NEWSLETTER 42 - January 25, 2008

President's Corner: By Jim Miller.
The current state of Land Speed Racing is alive and well. There are more entries than ever before and the new built cars are getting wilder and faster all the time. I've taken the liberty to include a couple of shots etc, as a reminder that what's new today will be tomorrow's history. I hope this encourages you to take new pictures too and write captions on the back of them so some fool like myself will come along in fifty years and be thankfull you did it. The Tank shot is Elmo Rouge's (Wayne's) new chassis under construction in his schoolhouse. He also builds repro glass tank bodies for the old school guys. The Opel is Steve's chassis for his new Mod Sports rig that is gonna really kick butt. Liner 1 is Bobby's twin engined 4-wheel drive creation that's gonna be real fast. Liner 2 is a single engine ride that's so sano you will be able to eat off every surface if you can catch it. Quad 4 should be finished this year instead of five years ago. I've thrown in some sketches too. If you can think it and draw it, why not build it. Dragster was done back in '63 and was inspired by Chet Herbert's Beasts. Lakester is what the Quad 4 is going in. Finally, Solstice is a concept waiting for somebody at GM to jump in again with. Next issue I'll include a wild one that was done in the '40's. So have fun captioning and dreaming and hope to see you at the Grand National Roadster Show January 25-27th. Jim 

Dear Family and Friends. We wanted you all to know that Dad (Willard Ritchie) was admitted to the hospital last week with congestive heart failure and was moved to a convalescent hospital yesterday. He had a week of good days and bad days, but has been pretty unresponsive for the last two days. Thank you for always keeping in touch with Dad. My email address is [email protected] and if you would like I can keep you updated on changes. Thank you, Gail (Marion, Karen, Gail and Family) Readers: Willard Ritchie is a longtime friend of the family and a dedicated land speed racer. My father told us that Willard Ritchie worked tirelessly to help the SCTA get a lease for the lakebed at Muroc during the 1990's in order to hold a reunion meet there. Willard always has a friendly disposition and is a very helpful man and an imposing presence. I called him "The General" and he always got a kick out of that. He is a staunch friend of land speed racing and let's keep him in our prayers that he might recover his health.

This email was confusing. I did not want to unsubscribe, but I think that is what I did. Can I be reattached?   Anne Lindsley 
Anne: I'm sure that you can do that. Go to the website and sign in. The only purpose to subscribing is so that the newsletter can go directly to you as an email, but you can always go to the internet and read the newsletters on-line, all 41 back issues are there.

I noticed a mention of your uncle Kenny in this newsletter. I'm guessing there are lots of folks East of the Rockies who never heard of the exploits of the Other Parks brother. An article on his involvement would be terrific. Rich Venza, Rod 'n Race Fiberglass  Rich: Great idea and why haven't WE thought of this. I will make some inquiries and get to this project right away.

Dad passed away peacefully early this morning, 21 January 2008, about 3:30 am. We went to see him as a family late last night so we could all say our goodbyes. It has been difficult this last few weeks watching him go down hill. Tomorrow would have been his 81st birthday. Right now it looks like his funeral will be on Tuesday, 29 January, but we haven't firmed that up. I will let you know the details when we have them. Thank you all for keeping in touch with him over the years. We all know he loved his email. The Ritchie Family, Marion, Gail and Karen
Marion, Gail and Karen: We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Willard, or "The General" as I called him, was a good and close friend and one who helped preserve the history and heritage of hot rodding and racing in the local area. He and my father were very close and the two were responsible for much of the work in getting Muroc re-opened for several reunions. We will miss him. If you have a biographical life story on your father, would you send it in so that we can add it to our histories of the men and women who made land speed racing possible in Southern California. We would really like to know more about him. Our condolences to you all.

