| Gone Racin' Newsletter by Richard Parks #99 Nov 30, 2005 | ||
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News:
*Ray Nichels (1922-2005) passed away. One of the
preeminent race car mechanics and car
builders of the 1950s and 1960s, passed away on Friday, November 26,
2005. Arrangements
are being finalized later today by his wife Eleanor.
More information will be mailed to you early
tomorrow morning. At present tentative plans are to have Visitation
Monday, November 28th,
afternoon and early evening at: Lincoln Ridge Funeral Home, 7607 W.
Lincoln Hwy (US Route
30), Schererville, IND 46375 Phone #219-322-6616. Mr. Nichels
funeral is planned for early
morning Tuesday, November 29th at: Our Lady of Consolation Catholic
Church, 8303 Taft
Street, Merrillville, IND 46410 219-769-1755 See
www.olcweb.org (William LaDow)
*Jonathan Thompson, former Road & Track writer/editor, and aurthor of several great aviation books as well, died several weeks ago. (Dr David Scully)
*Jim McQueen passed away this morning, November 28,
2005, at his home in Indianapolis,
Indiana. For a full biography go to
www.oilstick.com for details of
his life. (Pattie Frost)
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*Bob Falcon continues to get lots of recognition for
his safety contributions to racing. He will be
in Indianapolis this week for another award from AARWBA. (Dr David Scully)
*Dirt Track racing news at
http://www.DirtAmericaOnline.com. Josh "Kid Rocket"
Richards,
2005 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Rookie of the Year,
will be managed by Cary
Agajanian’s Motorsports Management International.
See
www.motorsportsmanagement.com
and www.joshrichards.com
(Doc Lehman)
*Jan 11-14, 2006, 20th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals
in Tulsa, OK. (Doc Lehman)
*Former Angel second-baseman Bobby Grich, former Dodger first baseman
Steve Garvey,
double Olympic Gold Medal winner and Super Bowl star Willie Gault
and television/film stars
Joe Mantegna, Dennis Haysbert, James B. Sikking, Bruce McGill, Ron
Masak and Fred "The
Hammer" Williamson are among the celebrities scheduled to play in
the 7th Annual Jim Murray
SilverRock Alumni Challenge which will be played at the luxurious Arnold Palmer Classic
Course, SilverRock Resort, La Quinta, California, on December
11-13. Call 760-771-8972
or go to
www.jimmurrayfoundation.com or (Linda McCoy-Murray)
*Gear Grinder Neil Thompson just had a double heart
bypass this past week. (Glen Barrett)
*George Callaway is recovering from knee replacement
surgery. He reports that he is doing well
and trying to work through the pain in order to do his therapy and
walking exercises.
*Jim Davis has moved to Gilbert, Arizona. He is
our hot rodder who wrote the children's book
Roger and the Racecar. Jim has also taken to creating
works of art, and sent a photo of his
rendition of the Rapp/Rossi/Maldonaldo TFD, in
copper plate. You can reach Jim at his email
james.davis1@cox.net and
be sure to ask him to send you his price schedule. What better gift
for a hot rodders children and grandchildren than their own
children's book.
*LUNCHEON GUESTS REVIEW ROADSTER ERA - By Tim Kennedy
POMONA, Calif,
Nov. 23 - More than 170 persons attended a special exhibit,
luncheon and panel discussion
sponosred by Performance Racing Industry and Irwindale Speedway
Wednesday at noon. The
topic was CRA track roadsters as the road to the Indianapolis 500
following World War II. The
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum at the Pomona
Fairplex hosted the event. Parks,
92 year old founder of the NHRA drag racing sanctioning body,
welcomed guests as did museum
director Sam Jackson and curator Greg Sharp. The exhibit will be open to visitors until January
2006. Respected television broadcaster Bob Jenkins
served as master of ceremonies for the
panel discussion. He revealed that 73 CRA roadster drivers made
the Indy 500 starting lineup
through the 1950s. Panelists included Indy 500 winners Jim
Rathmann and Parnelli Jones,
long-time CRA president and roadster driver Walt James,
plus drag racer Art Chrisman. They
answered questions posed by Jenkins and reminisced about their
roadster racing days and exper-
iences on national circuits. The special exhibit featured a
display with two CRA roadsters posed
on dirt in side-by-side simulated racing action. The lifelike
display came complete with manequin
drivers in racing garb of the era and old-time helmets. A
painting of the famous Gilmore Stadium
scoreboard towered over the two cars. Other roadsters from the
era, videos and memorabilia
were displayed in the museum. Attendees received copies of a
color drawing by renowned artist
Joe Henning that is suitable for framing. It
showed five actual CRA roadsters from the late
1940s in action on a dirt track. Present were former drivers
Chuck Hulse Sr and Jr, Rosie
Roussel, Dick McClung, Howard Gardner,
Louie Senter, Joe Graffino, Jimmy Oskie,
Duke Cook and 2005 USAC National Sprint Car
champion Levi Jones. USAC vice presi-
dent, of communications Dick Jordan also attended
and posed a question to the well-received
panelists. Invited guest Andy Granatelli was
unable to attend because of a back problem.
