when he first met Paul Russo. This was a 2004 letter.

By Andy Anderson Big Car Racing Association, asked me to give an

account of the early years of the original BCRA. I was

happy to do so, especially when I found it was for the

revival of BCRA. It was my privilege to be associated with

the club from 1964 through 1975. At the time, my

background in racing included driving Big Cars in the

‘50s, and I had served as Starter for the Rocky Mountain

Midget Association for 2-1/2 years.

When I first became associated, my job was Pit

Steward, and when Clarence Freud retired in ’65, I was

asked to be Secretary/Treasurer. During the subsequent

years, it was my honor to work closely with President

Don Budy. Don was a great public relations man, and

with my administrative ability, we made a great team

until we both decided to retire in 1975.

In spite of having two artificial legs, the result of

injuries received in World War II, Don served as Judge

for all the races, and he was always there as a goodwill

ambassador of Big Car racing. In addition, we had a

permanent roster of dependable and capable officials.

Our Starter was Carl Mishmach, Assistant Starter was

Tom Bentz, Pit Stewards were Merle Holbrook, Charlie

Gottschalk and Jan Lee. Bill Hill was our knowledgeable

and talented Announcer. My wife Mary and I served as

Scorers, most of the time assisted by our daughters Shari and

Terry. We had a Safety Crew headed up by Bob Armstrong.

LeRoy Byers was our official Photographer, and our

Historian was Don Budy’s son, Bruce. All of these

Continued on next talented people had many years of

experience, with backgrounds in many facets of racing.

During this period of time, his health required Don to take

two years off, and Tom Bentz and Lloyd Wittenberg stepped

in as President. In that time period, there was only one major

disagreement between Don and myself. It occurred at

Rapid City, South Dakota. Jan Opperman, driving for

Bill Smith of Speedway Motors, pulled into the race a

little late, with a roll cage on the car. At the time, Big

Cars only had a low roll bar for safety, and Don loved

their sleek look. He was very much against cages and

made the decision that if Opperman did not remove the

cage, he would not be allowed to run. After a short but

heated discussion, and keeping safety in mind, Don

finally relented and allowed Jan to run. He was the

winner of the Feature event that day. As you know,

cages then became commonplace, and practically every

Big Car was equipped with one.

In the ‘60s and early ‘70s, BCRA sanctioned

races in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and

South Dakota. During my term, we had a number of

great drivers (memory being what it is I am sure to omit

someone), but they included Jon Backlund, Lloyd

Beckman, Frank Brennfoerder, Roy Bryant, Ray Lee

Goodwin, Lonnie Jensen, Opperman, Dale Reed, Dick

Sutcliffe, Grady Wade, Doug Wolfgang and Jay

Woodside.One of the favorite tracks where BCRA

sanctioned races was at the High Banks of Belleville,

Kansas. For many years, BCRA races were the

highlight of the North Central Kansas Free Fair. Also,

Belleville was the birthplace of the High Banks Hall of

Fame. Among the former BCRA members enshrined

there are car owners Red Forshee, The Goodrich family,

Lonnie Morosic, LaVerne Nance, Bill Smith and Chet

Wilson. Drivers included Backland, Beckman,

Brennfoerder, Bryant, Goodwin, Opperman, Reed,

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Woodside, and Wade. Officials inducted included Bill Hill,

Byers and Budy, while yours truly was inducted partly for

driving and partly for officiating. Les and Beryl Ward were

inducted under the Media banner. They not only reported all

the BCRA races, but had been actively writing race coverage

articles for newspapers including National Speed Sport

News for many, many years. As can be readily seen by all

the names of people in different categories, they all

contributed much toward the many years of BCRA success

and involvement in Big Car Racing, or Sprint Car Racing as

it is known today. I am sure that this new birth featuring

the Vintage Cars, by the talented people involved today, will bring back those good old years. Yes, I can

honestly say that those were the good old days, and I feel

honored and privileged to have been a part of that era.

Andy in the “Belle of Belleville”

Big Car Racing Association

306 Montrose Ave

Bertrand Ne 68927

Ed McVay(1922-2015) Receiving trophy from young lady

BCRA President Don Budy at work behind the scenes.’75