"Mr. C.R.A." Walt James, passed away at home in Acton, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2009.
Walt was the Founder and President of the California Racing Association for 21 years - 1950 - 1970. Walt and friends revived the W.R.A. as a vintage racing group in 1982 and Walt served as the President. Walt was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. Walt was the older brother of Indianapolis 500 driver Joe James, who was killed in a racing accident in 1952.
After leaving the C.R.A. Walt built the Indian Dunes Off Road Park which also served as a movie back drop (it was the main setting for Baa Baa Black Sheep).
Walt was a lead bombardier/navigator on a B-17 bomber during WWII and flew 26 missions out of England. Walt left the service as a Captain and remained active in the Air Force Reserve.
Walt is survived by his wife of better than 50 years, Dottie (who is the daughter of famed car owner Warren Wickham), son Lee and his wife Lori and daughters Wendy and her husband Bobby and Vicki James, 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Walt will forever be remembered for his quick smile, fascinating racing stories, his quick wit and his amazing leadership in racing down through the decades.∼Walter Pavy James, Jr. (1923-2009) was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. Walter was a lead bombardier/navigator in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and flew 26 missions based out of England. He came to California at age 16 with a paternal uncle and his father, brother, sister, and aunt soon followed. His father, sister, and aunt would later return to the south. Walter promoted car races across the country and was the President of CRA (California Racing Association) for 21 years before resigning to build Indian Dunes, a 600 acre motorcycle park in Saugus, California. He remained active in the racing world until his death, including being an active and founding member of the WRA (Western Racing Association.) He last ran his vintage sprint car "race" at the young age of 86. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, among countless other honors.
Walt was the Founder and President of the California Racing Association for 21 years - 1950 - 1970. Walt and friends revived the W.R.A. as a vintage racing group in 1982 and Walt served as the President. Walt was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. Walt was the older brother of Indianapolis 500 driver Joe James, who was killed in a racing accident in 1952.
After leaving the C.R.A. Walt built the Indian Dunes Off Road Park which also served as a movie back drop (it was the main setting for Baa Baa Black Sheep).
Walt was a lead bombardier/navigator on a B-17 bomber during WWII and flew 26 missions out of England. Walt left the service as a Captain and remained active in the Air Force Reserve.
Walt is survived by his wife of better than 50 years, Dottie (who is the daughter of famed car owner Warren Wickham), son Lee and his wife Lori and daughters Wendy and her husband Bobby and Vicki James, 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Walt will forever be remembered for his quick smile, fascinating racing stories, his quick wit and his amazing leadership in racing down through the decades.∼Walter Pavy James, Jr. (1923-2009) was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. Walter was a lead bombardier/navigator in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and flew 26 missions based out of England. He came to California at age 16 with a paternal uncle and his father, brother, sister, and aunt soon followed. His father, sister, and aunt would later return to the south. Walter promoted car races across the country and was the President of CRA (California Racing Association) for 21 years before resigning to build Indian Dunes, a 600 acre motorcycle park in Saugus, California. He remained active in the racing world until his death, including being an active and founding member of the WRA (Western Racing Association.) He last ran his vintage sprint car "race" at the young age of 86. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, among countless other honors.
"Mr. C.R.A." Walt James, passed away at home in Acton, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2009.
Walt was the Founder and President of the California Racing Association for 21 years - 1950 - 1970. Walt and friends revived the W.R.A. as a vintage racing group in 1982 and Walt served as the President. Walt was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. Walt was the older brother of Indianapolis 500 driver Joe James, who was killed in a racing accident in 1952.
After leaving the C.R.A. Walt built the Indian Dunes Off Road Park which also served as a movie back drop (it was the main setting for Baa Baa Black Sheep).
Walt was a lead bombardier/navigator on a B-17 bomber during WWII and flew 26 missions out of England. Walt left the service as a Captain and remained active in the Air Force Reserve.
Walt is survived by his wife of better than 50 years, Dottie (who is the daughter of famed car owner Warren Wickham), son Lee and his wife Lori and daughters Wendy and her husband Bobby and Vicki James, 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Walt will forever be remembered for his quick smile, fascinating racing stories, his quick wit and his amazing leadership in racing down through the decades.∼Walter Pavy James, Jr. (1923-2009) was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. Walter was a lead bombardier/navigator in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and flew 26 missions based out of England. He came to California at age 16 with a paternal uncle and his father, brother, sister, and aunt soon followed. His father, sister, and aunt would later return to the south. Walter promoted car races across the country and was the President of CRA (California Racing Association) for 21 years before resigning to build Indian Dunes, a 600 acre motorcycle park in Saugus, California. He remained active in the racing world until his death, including being an active and founding member of the WRA (Western Racing Association.) He last ran his vintage sprint car "race" at the young age of 86. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, among countless other honors.
Walt was the Founder and President of the California Racing Association for 21 years - 1950 - 1970. Walt and friends revived the W.R.A. as a vintage racing group in 1982 and Walt served as the President. Walt was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. Walt was the older brother of Indianapolis 500 driver Joe James, who was killed in a racing accident in 1952.
After leaving the C.R.A. Walt built the Indian Dunes Off Road Park which also served as a movie back drop (it was the main setting for Baa Baa Black Sheep).
Walt was a lead bombardier/navigator on a B-17 bomber during WWII and flew 26 missions out of England. Walt left the service as a Captain and remained active in the Air Force Reserve.
Walt is survived by his wife of better than 50 years, Dottie (who is the daughter of famed car owner Warren Wickham), son Lee and his wife Lori and daughters Wendy and her husband Bobby and Vicki James, 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Walt will forever be remembered for his quick smile, fascinating racing stories, his quick wit and his amazing leadership in racing down through the decades.∼Walter Pavy James, Jr. (1923-2009) was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. Walter was a lead bombardier/navigator in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and flew 26 missions based out of England. He came to California at age 16 with a paternal uncle and his father, brother, sister, and aunt soon followed. His father, sister, and aunt would later return to the south. Walter promoted car races across the country and was the President of CRA (California Racing Association) for 21 years before resigning to build Indian Dunes, a 600 acre motorcycle park in Saugus, California. He remained active in the racing world until his death, including being an active and founding member of the WRA (Western Racing Association.) He last ran his vintage sprint car "race" at the young age of 86. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame, among countless other honors.
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