California Roadster Association

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

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

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

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