Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, COLORADO SPRINGS CO April May June 2017 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 Fame first Newsletter for 2017. We continue to expand the BCRA web site at bcrasprints.com. We hope everyone is enjoying the content on line. There have been many contributors to this project over the last 15 plus years and we hope we have given credit to those individuals and organizations who have in the past, and continue to share information. Pikes Peak and its competitors continue to be an interesting addition to the BCRA history as we go forward. Bios of prospective Inductees are included here. Goodrich Gang ready to assault the High Banks. Early 70 s Dan Morgan and #15 Carl Williams at Winchester(1960 s) Fred Bower with driver Mike Cacak and the 5X
Mike with the Bower s 5x at Eagle Speedway The Following was written by Gregory Soukup in June 2009. A very good article from a guy that knows Mike Cacak. Very good article, Enjoy. Almost every racing fan is aware that it is a dangerous sport. And many of us have unfortunately had the sad experience of witnessing horrendous injuries or even deaths. June 30 th of 2007 many of those in attendance at Eagle Raceway feared the worst when an IMCA Modified hurtled full speed unto the pits and struck longtime employee and local racing legend Mike Cacak as he was walking across the pit entrance road. Thankfully Mike survived a long process of surgeries and rehabilitation. He continues to have therapy several times a week, but has recovered well enough to return to his duties as the Sprint Car Tech official at Eagle Raceway. During a racing career that spanned 27 years and over four states at 28 different tracks, Mike s most serious previous injury was when he was rendered unconscious after an accident at Jefferson County Speedway in Fairbury Nebraska. When I talked to him about his racing maladies he said, Plenty of soreness and aches and pains over the years, but that was definitely the worst before the incident at Eagle. He continued saying,: And the best day I had in racing was the day my daughter Christine was born. Even though my wife Betty was going to miss the only race in my driving career, She insisted I go. I won the A Feature that night and Christine still has the Trophy. Other great days I remember were winning at Belleville, our son Justin has that trophy, in my very first Sprint car race and being the Rookie of the year and finishing in the top ten in both the BCRA and NMRA series in 1971, he related. That racing career began at the short-lived Lincoln Speedway in 1963 where he raced Jalopies at the young age of 22. The next year he moved up to the Super Modified class and won the points championship at Gage County 2 Speedway in Beatrice Nebraska. He followed that up with the Grand Point Championship for Gage County and Jefferson County Speedways after placing first in points at the Jefferson County Speedway and 10 th at Gage County Speedway in 1965. Mike has wheeled Stock Cars, Late Models, Super Modifieds, Sprint Carsand three Quarter Midgets in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Colorado. He has driven for such famous car owners as Bob and Pop Goodrich, Fred Bower, Dean Orth and others while garnering numerous owners. During his 27 year stint driving a racecar, he was the points champion seven different times in various times of cars, 3 times Grand Champion at Beatrice and Jefferson County Speedways racing Super Modifieds, was Rookie of the Year with in both the Big Car Racing Association out of Denver and Nebraska Modified Racing Association out of Linclon in 1971 where he finished in the top ten in both series, piloting a Sprint Car. Mike was inducted into the Beatrice Speedway Hall of Fame in 2002 and was awarded the Gordy Shuck Sportsmanship Award from the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame in 2008. Mike served as flagman at Midwest Speedway for half of a season during the 1980 s and also was an official there during the same time. In addition he served as an official for a brief period at Eagle Raceway during the early1980 s under Paul Sanenz s ownership before going full-time the over twenty-five years ago. He continues to serve in the capacity today under track owner Roger Haden. Mike Cacak has served the racing community for nearly 60 years, displaying the prowess both as a pilot and an official and making our sport a better and more enjoyable place to be.
