The June BCRA Hall of Fame Induction ceremony

celebrated the careers of Drivers and Owners

representing the sport from the 1920’s through the 1980’s. Lloyd Axel got his start in the early 20’s, which

included the 1926 inaugural race at Ord Nebraska, with

his grand finale at the Elmwood Park, Greeley Colorado oval in 1965. This race was a fitting salute to one of the

greatest American competitors as he took home the

trophy for the day after a wheel to wheel with a young Cotton Farmer for the Feature win. Lloyd passed away

in 1971 and his award was accepted by Dave Tyson of

Kansas City.

New Mexico’s Roy Hicks was one of the most popular drivers of his era in the Southwest. From Drag racing to

USAC dirt cars and the Speedway as a mechanic, Hicks

was not only top driver for decades but a topnotch sportsman. Roy came into Lincoln from his home in

Niceville Florida to accept the award and for a reunion

with Brother Gordie Hicks from Socorro N.M. This

dynamic duo had a great time at Lincoln and was a grat addition to the Hall of Fame and the weekends

festivities.

Mirl Barnett from the wheat fields of Rexford Kansas advanced from the early 50’s Jalopy’s to top notch

Sprint car racing with the BCRA, IMCA and the

Mississippi Valley racing Association in the 60’s. After an extensive search Mirl located and restored the old

Propane burning Morosic #9 and put it on the track again

in 2002 until present on the Midwest vintage circuits.

Mirl and family made the trip from Rexford and enjoyed the tours of the museum and the induction ceremony.

Salina Kansas was well represented by Kansas driving

legend Jack Petty. Petty started in the rough and tumble days of the CeeJay Stadium Bullring with some of the

best drivers to ever compete. A near fatal fire at

Hutchinson Kansas slowed Petty for a time but he soon returned to form and continues to support the sport to

this day. Jack made the trip from Salina with son Jim

and towed Jacks Yellow #6 for the fans to enjoy.

Roger Beck built Race Cars. He started in the early 50’s driving with the likes of Parnelli, Marv Porter and others

in California with the URA,CRA then went to work for

Bill Devin, Mickey Thompson , Eddie Kuzma and AJ Watson before going on his own with some incredible

sprint cars raced by some of the best drivers and owners

in the country. Roger was on his way from Indy when he suffered a change to the condition of his recently

repaired back which warranted a quick return home and

his Doctor. Roger expressed his gratitude for his

recognition by the BCRA Hall of Fame and to Bill Smith. “After Bill Smith bought a car from me our

business really picked up in the Midwest.” And the Bill

Smith Beck won at Erie with Roy Bryant, at Belleville twice, Tampa 3 times and 2

nd at Knoxville with

Beckman and was a key workhorse in the ’69 BCRA

Championship with Opperman at the wheel. The BCRA looks forward to a visit from Roger in the near future

Many thanks to “Speedy” Bill for accepting the award

for Roger Beck.

Chuck Kidwell started in the 50’s with Go-Carts, Soap

Box Derby and by the 1960’s was racing Modifieds in

the Midwest. Chuck would drive the Belle of Belleville in 1967 and finished 2

nd in points with the BCRA. in ‘68

He also raced with the Central Nebraska Modified

Racing Assoc. Kidwell worked on the Nix USAC team for ten years and is now living in Florida where he

continues in racing with caged carts. Chuck made the

trip from Indianapolis with Keith Barker to accept his

award and it is always great to rub shoulders with a guy who’s life’s passion has been Racing.

Marty Bassett began his career in Lincoln Nebraska

and was soon put to work by Bill Smith at Speedway motors where he worked with some of the best drivers in

the country. During his career he worked for some of

the best Owners in Bill Smith, Larry Swanson, Ed Smith and drivers like Jan Opperman, Lonnie Jensen, Keith

Big Car Racing Association & Hall of Fame, LLC BCRA ESTABLISHED 1958, COLORADO SPRINGS CO

(50th Anniversary 1958 - 2008 )

BIG CAR RACING CHRONICLES

July August September 2013

Bcra Staff: Dave Tyson(Mo) Ray Cunningham(Ks), Boyd Adams(Tx), Bruce Budy(C0), Gerry Miller(Tx), Tom Davey(Co), Wayne Panter(Tx), Gary Wolfe(Ne)

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Hightshoe and many others. Marty is a top motor and

suspension man and once engaged in conversation is one

of the most track savvy individuals you will ever meet.

