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California Roadster Association

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California Racing Association
SportOval track racing
Categoryauto racing
JurisdictionCalifornia  United States
AbbreviationCRA
Founded1945
Headquarters Ascot Park
PresidentBabe Ouse
Closure date1994
United States

The California Racing Association (CRA) was a racing governing body which set rules and hosted Sprint car racing events in Southern California.

The association was formed in the garage of Babe Ouse in 1945. Originally it was called the California Roadster Association. Ouse, a dry lakes record holder in a Marmon, was tired of racing against the clock and, with the help of Bill Dehler and Emmett Malloy, built a race track blocks away from the dirt lot that would become Ascot Park.[1] That first track was known as Carrell Speedway and Judge Carrell & Christopher J.C. Agajanian were the driving forces behind both tracks and the CRA itself. Sprint cars were introduced in 1953 and the name was changed in 1957 to the California Racing Association, or CRA.

In 1978, Gary Sokola became president and instituted several new safety measures, including the national 410 limit, the tire rule and padded roll cages. Sokola left the CRA to join the USAC and Frank Lewis took over. He would be the last president, as things declined for the sport shortly thereafter. Ascot raceway closed in 1990 and the CRA was left without a home track. Lewis tried expanding the sport across the state and various parts of the country, increasing the purse and spending thousands on advertising out of his pocket to keep the show going.

In 1993, a scheduled race was cancelled at the Ventura Raceway. A majority of members formed the SCRA and honored the date. The CRA was suspended indefinitely in 1994 after just four races, with Bobby Michnowicz leading the point standings by one point over Leland McSpadden. No Champion was crowned.

Legends

Many sprint car legends have come from the ranks of CRA. Stars include Bob Hogle, Billy Wilkerson, Jimmy Oskie, Bobby Olivero, Rick Goudy, Buster Venard, Dean Thompson, Bubby Jones, Brad Noffsinger, Eddie Wirth, Rip Williams, John Redican, Ron Shuman, Lealand McSpadden, Richard Griffin, Billy Boat, Mike Kirby, Mike Sweeney, Stan McElrath and many more.[2] The CRA became a natural stepping stone to more sophisticated racing, including the Indy 500, as 19 winners of the Indy 500 got their starts from track roadster racing.[3]

Presidents

Year President
1945 Johnny Walker
Babe Ouse
Tom Sloan
1950–1970 Walt James
1971 Ed Hudson
1972–1977 Don Peabody
1977–1978 Joe Hunt
1978 David Voden
1978 Gary Sokola
— 1992 Frank Lewis

CRA Champion drivers

Year Champion[4]
1946 Jack McGrath
1947 Troy Ruttman
1948 Troy Ruttman
1949 George Seeger
1950 Bob Denny
1951 Bob Denny
1952 Harry Stockman
1953 Nick Valenta
1954 Jack Gardner
1955 Nick Valenta
1956 Art Bisch
1957 Nick Valenta
1958 Roy Prosser
1959 Chuck Hulse
1960 Don Davis
1961 Jack Brunner
1962 Colby Scroggins
1963 Bob Hogle
1964 Hal Minyard
1965 Hal Minyard
1966 Don Thomas
1967 Billy Wilkerson
1968 Bob Hogle
1969 Jimmy Oskie
1970 Billy Wilkerson
1971 Dick Zimmerman
1972 Stan McElrath
1973 Don Hamilton
1974 Jimmy Oskie
1975 Bobby Olivero
1976 Jimmy Oskie
1977 Jimmy Oskie
1978 Rick Goudy
1979 Jimmy Oskie
1980 Dean Thompson
1981 Dean Thompson
1982 Dean Thompson
1983 Bubby Jones
1984 Bubby Jones
1985 Eddie Wirth
1986 Brad Noffsinger
1987 Brad Noffsinger
1988 Ron Shuman
1989 Ron Shuman
1990 Ron Shuman
1991 Ron Shuman
1992 Lealand McSpadden
1993 Mike Kirby
1994 Bobby Michnowicz

References

  1. ^ "scrfan.com", Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  2. ^ "scrfan.com main", Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  3. ^ "Autoweek.com", Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  4. ^ "WAG times", Retrieved March 29, 2010.