Editorial: The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians sounds so pretentious and yet after 41 issues we haven't thought of a better name. Perhaps the reason is that there isn't any name that fits what we want to do better than what we already have. We aren't the Fans of Land Speed Racing. We aren't the Racers of Land Speed Racing. The goal of our group is to record the history and heritage of Land Speed Racing and therefore that makes us historians. Not always in the stuffy sense of the word, because there is a wide variety of historians and whether we are paid to be historians, or simply volunteers, that is the job that we have undertaken. We accumulate, photograph, research and write because we love doing it. Most of you would tell me that you're not comfortable calling yourself a historian of land speed racing and hot rodding and then you go out and create wonderful collections and take excellent care of those collections. You tell everyone about your discoveries and you share what you have with other fans of the sport. That, fellow members, is exactly what a professional historian and curator at museums do. So, we are stuck with our name until something better comes along and if a new name doesn't appear, the one we have is accurate and it kind of grows on one after awhile. There are rules to follow. They are accepted practices that have been in place since the Greeks built the huge Library of Alexandria, probably the largest one ever built up until modern times. Unfortunately, it was burnt to the ground in a horrible fire. One of the rules that we need to follow is this; replace what you borrow and do it promptly. Those among us that are well-known for lending their magazines, photos, programs, albums and other collectible materials, often come to me and say, "why do I have to nag people to return what they borrow." Well, they shouldn't have to nag. Official rule number one of the Society is more like good advice, use and return promptly the artifacts that you borrow. Make up a list, or a card which has the following information: 1) the material you borrowed, 2) your name, address, email address, phone number and other pertinent data. Then date and sign the slip and hand it to the lender with a projected date of return of the materials borrowed. Then take it home and immediately begin to copy or scan the material. Put off other activities. Explain to the wife and kids, friends and car buddies that you have given your word and pledge to use and return this material as soon as you can. Nothing else, but an act of God, should become a higher priority. Then try and get the material back to the lender before the due date on your pledge card. Doing this on a consistent basis will create trust and admiration for the work ethic of our society. When you borrow something as a Society member, You are pledging our honor as well. Each and every member of the Society is pledged. The world holds us responsible for your actions and if you fail to return material on time, or you damage someone's priceless artifacts, then you besmirch our reputation as well as your own. Who among us has not been guilty of bad borrowing? We all have, but now we have created a group that wishes to attain a higher goal and we need, each and every one of us to set higher standards and adhere to them. Now, to the lenders, a piece of advice; if you scan your artifacts then you can keep the originals and lend out the copies. If you don't scan and copy your vital documents, then the blame for their loss must be shared with the borrower.

Thanks for the quick reply. You are probably aware that your dad seemed to keep the exploits of you and your brother under the radar...at least it seems that way from an east coast guys perspective. I have the honor to visit with Wally only once, at the first reunion in Bakersfield. I was doing product development for the Eastwood Company in PA at the time. I developed a series of die cast model trucks highlighting the pioneers of the industry, with $10,000 donated to the SEMA Schlorship Fund for each man in the series. I approached him on this program, and he so very gently turned us down. Even in defeat, I felt like I had come out a winner. What a man. Best Regards, Rich Venza   
Rich: I wrote the article and sent it on to Kenny Parks' family to proof read it for errors and send it back. As soon as they approve of it, adding or subtracting as the case may be, I will publish it. The importance of having a lot of people in a group like the SLSRH, is that some of the members will see the obvious and point that out to the rest of us. I should have written something on uncle Kenny years ago, when he was still alive, but for some reason I never thought of it. Just the 3 pages that I wrote tonight was fascinating. Thank you for bringing it up and jogging my memory. Since you got me to do something, now you owe me a story. Write YOUR story, from day one to the present and tell us about yourself, who you knew and raced with, what kind of businesses you were in, things like that. The value of one person's life is great, but when added to the stories of those around us, such a collection becomes exceedingly valuable. My brother and I were not hidden from view, we simply existed outside the realm of drag racing. We interreacted with other people in other environments. No one is truly unknown or unimportant. It's just that we can't be available to everyone, everywhere at the same time. Most of the people that I knew in drag racing are retired or have passed on and were involved in the sport during the 1950's and early '60's. My brother and I originate from my father's first marriage and our mother is still alive, while my father and stepmother have sadly passed away.

