BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES - BCRASPRINTS€¦ · New Mexico’s Roy Hicks was one of the most...
Transcript of BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES - BCRASPRINTS€¦ · New Mexico’s Roy Hicks was one of the most...
The June BCRA Hall of Fame Induction ceremony
celebrated the careers of Drivers and Owners
representing the sport from the 1920’s through the 1980’s. Lloyd Axel got his start in the early 20’s, which
included the 1926 inaugural race at Ord Nebraska, with
his grand finale at the Elmwood Park, Greeley Colorado oval in 1965. This race was a fitting salute to one of the
greatest American competitors as he took home the
trophy for the day after a wheel to wheel with a young Cotton Farmer for the Feature win. Lloyd passed away
in 1971 and his award was accepted by Dave Tyson of
Kansas City.
New Mexico’s Roy Hicks was one of the most popular drivers of his era in the Southwest. From Drag racing to
USAC dirt cars and the Speedway as a mechanic, Hicks
was not only top driver for decades but a topnotch sportsman. Roy came into Lincoln from his home in
Niceville Florida to accept the award and for a reunion
with Brother Gordie Hicks from Socorro N.M. This
dynamic duo had a great time at Lincoln and was a grat addition to the Hall of Fame and the weekends
festivities.
Mirl Barnett from the wheat fields of Rexford Kansas advanced from the early 50’s Jalopy’s to top notch
Sprint car racing with the BCRA, IMCA and the
Mississippi Valley racing Association in the 60’s. After an extensive search Mirl located and restored the old
Propane burning Morosic #9 and put it on the track again
in 2002 until present on the Midwest vintage circuits.
Mirl and family made the trip from Rexford and enjoyed the tours of the museum and the induction ceremony.
Salina Kansas was well represented by Kansas driving
legend Jack Petty. Petty started in the rough and tumble days of the CeeJay Stadium Bullring with some of the
best drivers to ever compete. A near fatal fire at
Hutchinson Kansas slowed Petty for a time but he soon returned to form and continues to support the sport to
this day. Jack made the trip from Salina with son Jim
and towed Jacks Yellow #6 for the fans to enjoy.
Roger Beck built Race Cars. He started in the early 50’s driving with the likes of Parnelli, Marv Porter and others
in California with the URA,CRA then went to work for
Bill Devin, Mickey Thompson , Eddie Kuzma and AJ Watson before going on his own with some incredible
sprint cars raced by some of the best drivers and owners
in the country. Roger was on his way from Indy when he suffered a change to the condition of his recently
repaired back which warranted a quick return home and
his Doctor. Roger expressed his gratitude for his
recognition by the BCRA Hall of Fame and to Bill Smith. “After Bill Smith bought a car from me our
business really picked up in the Midwest.” And the Bill
Smith Beck won at Erie with Roy Bryant, at Belleville twice, Tampa 3 times and 2
nd at Knoxville with
Beckman and was a key workhorse in the ’69 BCRA
Championship with Opperman at the wheel. The BCRA looks forward to a visit from Roger in the near future
Many thanks to “Speedy” Bill for accepting the award
for Roger Beck.
Chuck Kidwell started in the 50’s with Go-Carts, Soap
Box Derby and by the 1960’s was racing Modifieds in
the Midwest. Chuck would drive the Belle of Belleville in 1967 and finished 2
nd in points with the BCRA. in ‘68
He also raced with the Central Nebraska Modified
Racing Assoc. Kidwell worked on the Nix USAC team for ten years and is now living in Florida where he
continues in racing with caged carts. Chuck made the
trip from Indianapolis with Keith Barker to accept his
award and it is always great to rub shoulders with a guy who’s life’s passion has been Racing.
Marty Bassett began his career in Lincoln Nebraska
and was soon put to work by Bill Smith at Speedway motors where he worked with some of the best drivers in
the country. During his career he worked for some of
the best Owners in Bill Smith, Larry Swanson, Ed Smith and drivers like Jan Opperman, Lonnie Jensen, Keith
Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, COLORADO SPRINGS CO
(50th Anniversary 1958 - 2008 )
BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES
July August September 2013
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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Hightshoe and many others. Marty is a top motor and
suspension man and once engaged in conversation is one
of the most track savvy individuals you will ever meet.
