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POMONA, Calif., Nov. 23 - More than 170 persons attended a
special exhibit, luncheon and panel discussion sponosred by
Performance Racing Industry and Irwindale Speedway Wednesday at
noon. The topic was CRA track roadsters as the road to the
Indianapolis 500 following World War II. The Wally Parks Motorsports
Museum at the Pomona Fairplex hosted the event. Parks, 92 year old
founder of the NHRA drag racing sanctioning body, welcomed guests as
did museum director Sam Jackson and curator Greg Sharp. The exhibit
will be open to visitors until January 2006.
Respected television broadcaster Bob Jenkins
served as master of ceremonies for the panel discussion. He revealed
that 73 CRA roadster drivers made the Indy 500 starting lineup
through the 1950s. Panelists included Indy 500 winners Jim Rathmann
and Parnelli Jones, long-time CRA president and roadster driver Walt
James, plus drag racer Art Chrisman. They answered questions posed
by Jenkins and reminisced about their roadster racing days and
experiences on national circuits.
The special exhibit featured a display with two
CRA roadsters posed on dirt in side-by-side simulated racing action.
The lifelike display came complete with manequin drivers in racing
garb of the era and old-time helmets. A painting of the famous
Gilmore Stadium scoreboard towered over the two cars. Other
roadsters from the era, videos and memorabilia were displayed in the
museum. Attendees received copies of a color drawing by renowned
artist Joe Henning that is suitable for framing. It showed five
actual CRA roadsters from the late 1940s in action on a dirt track.
Present were former drivers Chuck Hulse, Sr and
Jr, Rosie Roussel, Dick McClung, Howard Gardner, Louie Senter, Joe
Graffino, Jimmy Oskie, Duke Cook and 2005 USAC National Sprint Car
champion Levi Jones. USAC vice president, of communications Dick
Jordan also attended and posed a question to the well-received
panelists. Invited guest Andy Granatelli was unable to attend
because of a back problem.
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