Just got a phone from Norn Benham this morning that Ronnie passed away. Ronnie probably put more people in the 200 MPH Club in different cars that anyone else. George Callaway and Glen Barrett
Members, Readers, and to those on a group email response to those on the list from George and Glen: Most of you have received this by now from George or Glen. This is a group email that I am sending to you and the purpose is not to tell you what we already know, that a wonderful land speed racer has passed on and left us just a little poorer for his presence, but a little richer for having known him. No, the purpose of this email is to let you know about our new group - The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians (SLSRH) and our website at www.landspeedracing.com, operated by Jack and Mary Ann Lawford out of Boise, Idaho. Many of you are already members and therefore, please excuse the redundancy of this email. Our group is growing every day and we have about 75 members. Our purpose isn't to compete with anyone, nor create another group that is divisive. Our group is led by Jim Miller and our purpose is to conserve and save as much of the history of land speed racing and hot rodding as we can. But we are limited by the immensity of the problem and by the few people that we have who are recording that history. We extend to you an invitation to join our group. Here are our rules so far; there are no dues, fees, duties or responsibilities other than that which you wish to contribute. The site is free. We would like each of our members to contribute and how they can do that is by;
1) writing down their history and biography, especially their memories and stories in land speed racing,
2) caption all your photos and memorabilia,
3) make certain that your collections have a home to go to after you have passed on, such as family first, museums and enthusiasts next,
4) record the history of those who are close to you in land speed racing.
Basically, if you are into photography, preserve them. If you like to write, then contribute. If you like to collect, then preserve and save those memorabilia for the future. We are a working group, but you can always go to the website and read the past and current issues of the Newsletter. One thing that we are NOT is a whiny, complaining blog. We print all letters received and all research, but we won't print complaints about issues that need to be resolved between Land speed racers, UNTIL it is 50 years old and becomes a historical topic and not a current events topic. To be a reader, go to www.landspeedracing.com and sign in to get the newsletters. To be an active member, just send in your articles, photos, questions, answers and document what you observe and know about land speed racing and hot rodding. Would someone like to start by sending in an article on Norm Benham? Any other website or group may use the material on the newsletters or websites, but please do not alter the content.

I don't know if you've sent emails in the past with the www.landspeedracing.com website connection or not; but this is the first time I've actually seen it. I immediately opened the website and absolutely love it. I forwarded the info to both of Larry's brothers. As you know, Jim and Phyl Lindsley were both very involved in the SCTA and Bonneville Nationals. Larry and his brothers have finally started going thru all the "stuff" that had been saved by their Mother and Dad. I will continue to work with Larry and put together info as I can. Lots of photos, timing tags, trophys, gadgets, etc. We would like so much to see it preserved somewhere. I'm lovin the past newsletters... so much info. I read in one of the early newsletters that your brother and Dad were putting together a book about early SCTA, has it been released yet? Anne Lindsley
Anne: The Society of Land Speed Racing Historians or SLSRH is new. Jim Miller and I started this about 3 months ago and so not everyone is aware of it yet. As you read the back issues you will see what our goals our, but simply stated it is an effort to preserve and save our land speed history and heritage before all the stuff ends up in a landfill. We are a WORKING group, but members don't have to be professional historians. We just want our members to write, photograph, preserve and do what they do best. For starters, write your own biography, then do your brothers, or get them to do it, and then write a biography on your father and mother. There are about a thousand hard working men and women who have made land speed racing and the SCTA and other timing associations a success. Then there are Phyl and Jim Lindsley, who according to my father, were part of a smaller group that were the heart and soul of land speed racing. I did a story on Jim that went about two or three pages. If it could have been expanded to 300 pages it still wouldn't have been long enough to do homage to your parents. My father told me, "Jim and Phyl Lindsley were my right hands in everything that I did in the SCTA." I interviewed Jim and was impressed by his love of land speed racing and the people in the SCTA that he knew. He showed me a shoe box full of metal timing tags that he earned, hundreds and hundreds of them. I could barely hold the weighty container, but Jim carried the box around as if it weighed nothing. He told me about the polio that ravaged his leg as a youth. He told me how he trained his arms and mind to compensate for the weakness in his leg. But his inner moral strength, determination and loyalty were the characteristics that made me realize what a great man that he was. The SLSRH is dedicated to finding and learning more about the men and women, like your parents, who made land speed racing possible.

