History of Bruce Walkup's No. 40 CRA SPRINT CAR
By noderel:
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This sprint car first raced in California Racing Assn. (CRA) in 1961. It appeared at 17 events, all but two at the half-mile clay Ascot Park in Gardena. The car builder is unknown to me and the engine cubic inches could not exceed 410 cu. in. by CRA rules. The No. 40 car made its CRA debut on 5/6/1961 @ Ascot as No. 72 with Jack Howard the owner/driver. Following are the results for the car in its initial season in CRA during 1961. Jack Howard drove it in all 17 events. CRA ran 31 races in 1961. I do not have any photos of the car. I looked page by page at the six CRA yearbooks I did from 1968 season to1976. I did not see any photos of the No. 40 sprinter in the yearbooks. The photo of the car you received from your source taken at Santa Maria had to be taken during the 5/31/64 or 7/26/64 CRA races there. (See how the car did in my summary below.)
(KEY: Details—Qualified ____in field of ___, Results in heat race, semi or main event)
5/6/61- Q 21 fastest in field of 45 cars. P. 2 in 6L H-2, P. 9 in 15 L semi.
5/13 Q 20 of 38 – did not race.
5/20 Q 22 of 37 P. 5 H-2, p. 5 IN 15 l semi.
6/ 3 Q 16 of 26 P. 3 H-2, P. 15 in 15-car 30-LMAIN EVENT (Did Not Finish)
6/10 Q 30 of 31 P. 8 in 15 L semi.
6/17 Q 18 of 29 did not race..
7/ 1 Q 16 of 33 “ “ “
7/ 8 Q 14 of 32 WON 7-car 6-L heat. In 14-car MAIN St'd 7, Fin 13-DNF.
7/15 Q 24 of 33 P. 3 H-1, P. 8 in 8-car 15 L semi.
7/29 Q 15 of 33 P. 5 in 7-car H-2, P. 7 in semi (DNF).
8/ 5 Q 27 of 34 did not race.
8/19 ??????????????????????? P. 2 in H-1, P. 4 in semi.
9/ 9 ??????????????????????? P.2 in H-1, P. 4 in semi, In 30 L MAIN EVENT St'd 11, Fin. 12- DNF.
9/23 ??????????????????????? St'd last in 50 L MAIN EVENT as Alternate & Fin 9th of 22 starters and was last car still running.
10/14 ??????????????????????? P. 5 in 6 L H-1, In 24 car 100 L GP St'd 5th and Fin. 12th of 14 cars running at finish (RAF).
ALL OF ABOVE EVENTS EXCEPT 9/30 and 10/1 WERE AT ASCOT PARK IN GARDENA.
9/30 @ 1/4-mi. dirt Tucson Spdwy – WON 5 L H-1, DNS main event.
10/ 1 @ 1/2 mi. dirt Manzanita Spdwy in Phoenix – In 25 L MAIN St'd 13 of 14, Fin. 12 as last car running.
IN FINAL CRA 1961 STANDINGS Jack Howard Chevy No. 72 finished 39th in car owner points with 44.5 pts. ... 77 car owners scored CRA pts. In those days CRA car owners usually used their earned owner pts position as their car number, except 13 was not used so 13 used 14, 14 used 15, etc. As 39th Jack Howard used No. 40 in 1962. Jack Howard (with 44.5 pts) ranked 42nd out of 83 drivers with 1961 CRA driver points.
1962 CRA SEASON RECORD FOR NO. 40 JACK HOWARD FAMILY CHEVY:
Car 40 was at 16 events @ 3 tracks as noted below – Jack Howard drove No. 40 at all 16 events. CRA ran 31 races in 1962.
3/10 El Centro 1/2 mi. dirt – Q 19 of 44 – P. 7 of 7 in H-2 L 2 spun out did not run semi.
3/25 Ascot Q 16 of 39 – did not race.
