The Canadian American Modified Racing Association. 1963 – 1984

By Stan Fuller.  Idaho Historical Racing Society Historian. June 2010

Open wheeled Super Modified Circuit of the Northwest and Western Canada

Formation Time Line:

September 18, 1962 Announcement of all modified association in the Pacific Northwest area.
October 6, 1962 Meeting held in Portland Oregon, a total of 11 associations attended. Rules were setup for two years.
January 18,19, 1963 Final meeting held in Spokane Washington. C.A.M.R.A. officially formed January 19, 1963.
First executives were:
President,                   Bill Crow, Boise, Idaho
Vice-President            Emil Meldau, Edmonton Alberta
Secretary                     Don MacKay, Vancouver, BC
Recording Secretary    Sally Gorder, Spokane WA. 
First Race to be held at Nanaimo, B.C May 17, 1963

8 Original tracks:
Salt Lake City Fairground Speedway, Meridian Idaho Speedway, Seattle WA, Spokane WA. Grandview Bowl Nanaimo BC, Western Speedway Victoria BC. Haney Speedway Vancouver BC, Edmonton Alberta.

Meridian Speedway annually hosted the Tater Cup and the Western States Championships. It also hosted the end of the season C.A.M.R.A Championship races on several occasions.

C.A.M.R.A The Road to Indy

The CAMRA circuit served as a stepping-stone towards Indy car racing.

Billy Foster: Victoria B.C  CAMRA Champion 1963, runner-up in 1964. Drove in the Indy 500 in 1965, 66. Best Finish @ Indy was a 17th. Was killed in a driving accident at Riverside International Raceway driving a USAC stock Car January 20th, 1967. Had 27 Indy car starts.
Jim Malloy: Denver CO. CAMRA Champion 1964, 65. Drove in the Indy 500 four times, 1968 through 1971. Best finish @ Indy was a 4th in 1971.  Was killed in a practice run at Indy, May 18th 1972. Had 61 Indy car starts.
Eldon Rasmussen: Edmonton Alberta. Runner-up in CAMRA 1965. Drove at the Indy 500 three times.  1975,77,79  Best finish @ Indy was a 13th. Had 23 Indy car starts.
Art Pollard: Medford Oregon.  Best in CAMRA, 7TH place 1964. Won the 1961 Western States Super Modified race of Champions. Won the 1961 Edmonton Gold Cup 200 Super Modified race. Drove in the Indy 500 Five times, 1967-1971, Best finish at Indy was an 8th place 1967. 77 Indy car starts, with 2 wins in 1969. Was killed in a practice run at Indy. May 12th, 1973.
Frank Weiss: Calgary Alberta, best in CAMRA, 3rd 1970. Failed to Qualify 3 times at Indy. Best Indy Car finish was a 7th at the Milwaukee Mile race August 1979.  Had 8 Indy car starts at other tracks.
Tom Sneva: Spokane WA. 1970 CAMRAChampion, 71-CAMRA runner-up. 18 starts at the Indy 500, Won the Indy 500 in 1983. 3 times won the pole @ the Indy 500. 13 total Indy car wins in 205 starts.
Jerry Sneva: Spokane WA. 1974 CAMRA Champion, 1973 CAMRA runner-up. Started the Indy 500 Five times; best finish at Indy was a 10th place in 1977. Had 28 Indy car starts.
Blaine Sneva: Spokane Wa. 1981 CAMRA champ, 84 runner up. Had one Indy car attempt at the Milwaukee Mile in 1979, did not qualify.
Jan Sneva: Spokane WA.  CAMRA Champ, 1983 & 1984. Tried to qualify for the Indy 500 three different years, did not qualify. Had 3 Indy car starts at other tracks from 1979-1982.
Davey Hamilton: Eagle Id.  Best in CAMRA points, 1982, 6th.  CAMRA rookie of the year 1981. Ten starts at the Indy 500, best finish at Indy 4th place in 1998, leading 3 laps.   51 career Indy car starts. Finished 2nd in IRL points 1996 season and 1998. Won Supermodified feature Copper World Classic 1989. Numerous super modified features wins and championships, also Midgets and Silver Crown cars.
Ken Hamilton: Boise Id.  Best in CAMRA points, 6th 1979.  Made two attempts to qualify at Indy, 1981, 82, did not qualify. Had 2 Indy car starts, one @ Riverside and the other @ Michigan. Five decade driving career. Numerous championships driving the famed Pink Lady Sprint car and Pink Lady roadster. Two-time winner of the Copper World Classic on the Phoenix Mile. 
Bob Gregg: Portland Or. Made one attempt at Indy, did not qualify. Had 3 Indy Car starts at other tracks.  1966 2nd in CAMRA points, 1968 2nd, 1972 2nd, 1964 & 65 3rd place in CAMRA points.
Bill Crow: Boise Id.  Best in CAMRA points, 1963 runner-up. Test-drove Indy car for Portland Or. Indy car owner Rolla Vollstedt at a Saturday night show at Meridian Speedway, early 70’s. Deal to get an Indy car ride never materialized. First Meridian Promoter. Elected First CAMRA President in 1963.
Mel Andrus: Salt Lake City Ut. CAMRA participant, Salt Lake City Super Modified Champion. Purchased a Lola T-142, ran it at Sears Point 1971 and Edmonton 1970, road courses, was killed in the Lola at Riverside Ca. International Raceway road course, May 17th 1971.
Cliff Hucul: Prince George BC.  1975 CAMRA runner-up, Started the Indy 500 three times, 1977-79, best Indy finish was 22nd. Total of 24 Indy car starts.
Dick Simon: Salt Lake City Ut. CAMRA participant, Salt Lake City Super Modified Champion, 17 times started the Indy 500, best finish at Indy 500 was a 6th in 1987. 193 Indy cars starts.
Randy Tolsma: Meridian Id. One attempt at Indy in 1996, did not qualify. Craftsman Truck Series had 107 starts, two wins and two poles. USAC sprint car champ, 4 times.

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