January 2015 News Letter - Northern California Auto Racing Alumni

Preserving the History of Auto Racing in Northern California
Newsletter - January 2015
Anderson Speedway
Awards & Barbeque
L-R Duane Shoffner Fam., Chuck LaHorgue, Ron Atwell, Karl “Bubby’ Wininger, Laura Robinson Fam., Rex Clark Fam.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, Northern California Auto Racing Alumni held their 2014 Hall of Fame
Awards/Barbeque at the Shasta District Fairgrounds. New inductees were: Ron Atwell, Chuck
LaHorgue, Karl “Bubby” Wininger and Johnny Boyd . In addition, Gone But Not Forgotten plaques
were presented in memory of Laura Robinson & Duane Shoffner. The Lloyd Burton Founder’s Cup
was awarded to Rex Clark.
Ron Atwell enjoyed racing as an owner, driver, pitman and fan from 1964-2004. Over the years he
won 5 Championships in Late Model Stock Cars. He raced in Chico, Roseville, Santa Rosa, Eureka
and Anderson, Ca. He says, “Shasta Speedway was my favorite track. Racing was an important
part of my life, even with all the ups and downs it brought.”
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Chuck LaHorgue became involved in auto racing when he was 13. Both his parents and
grandparents on both sides of the family drove race cars, as well as both his sons. To Chuck, racing
has always been a “family affair.” In 1986, Chuck opened LaHorgue Metal Fabricating. His primary
business has always been motorsports fabrication. The business also does custom fabrication in
many fields. LaHorgue Race Cars has been at the forefront of auto racing on the West Coast. Cars
have always been original designs, not copies of other manufacturers. This has always allowed
Chuck to be innovative, keeping his cars ahead of the competition. LRC has built hundreds of race
cars, from Pro 4 mods to street stocks and modifiers, and late models culminating in over 50
championships from Eureka to Nashville and from Canada to Phoenix,, the majority of those
championships right here at Shasta Speedway.
Karl “Bubby” Wininger started racing in 1971, in a 1955 Buick he bought from Pappy Boyd. Prior
to that he was a crew member on Phil Corcoran’s Super Modified. Phil greatly appreciated the help,
except when Bubby would come over to his house when Phil was gone and clean up the garage.
Phil says he couldn’t find anything for 2 weeks after each garage cleaning. After a year in the Buick,
he built a ‘56 Chevy with help from his many friends. Finally, with a ‘57 Chevy he bought from Hal
Callantine, he began finishing higher and higher, finally winning a main event on June 30th, 1973.
Johnny Boyd- At the time of this writing, I have been unable to obtain info about Johnny Boyd.
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Gone But Not Forgotten
Laura Robinson was the premier scorekeeper in Northern California in the 1960s & ‘70s with
Valley Racing Incorporated, at Silver Dollar Speedway and Shasta Speedway. At this time, scoring
was done manually. You couldn’t argue with Laura about your finish, because she could show you
why you were wrong. Laura was instrumental in training future excellent scorekeepers Karen
Boeller, Carole Beckett, Debbie Cressey, Karen Heckman and others, thus beginning a legacy of
excellence in the scoring tower.
At age nine, Duane Shoffner learned to drive tractors, combines and farm machines on his
parents farm in Oklahoma. He like working with engines and cars all his life. Duane graduated
from Shasta High School in 1941. While in school, he and special friends Frank Tessier and Herb
Allen all loved cars and racing. For a number of years he worked for Nielsen Motor Company and
S.J. Denham Dealership. Eventually, he became his own boss at Shoffner Auto Sales on Eureka
Way and Pine Street in Redding. In 1950 he and his wife became interested in building a race
care. Like many racers of his time, he had a job during the day, and worked on the race car at
night in their home garage. A number of friends, along with partners Bud Houck and Stan Rouse,
helped build Car #11. Stan was the regular driver and Duane would drive special races. His wife
drove it in the Powder Puff Derby. The whole family lived for Saturday night and the races at
Anderson Speedway.
