ok ... here goes ...

On the Outside of Weaver ..... in the 41m .... out of Winton .... Dan Baldridge Jr.

In the Circle 10, out of Seaside, Tim Williamson

Out side of Williamson, it could be the 6m of "Mr. Dirt Track" Vern Willhoite (not sure of spelling) ... but, white w/blue was pretty common.  Need someone who knows the top wing to make that call.



and starting in the 6th spot looks like the #7 of Steitz, and fast cars started in back for heat races and that is a heat getting lined up (track is wet, sky has light, stands still have a few seats open -- they would all be filled if it were main event time ... but, I don't recall that car paint style ... he was always Red with rainbow tape numbers in my memory.  So, I don't want to guess on that one yet.

Where is that photo from? Great crowd

R.Denman14 wrote on 09/18/10 at 7:56pm:

Merced. Sounds like the crowd and cars are comin' back there..........

I can't get to my old programs but here's an early Limited Sportsman driver roster from memory:
(1) Jerry Cecil
1M Dennis Moomjean
(2) Dave McCurley
(3) Roy Pruett
(4) Art Lacost
4M Vern Whillhoite
(5) Phil Mingus
(6) Roger Van Dusen
(7) Buster Tara
7M George Steitz
8M Rod Poor
(9) Vic Irvan
(10) Tim Williamson
(11) Bob Hedrick
(12) Bill Orr
(13) "Okie" Art Eaton (winner of first EVER main at Watsonville)
(14) Bill White
(15) Allen Roqet
16M Jerry Holzer (my all time favorite sportsman)
(17) Billy Syphers
(18) Fred Wacaser
(19) Cecil Irvan
20M Scoop Davis
(22) Dewane Blunt
(25) Robbie Robinson
25M Ralph Arnold
(27) Harold "squeaky" Davis
(28) Tim Etichison Sr.
(29) Don Pylant
35 Ken Amaya
(37) Terry Chalker
(38) Dan Kienetz
38M Dallas Bache (sp?)
(39) Mike Small
41M Dan Baldridge
(42) Lloyd Beard
(43) "Little" Leroy Gentry
(45) Gary Ponzini
(47) Newton Sparks
47J Ferrell Jones
(50) Frank Cunningham
(51) Dick Arquette (won 1967 Gold Cup at Watsonville)
51C Jack Kistler (The Cllickin' Six)
(57) Eugene Johnson ( J. Cecil won the Gold Cup in this Car)
(58) Glen Bonnema
(59) Ronnie "Boom Boom" Yetter
60  Butch Bishop
(60) Ruben Reeder
(61) Roy Large
(62) Lloyd Keldsen Sr.
(66) Ace Bradford
66M David "Here Come da Judge" Chesia
(67) Chuck Ferguson
(68) Steve Ferguson
(69) Carl Jackson
(71) John Machado
(74) Bob Allen
(75) Bob Gress/Wayne Bookamyer
77M Sam Huff
(80) "Won't you come home" Joe Bailey
(85) Roger Van Dusen
(86) Mike Wahlen
(88) Bob Allen
95  Joe Rolleto
96  Ray Elder
(97) Ron Gravelle
(98) Carl Jackson
(100) Howard Hatch
(122) Cliff Dunn "The Irish Knight"
I obviously missed some as Watsonville was my home track so anyone wanting to add feel free

How could I forget:
2A J.D. "You betcha'" Willis
45 Tom "The Rabbit" Abreau
107 "The Mighty Mite" Gary Pacheco

#4m Vern Whillhoite, 1969 Chevelle, Merced Speedway

dave_lewis wrote on 09/19/10 at 8:45am:

WOW Dave,I did not know that. That's TOO COOL!! IMO, one of the main reasons that Stockton 99 Speedway continues to draw large crowds is that they embrace the history of that wonderful ol' track.
(along with the fact that they have excellent PROMOTERS) I don't see any other track doing that. I know that when you were at Watsonville a Hall of Fame was started but has not been carried on with. John at Merced has a great shot to do so and I hope he at some point takes that path. That's one of the reasons that car count and fan base remains strong out here. Fathers coming to their local track with Grandpa and the kids in tow. It's a Generation thing
Speaking of history, there were 17 Vintage Supers and a like amount of Steel bodied Hardtops at Roseville this weekend for the All American Vintage Classic. I believe those were the biggest fields ever for that event. For those who haven't seen it, here is the link to the 99 Speedway history site
http://www.stockton99speedway.com/Hist/HistINDEX.html

P.S. Good car count for you guys at Perris. Things are lookin' up.......

Tom was #15M
Dallas brother was Doug

Vern was #4M (dang it)

#25M was Rapid Rod Poor