Colorado’s Ted Foltz was released from the hospital just a few days before the Lincoln event and was unable
to make the trip. Ted began his career in the early 50’s in
Colorado and spent four decades at Pikes Peak and on the Oval tracks in the region winning championships and
working for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Associations for
nearly 50 years in Colorado. Bart Manley was born
into Midget Racing in Colorado driving for his father and with the advent of the BCRA he would drive for
Ray Koch and the McWhorter built Manley Chevy
where he finished in the top five for the next three years and running Stock Cars at Erie. He later ran in the
Southwest winning a stock car championship in 1996
and leads a quiet life of retirement in the Southwest U.S..
“The Motorcycle King” Ray Koch was a consistent
competitor in the Rockies from the 40’s to the 80’s at
Pikes Peak , RMMRA and the BCRA..He was a generous car owner and sometime driver who truly loved
the sport. Ray Koch left racing and his Harley
Dealership in the mid-80’s as he walked into the office one day and handed the keys to his right hand man Fred
Neushwanger with , Its all yours, thanks for everything”!
Truly a great sportsman Ray ‘s plaque was received by JD Cormack of Kansas City.
Lincoln Nebraska’s Marty Bassett
New Mexico’s Roy Hicks
A Lifetime in racing, Nebraskan Chuck Kidwell
Jack Petty accepting his Plaque in Lincoln
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Humble Kansan Mirl Barnett accepts award
Ray Koch pictured here during a 1950 meeting of the Midget crew at Rays shop. Ray was a much beloved competitor of the day but always seemed to stay in the background. After decades the voters remembered and it is a pleasure to have Ray Koch inducted in 2013
Driver, Owner, Fabricator and 2013 Inductee, Roger Beck
1940’s shot of the great Lloyd Axel in his Kurtis Midget
Midgets, Sprinters and Stock Cars were the passion of
2013 Inductee Bart Manley of Colorado
4 decades on the Mountain and oval tracks! Sprinters,
Midgets, Stockers, Jalopies. Colorado’s 3 time Pikes Peak
Champ Ted Foltz
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Larry Swanson, Marty Bassett and driver Lonnie Jenson
USAC Competition and 2013 BCRAHOF inductee driver Roy Hicks
Joe, Julie and Jim of the Kansas Racing Petty family
Gordon Woolley in the Hoback Chevy.Hutch Ks ‘66
Eddie Mcvay of Kansas City at Hutch Ks
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Lloyd Axel in his new Kurtis Midget. Lakeside .’46
Two of New Mexico’s finest in the Hicks Bros
Bench racing at Joes with Speedy Bill, Chuck Kidwell on left
with Skip and Casey Smith to the right. Don Droud and Marty
Bassett with backs to camera.
Big Al Murie in the #15
BCRA competitor and Hall of fame nominee, Jerry Stone
taking in the BCRA Hall of Fame and Tours
Joe Haag presents one of his patented design racing
Mail boxes to the BCRA. Beautiful piece of work, Thanks to Joe
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Mirl Barnett at Ok City
Great shot of Kansas Legend Jack Petty in the Cockpit of his Stocker before the devastating Fire in ’74 at Hutch Ks
Mechanic Marty Bassett and Owner Larry Swanson
Keith Barker, Larry and Skip Smith
Owner Ron Fegter and BCRAHOF Inductee, Driver Chuck
Kidwell on right
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Tommy , Ray Koch and driver Earl Kouba
The Red Fox crew returns to the spotlight with 2013 Inductees
Speedy and Opperman 1976
Ron Wilcheck Hutchinson Ks. 1966
The Hicks Brothers BCRA Hall of Fame Induction
The Swanson cousins: Doug, Glenn, Dean, Friend Dwain
Anderson and Gary
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\ Big Car Racing Association 306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Ne 68927
Back Row: Mirl Barnett, Bill Smith for Roger Beck, Jack Petty, Roy Hicks, JD Cormack for
Ray Koch, Gary Wolfe for Ted Foltz. Frnt Row: Dave Tyson for Lloyd Axel, Marty Bassett, Chuck Kidwell and Ray Cunningham for Bart Manley
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