4/ 7 “ Q 28 of 39 - “ “ “
4/21 “ Q 23 of 44 – P6 of 7 in H-1 P. 2 spun out. - P. 4 in 14-car, 15 L semi.
5/ 5 “ Q 25 of 32 – P. 4 of 7 in 6 L H-1, P. 4 of 13 in 15 L semi.
5/12 “ Q 27 of 34 – WON 7 car, 6 L H-1, P. 2 of 18 in 15-L semi.
5/30 “ Q 28 of 35 – P. 4 10 L semi, was in P. 1 L 9 & spun into a spun car – DNS 100 L main as Alternate.
6/ 2 Clovis, CA 1/2 dirt Q 19 of 33 – P. 6 in 6 L H-2, did not run semi.
7/ 4 Ascot Q 29 of 39 – did not race.
7/14 “ Q 20 of 40 - “ “ “
8/11 “ Q 14 of 34 - P. 4 of 7 cars in 6 L H-3, In 30 L MAIN St'd 4, Fin. 11th.
8/18 “ Q 24 of 36 – DNS H-1 oil leak & out for night.
8/25 “ Q 22 of 36 - P. 2 of 7 in 6 L H-1, WON 17-car 15-L SEMI; in M-E St'd 15th as Alternate & Fin. 10th on the lead lap with 12 cars running at finish (RAF).
9/ 3 “ Q 17 of 36 – P 6 of 7 in H-1, spun into wall on bkst. - out for night.
9/15 “ Q 26 of 32 – did not race.
10/27 “ Q 31 of 45 – did not race.
Howard Family No. 40 Chevy scored 16 CRA points in 1962 & ranked 53rd of 80 cars with points. When No. 40 was not used by another car owner they kept No. 40 on their car for 1963.
Jack Howard scored 16 driver points and ranked 58th of 83 drivers with CRA points.
1963 CRA SEASON RECORD FOR NO. 40 HOWARD FAMILY CHEVY:
In 1963 Howard Family No. 40 was at only 12 of 29 CRA events. No. 40 ran only at Ascot Park in Gardena. Jack Howard was the driver at each event.
1/6/63 - DNQ in a field of 47. did not race.
4/13 - Q 12 of 40 - P. 5 of 7 cars in 6 L H-3, In 15-car, 30 L MAIN St'd 5, Fin. 11 of 12 cars RAF.
5/11 - Q 21 of 36 – WON 7-car, 6 L H-2 & led all way (LAW); P. 5 in 15-car, 15 L semi.
5/18 - Q 18 of 36 – P. 3 of 7 in 6 L H-2; P. 14 of 15 cars in 15 L semi (DNF).
5/30 - Q 14 of 38 – P. s5 of 7 cars in 6 L H-2, In 100 L MAIN St'd 14, Fin. 14 of 25 starters – out on
L 67 of 100. (mechanical).
6/12 - Q 32 of 35 – did not race.
6/26 - Q 22 of 38 – P.7 of 7 cars in H-1 (spun out and out for night).
7/ 4 - Q 14 of 44 – P. 6 of 7 cars in 6 L H-2, In 50 L MAIN St'd 11, Fin. 12 (down 1 L) of 15 cars RAF from starting field of 22 cars.
Wed. 8/14 Q 15 of 28 – P. 5 of 7 in 6 L H-2, P. 2 in 12 car, 15 L semi, Alternate starter in MAIN & St'd 15, Fin 7 of 7 cars RAF & down 1 L.
Wed. 8/21 Q 10 of 27 - P. 4 of 6 cars in 6 L, H-3. Did not race.
Wed. 9/11 Q 13 of 27 – P. 5 of 6 cars in 6 L H-2. Did not race.
Sat. 10/26 41 cars present. DNQ-car had “For Sale” sign on it.
Howard Family No. 40 Chevy scored 37 CRA points in 1963 and ranked 47th of 81 cars with points.
