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Tragedy marred the end of
the 1970 racing season during the running of the
final ever U.S. Open Championship-Golden State 100 event for Super
Modifieds at the old Sacramento
State Fairground mile track.
On lap two of the first ten lap heat, Ernie PursselI of Nevada City
swerved into the outside wall guard rail going into turn one and flipped
back to the middle of the track on his top to be hit broadside by Bob
Thomas of Walnut Creek. As the cars raced around to the yellow, a
driver by the name of Wally Reiff ran from the infield to aid Prussell and
was; in turn hit by Paul Turner of Garden Grove as he went into a slide
trying to avoid the wreckage
past the flagstand. Purssell was pronounced dead at the scene and Reiff
died at the hospital.
The race was continued and on the thirty-fifth lap of the main, Jimmy
Gordon of Sacramento locked wheels with Bob Gilbert of Santa Ana as they
went into turn three Gordon's racer cartwheeled and was hit by Ron Rea of
Sepulveda as it laid on it's top. The impact ripped out the fuel tank and
flames spread access the track. Officials moved quickly to put out the
fire, but Gordon was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Promoter J. C. Agajanian told the California Racing Association members on
hand that he was ending the race at that point. The three deaths were the
only ones in twenty-two years of racing at the track.
-Thanks to Chris Holt
for the information.
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