Hi Folks, Will do some diggin soon .......Great story, I sent it to Richard Parks also as his Dad Wally was involved with the first Hot Rod Publications......Jack Underwood. "Hi Jack, I talked to you on the phone about my Grandfather Elmer (Bud) Vess whom the January 1948 Hotrod Mag has a picture of his car. They misprinted his name (Almer Vess) under the picture, center of magazine right page, lower left picture, Car #803-A. I have another picture that must have been in 1948 or '49 with a longer tail and the #917-A. He ran a 1927 body with a cut down 1939 Buick front end and a V8-60 power plant. I am sending some pictures. Don't laugh, it's the pink car and we refer to it as Pinky. Elmer Lawerance (Larry) Vess III, Tacoma, WA."
Jack and Larry: Thank you for your email. If you haven't signed up on www.landspeedracing.com, then please go there and do it now. We want to preserve and save all the history and heritage of the sport of land speed racing. If you can, send us a biographical story of Bud and what he accomplished in racing and any stories that he might have told you.

I'm a little confused but hope I've subscribed correctly. My interest is in the Society of Landspeed Racing. My Great Uncle was Al Sweeney who was a huge race promoter a long time ago. I have only a few racing items of his (most of them went to drivers and people affiliated with racing back when he passed). If these are the types of items that you're interested in seeing, let me know and I can email pics like the ones below - it's his IMCA pin and his signed book from Andy Granatelli, "They Call Me Mr. 500." I love to find any info on him I can - especially pictures. Thank you, Cathy Anderson/Long Beach, CA
Cathy: We are glad to have you join us and read the newsletters. Many of our members have been involved in circle track and road racing and might know your Great Uncle, but we specialize in land speed racing on the dry lakes of Southern California and at Bonneville. I don't know whether Al did any land speed racing. However, the old time racers did a great deal of crossing over from one type of racing to another and so we do not impose limitations on our members. We encourage you to continue to find out about your family's racing past. It's fun to learn something new about our friends and family members, but it's also educational. Andy Granatelli is one of our members and a very respected member of the racing fraternity. We will also refer you to other groups who might know more than we do about Al. One group is the Fabulous Fifties and their leader is Art Evans. As far as photos are concerned, we always are interested in them, even when they only touch slightly on land speed racing, because all the motor racing genres merge over time.
Readers: what do you know about Al Sweeney?

Editor's notes: I called the accountant in charge of selling off the estate of Joe MacPherson, Hal Lane at 949-679-6899, if anyone would like information about the auction. Joe's Garage is CLOSED. The rumors that the Garage will remain open and only the circle track cars are being sold off are FALSE. The auction house is having a CLOSED auction of the cars in June and any interested people in being invited have to have some deep pockets to be let in. We have lost Joe's Garage, one of the nicest facilities and museums I've seen in Southern California. When I interviewed the family at the Memorial for Joe, everyone assured me that the family would keep the museum open in Joe's memory. We are not blaming the family for closing the garage or selling off the assets. Keeping a museum open is expensive and when the costs start to eat into the assets of the heirs, a difficult decision has to be made. Sometimes such sales are due to greed and at other times to necessity. The problem for members of the Society of Land Speed Racing Historians is who do we trust when we tell the public to donate their artifacts to this or that museum and then see the place closed down and the assets sold off or thrown in the trash. Our goal in the SLSRH is to see that history and artifacts are preserved for the next generation and the closure of a great museum like Joe's Garage is a threat to our efforts.

