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| CALIFORNIA ROADSTER ASSOCIATION 15th ANNUAL REUNION/LUNCHEON HONORS DON THOMAS, 1966 CRA CHAMPION by Tim Kennedy |
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Buena Park, CA., Jan. 10 – The 15th annual California Roadster Association Reunion/Luncheon took place Saturday, January 10, 2008 from noon to 2:10 pm at Knott's Berry Farm Resort/Hotel here. Organizers Walt and Dottie James said 133 persons attended the gathering of former drivers, car owners, mechanics, officials, media and racing supporters. Walt, the 85-year old president of CRA from 1950-70 and the Western Racing Association vintage racing body from 1982-85, served as emcee. He introduced attendees present and the CRA honoree—Don Thomas, the 1966 California Racing Association sprint car driving and car owner champion. Thomas, in his 70s, spoke briefly to the audience and said, "I enjoyed my time racing in CRA. I then went to USAC and raced sprint cars in the Midwest." The El Cajon, CA resident also raced the Arizona Hard Chrome midget for Bud Trainor. Thomas, a long-time heavy equipment operator, was known for building a pair of Buick-powered roadster sprint cars. He also built an upright sprint car that he debuted on July 9, 1965 at Ascot and drove to tenth place in its debut. His second roadster sprint car was on display during the CRA Reunion at the hotel's drive-up entrance. It was the No. 34 roadster that Don raced on dirt and paved tracks. Thomas' No. 44 first roadster was wrecked and cut-up. The No. 34 roadster, which Don raced to seventh place in CRA 1962 driver points and fifth place in owner's points, was located in the Midwest by current owner Steve Bonesteel, of Fresno, who drives it in WRA vintage events. Thomas still had the metal numbers 34 in his garage and gave them to Bonesteel who installed them on the roadster. Thomas' upright sprinter ran as No. 1 in 1967 in CRA and he won the February 26, 1967 CRA El Centro main event in it. That car is now owned by Dick Woodland in Paso Robles. Thomas finished seventh in 1965 CRA driver points driving his own car. His CRA driving career records included two fast times, 10 trophy dash wins and six main event victories. He won his first CRA main on 5/22/65 at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix driving the Hank Henry-built No. 91 Lehotsky & Singh Chevy. He won again at Manzy on 4/9/66 driving his own No. 44 roadster. Three feature triumphs in that car at Whiteman Stadium in Pacoima followed in June and July of his championship season. His final CRA feature victory came in his self-built upright No. 1 at El Centro before he departed for USAC 1967 racing action. Emcee James spoke about early CRA roadster racing. He gave the names of attendees and a brief comment about each person. DRIVERS present were: Jim Badger, Bob Behrens, Chuck Conrad, Bob Coulter, Jay East, Gene Ellis, Allen Ervine, 2-time CRA champion Bob Hogle, Steve Howard, Dick Hughes, Indy 500 driver Chuck Hulse, Jerry Hudson, Dee Jones, 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones, Russ Long, Don Melton, Ray Miscevich, Jim Murphy, 5-time CRA champion Jimmy Oskie, John Redican, Shane Scully, 1972 Turkey Night Midget GP winner Tony Simon, Hila Sweet, Brandon Thomson, Fred Thomson, Ed Van Eyk, Ray Vodden, 2-time CRA champion Billy Wilkerson, Billy Wolfe and Jim Wood. CAR OWNERS in the audience included Ralph Baiza, George Glover, Milt Green, Ken Hillberg, Ken Stansberry, Anne Wilkerson and Don Zabel. OFFICIALS present were Rusty Espinoza, Tony Gonzales, Ed Hudson, Tim Kennedy, Art Loya, Evelyn Pratt, Don Read, Neil Sachs, Ron Schwarze and Don Tash. MANUFACTURERS included Nick Arias, Jr., Andy Casale, Bob Falcon and Louie Senter. MEDIA members on hand were writer Norm Bogan, plus racing photographers Jim Chini, Jeff Sharpe and Don Young. Others of note present included John Lee, WRA president; Richard Mastroleo, WRA secretary/treasurer and bulletin editor; Sam Tribble, of the Hudson Car Club, Chris Holt, Ascot and Perris infield announcer, and Steve Logan, Coronado Island vintage car show promoter. AWARD PRESENTATION: James made the fourth annual presentation of the Walt and Dottie James Perpetual Trophy. The honorees this year were three past CRA publicity directors—the late Ronnie Allyn (1947-56), Art Loya (1957-67) and Tim Kennedy (1968-78). The names of all three CRA publicists were inscribed on metal plates affixed to the James Trophy. The large trophy is kept on display year-round in the lobby at the Justice Brothers Car Care Products headquarters and 150-race car museum at 2734 E. Huntington Drive, Duarte, CA. Prior honorees were Ed Justice, Sr., Wilda Kindoll and Evelyn Pratt in 2006, Louie Senter, Hila Sweet and Don Weaver in 2007, plus Ed Hudson and Rusty Espinoza last year. Past CRA Reunion/Luncheon honorees have been: Dick Vineyard (1995), 1952 Indianapolis 500 winner Troy Ruttman (1996), 1960 Indy 500 winner Jim Rathmann (1997), Chuck Leighton (1998), Indy 500 driver Don Freeland (1999), Ken Stansberry (2000), Rosie Roussel (2001), Dick McClung (2002), Dick Hughes (2003), Howard and Jack Gardner (2004), Gene Ellis (2005), Indy 500 driver Chuck Hulse (2006), Jack Brunner (2007) and Bob Hogle (2008). James thanked his CRA banquet assistants, including wife Dottie and daughters Vicki and Wendy, and the check-in staff. He said the next two CRA Reunion honorees will be Billy Wilkerson, 1967 and 1970 CRA driving champion, next year, and five-time CRA champion Jimmy Oskie in 2011 in the 17th and final CRA Reunion currently planned by James. Emcee James gave current information updates about some of the past CRA Reunion attendees who could not be present this year. Wilda Kindoll is in a convalescent hospital in Northridge. CRA car owner Marshall Hansen fell and broke a hip. Betty Senter had five-way heart bypass surgery. CRA car owner Greg Cunningham is in poor health. Joyce Farr, widow of long-time CRA driver Tony Farr, moved to Ohio to be near her daughter. Harry Schooler, the long-time Ascot Park racing promoter to the mid-1970s, died during 2008. |
