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Richard’s Corner
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13th Annual CRA Reunion
Buena Park, CA
Story by Richard Parks, photos by Roger Rohrdanz
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The 13th Annual CRA Reunion was held on January 13, 2007, at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel in Buena Park, California. The CRA, which stands for the California Roadster Association, was started as a racing organization back in the late 1940’s, just after the end of World War II as returning soldiers, sailors and airmen sought to return to the racing that they had left behind. Walt and Dottie James created this reunion to commemorate and honor the old oval track association. They work tirelessly keeping this reunion going, and maintaining a yearly summary of what has happened to the members of the old CRA. Without their efforts, many racers would lose contact with their friends and fellow racers. Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California, has named a 3/8 mile clay oval racetrack in Walt’s honor. The reunion festivities started around 11 AM, as racers began arriving. It’s a typical racer’s reunion, with benchracing as the main focus, and friends meeting one another for the first time in years. Steve Howard brought a wide selection of books from his store chronicling the history of all kinds of motorsport racing. Howard’s So-Cal Shop can always be counted on to help local racers, writers and other racing groups. Jim Crickon displayed old programs and photos replete with signatures of some of the best oval track racers of the day. Knott’s Berry Farm’s famous chicken and prime rib dinners were the fare for the event, and finally Walt James strode to the podium and began the program.
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No one can quite spin a story like Walt, unless it was the late Ak Miller. Like many a racer, the memories of those early days flowed easily from his mind, and like the dirt that these drivers raced on, the stories spun out over and over again, until the crowd roared with laughter at the recollection of the events. Where Walt begins a story is not usually where it will end, and after a few minutes the grand old man of Track Roadster Racing will stop and ask the crowd, “where was I.” The crowd roared with laughter because they didn’t care, they knew exactly where Walt was in time, a place they enjoyed sharing with him. James began to introduce his guests, and relate a memory about them to the throng. Then an idea comes and he begins a story that has the audience roaring in laughter. He told the audience about one young man who borrowed his father’s car to go racing and the trunk flew open and rolls of toilet paper began to unroll and cover the track. The young man’s father was a toilet paper salesman and hadn’t unloaded his car that day, and it wasn’t until the young man made a complete lap that he realized his plight. We can laugh about those days now, but they weren’t always so jovial. Marshall Hansen told the story about the time someone offered to drive his sprinter home from Indianapolis, only to abscond with the car. Marshall tracked the car to Alabama, and found the car, escaping with it before the thief and the local police could catch him. The stories began to take their toll and soon Ed “The Camfather” Iskenderian drew a group around him, listening to Ed’s adventures.
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This is what makes reunions so lively and contagious. There is a feeling that time has dissolved and one can reach back and relive those days with one’s friends and competitors. The victories are no longer remembered to be in yards but in inches. Walt and Dottie’s daughter, Wendy, greeted us at the door and gave out pit passes. Vicki James, Walt’s other daughter, was busy running the T-shirt table with the 2007 Honoree, Jack Brunner, and his car prominently displayed on the T-shirt. Ralph Foster, 93 and still going strong, was the Midwest Champ Car Champion in 1941. Scheduled to race in the 1942 Indy 500, he and many other young racers of the time found themselves fighting for our country, as auto racing was shut down during the war. Other racers, mechanics, fans, administrators and officials present were: Jeff Sharpe, Ralph Baiza, Bob and Penny Anderson, Andy and Diane Casale, Lloyd Hendrickson, Ed Hudson, Jim Murphy, Billy Cruce, Bob Falcon, Cecil Sutton, George Glover and John Lee. Bob Leggio brought Louie Senter and his brother Dr Sid Senter. Dr Sid patched up many a driver after a wreck, and Louie was the founder of Ansen Automotive Speed Shop, not far from
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Nick Arias Jr’s Piston and Engine shop, and Ed Iskenderian’s Cam Grinding business. Hila Morgan Paulsen Sweet announced her upcoming reunion. Hila’s Car Racers Reunion will be held on May 6th, 2007, at Joe’s Garage, in Tustin, California. Hila raced in the powderpuff derbies and later in the Lady Leadfoots, until she was banned by the association and toured the racing circuits as an independent. Promoters often would have her race against one of the favorite track racers as a gimmick to hype attendance. But to Hila, racing was no gimmick and she established herself on that first lap, usually by running one of the men into the wall if they raced easy against her. She once won
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58 straight races in the powderpuff leagues. The WRA (Western Racing Association) members honored Hila, Don Weaver and Louie Senter for their contributions to racing with their names inscribed on a trophy. The perpetual trophy is on display at the Justice Brothers Museum, in Duarte, California. The WRA has an upcoming race at the Las Vegas Bullring, in Nevada. The Bullring is a 3/8 mile paved oval track, and the date is May 5, 2007. On May 19th, the WRA will race at Merced, California, on a 3/8 mile dirt oval track.