The following is an article written by Landspeed Louise Ann Noeth."Speed Oracle Silenced, Wally Parks Makes Final Pass."
He focused a speed lens though which we all now see. He recognized an unquenchable passion resident in American youth and harnessed their enthusiasm first on the California dry lakes, then on Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats before finally hitting on the idea that the lawless, dangerous side-by-side street racing could be legitimized on a national level and folded into mainstream motorsports. His name was Wally Parks and while he certainly did not invent drag racing he most assuredly brought order to a chaos that will forever remain his legacy, bolstered each time a pair of high-performance machines rip off a few microns of rubber as their tires tear away from the starting line. Wally died peacefully at 7pm on Friday, September 29, 2007 after living in 94 very rewarding years on earth. A lean, elegant man who never lost his edge, wit or vision and whose life’s work set a foundation for thousands to enjoy not only a hobby, but to matriculate into a profession. He grew up in the wild, untamed early days when American high performance was percolating up and out of youthful dreamers. Parks earned his first time tag on Muroc in 1933 driving his 1925 Chevy-4 cabriolet 82.19 mph and also tried the clocks at Rosamond, Harper and El Mirage dry lakes, each one of which produced its share of fast action and legends. Parks was SCTA’s first elected post-WWII president, a job that was more work than fun. I reach back to a 2005 interview for details. “Among the toughest hurdles SCTA had to tackle was overcoming a bad image of illegal street racing by local media’s condemnation of all hot rods,” Parks told me, “That reflected against the association and its member clubs. To counter, we organized the first public Hot Rod Show, presented in the Los Angeles Armory - as a public-relations effort that also served as Hot Rod Magazine’s launch pad.”
He first visited Bonneville in 1948, where the AAA was conducting land speed runs for FIA world record recognition. “A purpose of my being there was to determine whether there was a chance that the SCTA might gain access to the salt for conducting one of its speed trials events,” Parks said, “After contacting Bonneville’s Utah custodian of the salt, the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, Lee Ryan and I were able to gain permission for a “one time trial” venture, which resulted in SCTA’s presentation of its Bonneville Nationals in 1949.” At the inaugural event Parks drove the Burke & Francisco belly tank lakester and was the first member to join the salt’s ’spin-out club’. He later became the second editor of the Hot Rod Magazine before leaving publishing to devote himself to building and nurturing the NHRA. He was always quick to make you aware that he felt himself more a conduit through which praise and criticism flowed, that he had lots of help, but nevertheless stood as the sports lightening rod. NHRA’s members revere him so that even its trophies are lovingly referred to as “Wallys.” Parks did more than bench race when he retired from NHRA day-to-day operations, he spearheaded the NHRA Motorsports Museum project that opened its doors in 1998. When Parks cleared his 90th timing light, the museum honored him by adding his name to the museum title. The 28,500-square-foot building on the edge of California’s historic Los Angeles County Fairplex is open year round.
While Parks will always be remembered for founding the NHRA, his heart never forgot the dry lakes way of life. Never. I took notice of how frail Wally looked while visiting with him in the NHRA suite at the 2007 Winternationals and made it a point to sit and talk with him much longer than normal. We had the best seats in the house, a comfy sofa directly behind the starting line and carried on an in-depth, animated conversation that he clearly enjoyed. We spoke only of land speed history and paused only when the pro cars blasted off the line in the semi-finals. I knew where the guy’s heart was. Just before his passing, he was working feverishly with sons Richard and David to compile a book of the early days of the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) using the groups monthly meeting notes – many of which he had taken himself when serving as the association’s recording secretary. You know the job, the one few want because it requires taking copious, clear notes. Well, with Parks it was part of how he was wired, something that came to him as easy as breathing. Right up to the end he authored numerous memos on a variety of topics. I was recipient of many of those memos and the occasional phone call if he felt the topic needed immediate attention. It was as though I was getting prophecy from the Speed Oracle of all things fast. Parks paid me the highest personal and professional compliment when he reviewed my book, Bonneville Salt Flats, offered up with a generous hug from both he and Barbara. They had picked up the book the evening before, he sat down to read it and came back the following day with a neatly typed letter that read in part: “LandSpeed Louise has captured the essence of what is magical in the salt’s many attractions for special breed of automotive experimenters . . .(we) are deeply indebted to author Noeth for her preservation of that awesome history.”
This from a man who not only lived the very history I chronicled, but was one of its keystone architects. Humbling. Land speed racers know all about doing great things on tight budgets. I revel in their company, see genius in their speeds and wonder in their deeds. Parks, like countless others, was attracted to the sport of land speed racing because it is rooted in the freedom of unencumbered thinking, experimenting and daring. Note that from this humble amateur sport came the multi-billion dollar performance parts industry. “Ed Winfield, with his camshafts, carburetors and cylinder heads, was among the first and most prominent,” said Parks, “Edelbrock, Evans, Meyer, Weiand, Navarro, Offenhauser and others produced intake manifolds and aluminum cylinder heads, Harman-Collins, Spalding and Kong Jackson were ignition gurus, while Iskenderian was in the forefront as a grassroots cam grinder, Schiefer and Weber flywheels and clutches dominated.”
Parks was perpetually on the lookout for ways to attract new enthusiasts, fortify safety and encourage competitive spirit. “Land speed racing, its participants and officials have maintained a labor-of love concept that overrides attempts to commercialize—and where record-settings are the prime rewards. It has always been one of the most challenging and exciting forms of motorsports competition. It allows veterans and newcomers to compete against the clock in its myriad classes of straight-line action, where nothing really becomes obsolete. The feel and thrill of chasing a single black line to its extremity, headed for a floating mountain in the distance and then turning out to await one’s results in miles per hour - it’s hard to match! Max speed achievement has always been a measure of skill and efficiency, almost as much as winning races. With recorded speeds as targets to be conquered, land, water and air contests aimed at official recognition, or just bragging rights, are goals for adventurers.” I’m going to end this printed eulogy on an upbeat, resonating note highlighting Park’s stewardship.
I once asked him if he had any advice for the young speedsters who are just now finding their way to halls of horsepower. Here is what he said: “Today’s “young speeders” are little different than we were at their age — except that their cars, fresh off the showroom floor, have much more in power and maneuverability than most of our early hot rods. The same urge is there, to “try it out” somewhere. But today’s traffic, unlike isolated roads or the dry lakes, is a formidable substitute. The challenges may be the same, but safe facilities are too few—except for those fortunate in having drag strips that can accommodate go-fast ambitions and energies. Most drag strips today offer ‘Street Legal’ classes, supported by law enforcement, to help discourage illegal street racing. It’s a far cry from the desert time trials of the 1930s, but it can offer some same satisfactions in results.” God Speed Wally and give my regards to Barbara. . .