BCRA Hall of Famer s Grier Manning and Speedy Bill Smith. Lincoln 2011 Grier Manning and son Ken Manning. Lincoln Ne 2011 Hall of Famer s Grier Manning and Bill Hill. GW 3
Grier touring the Smith Collection of American Speed. Thanks to Ken and Ann Manning Speedy Bill between Ruby Hill and 2011 Inductee, Bill Hill 4
Leroy Byers, BCRA Photographer Thanks to Leroy Byers for a most interesting photo and significant lesson in American Sprint Car Racing. Many Thanks to Leroy, read and enjoy! Denver Colorado 3-29- 2017 Hi Gary, I just thought it was about time to renew my subscription to B.C.R.A. for 2017 and I got to thinking just how mild the Winter and Spring we have had here this year & I thought about a BCRA race at C.N.S on Easter Sunday so early in the season around here. Since I.M.C.A and USAC had already been racing in Florida and the South East & Jan Opperman was the Points Leader in both clubs so after Jan Opperman showed up and won the Trophy Dash driving the Ernie DeCroce Sprinter that made him the B.C.R.A. points leader also and to be the point leader in three of the top Sprint Car Clubs in America at the same time has never been done before and will never be done again and I thought that not many Race fans have ever thought about this being a high point in American Sprint Car racing in 1974. (Photo Below) L to R BCRA President Lloyd Wittenberg, & driver Jan Opperman between two Trophy Queens, Flagman Carl Mismach & Grand Marshall Johnny Tolan who was the 1946-1947 R.M.M.R.A Colorado Midget Champion & 1950 A.A.A. Midwest Midget Champion & 1952 A.A.A National Midget Champion. With Jan already being a twotime B.C.R.A Champ it has to be an important time in American Sprint Car Racing. Without Auto Racing History being in writing or in photos it can soon be forgotten so I can t thank you enough for all your hard work you put in to your news letter. Sincerely, Leroy Byers Leroy Byers Check out the Leroy Byers photo next page. Gary Patterson 1976 (LBW) 5
(Back)Keith Barker for Don Brown, Roger Rager, Bill Hill, Isadore and Diane Lucero for Clarence Larry Clark, Bill Robison, Ralph Jr Parkinson, Don Holbrook for Mearl Froid., Grier Manning and Larry Swanson. 2011 BCRA Inductees 6
Russ Brahmer(far right) at Belleville 1974 receiving for Trophy Dash win Russ Brahmer, Russ Brahmer started racing in High school in 1953 and ran at the Wayne co fairgrounds Wayne, Ne in a jalopy. About 55 he drove at the Washington County fairgrounds for owner Tom Ronin. He then went to the service and when he came back, the Columbus track opened and he got a ride with Harold Potter and the RNM garage #20. He would drive for Harold about 5 years and mostly at Columbus where he tried to beat Wilbur Hecke. At Norfolk they tried to beat Ray Haase on brother Bob Haase s race track. When Columbus went to modifieds Russ went to work for Leroy Culway who later bought a Swenson Modified and Russ drove it for several years in Columbus, Hastings, Doniphan, Midwest and Eagle in Nebraska. Brahmer in the R.D.Bisping Chevy Russ quit driving in the late 70 s and with kids growing up, got involved with academics and sports with a son now a High School football coach. Brother Rich and son Seth are still running sprints at Knoxville. Russ helped them for a time. Russ and wife are retired and living at Wisner Nebraska. Russ Brahmer in the Bisping Sprinter. Bville 1974, leading Edd French Russ Brahmer in the Gary Blackman Raceland Sprinter. Mid 70 s He then drove for Bisping with BCRA and a won state fair race, after a tough battle with Wilbur Hecke, and won at Belleville driving for Lonnie Jensen and finished third in points BCRA. Dick Morris takes home a Trophy in May of 1976 7
Doug Hjermsted wreck. Belleville 1976(LBW) Doug Hjermsted in 1964 at the Canadian Invitational Championship Race at the, Exhibition Race Track\, Fort William, Ontario. The # 68 was powered by a 401 Cu In Buick. For those that don t know, Doug was killed at Belleville in 1976 which brought an end to Sprint racing for a time.(unkn) For more BCRA History take a Look at bcrasprints.com Also.DUE s ARE DUE. **2017 BCRA Hall of Fame will be held at Speedway Motors Collection of American Speed Museum on September 15 at 6PM. Big Car Racing Association 306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Ne 68927 8