..::Bay Cities Racing Association::..

BCRA Vintage Views - Lakeport 6/20/09
June Wheeler-Ferreira
The Mighty Vintage Midgets had a car count of 6 for Saturday night at Lakeport, which was good. We started off with a warm up secession, than we had a 10 laps heat and a 12 laps main exhibition event.

Few of the guys were going a little too fast in the heat exhibition, so we were told to cool it by the watchful eyes of BCRA Officials. Things settled down in the main, the drivers went a little slower and everything went well.

The weather at Lakeport was nice, but a little on the windy side. Our friend, midget car owner & driver, Mike Luddon #3 came all the way from Arizona to run with us. Good to see him and his partner Alison, his car was down all season until last weekend. Then we had our regulars; Paul Ferreira & I #1, Harold & Nancy Allen #4, Doug Shanoian #14, John Kunstal #20, Norm & Carol Gray #30, Frank Goularte push jeep, Stu Donaldson 2 competitive midgets & Paul Farajian, his vintage midgets are down.

It was a fun night and that’s what its all about. Harold Allen had carburetor trouble and didn’t run the main. The driving slowed down a lot in the main, just changing positions in the exhibition. Remember drivers it’s just an exhibition and the crowd seem to enjoy it, but wanted us to go a little faster.

The competitive midgets put on the usual great show as always, fun to watch. High Light of the main, was the pace go-kart driven by, 5 year old, Sarale Jr. #32, he was just simply BOSS. Thank you Lakeport Speedway for having the BCRA Vintage at your at your wonderful facility.

Our next pit stop is Friday 26th at Hanford & Saturday 27th at Merced. A combo with BCRA and WRA, hope to see all there.

Along for the ride, June

BCRA Vintage Views - Madera 6/13/09
June Wheeler-Ferreira
The BCRA & WRA Combo Vintage Car Show at Madera, June the 13th, is in the books, Car count was down a little, but the ones that were there had a good time. Walt James and John Lee were unable to attend, Walt’s back is really out and John Lee track roadster is in need of repairs. BCRA broke a few midgets at the Anderson Show. The ones that were there had a good time, Lots of mixing and mingling in the pits.

Bob Mastroleo gave all members a nice tape measure, compliments of John Lee and WRA. Also we got a can of spray lubricant from Rich Mastroleo, compliments of the Justin Brothers. Thank you all for the nice and very useful gifts.

Thank you Kenny Shepherd, for sharing your Super Saturday Show with the vintage cars,

We didn’t get much track time, we had a practice and 10 laps each for midgets and Sprints, There was too many other divisions running.

Mastroleo brother’s were first in their mains, Bob came first in the midget exhibitions and Rich was first in the sprint exhibition.

We’ve pick-up new members in our group in the past few years, they are really beginning to run well, Norm Gray and John Kunstal have come a long way in vintage exhibition. Tony Simon was on hand with his push truck, what a big help. We have to give a big thanks to Frank Fuentes, he broke his car at Merced, he came to Madera and drove Rich Mastroleo quad. Frank was busy as a little bee pushing cars all night long. Greg Dierks brought his beautiful new #5 Sprint out for the first time, wow, what a nice car.

All who were present for the Madera event; Paul Ferreira #1, Bob Munier #4, Greg Dierks #5, Paul Farajian #14, Bob Mastroleo #14, John Kunstal #20, Norm Gray #30, Steve Bonestal #34 & Rich Mastroleo #55.

We had mild windy weather, but it was warm in the mid 70’s.

The competitive Midgets put on a great show, as did the Sprints, Ford Focus, and Super Modified. All of the groups were fun to watch.

That’s it for now, next pit stop Lakeport, June 20th.
Along for the ride, June

BCRA Vintage Views - Shasta Raceway Park May 21-23
June Wheeler-Ferreira
The Shasta California Vintage Nationals is history, what a great weekend we had from May 21st through May 23rd. All the vintage guys and gals would like to give Rick Faeth and staff a great big thank you, for a really great job.

Rick work really hard getting everything in place. He and his staff, was helpful in keeping things rolling along smoothly for all 3 days, His motto, have fun and play safe, that’s what it’s all about, thanks again Rick

Everyone had plenty of track time and the weather was hot, but not unbearable. All groups had heats, trophy dashes and main events. Good exhibitions of vintage racing.
Congratulations to John D. Martini #5, Doug Shanoian #17, Scott Nail #00, all got Oscars in dashes and John & Scott won their mains.

There were a lot of old cars, vintage midgets, sprinter, track roadster, hard tops and one modified. There were also old stars wondering the pits Former BCRA Champ Bob Machin, Turkey Night Winner Tony Simon, Billy Shuman & Johnny Anderson of NARC fame, just to name a few.

All and all a great show guys,

BCRA vintage guys and midget also ran a show at Merced on May 16th. Weather was a little hot, but cooled off in the evening. This was a combo show with WRA, the car count was a little low, but everyone had a good time.

Hope to see all at our event in Madera June 13th.
Hey guys don’t forget to tighten your wheels!
Along for the ride, June Wheeler-Ferreira

Shasta Raceway Park - CA Vintage Nationals - May 22 -23
Photos by Jack Waterman

BCRA Vintage Views - May
June Wheeler-Ferreira
The Mighty Vintage Division was off and running, at Marysville, Saturday, April 18th. We had a good time, but our car count was down, from what we expected. Things worked out well, Paul and I got to the track around 2PM. Pits gate was suppose to open at 3PM, but it open a little early. We found our pit area, unloaded, we then sat out to walk around and visit with the folks. The weather was a little hot. We did have a cool Delta breeze that helped and it stayed warm all night.