(Tim Kennedy and Doug Stokes)
*Street Legal Drag Strip racing at The PAS will start this Friday night. Gates will open at 5PM
for competitors and spectators. The cost is $10 for spectators
and $20 to race. Bring a current
drivers license, registration and a helmet to compete. The PAS is
located near the 215 freeway
close to the Lake Perris Fairgrounds, home of the Southern
California Fair, approximately one
hour east of Los Angeles. Take the 215 Freeway, exit at the
Ramona Expressway and go east
two and a half miles to the fairgrounds. Call (951) 940-0134 or
email racesatthepas@aol.com
(Scott Daloisio and Kim Donner)
*Earl Pearson Jr is the 2005 Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series Champion. Don O'Neal was
2nd, Donnie Moran was 3rd, Matt Miller
4th, Scott James 5th, Freddy Smith 6th, Tim
Dohm 7th, Darren Miller 8th,
Brian Birkhofer 9th, and Brady Smith 10th.
Brady Smith
was the "Rookie of the Year." See www.RaceTalkLive.com
The final celebration of the 2005
season for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will take place on
Dec 1, 2005, as the Series
will present its Awards Banquet in Orlando, Florida, at the
Wyndham Orlando Resort during the
annual PRI show. (James Essex)
*Porsche 911: Perfection by Design, written by Randy
Leffingwell and photographer David
Newhardt will be at Autobooks on Sunday, December
4, at Noon to 3 pm to talk about their
book and sign autographs for their fans. Autobooks/Aerobooks is
located at 3524 W. Magnolia
Blvd, Burbank, California. Phone 818-845-0707. (Doug Stokes)
Racing schedules:
*7TH ANNUAL CRUISIN' FOR A CURE, Sept 23,
2006, Orange County Fair and Expo
Center, Costa Mesa, CA. All proceeds go to Prostate Cancer
Research at the Jonnson Cancer
Center Foundation at UCLA Medical Center. Free PSA testing
for men. Food, entertainment,
sponsor's booth, drawings, celebrities, 3000+ hot rods,
antiques, sportscars, classic and muscle
cars on display. For more info call Debbie Baker
at 949-752-5115x10 or
dbaker52@aol.com
*ASA SPEED TRUCK CHALLENGE 2005
racing/television schedule:
2005 Season Review to air Dec 10 and 17 at 8PM
*AUTO ZONE Super Chevy Show Tour XXV
(AutoStar Productions) 2005 SCHEDULE
SEASON OVER FOR 2005
*CALIFORNIA DRAGWAY 2005 schedule. Located at the
dragstrip, on the grounds of the
California Speedway, Fontana, CA. For more
info Contact Dave Danish at 909-429-5060
or go online at
www.Californiaspeedway.com. All dates and times are subject
to change:
Dec 3, 8am, Street legals
*CROWN ROYAL IROC Series 2005 schedule: SEASON
OVER FOR 2005
*DIRT RACERS Radio airs every
Sunday evening on WQKT 104.5 FM from 6-8PM. The
show is hosted by Doc Lehman & Ryan
Pearson, and can also be heard at:
www.wqkt.com
MACS Late Model series racers will be invited on the show. (Doc
Lehman/Ryan Pearson)
*GOODGUYS 2005 Schedule of
Events. See www.goodguys.com
or call 925-838-9876:
SEASON OVER FOR 2005
*GRAND AM CUP 2006 Racing Schedule:
Jan 4-7, Daytona Test Days, Daytona International Speedway Jan 26-27, 150 Miles/2 Hours, Daytona International Speedway (Nate Siebens and Linda K. Mansfield)
*GRAND AMERICAN ROLEX Sports Car Series
2005 schedule (Linda K. Mansfield)
Dec 2-4 Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez 400 Km-1000 Km
*GRAND AMERICAN ROLEX 2006 Series Schedule:
Jan 4-7, Daytona Test Days, Daytona International Speedway
Jan 26-29, 24 Hours, Daytona International Speedway (Nate Siebens and Linda K. Mansfield)
*INDUSTRY HILLS SPEEDWAY MOTORCYCLE Races at the
Industry Hills Event
Center, in the City of Industry, CA. Wednesday Nights, AMA
Sanctioned. Adults $12,
Juniors $8, Children $4, and those 5 and under are FREE! Tapes
Up 7:30 PM. Contact:
Freddie Orosco at 909-681-4911, For rider signup see Ryan Evans
at 626-643-7598 or
email sideways31@aol.com.