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Dick and Faye McClung came from the Palm Springs area. Dick raced under the name of Dick Webb. He amassed an impressive collection of racing helmets from many of the great racers during the 1940’s through the 1960’s. His collection is on display at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, California. McClung is also a board member of the museum. Dickie Hughes, the 2003 CRA Honoree was also in attendance. Rosie Roussel came from Bakersfield, California. Rosie has his red and white track roadster on display at the Motorsports Museum, in Pomona. Indy racer Chuck Hulse never looked better. Chet Knox, co-owner of the Autobooks/Aerobooks store in Burbank looked very relaxed knowing that his partner, Doug Stokes was busy minding the store. Writer and historian Jim Chini came from the Palm Springs area to be with his friends. Tim Kennedy, who covers racing at Irwindale Speedway and other tracks in Southern California, was also present. Steve Logan owns the Johnny Moorhouse car. It was always special when Johnny and Ginnie Moorhouse were at the reunions. Moorhouse could tell stories that kept the crowds laughing. Sadly, we lost Johnny several years ago. Jimmie Oskie never misses these reunions, and never ages either. Soft-spoken with eyes that never lose an enthusiasm for racing, he does not betray the fierce spirit that made him a respected champion. Howard Gardner, another CRA co-Honoree with his brother Jack Gardner, comes from a proud family heritage in racing. His uncle Chet raced at Indy in the ‘20’s. Kenny Stansberry was an original member of the CRA, and before that raced with the Ashcan Derby, which was the forerunner of the CRA. Tad Kitano, 91 years young, was Jimmy Oskie’s longtime pitman.
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Laverne Unser, Louie’s widow, was present at the reunion. The Boat Racers Reunion honored Louie Unser in 2003 for his outstanding achievements as an engine builder. Louie suffered with multiple sclerosis for much of his life, but he and Laverne bore this difficulty with patience and courage. Other racers and fans in the audience included: Dave Ward, Bill Davis, Ronnie Schwartz, Jim Ash, Jerry Jeffries, Tim Love, Hank Becker, Al Webster, Jim Kavanaugh, Don Young, Rusty Espinosa, Bill Gerard, George Morikawa, Don Read, and Meredith Hansen. Bobbie Hogle, who was recently honored at Don Weaver’s Legends of Ascot Reunion, was another guest. Hogle was a fierce competitor in Jalopy racing in the ‘50’s, and gives his support and help in keeping these reunions going today. Don Weaver is the founder and promoter of the Legends of Ascot Reunion, which is held in October at Perris Automotive Speedway. Others in attendance this day were: Ray Vodden, Bob Krapmeyer, Chuck Conrad, Neil Sachs, Dee Jones, Milt James, Gene Ellis, Mike Farr, and Gussie Urgo and the Don “O’Riley” Urgo family. Bob and Robert Edmison and his family were passing out flyers asking for help in finding his 1960’s CRA Sprint Car, the #55 car, sponsored by Airline Auto Sales. He says that
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the last time he saw the car it was in the San Diego, California, area. If anyone knows where the car might be, please call Bob at 562-234-6229. Skip and Wilhelmina Hedrich, Holly’s brother, gave away hero cards of their landspeed streamliner that they built to set a new record in their class. Nick Arias Jr was also on hand. Nick makes some of the best pistons in the business and builds outstanding engines. Dave Ward’s wife, Lois, was a longtime gate worker at the Ascot track on 184th and Vermont in Gardena, California. For more information about the CRA Reunion, contact Walt James at 661-269-2700.
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