They elected to keep No. 40 on the car for 1964.
Jack Howard scored 37 points and ranked 45th of 87 drivers with CRA points.
1964 SEASON RECORD FOR NO. 40 CHEVY:
2/23/64 @ Ascot – car only on trailer with a “For Sale” sign on it.
Shortly thereafter the No. 40 car was sold to Vince Walkup (dad) and his CRA rookie driver son Bruce Walkup, age 19. They resided in Downey. They kept No. 40 on the dark blue car with white numbers. Harry Bell was listed as a co-owner. The sponsor name on the hood was “Peterson Auto Sales”. Bruce Walkup had the following results in No. 40:
4- 4 Ascot Q 33 of 33 – did not race.
4-25 “ Q 29 of 30 – did not race, broken rear end.
5/ 9 “ Q 18 of 2s4 – P. 5 of 6 in 6 L H-2, P. 10 of 12 cars in 15 L semi – DNF.
5/16 “ Q 11 of 26 – P. 5 of 6 in 6 L H-3 – DNF-out L 4 and done for night.
5/23 “ Q 28 of 29 – Hit turn 3 wall & loaded-up.
5/30 “ Q 25 of 32 – did not race.
5/31 @ Santa Maria 1/3 mi. dirt – Q 13 of 29 – P. 6 of 7 cars in 6 L H-3, In 30 L MAIN St'd 14, Fin 11 – out L 6. THIS WAS THE INITIAL RACE (Opening Night) @ DOUG FORT'S SANTA MARIA SPEEDWAY.
6/20 Manzanita Spd Phoenix 1/2 dirt – DNQ – P 6 of 7 in 5 L H-1,spun & hit by No. 61 – DNS semi.
7/11 San Bernardino 1/4 mi. paved – DNQ – P. 6 of 6 in 6 L H-2, did not race thereafter.
7/15 Ascot Q 20 of 32 – did not race.
7/22 “ Q 25 of 27 – Bruce WON his first race - 6 L H-1, leading L 2-6. Fin P. 11 of 14 cars in 15-lap semi, led first three laps-DNF.
7/26 Santa Maria 1/3 mi. Bruce set his FIRST FQ time in 19 car field, was P. 2 in 4-car 3 L TROPHY DASH, P. 5 of 6 in 6 L H-3, In 30-lap MAIN St'd 9 of 14, Fin 13-out L 12.
7/29 Ascot Q 11 of 28 – P. 6 of 6 H-3 (P. 1 L 2 & DNF). In 30 L MAIN St'd 6 & Fin. 13 of 15 – out L 12.
8/ 5 Ascot - Q 18 of 30 – P. 2 of 7 in 6 L H-2, P. 7 in 15 L semi (DNF).
8/12 “ - Q 13 of 30 – P. 7 in H-3 (DNF), In 30 L MAIN St'd 13, Fin. 10 as last of 14 starters still on track. Had a sour sounding engine.
8/15 Manzanita- Phoenix – Q 20 of 29 DNS any races. (engine).
9/ 2 Ascot - Q 22 of 34 – WON 6 L H-1, leading laps 3-6 in a 9-car field, P. 2 in 15 L semi, led first 10 laps in 12-car field, In MAIN, St'd 13 , Fin 10 (down 1 L) with 13 cars RAF.
9/ 5 Hanford 5/8 paved – Q 26 of 28 on sour engine – did not race.
Thereafter Bruce Walkup had shown enough talent to get an offer to drive the No. 39 Bart Welsh Chevy and he never raced his No. 40 initial sprint car ride again; Walkup and the Welsh No. 39 had main event finishes P. 3, 16, 16 and 18. CRA ran 36 races in 1964.
The Walkup No. 40 Chevy scored 28 CRA points in 1964 & ranked 56th of 91 cars with CRA points.