Editor's notes: The following article is courtesy of Tim Kennedy. CALIFORNIA ROADSTER ASSOCIATION'S 14th ANNUAL REUNION HONORS BOB HOGLE - By Tim Kennedy, Buena Park, CA, January 19, 2008.
The 14th annual California Roadster Association Reunion/Luncheon took place Saturday from noon to 3:00 p.m in the Knott Room of the Knott's Berry Farm Resort/Hotel. Organiers Walt and Dottie James said 167 persons attended the prime rib or chicken luncheon. Walt, 84-year old president of CRA from 1950-70 and the vintage-racing club Western Racing Assn. (WRA) from 1982-85, served as master of ceremonies. He introduced attendees present, including Indianapolis 500 drivers Parnelli Jones and Chuck Hulse, and the 2008 honoree-Bob Hogle, the two-time (1963 and '68) California Racing Association champion. CRA became an all-sprint car club in 1957 and replaced Roadster with Racing in its name. When introduced by emcee James, Hogle said, "It's nice to be remembered. That's all I'm going to say." He did thank officials and reunion organizers for all their work. A photo of Hogle seated in the cockpit of the famous Morales Bros Offenhauser sprint car in the early 1960s graced every "pit pass" admission ticket to the luncheon. Hila Sweet's informative biographical sheet, placed on each table, detailed Hogle's life and racing exploits. He let those two-pages tell his story. Highlights of his biographical data follows: Entered the world in 1933 and was a rebel early through his teen years in Fullerton. Built "cruising" cars (including an airplane engine powered 40s Willys sedan with the drivers' seat in back) when other teens had bicycles or Cushman motor scooters. Was blunt, intense, outspoken and free with his colorful opinions. He was known as one of the funniest guys around and kept everyone entertained. Received the nickname "Lover Boy" from Ascot promoter Harry Schooler for having a clinging pack of "dollies" as Hogle called them around him. Picked up a hitch-hiking kid named Bob Sweet one day and Sweet became a life-long friend, as did Stan Betz and Dick Kraft. Sweet was present at the luncheon. Convinced a jalopy owner that he was a race driver although he had never raced, and then raced for the first time at the old track in Huntington Beach. Rose through the ranks of jalopy racing to sportsman modifieds, driving the Ummie Paulson-built car for California Jalopy Assn. president Mel Allen. Became one of the best and most popular drivers at San Diego's Balboa Stadium. He drove the Peat Bros. modified, which gave him his shot at CRA sprint cars. Lloyd Woolever gave him his first CRA sprint car-ride and be soon became "a guy to beat". Tabbed by the Morales Brothers to drive their famous "Tamale Wagon" Offy. He won two CRA driving championships for them and enjoyed a long, lasting friendship with them on and off the track.
Was sponsored by businessman Tony Oskie who asked Hogle to take his young son Jimmy under his wing and develop his racing talent. Today his young prot�g� Oskie is a retired, five-time CRA driving champion (1969, '74, '76, '77 and '79) and still a close friend of "his hero" Hogle. The biographical sheet concluded by saying, "Hogle has amassed a huge circle of friends and grateful budding racers he has helped in their early careers, nurturing them with advice, encouragement, friendship and, most important of all, rides." As is his custom, emcee James began his remarks by reading the names of racers who died during 2007. They included: DRIVERS: Rosie Roussel, Willie Swift, Danny Oakes, and Indy 500 veteran Don Freeland; CAR OWNERS: Walker Edminson (WRA) and Sammy Morales (one of "Tamale Wagon" owners); MECHANICS: Bill Pittman in Arizona, and Tad Kitano; BUSINESSMEN: Robert Peterson, of Hot Rod Magazine and auto museum fame, auto dealer Joe McPherson, and Dick McClung; OFFICIALS: Dave Ward (CRA Board), Glenn Howard (SCRA president and So CAL Race Procucts owner), Johnny Soares, Sr. (driver/track promoter); Paul Clapper, LA Times