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| RACING SCENE Column – (Legends of Ascot @ PAS) – By Tim Kennedy |
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Los Angeles, CA. - The 5th Legends of Ascot buffet luncheon/induction ceremony at Perris Auto Speedway took place Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on a mid-80s afternoon. More than 600 persons attended the event in a large tent just inside the PAS main entrance gate. Attendees were able to socialize and "bench race" inside and outside the tent from 11:00 to 1:00 when the 1:00-2:00 luncheon of Caesar salad, rolls, BBQ beef, chicken, baked beans and various beverages was served by the fairgrounds caterer. Induction ceremonies and more bench racing followed to 5:00. The attendance this year was second only to the 800 persons at the last LofA luncheon on October 21, 2006. There was no LofA luncheon in 2007 because PAS ran a World of Outlaws sprint car race on the third weekend of October. The large tent used for the LofA luncheon is used also at PAS during the first two weeks of October for the Southern California Fair at the site. Use of the large tent locks the LofA gala into the third weekend of October. Each luncheon attendee received a gift bag that included a 68-page $20 LofA souvenir program on high qualify paper, LofA lapel pin, Lucas Oil material, raffle ticket and more. Each person at the luncheon received a wrist band that provided free admission to the grandstand for the USAC-CRA sprint car races that night. LofA attendees helped swell the grandstand attendance to more than 4,000 persons (about 2/3 of capacity) for the sprint car races following the luncheon. LofA founder/host Don Weaver, a former USAC midget owner/driver in the 1950-60 era, and hostess Belita Michnowicz, mother of retired sprint car driver Bobby Michnowicz, deserve credit for being the hard-working originators and main forces behind the successful LofA ceremonies. Don wrote in his program welcoming remarks, " Let's pass our memories of the legendary Ascot race track on the future generations of racing." He practices what he preaches. LofA honorees/inductees this year were: the Gardner family (four generations and seven decades), Brad Noffsinger, Billy Boat, Chuck Hulse, Louie Senter, Carl Alleman, Ned Spath and Don Basile. All living inductees were present (Spath and Basile are deceased). Each inductee received a nice plaque with a suitable photo of the honoree on it. Emcee Chris Holt, the long-time, knowledgeable Ascot and PAS infield announcer, interviewed each honoree on stage .and they were able to speak to the crowd. Family members Ned Spath, Jr./ and his sons Jacob and Tyler accepted for Ned, Sr. and Bob Basile accepted for his father. Bob revealed that his father, who was so involved with Ascot operations for decades as J. C. Agajanian's right-hand man, always regretted that he was not a part of the final 20 years of Ascot racing. Don owned and operated his own race track in Chula Vista, south of San Diego. The LofA website is www.LegendsofAscot.com. It contains photos from past LofA induction ceremonies, names of past inductees, a "Tribute" page "in memory of loved ones". It lists the names of 77 deceased persons with a connection to Ascot. Past Legends of Ascot inductees were: 2003—promoters J. C. Agajanian and Harry Schooler, drivers Allen Heath, Parnelli Jones and mechanic Ray Scheetz; 2004—officials Rusty Espinoza and Ed Hudson, drivers Johnny Moorhouse, Dean Thompson, Sleepy Tripp and Billy Wilkerson, engine builder Ron Shaver, and car owner/mechanic Bruce Bromme, Sr. and his mechanic son Bruce, Jr.; 2005 –manufacturer Ted Halibrand, drivers Bob Hogle, Danny McKnight and Hal Minyard, and car owner Alex Morales; 2006—official Walt James, engine builder Ed Donovan, car owners Jack & Wilda Kindoll, and drivers Jack Brunner, Lealand McSpadden, Jimmy Oskie, Wally Pankratz and guest honoree Al Unser, Sr. That is 28 honorees plus eight from the class of 2008 for a total of 36 honorees in the five years of LofA ceremonies. Ascot Park, a half-mile clay oval with an inner quarter-mile, operated in Gardena from mid-1957 to the end of 1990. The final race on Thanksgiving Night attracted a standing room only full house of 10,000 spectators and 90 or so USAC Midgets for the annual Turkey Night Grand Prix. Stan Fox won the final 100-lap race in Steve Lewis' No. 9 midget. My extensive research for the LofA program two years ago showed that during 34 years of Ascot racing 75 drivers raced both at Ascot and in the famed Indianapolis 500. Eleven of the 75 drivers who raced at Ascot and Indy won the Indianapolis 500 a total of 26 times. The winners were: Mario Andretti (1), A. J. Foyt, Jr. (4), Parnelli Jones (1), Rick Mears (4), Johnnie Parsons (1), Johnny Rutherford (3), Troy Ruttman (1), Al Unser (4), Al Unser, Jr. (2), Bobby Unser (3), and Rodger Ward (2). Ascot hosted USAC open-wheel and stock cars, NASCAR stocks. AMA motorcycles, CRA sprints, and various local groups and special events. Ascot also was the setting for numerous movies and served as a site for commercials and television shows over the years because of its close proximity to Hollywood, about 25 miles north. J. C. Agajanian, Jr. and his wife Franci represented the Agajanian family at the LofA ceremonies. The Agajanian family promoted races at Ascot from 1960 through 1990 and ran weekly events from 1975 to the final event in 1990. J. C. Agajanian promoted AMA cycle races or special events from 1960 to 1975. Since the last LofA ceremonies two years ago racing lost long-time Ascot promoter Harry Schooler, Glenn Howard, Dave Ward and Ed Justice, Sr. The pre-luncheon gathering outside or inside the tent allowed enough time for attendees to visit with each other and renew friendships. There was a vintage car display of 20 historic racing cars parked outside the luncheon tent. Midgets, sprint cars, champ dirt cars and even a post-WW II stock car coupe gave persons a chance explore the old time cars. The oldest car was the No. 90 1935-built midget with an Elto-Outboard engine. It still runs at vintage car events. Ken Hillberg, Andy Casale, Ron Blondel, Ralph Baiza, Les Stark, Jack Balch, Richard Mastroleo,Walt James and others brought vintage cars to the ceremonies. Wally Pankratz brought the No. 25 Bill Cheesman Offy sprint car that his father Bob Pankratz built in 1952. Many famous drivers, such as A. J. Foyt, Eddie Sachs and Johnny Thomson, drove it in AAA and later USAC sprint car races. One sprint car on display was the ex-No. 0 Rick Ferkel 1973-74 primed sprint car that is for sale. Indianapolis 500 drivers in attendance were Parnelli Jones, Chuck Hulse and Billy Boat. Jim and Sandra Bartosh flew in from their home in Texas, as did photographer Owen Richards and wife Lynne. Other attendees flew in from Alaska and Maryland. Stan Atherton and his wife Diane also attended. Ron Rea again came from his home in Las Vegas and tipped that he will be retiring from his cement truck driving job soon. Dave Vodden came south from his Willows, CA (Glenn County) job as CEO/President of the Thunderhill Raceway Park SCCA 15-turn road course. Attendees Vodden, Walt James and Ed Hudson all were past CRA presidents. Richard Parks, son of the late NHRA founder/CEO Wally Parks, was present. Toddie Ruttman (daughter of 1952 Indy 500 winner Troy Ruttman), Barbara Thompson (sister of legendary driver Dean Thompson), Ted Halibrand family members including daughter Linda, writers Robert Mayson, Norm Bogan, Ken Wagner, Ron Albright (from Sacramento) and racing photographer John Estopellan attended as well. DRIVERS at the LofA ceremonies included: Steve Howard, Jimmy Oskie, Dale Crossno, Jay East, Jerry Hudson, Jeff Heywood, Don Hamilton, John Redican, Peter Nunn, Sonny Nutter, Tony Simon, Ron Rea, Sleepy Tripp, Jack Ward, Billy Wilkerson, Stan Atherton, Bobby Michnowicz, Don Melton, Buzz Rose, Robby Flock, Bob Davison, Hila Sweet, Bart Noffsinger (in from Maryland), Shane Scully, Jerome Rodela, Chuck Hulse, Billy Boat, Parnelli Jones plus Parnelli's son Page. Page told me his real first name is Peter, but he likes his middle name better so he used it as his name. He also said his daughter is almost 12 months old and proudly showed a photo of her. CRA CAR OWNERS present included: Louie Senter, Greg Cunningham, Jim & Sandra Bartosh, Marshall Hansen, Carl & son Smokey Alleman, Kathy Simpson, Ace Noffsinger (honoree Brad's dad), Evelyn Pratt, and Bruce Bromme, Jr was in the house as well. Engine builder Ron Shaver, PAS president/promoter Donnie Kazarian and announcer Scott Daloisio attended as did PAS staffers Ray Scheetz, Ronnie Everhart and Chris Holt. Widows who attended included Ginnie Moorhouse, Belita Michnowicz, Lois Ward, Evelyn Pratt, plus Dottie Kennedy (widow of driver Walt) who came in from her home in Lake Havasu, AZ. Dottie had her sons Mike and Bill and daughter Sharon with her. Retired 1950-60 era CRA, IMCA & USAC driver Buzz Rose, now a prolific author/publisher of 11 well-research, hard-cover books about auto racing, was present at a table with copies of his existing books. He and his wife were taking orders for his latest $74.00 book, a compilation of racing driver deaths from the early 1900s to 2008. More than 500 driver deaths are listed and the circumstances of many of the most famous drivers racing deaths told in more detail. LofA