SEASON OVER FOR 2005
*IRWINDALE DRAGWAY, Located at
Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, CA. NHRA
Street Legal sanctioned drag racing every Thursday night from
January to November. Pros
and street legal racing welcome. See
www.Irwindalespeedway.com for Summit schedule and
Junior Dragster program. 1/8 mile track. Entrance fee $20.
Spectators are $10. See Dragstrip
track manager Bob Klein 626-358-1100 x 211. (Doug Stokes)
*IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY programs, see
www.Irwindalespeedway.com for schedules and
updates. 2005 Irwindale oval track racing schedule:
Gates open 4:30, races start at 6pm.
November 24 THANKSGIVING NIGHT 2005, 65th Running Thanksgiving Night Grand Prix
Turkey Night for the Agajanian Trophy,
and 50th anniversary of the Agajanian Family
promotion of this event. USAC Sprints, USAC
Midgets, Ford Focus Midgets.
*JOHN FORCE Cruise Night is held on the
last Wednesday of each month from 5-8 P.M.
at the shop in Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Contact Craig
Hoelzel for details about vendor space,
how to show your car, or for directions. Craig is at
craig@johnforceracing.com While you
are there, check out the Force Racestation gift shop
next door. It is a fascinating store filled
with all sorts of collectibles, including broken parts
from John's Funny Cars, autographed by
the 13 time NHRA Funny Car Champion himself. You'll
find artwork, paintings, photographs,
hats, jackets, apparel, pins, die cast cars, souvenirs
and just about anything that you could want.
If Force is in town and not on the race car circuit,
he will be glad to sign your collectible. See
hundreds of hot rods and vintage cars, rock to the
music of the '50's, purchase some delicious
food, and meet your fellow hot rodders. Celebrity
racers and hot rodders are known to show
up for this one of a kind hot rod cruise night at the
legendary John Force Racestation.
*KING of INDIANA Sprint
Series 2005 Schedule: For info call Mike
OLeary 812-825-9614
SEASON OVER FOR 2005
*LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY 2005 Schedule at The
Strip
Nov 24, Las Vegas Bracket Nationals IV (Thanksgiving Day) 7am-9pm. 25, Las Vegas Bracket Nationals IV 7am-9pm. 26, Las Vegas Bracket Nationals IV 7am-9pm. 27, Las Vegas Bracket Nationals IV 7am-5pm. Dec 2, BFGoodrich Midnight Mayhem 7pm-1am. 3, The Strip at LVMS annual awards banquet location TBA 7pm.
(John Bisci, LVMS Public Relations, 702-632-8231,
jbisci@lvms.com)
*MATTEL Children's Hospital
2nd Annual Car Show and Easter Egg Hunt, April 15,
2006, 9am-3pm, at the John Force RaceStation,
22722 Old Canal Road, Yorba Linda, CA
92887. Open to all street rods, muscle cars, classics, trucks,
antiques, exotics and sports cars.
Food, awards, entertainment and sponsor's booths onsite. All
proceeds go to cancer research.
For more info call Debbie Baker at
949-752-5115x10 or
dbaker52@aol.com
*MEDIA ASSOCIATIONS contact points for writers,
journalists, photographers, etc:
Automotive Press Association, Detroit -
jdgilbert@cbs.com,
Detroit Press Club Foundation
www.icnpr.net
International Automotive Media Awards -
whaessner@earthlink.net,
International Motor Press Association, NYC -
www.impa.org,
Midwest Automotive Media Association, Chicago -
www.mamaonline.org,
Motor Press Guild, Los Angeles -
www.motorpressguild.org,
New England Motor Press Association, Boston -
www.nempa.org,
Northwest Automotive Press Association, Port Orchard, WA-
www.nwapa.org,
Phoenix Automotive Press Association, Phoenix-
ledsall@cox.net,
Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Denver -
vince@theweekenddrive.com,
Society of Automotive Historians -
www.autohistory.org,
Southeast Automotive Media Organization, Charlotte, NC
www.southeastautomedia.org,
Texas Auto Writers Association, Red Oak TX -
http://www.TexasAutoWriters.org,
Truck Writers of North America,
www.twna.org
Washington Automotive Press Association, D.C. -
www.washautopress.org,
Western Automotive Journalists, San Francisco -
www.waj.org,
*MID-ATLANTIC Championship Series
(MACS) 2005 racing schedule: SEASON OVER
FOR 2005 See
macs1@verizon.net and http://www.macsracing.com (Andy
Geesey)
*NEXTEL (NASCAR) Cup Series 2005
schedule: SEASON OVER FOR 2005
*NHRA POWERade Drag Racing 2006 Series schedule.