motor-sports journalist Shav Glick, and Wally Parks, 94, (founder/President/CEO of NHRA); WOMEN IN RACING: Dorothy Wickham, (Dottie James' mother, Walt's mother-in-law), Julie (Mrs. Paul) Larsen, Patti Noffsinger (mother of three former CRA sprint car drivers), and Dixie (Mrs. Howard) Kaeding, mother of many-time NARC sprint car champion Brent Kaeding, and grandmother of current drivers Bud and Tim Kaeding. AWARD PRESENTATION: James then made the third annual presentation of the Walt and Dottie James Perpetual Trophy. This year long-time CRA officials Ed Hudson and Rusty Espinoza were the recipients. Their names will be inscribed on the trophy, which is kept on permanent display at the Justice Brothers Car Care Products headquarters and 150-race car museum at 2734 E. Huntington Drive, Duarte, CA. Prior recipients honored with plaques on the James Perpetual
Trophy are Ed Justice, Wilda Kindoll and Evelyn Pratt in 2006, plus Louie Senter, Hila Sweet and Don Weaver in 2007. As the 14th CRA Reunion honoree, Hogle joins the following past honorees: Dick Vineyard (1995), Troy Ruttman ('96), Jim Rathmann ('97), Chuck Leighton ('98), Don Freeland ('99), Ken Stansberry ('00), Rosie Roussel ('01), Dick McClung ('02), Dick Hughes ('03), Howard & Jack Gardner ('04), Gene Ellis ('05), Chuck Hulse ('06) and Jack Brunner ('07). Ruttman, Rathmann, Freeland and Hulse are Indianapolis 500 veterans. Ruttman (1952) and Rathmann (1960) are Indianapolis 500 winners. Past CRA Reunion honorees Stansberry, Hughes, Gardner, Ellis and Hulse attended the 2008 CRA Reunion/Luncheon. Emcee James named most of the reunion attendees and spouses alphabetically prior to proceeding with the Hogle ceremonies as follows: DRIVERS: Bob Behrens, Chuck Conrad, Bob Coulter, Dale Crossno, Jay East, Gene Ellis, Allen Ervine, Mike Frith-Smith, Jack Gardner, Bill Gerard (oldest WRA driver at 84), Skip Hedrich, Gary and Steve Howard, Jerry Hudson, Dick Hughes, Chuck Hulse, Dee Jones, '63 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones, Russ Long, from Arizona, Don Melton, Ray Miscevich, Jim Murphy, Jimmy Oskie, Buzz Rose, Scott Sloane, Hila Sweet, '66 CRA champion Don Thomas, Brandon, Fred and Jim Thomson, Ed Van Eyk and '67 and '70 CRA champion Billy Wilkerson. OWNERS: Ray Alcarez, Frank + Hank Becker, Greg Cunningham, Loran Estes, George Glover, Tony Gonzales, Milt Green, Marshall Hansen, Ken Hillberg, Jim Ruth, Louie Senter, Ken & Ray Stansberry and Don Zabel. OFFICIALS: Rusty Espinoza, Ed Hudson, Tim Kennedy, John Lee, Art Loya, Evelyn Pratt, Don Read, Neil Sachs, Ron Schwarze, Dr. Sid Senter MD (track doctor) and Ray Vodden. MANUFACTURERS: Nick Arias, Jr, Andy Casale and Bob Falcon. MEDIA: Norm Bogan, Jim Bruce, Jim Chini, Joe Henning, Chet Knox, Richard Marcella, Richard Parks (son of NHRA's Wally), and Jeff Sharpe. WIDOWS: Joyce (Tony) Farr, Jan (Don) Freeland and daughter Deana, Sally (Max Sweeney) now Mrs. Bob Hogle, Dottie (Walt) Kennedy, Ginny (Johnny) Moorhouse, and Manon (Dempsey) Wilson. Many of the above attendees could be listed in more than one category. Jim Van Natta and Don Young attended, as did Michelle Minyard, daughter of 1964-65 CRA champion Hal Minyard, a 2007 inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Indiana resident. Walt and Dottie James' daughters, Vicki and Wendy, assisted their mother in coordinating the reunion details. Former driver Tony Simon, the 1972 USAC Turkey Night Midget Grand Prix winner and a long-time CRA sprint car driver, was unable to attend after sending his reservation as usual. Prior to and following the ceremonies, attendees browsed racing books, artwork, CRA scrapbooks, racing magazines, programs and newspapers, racing photos and memorabilia on tables at the back of the room. Photos from many long-gone speedways were on display only. T-shirts, listing names of past CRA Reunion honorees, were for sale at a table. Bench racing conversations continued about an hour following the conclusion of ceremonies.

