LAKEPORT — History was made June 19 at the Little Theatre in Lakeport as the Northern California Racing Association held a Racers” Reunion at the Lake County Fairgrounds. The event, which was the first of its kind, was hosted by Rick and Martha Rose.
“This event was something we wanted to do for many years and was long overdue,” Martha Rose said. “The smiles on the faces of the drivers and their families and the friendships that were rekindled made the reunion a wonderful success.”
The reunion included a barbecue luncheon and featured a display of 11 vintage and restored super modified race cars. The event program entertained 240 guests.
Honored guests were drivers from the 1950s, ?60s and ?70s hailing from racing divisions including hardtops, jalopies, super modified, stock cars, claimers and streets stock. Drivers, officials, families and fans from Lake County, Ukiah, Willits, Laytonville, southern California, Nevada and Washington were in attendance, Rose said.
Rose said the room was decorated with wall photo murals displaying each of the divisions. “Race car memorabilia and mannequins dressed in fire suits were on the stage and the table centerpieces depicted drivers and sponsors from back in the day,” she said, adding that a special T-shirt was created to commemorate the event. The T-shirt featured drivers from Willits, Clearlake, Lakeport and Santa Rosa.
Bill Deschamps, who is one of the founding fathers of NCRA, served as guest speaker. Rose said the speaker shared the history of the track as it went from dirt to pavement; the formation of NCRA and also gave highlights of his decorated racing career.
Lee Stophlet, of Ukiah, who is a former racer and announcer for both Lakeport and Ukiah speedways, interviewed drivers in the audience, which Rose said, brought life to many wonderful racing stories.
A photo presentation set to music was shown during the event reflecting the racing days at Lakeport, Ukiah and Willits from the ?50s through ?70s.
The Roses presented several plaques of recognition. Norm Rapp Racing Equipment, of San Francisco was recognized for “decades of knowledge and service to the circle track racing world” and Dana Stahl, of Nevada for his “service as a driver, fabricator and innovator.” Deschamps was recognized as a “founding father and continuing supporter of the NCRA” while David Furia, of Lakeport, was recognized for his “involvement and evolvement of NCRA.”
As the program concluded, guests were invited to main grandstands at Lakeport Speedway where they assembled to join in a tribute to fallen drivers, crew members and officials. Rick Rose took the track in Bob Neilson”s No. 3 super modified carrying an original checkered flag of former flagman Donn Marschall, of Kelseyville. Martha Rose read the names of the fallen as all the attendees paid their respects. Following the reading, Rick Rose warmed-up the track with a hot lap session to finish the day.