Feb 9-12, Pomona, CA. Feb 24-26, Phoenix, AZ
Mar 16-19, Gainesville, FL. Mar 31-Apr 2, Houston, TX
Apr 6-9, Las Vegas, NV Apr 28-30, Bristol, TN
May 4-7, Atlanta, GA May 18-21, Columbus,
OH May 25-28, Topeka, KN
June 8-11, Chicago, ILL June 15-18, Englishtown,
NJ June 23-25, Madison, ILL
July 14-16, Denver, CO July 21-23, Seattle,
WA July 28-30, Sonoma, CA
Aug 10-13, Brainerd, MN Aug 18-20, Memphis, TN Aug
30-Sep 4, Indianapolis, IN
Sep 14-17, Reading, PA Sep 21-24, Dallas, TX
Oct 6-8, Richmond, VA Oct 26-29, Las Vegas, NV
Nov 9-12, Pomona, CA
*PERRIS AUTO DRAGWAY, Street Legal Drag Strip
at The PAS (Perris Auto Speedway)
will open on Friday, January 6, 2006. Drag racing will
continue on every Friday thereafter.
The course is a 1/8 mile dragstrip and is open to anyone
16-years old or over with a valid
registration, drivers license and a helmet. Cars, trucks
and motorcycles are allowed. Gates will
open at 4 PM every Friday with racing from 5-10:30 PM. Tech
will close at 9 PM, and you
cannot run if you do not go through tech
inspections. Spectators $10, competitors $20. The
Perris Auto Speedway is on the Lake Perris
Fairgrounds. Take the 215 Freeway, exit at the
Ramona Expressway and go east two and a half miles to the
fairgrounds. For more information
call 951-940-0134, or email them at racesatthepas@aol.com
(Scott Daloisio/Kim Donner)
*PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY, 2006 Valvoline USAC/CRA
Sprint Cars schedule at Lake
Perris, CA: Feb 4 (daytime), Feb 18, Mar 4, Mar 25, Apr 15, Apr
29, May 13, May 27, June
10, June 24, July 1, July 22, Aug 5, Aug 19, Sept 2, Sept 16,
Sept 30, Oct 21, Nov 2-4 for
the 11th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals, Nov 18-10th
Annual Jack Kindoll Classic.
(Kim Donner/Scott Daloisio, call 951-940-0134, or email them at racesatthepas@aol.com)
*SCTA El Mirage Dry Lakes (Southern
California) Timing Trials schedule:
SEASON OVER FOR 2005
*SEMA Club Newsletter (SAN Club
Events) is at www.semasan.com
(Jason Tolleson)
Nov 27, Orangevale, CA, Christmas at the Lake Toy Run
916/369-6376
Dec 2-4, Timonium, MD, East Coast Indoor Nationals
www.eastcoastindoornats.com
Dec 2-4, Birch Run, MICH, Birch Run World of Wheels www.birchrunexpos.com
Dec 3, Orangevale, CA, Les Schwab Tires Toy Run
916/988-6376
Dec 3, Ft Lauderdale, FLA, Holiday on the Avenue, by AACA
merklur@msn.com
Dec 3, Delray Beach, FLA, S.F.J.C. Concours, S. Florida
Jaguar Club 561-865-8415
Dec 4, Middleburg, FLA, 6th Car Show, Jacksonville Rods
and Customs 904-291-8315
Dec 4, Stockton, CA, 2nd Winter Auto Swap Meet, Car and
Truck 209-948-5307
Dec 4, Virginia Beach, VA, Joy Fund Car Show at Auto
Zone 757-340-0627
Dec 4, Sacramento, CA, Florin Fat Fenders Christmas Toy
Run 916-386-2658
Dec 4, Pomona, CA, G. Cross/Sons’ Pomona Swap Meet
www.pomonaswapmeet.com
Dec 4-5, Timonium, MD, East Coast Indoor Nationals
www.eastcoastindoornats.com
Dec 10, Rome, GA, Christmas Car Show, Empty Pockets Car
Club 706/292-0209
Dec 11, Long Beach, CA, Hi-Performance Swap Meet/Car Show
www.toppingevents.com
Dec 11, Belton, TX, 22nd Texas Swap Meet Winter Nat'ls
texasexports@webtv.net
Dec 12, Fanning Springs, FLA, Festival of Lights Classic
Car Show 352-463-9089
Dec 17, Estero, FLA, Hoops, Hot Rods and Hogs
arish@nba.com
Dec 17, Inverness, FLA, SMTS Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show
monkey4x4@mfi.net
Dec 17, Tucson, AZ, Toys for Tots Show at Little Anthony’s
www.samctucson.org
Dec 17, Honolulu, HI, Hot Import Nights
showinfo@visionevent.com
Jan 8, Countryside, ILL, 35th Super Swap Meet Goofygirlblaha@aol.com
Jan 6-8, Chattanooga, TN, Chattanooga World of Wheels
www.customautoshows.com
*SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TOP COMP 2005 SEASON OVER.
