Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC
BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, COLORADO SPRINGS CO
(50
th
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)
Welcome to the Big Car Racing Association and Hall of
Colorado National Speedway and ran a few races. In 1966
Fame. At this time the date for the BCRA HOF reunion at
they raced a full season with the idea of making racing
Lincoln will be the last weekend in June(26 and 27) as usual
possible for anybody that wanted to participate. The track
with tours of the museum and bench racing at Joe Haags
had four foot retaining walls for the safety of spectators and
Speed Shop and On Track at Eagle Raceway. The Model T
they continued to make improvements both on and off the
Speedster group will have their reunion at Speedway, their
track. During the years they added Motorcycles, Sprint Cars
Hall of Fame and Hill Climb along with other activities. The
and Midgets to their racing program. The Heffleys sold
Red Devils Car Group will have their annual Car Show at
Colorado National in 1972 to George Butland and later the
Pioneers Park. The BCRA Hall of Fame salutes the
track was sold to Jim Opperman and paved. Gene Heffely
following teams and individuals.
was a 2009 Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee.
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
Jack Hahn(1925-2015) at Erie Co.Byers Photo
*While nearing completion of Erie, two time Big Car
all went to a big race at Hanford, California. It was the first
Racing Association Champion Jack Hahn of Wyoming, was
time they had seen a real Late Model race and he and Gerda
requested to take a test run on the track. A famous photo
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
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
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
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.
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 supermodified 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
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
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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.
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 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 4 th
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 10th 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
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
BCRA Champions moment………
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.
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
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.
Charlie Lutkie(1913-2015) in his Black Panther.Bville Ks
BILL SMITH
SPEEDWAY MOTORS, INC.
LINCOLN, NE.
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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.
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
Dale 1971
Jr Parkinson and Dale McCarty
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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 helling” 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
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
6
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,
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
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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.
Ed McVay(1922-2015) Receiving trophy from young lady
BCRA President Don Budy at work behind the scenes.’75
Andy in the “Belle of Belleville”
Big Car Racing Association
306 Montrose Ave
Bertrand Ne 68927
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