Founder’s Cup
Rex Clark moved to Redding in 1954 and soon became involved in Hardtop Racing at Shasta
Speedway as a crew member for Bud Pedigo. He then became a crew member and engine
builder for champions Jess Pursell and Bob Guthrie before starting his own racing career in the
Hobby Stock Class at Shasta Speedway where he was a many time main event winner. He
always finished in the top 5 in points. He was very much the consummate ‘car guy’ - building
motors for others, and Hot Rods and Lakesters for himself and friends throughout his lifetime.
Rex was a member of the Northern California Auto Racing Alumni. The members presented him
with the 2014 Lloyd Burton Founder’s Cup at his home in June, a few weeks before his death.
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Gone But Not Forgotten
Art Spaulding, well-known race photographer, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 1, 2014. He
was 66. Art was Inducted into the NCARA Hall of Fame in 2008. His daughter, Shelly Spaulding
Shepherd said, “You would never find him without a camera in his hand, His true passion was
spending Friday nights at dirk track racing events (taking picture of course).”
“Art took pictures of race cars since he was a young man. He was an endless well of information
and historical data relating to all forms of open wheel racing north of Sacramento," said Bobby
Garould, Editor of HammerDownUSA.com. “We knew Art for over thirty years, and can safely say
that he had the "racing jones" as bad as anyone we've known. If he was not snapping shots, Art
was talking racing or about the exploits of his kids, and grand-kids. Art loved being a race
photographer. With all the quality races held in Chico, Art amassed an open-wheel photo library
that is destined to be of great significance in tracing the history of racing in Northern California.
Many years ago, Art was kind enough to share some of his photos with us. He will be missed.”
Bill Schmitt passed away on November 8. 2014, at the age of 78. Bill started racing in the Super
Stock class at both Anderson Speedway and Silver Dollar Speedway around 1964, and was one
of the top drivers in his class. He was inducted into the NCARA Hall of Fame in 2008.
Whether it was as a businessman in his hometown of Redding, California or racing stock cars –
Bill Schmitt worked hard to be the best at whatever he did and gained a lot of respect along the
way. Bill was well-known as one of the leaders in the North State Logging industry in the 1980s
and was chosen Logger of the Year in 2007. Over the years he started or bought more than 2
dozen businesses , driving the majority to success. He won an amazing 4 NASCAR Winston West
Series Championships winning in 1977, 1979, 1989 and 1990. Bill also finished as the runner-up
in the championship standings six times. He was the winner of the first NASCAR sanctioned race
outside of the United States winning a 500-lapper at Calgary, Alberta Canada. He also competed
Melbourne, Australia for the first race NASCAR ever had off the North American Continent.
Schmitt was inducted into the Gatorade Circle of Champions in 1989.
NOTICE:
NCARA is searching for a 5th Wheel trailer to store and display our racing memorabilia at local
functions. We are hoping to find a trailer that is 28 ft. or longer and reasonably priced. If you know
of one that would fit our needs, please contact our President, “Butch” Schaefer, or Secretary,
Mary Burton.
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NCARA
Board of Directors
Butch Schaefer--President
Nick Porter--Vice President
Mary Burton--Treasurer
Bob Benefield--Board Member
Kenny Briggs--Board Member
Doug Bauer--Board Member
Lori Weber--Board Member
Jim Matson--Board Member
Bob Carrel--Board Member
Historian--Phil Corcoran
Northern California Auto Racing Alumni Association
Chico - Anderson
"Preserving the Past and Capturing the Future"
Our Mission Statement
The specific purpose for which the corporation is to be organized is to preserve the history and
future of circle track automobile racing on dirt and pavement raceways principally in the Anderson
and Chico, California areas through recognizing the race car drivers, teams, owners, officials and
fans that have been and will be associated with the sport in years to come. The mission of the
NCARA is to protect and preserve the history of the sport, capturing its future, to promote and
educate the general public of the sport and its significance in Northern California. This will be
achieved through the formation of a Hall of Fame, alumni appreciation and socialization, awards
recognition, creation of a museum to educate the public and the induction of future racing Hall of
Fame candidates.
For membership information call 530-221-3341
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