(Gregg Suyenaga)
*SPECIAL REUNIONS AND EVENTS during the year:
CRA Reunion in January, hosted by Walt
and Dottie James
Car Racers Reunion in April, hosted by Hila
Sweet and Parnelli Jones
Gas-Up Party and Dry Lakes Hall of Fame in September,
hosted by Gold Coast Club
Legends of Ascot Reunion in October, hosted by
Don and Belita Weaver
*STACKER 2 World of Outlaws Late Model Series
2005 Schedule: (Doc Lehman)
SEASON OVER FOR 2005
*WALLY PARKS NHRA Motorsports Museum 2005 schedule
of events: 909-622-8562
Dec 7, Twilight Cruise Night 4:30-8pm. Annual Holiday toy
drive. Reunions.
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*Arizona Emissions Exemption: Legislation to
exempt qualified collectible vehicles from the
state’s mandatory emissions inspection and maintenance program
was signed into law by Gov-
ernor Janet Napolitano. Under a SAN amendment, vehicles would
have to be either at least 15-
years old or of unique design, limited production and an
object of curiosity. Owners would have
to maintain appropriate collectible or classic automobile
insurance and their vehicles would be
primarily used for car club activities, exhibitions, parades,
etc. and only infrequently for other
purposes. The new law must now be adopted by the U.S. EPA as
part of Arizona’s state plan
for air quality. (SEMA)
*Arkansas Nitrous: The SAN negotiated a
compromise to legislation that originally threatened
to prohibit public road use of all passenger cars or
motorcycles equipped to supply the engine
with nitrous oxide. The SAN modified the bill from its
original form to protect manufacturers and
hobbyists from a blanket ban. Under the new law, the mere
presence of nitrous systems on pass-
enger cars or motorcycles does not constitute a violation—
nitrous systems must simply be dis-
connected when a vehicle is being driven on a public road or
the nitrous oxide containers must
be removed. (SEMA)
*California Modified Vehicles: California state
officials announced the first in a series of $5
million state grants targeting illegal street racing. The
grants would pay for training to enable police
officers to recognize automobiles that have been illegally
modified for street racing; provide funds
for officer overtime in connection with joint enforcement
operations; and to establish illegal street
racing education presentations to high school and college
students. Most vehicle modifications
are legal under California law. SEMA has been meeting with
state and local officials to caution
against profiling drivers and targeting accessorized vehicles.
The SEMA-sponsored Racers
Against Street Racing program is designed to take illegal drag
racing off the streets, without un-
fairly targeting legally modified vehicles or harassing
vehicle owners. (SEMA)
*California Scrappage: The South Coast Air
Quality Management District plans to use remote
sensors and video cameras to measure air pollution from 1
million vehicles as they enter freeways
and navigate roads in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San
Bernardino and Riverside. Own-
ers of the dirtiest cars and trucks would receive letters
informing them that the government would
pay to fix or scrap their vehicles. Eligible motorists whose
vehicles are detected can now volunta-
rily scrap these vehicles and receive $1,000 based on funding
increases. The South Coast district
estimates that 10,000 to 20,000 of the dirtiest vehicles would
be detected. Smog regulators lack
the authority to order drivers to dump dirty cars, but they
can offer incentives. Smog regulators
are expected to give formal approval to the program next
month, and enough sensors to scan a
million cars. SEMA is working with regulators to mitigate the
potential adverse effects to collector
cars and parts. (SEMA)
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