Members:

Jonathan Amo, Brett Arena, Henry Astor, Gale Banks, Glen Barrett, Mike Bastian, Lee Blaisdell, Jim Bremner, Warren Bullis, George Callaway, Gary Carmichael, John Chambard, Jerry Cornelison, G. Thatcher Darwin, Jack Dolan, Ugo Fadini, Bob Falcon, Rich Fox, Glenn Freudenberger, Don Garlits, Bruce Geisler, Stan Goldstein, Andy Granatelli, Walt James, Wendy Jeffries, Ken Kelley, Mike Kelly, Bret Kepner, Kay Kimes, Jim Lattin, Mary Ann and Jack Lawford, Fred Lobello, Dick Martin, Ron Martinez, Tom McIntyre, Don McMeekin, Bob McMillian, Tom Medley, Jim Miller, Don Montgomery, Bob Morton, Mark Morton, Paula Murphy, Louise Ann Noeth, Frank Oddo, David Parks, Richard Parks, Wally Parks (in memoriam), Eric Rickman, Willard Ritchie, Roger Rohrdanz, Evelyn Roth, Ed Safarik, Frank Salzberg, Dave Seely, Charles Shaffer, Mike Stanton, David Steele, Doug Stokes, Bob Storck, Zach Suhr, Maggie Summers, Gary Svoboda, Pat Swanson, Al Teague, JD Tone, Jim Travis, Randy Travis, Jack Underwood and Tina Van Curen, Richard Venza.

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