PROGRAM: The 68-page collectors' item contained one-page biographies about each of the LofA 2008 inductees. My bio about Ned Spath (12/13/33 – 6/10/99) was on page 6. My final paragraph did not make the printed LofA program because of space limitations. Here it is. "Ned did not race after 1974. In 1979 Ned and wife Rita relocated to Selma, Oregon where they bought 15 acres from his CRA car owner Carl Alleman, who had 80 acres near Lake Selmac. Ned changed careers from automotive machinist and sold grinders and machinery throughout the Northwest. He never retired from working, but he quit smoking cigars in 1982. He had a pacemaker installed on 5/10/99. At 7:00 am June 10, 1999 Ned (at age 65) suffered a stroke and died in his kitchen while having coffee. He was buried at a veterans' cemetery in Oregon. The name Spath continues today in sprint car racing. Ned's 21-year old grandson Tyler Spath (son of Ned, Jr.) races sprint cars at various northern California tracks, including at his hometown track in Chico, and in Oregon. He is a mechanical engineering student at Oregon State University. His career goal is to work as a Formula One team engineer. Tyler, his older brother Jacob, and their dad Ned, Jr. will attend the LofA ceremonies to honor Ned, Sr. They also plan to bring their No. 35 sprint car and race in the USAC-CRA event at The PAS that night. Tyler's only other PAS racing experience was in the 2005 Oval Nationals three-day event." The program contained more than 100 photos (posed and racing shots) from different decades at Ascot and other tracks, such as Culver City, DeAnza Park and Carrell Speedway that operated in Gardena until 1955. Trophy girls at Ascot, including four of Leslie Bremer (one of the most memorable trophy girls in Ascot history), are depicted throughout the program. The two-page center section is a late afternoon aerial shot of the famous Ascot Park track with sprint cars on the track that will bring back fond memories. Photographers were Mike Arthur, Bruce Howey, Jim Chini, Stan Hansen, Doug Allen, Bob Jones, John Estopellan, Jim Fargo, Marv Keller, Dave Wolf, Gil Mahoney, Owen Richards, and the late Dwight Vaccaro and Ralph Foster. It was announced at The PAS Saturday that 93-year old Foster had died two days earlier. Ralph, who flew his own airplane until recent years, attended the Walt & Dottie James CRA Reunion luncheon in January at Knott's Berry Farm. Walt also told me Saturday that 1950-60 era race car builder George Shilala, also in his 90s, died recently in a convalescent home. Some of the 2008 LofA programs are still available for sale for $25, including postage. Contact Don or Belita at P.O. Box 5331, Torrance, CA 90510. Their e-mail address is: www.legendsofascot@aol.com. PAS October 18 racing: The USAC-CRA 410 cu. in. sprint car race at The PAS following the Legends of Ascot luncheon produced a solid field of 33 sprint cars and 18 PASSCAR Modifieds. LofA honoree Brad Noffsinger, 48, brought his helmet and uniform along from his home in Concord, N.C and raced in the No. 25x Nadine Gardner team sprinter. He was a DNF in his heat race and finished seventh in the 12-lap B-main to just miss a transfer to the A-main by one position. LofA honoree Billy Boat and his son Chad, 16, came to PAS with their No. 30 Maxim sprint car in which Chad won a USAC National Sprint car feature at Hagerstwon, MD this summer. Chad became the youngest USAC National circuit main event winner in history that dates to 1956. Other drivers who raced all season on the USAC National circuits were Damion Gardner, in Jason Leffler's No. 71, and Cole Whitt, in one of Glenn Crossno's Vipers. Chico-based Tyler Spath, grandson of LofA inductee Ned Spath, drove his own No. 35 Rocket sprint car that was parked on display outside the LofA tent during the early afternoon. His dad Ned, Jr and brother Jacob served as his pit crew. Spath participated in hot-lapping and was the 15th driver to qualify. On his first lap Tyler hit the first turn crash-wall hard and flipped. He was uninjured, but a reported bent frame ended his racing on the day his late grandfather was honored as a Legend of Ascot. Tyler told me before sprint car warm-ups started that his only other racing experience at PAS came in October 2005 during the Oval Nationals three day event. Time trials for the 33 sprint cars October 18 ran from 6:11 to 6:43 pm. The fastest qualifying time was set by four drivers in a row. Matt Mitchell, the ninth driver to qualify, ran 17.500; Mike Spencer ran 17.098; Danny Sheridan turned a 17.037, and Josh Ford zipped around the half-mile at 17.031 as the 12th driver to face the clocks. Damion Gardner, 23th to qualify, ran a 16.926 and