ROADSTERS
AND
HARDTOPS
1947 to 1952
Inking the contract - a staple of early motor racing publicity.
Northern California roadster drivers make ready to go with the stroke of promoter Billy
Hunefeld's pen. Hunefeld ran the Stockton "99", Modesto and Hughes Stadiums. The
drivers are (from left) Lemoine Frey, Sam Hawks, roadster-racing association business
manager Nils Lilejedahl, and Jumpin' Joe Valente. (Eddie Silva Collection and Street
Rodder Magazine)
(1947)
World War Two was over, the sport of auto racing on the west coast began to become
increasingly popular once again and the idea of a track in the city of Stockton was formed
in the mind of William G. 'Billy' Hunefeld, a man who was born in the infamous Hells
Kitchen area of Brooklin, New York. Coming from a poor family in this era ment that the
ability to protect oneself took precedence over schooling, and hence Billy learned life's
lessons from the school of hard knocks developing along the way in to a light heavyweight
boxing contender in his early years. As time passed he moved to Phoenix Arizona and
promoted boxing and wrestling, many times being one of the main event contestants himself.
He eventually settled into the Stockton area and continued his promoting business.
Enlisting the support of Stockton area businessman Stanley S Moore, and local Lawyer Len H
Honey, construction was started on the fifth mile dirt racing surface in March of 1947,
and completed by mid May. The new 99 Stadium as it was called, featured grandstands on
both sides of the track providing a total seating capacity of close to 10,000. Those
stands were removed a few years later to make room for Moore's truck and recreational
vehicle buildings that still stand across the track. Entry onto the track came from the
turn one and two side, and cars were timed by hand held stopwatches. The inaugural race
was held on Tuesday night, May 27th., featuring a 12 car field of Midgets under the
sanction of the United States Racing Association (USAC). A crowd of more than 8,000 people
were on hand that opening night with cars parked up to one mile north and south on highway
99 (Wilson Way). Stockton Mayor Woodrow Coale and most of his city council members were on
hand also, as the Greyhound bus service shuttled the huge crowds from downtown Stockton to
the track. After the preliminary
events were over, starter Leslie Pine dropped the green
on the 25 lap feature. Billy 'The Kid' Vukovich of Fresno took control on the fifth lap
and never looked back in his two cycle 'Drake', taking the win ahead of Cal Niday, Edgar
Elder of Los Angeles, Frank Arrni of Hanford, and Johnny Boyd of Fresno. (For a further
history of the USAC and BCRA midgets of the early
years I highly recommend the book by Tom Motter entitled 'BCRA The first 50 years'). One week later, on May 31st, the first
Roadster event was run at Stockton. The Roadsters, also known as "Hot Rods" were
precision built open wheel cars with no tops or roll bars to protect the drivers of the
time. Aside from a few hopped up 4-cylinders, the cars ran Ford flathead motors with 274
maximum cubic inches topped with multiple carburetors. They were push started with
'in-out' gearboxes and quick-change rear ends. Mel Fernandes, the first manager of the new
track reported over 5,500 fans in attendance for the first event won by Ernie Reyes of
Berkeley in a 4-clyinder Crager Special.
'Sad' Sam Hawks of
Modesto placed second. The
events were sanctioned by the Northern California Roadster Racing Association (NCRRA) and
a total of 36 drivers were found in the newspaper listings for the season. Included among
them were names like 'Lighting' Lemoine Frey of Lodi, who drove the Dickman Special, built
and owned by Al Dickman of Manteca. Dickman enjoyed a reputation in those days as an
advanced thinker and race car designer. others included 'Jumping' Joe Valente of Berkeley,
and George 'Blonde' Pacheco of Oakland.
(Special thanks to Larry Hawks for sharing his Father, Sam's, pictures with us!)
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events were over, starter Leslie Pine dropped the green
on the 25 lap feature. Billy 'The Kid' Vukovich of Fresno took control on the fifth lap
and never looked back in his two cycle 'Drake', taking the win ahead of Cal Niday, Edgar
Elder of Los Angeles, Frank Arrni of Hanford, and Johnny Boyd of Fresno. (For a further
history of the USAC and BCRA midgets of the early
years I highly recommend the book by Tom Motter entitled 'BCRA The first 50 years'). One week later, on May 31st, the first
Roadster event was run at Stockton. The Roadsters, also known as "Hot Rods" were
precision built open wheel cars with no tops or roll bars to protect the drivers of the
time. Aside from a few hopped up 4-cylinders, the cars ran Ford flathead motors with 274
maximum cubic inches topped with multiple carburetors. They were push started with
'in-out' gearboxes and quick-change rear ends. Mel Fernandes, the first manager of the new
track reported over 5,500 fans in attendance for the first event won by Ernie Reyes of
Berkeley in a 4-clyinder Crager Special.
'Sad' Sam Hawks of
Modesto placed second. The
events were sanctioned by the Northern California Roadster Racing Association (NCRRA) and
a total of 36 drivers were found in the newspaper listings for the season. Included among
them were names like 'Lighting' Lemoine Frey of Lodi, who drove the Dickman Special, built
and owned by Al Dickman of Manteca. Dickman enjoyed a reputation in those days as an
advanced thinker and race car designer. others included 'Jumping' Joe Valente of Berkeley,
and George 'Blonde' Pacheco of Oakland.