Colorado’s Ted Foltz was released from the hospital just a few days before the Lincoln event and was unable

to make the trip. Ted began his career in the early 50’s in

Colorado and spent four decades at Pikes Peak and on the Oval tracks in the region winning championships and

working for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Associations for

nearly 50 years in Colorado. Bart Manley was born

into Midget Racing in Colorado driving for his father and with the advent of the BCRA he would drive for

Ray Koch and the McWhorter built Manley Chevy

where he finished in the top five for the next three years and running Stock Cars at Erie. He later ran in the

Southwest winning a stock car championship in 1996

and leads a quiet life of retirement in the Southwest U.S..

“The Motorcycle King” Ray Koch was a consistent

competitor in the Rockies from the 40’s to the 80’s at

Pikes Peak , RMMRA and the BCRA..He was a generous car owner and sometime driver who truly loved

the sport. Ray Koch left racing and his Harley

Dealership in the mid-80’s as he walked into the office one day and handed the keys to his right hand man Fred

Neushwanger with , Its all yours, thanks for everything”!

Truly a great sportsman Ray ‘s plaque was received by JD Cormack of Kansas City.

Lincoln Nebraska’s Marty Bassett

New Mexico’s Roy Hicks

A Lifetime in racing, Nebraskan Chuck Kidwell

Jack Petty accepting his Plaque in Lincoln

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Humble Kansan Mirl Barnett accepts award

Ray Koch pictured here during a 1950 meeting of the Midget crew at Rays shop. Ray was a much beloved competitor of the day but always seemed to stay in the background. After decades the voters remembered and it is a pleasure to have Ray Koch inducted in 2013

Driver, Owner, Fabricator and 2013 Inductee, Roger Beck

1940’s shot of the great Lloyd Axel in his Kurtis Midget

Midgets, Sprinters and Stock Cars were the passion of

2013 Inductee Bart Manley of Colorado

4 decades on the Mountain and oval tracks! Sprinters,

Midgets, Stockers, Jalopies. Colorado’s 3 time Pikes Peak

Champ Ted Foltz

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Larry Swanson, Marty Bassett and driver Lonnie Jenson

USAC Competition and 2013 BCRAHOF inductee driver Roy Hicks

Joe, Julie and Jim of the Kansas Racing Petty family

Gordon Woolley in the Hoback Chevy.Hutch Ks ‘66

Eddie Mcvay of Kansas City at Hutch Ks

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Lloyd Axel in his new Kurtis Midget. Lakeside .’46

Two of New Mexico’s finest in the Hicks Bros

Bench racing at Joes with Speedy Bill, Chuck Kidwell on left

with Skip and Casey Smith to the right. Don Droud and Marty

Bassett with backs to camera.

Big Al Murie in the #15

BCRA competitor and Hall of fame nominee, Jerry Stone

taking in the BCRA Hall of Fame and Tours

Joe Haag presents one of his patented design racing

Mail boxes to the BCRA. Beautiful piece of work, Thanks to Joe

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Mirl Barnett at Ok City

Great shot of Kansas Legend Jack Petty in the Cockpit of his Stocker before the devastating Fire in ’74 at Hutch Ks

Mechanic Marty Bassett and Owner Larry Swanson

Keith Barker, Larry and Skip Smith

Owner Ron Fegter and BCRAHOF Inductee, Driver Chuck

Kidwell on right

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Tommy , Ray Koch and driver Earl Kouba

The Red Fox crew returns to the spotlight with 2013 Inductees

Speedy and Opperman 1976

Ron Wilcheck Hutchinson Ks. 1966

The Hicks Brothers BCRA Hall of Fame Induction

The Swanson cousins: Doug, Glenn, Dean, Friend Dwain

Anderson and Gary

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\ Big Car Racing Association 306 Montrose Ave Bertrand Ne 68927

Back Row: Mirl Barnett, Bill Smith for Roger Beck, Jack Petty, Roy Hicks, JD Cormack for

Ray Koch, Gary Wolfe for Ted Foltz. Frnt Row: Dave Tyson for Lloyd Axel, Marty Bassett, Chuck Kidwell and Ray Cunningham for Bart Manley

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