then 31st qualifier Blake Miller ran the best lap of all—16.765. Nic Faas, the 33rd and last to qualify, ran a 16.784 in his No. 17F Maxim for second fastest time. All 150 October 18 PAS $4.00 race programs sold out before the end of time trials. The Legends of Ascot 3-lap trophy dash for the four fastest qualifiers had a winners' plaque, presented by Don Weaver of LofA, and $700 from the LofA luncheon. It paid the four TD finishers in order $250, $200, $150 and $100 for the special race. Gardner, Whitt, Miller and Faas ran 1-4 in that order. In a bit of irony, the second and third 10-lap heat races had the exact same winning time—2:54.32. Four youngsters selected from the grandstand came to the front straight during an intermission and raced big-wheel tricycles. The winner was Sarah Petry, 8-year old daughter of Mike Petry, a Nic Faas No. 17F associate sponsor. She got off to a quick start and traversed the 30 or so foot straight-line drag race on the front straight and led all the way. Her trick is to avoid the pedals and power her ride with her feet on the ground. The young lady sits with her dad in the Tony Jones section (grandstand H) and roots for her favorite drivers--Nic Faas and Tony Jones. In the fourth CRA heat race, teenage stars 8th FQ Chad Boat and 4th FQ Cole Whitt started alongside each other in row three. If they finished in the top four and transferred directly to the feature then 10th FQ Tony Jones and 11th FQ Rip Williams would be off the front row of the A-main. Remarkably, the first four starters—Rodney Argo, Greg Bragg, Jordan Hermansader and J. Hicks—finished in the top four positions. Whitt was in P. 5 and Boat in P. 6, so they had to run the B-main. Pole starter Williams led the first lap of the A and Jones led laps 2-16 in pursuit of his fifth consecutive feature victory at Perris. Sixth starter Damion Gardner raced into second place by lap 6. With Jones' No. 4 on the outside and Gardner's No. 71 on the inside, they waged a sizzling duel to lap 17. As the two leaders approached the two slower cars of Royal Adderson and Henry Clarke to begin lapping, Gardner made a dazzling move to the extreme inside. He passed Adderson and Clarke cleanly. Jones clipped the back of Clarke's No. 41 and spun tail first up to the third turn wall. Jones was able to restart at the back of the field and charged up to sixth place by the lap 30 finish. Gardner raced away to half a straightaway victory margin and lapped the 16th place driver on the final lap. He became the 16th different USAC-CRA feature winner this season. Point leader Mike Spencer took second from Danny Sheridan on lap 18 and Blake Miller took third on lap 28. Sheridan settled for fourth and Chad Boat came from 11th grid position to a solid fifth place. Whitt was seventh after starting ninth. Cody Williams, 19, came from 18th to 14th in a solid drive. His dad, Rip, finished eighth. Eighteen of 22 starters were running at the finish. Faas was ninth about lap 12 when he lost his brakes and dropped out. The PASSCAR Modifieds ran a pair of 6-lap heat races following the CRA sprint heats and a 20-lap main event after the CRA 30-lap main. Most of the 4,000+ spectators present remained in their seats to watch the Modifieds. The Modifieds 20-lap main had four race leaders, including David Mayhew, a young driver from Atascadero. He led lap 4-14. Then Brady Bell hit and spun Mayhew between the first two turns. It was the first PAS race for both drivers who usually raced their cars at the third-mile clay Bakersfield Speedway. Mayhew raced his own No. 21M modified and told me he wasn't mad at his friend for spinning him out of a possible victory. "It was just racing," he said. He came from the back in the final six laps to finish ninth with an outside, last lap pass of a PAS veteran in turns one and two. Twelve of the 18 cars finished. Mayhew also races the full NASCAR Grand National West 12-race circuit as a series rookie in the No. 21 Bay Bio Diesel/RCR Chevrolet. He currently ranks ninth in overall point standings with only one race remaining. Mayhew has run well this year in the two 200-lap races at the Irwindale paved half-mile track. On July 4 he was the second fastest qualifier, started second, led laps 3-128 and finished eighth. On August 16 he started and finished fifth. His best GN West 2008 finishes have been a pair of seconds (3/29-at Roseville and 9/13 at Altamont near Tracy), third on 4/19 at Kyle, TX, and fourth (7/11 in Oregon). The Modified race concluded at 10:09 pm. All in all it was a memorable day and night of breaking bread, meeting and greeting old friends, and watching exciting traditional sprint car racing on a fast clay race track—The PAS. |