Stu Donaldson brought his modern midget #8 for his son Mike to drive. It was good to see Stu out and about, he’s looking good after his health issues, but he’s still on the mend.

Around 5 o’clock we pushed 4 vintage midgets to a roped off area, in front of the grandstand, for the fans to view before going into the Race. We got a lot of good feed back from the fans on how good they looked and how they remembered seeing cars like that run years ago.

The cars were in front until 7PM. The promoters liked it, was good PR for the track. Thank you, for our exhibition, Paul and Kathy Hawes.

Then after qualifying was over, Mike Donaldson in his father’s modern midget #8 and Paul Ferreira in his vintage, old rail V8-60, #36 did some Memorial laps for Kay Goularte. Things were a little sad at this point, as we can’t remember a race where Kay wasn’t there. Linda Manning passed out Memorial Decals to all midgets.

Frank Goularte was there with Rich Walsh and after the Memorial laps, Frank came over and thanked us all.

Then after the dust settled, vintage cars went out for some warm-ups laps and an exhibition run. Unfortunately the track was really rough for vintage cars, but we had fun as always. The promoter and staff at the track were super people, real easy to work with so things went well.

The regular midgets were there and put on great show as always. Bob and Shirley Munier with their quad came down from Madera for Kay’s Memorial, Norm & Carol Gray, from Santa Cruz with their #30, V8-60, Harold Dickerson & Roger from Manteca with Harold’s beautiful Falcon and Don Strauch from Folsom with his New #26 Chevy II, just to name a few.

So all and all it was a good night of racing, next stop will be May 16th in Merced. Hope to see all there.

A long for the ride, June Wheeler-Ferreira

BCRA Vintage Views - April
June Wheeler-Ferreira
Hi, gang, March 28th the BCRA Mighty Vintage Midgets had their opening event at Shasta Raceway in Anderson. The weather was great, a little windy, but not too bad. As usual we had plenty of track time, with 2 practices, a heat and a main event.

We had 7 cars for the event. Some of the vintage members on hand just to name a few, Frank & Jayne Fuentes with their #2 Chevy II, Greg Vroman #3 Offy, Bob Wacker #7 Offy, Paul Farajian #14 V8-60, Doug Shanoia #17, Don Strauch #26, first time out with his New Chevy II, with driver Mike Mosekian and Paul Ferreira and I with our #1 Chevy II. It was opening night for the modern midgets they put on a great show. The fans in the stands was fair, they enjoyed a good night of racing and vintage exhibition. Thanks, Rick Faeth, for letting us use your wonderful track.

Then if was off to Madera on April 4th for a combo event with WRA. There were 18 vintage cars; 12 midgets, 4 sprints and 2 track roadsters. There was a lot things going on with regular midgets, sprints, modifieds and legends, and so our track time was limited. All we had to run was a practice and a main divided with the midgets with 12 laps and sprints, track roadster with 12 laps for vintage exhibition.

All who was at the event with vintage midgets; Ron Dunn #1, Paul Ferreira #1, Frank Fuentes #2, Les Stark #8, John Plischke #13, Paul Farajain #14, Bob Mastroleo #14, Tommy Belfiore #16, Doug Shanoian #17, Don Strauch #26, Norm Gray #30 & Dale Erickson #55.

All with vintage sprints and track roadster at Madera; John Lee #8, Walt James #15, Lin Marsten # 17, Steve Enright #37, Keith Loomis #40 & Rich Mastroleo #55

You really have to hand it to the WRA members, they come a long way to put on a event.

Thank you, Kenny Shepherd, for great show at Madera.

On a sad note the BCRA racing community was sadden on passing of Kay Goularte on April 4th evening. Kay was a die heart racing fan. She knew all the cars, drivers, what motors they ran and if you had any questions, you just ask her. If you were ever in need of a cup of coffee you went to her motor home, she was there with a big smile and cup for you. She was always seen with her husband, Frank Goularte, working on someone midget or sprint. Kay will be deeply miss by all of us who knew her.
Rest in peace Kay, love from all!

April 18th at Maryville is our next event hope to see all there.....
Along for the ride, June Wheeler-Ferreira

BCRA Vintage Views - March
June Wheeler-Ferreira

Believe it or not we finally had our BCRA Vintage Annual Meeting. It was held at Frank & Jayne Fuentes beautiful Funny Farm in Tracy. We had about 21 members and guest in attendance including Linda Manning of the BCRA Board. The weather was beautiful, what a nice place to go.

The meeting got started around 10AM, we had lots of general chit chat, We also had a serious discussion about T-shirts and Calendars. We only have one meeting a year, it's good for all to get together and see everyone. Then to the schedule which was discuss and it looks like a good one. We have a lot of good shows this year for our exhibitions. We touch on a little on the Vintage Oval Magazine and I got a few photo op. The meeting last one hour or so, then it was off to the big kitchen for sandwiches, cold drinks or what ever.

Most went outside to Franks shop and bench race for a long time. Things started to break up around 3PM or so, everyone said their, "Good Byes'' and headed for home.

Meeting went well, so let's go play.

Hope to see all at Shasta Speedway on March 28th, June Wheeler-Ferreira

Stu Donaldson, had light stroke, he is home doing well, he has all our prayer and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Please send cards or call.
Stu Donaldson
991 Mitchell Way
El Sobrante, CA 94803
(510) 222-1346

BCRA Vintage Annual Meeting