Bruce Walkup tallied 75 CRA points in two cars – his No. 40 & the Welsh No. 39. He ranked 37th of 94 drivers with CRA points and was named co-CRA most improved driver of the year with Mike Mosley, who also had a successful USAC National Sprints, Indy Car and Indy 500 career. (The 1964 CRA rookie of the year was US Army Sgt. Jimmy Miller, who later died heroically in Vietnam.)
NOTE: Walkup and Mosley both raced in the Indy 500. Walkup raced the 500 in 1969-70. Mosley raced in the Indy 500 15-times from 1968-83.
1965 CRA SEASON:
Bruce Walkup's No. 40 did not run in CRA after the 1964 season under Walkup ownership.
Bruce drove the Bart Welsh No. 15 had had about seven blown engines with it. He quit that ride and went to the established No. 4 C.B. “Pop” Miller Chevy. Bruce scored 248 CRA points and finished 12th out of 91 drivers with 1965 CRA driver points. CRA ran 31 races in 1965. At the CRA banquet Bruce was named CRA most improved driver of 1965.
1966: Walkup raced the No. 4 Leonard Surdam Chevy in CRA & won five CRA main events in it. He won three mains at the paved Whiteman track in Pacoima (including a 100 lap main) and two MAINS at Ascot, including the only Ascot CRA 200-lap feature ever run at Ascot (on Memorial Day). CRA ran 36 races in 1966. Walkup moved on to the USAC National Sprint car circuit and advanced steadily for several seasons. He also drove the USAC Champ Car (now Silver Crown) series. In 1967 at the Hoosier 100 on the Indy Fairgrounds dirt mile Bruce set a new track record in the Jim Robbins No. 27 Ford DOHC car and won the pole over second FQ Mario Andretti and third FQ A. J. Foyt. Bruce led the first 14 laps of that race which Mario won. I was on vacation with my brother and attended that memorable race in person.
My list of 1968 CRA sprint cars shows a No. 92 Vince Walkup Chevy that entered eight CRA events but score no points. I don't ;recall who their rookie driver was. My note says it was the Jack Howard No. 40 and Bruce Walkup No. 40 in 1964. It was idle for three years (1965-67).
The Walkup No. 40 car was idle from 1969 until the mid-1970s. I don't know when they sold it. You said the Mr. Fay B. Mooney car No. 80 was the ex-Walkup No. 40 sprint car. In 1974 there was a rookie driver named Jerry Mooney who had the No. 80 Mooney Chevy out one time and did not do much. Later in 1974 famous off-road racer Rick Mears, of Bakersfield, made his CRA sprint car debut at Ascot in the No. 80 Fay B. Mooney Chevy. It looked like the No. 40 Walkup car but no one mentioned that to me at the time. Rick did not race it much. However, his 4-years older brother Roger Mears might have tried it during practice in 1974. Roger Mears was a 1974 CRA rookie in the No. 21 sprint car. Roger raced in CRA more than Rick and was one of the top ten CRA rookies that season. The 1974 CRA rookie of the year was Bobby Olivero, who won a USAC Turkey Night Midget GP at Ascot and a 1978 Indianapolis 500 starter. Roger is a two-time Indy 500 starter (1982-83) and his brother Rick is a 15-time starter (1978-92) and four-time Indy 500 winner.
Fay B. Mooney owned a company in Bakersfield when he owned the No. 80. I understand he is now deceased and the company was sold. I don't know when or how the Nor Cal owner Ron Welty came to own the Mooney sprint car. But it appears the car you own from the ranks of NARC in 1976 is the same car that Jack Howard and Bruce Walkup drove as No. 40 and then Rick Mears drove as No. 80 for Mooney. So the sprint car you are restoring has has four prior owners and you are the fifth owner. I hope my information helps.
P.S-I have about six NARC Yearbooks but not the 1976 edition that you mentioned had several photos of the car you now own.
Tim Kennedy, Publicity Director
California Racing Association Sprint Car Series