Peoria Oldtimers Racing Club

2009 marks my 25th year of racing, highlights have been me and my wife, Vickie both winning state championships. Now to get Brad Jr one!

MY NAME IS JASON  AND HAVE LOVED RACING FOR A LONG TIME MY GRANDPA RACED AND HE GOT ME IN TO IT.AND NOW I DO IT MYSELF AND ALSO BIULD THEM

Raced from 1970 to about 1976 and very limited after that until 1981.  I could only run on Saturday/Sunday due to job responsibilities.  I ran at Peoria, East Moline, Freeport, Champaign, Springfield fairground, and a couple of other tracks.

As a driver/owner I had to start giving it up in the mid 70's when the manufactured chassis started taking over due to the escalating costs to a single owner.

I have got to say though when I started racing in 1970 I had one of the best pit crews anyone could have.  It was made up of George Hall, JJ Janovetz, Chuck Duncan, Mike Crowley, and later Clay Parker and Don Copple and some others.  We never gave the pit crew enough recognition in those days.  without those guys the car would never have been ready.

Chuck Hurn  #71

I've lived all over the country and nobody races like we do back in the Midwest!

My father was Vance "Doc" Cramer. He was the nurse at the Peoria Speedway for more years than I can remember. After he retired from Pabst Brewing Company he came back to the Speedway and worked the Pit Gate. He even brought my daughter, katie, the love of his life, with him on Saturday nights.  Being aroud all the drivers, mostly new ones, was a thrill for him. He had many friends at the Speedway. They all use to go to the Pig and Whistle on Farmington Road after the races. My father also saw his share of injuries at the track. Not to mention breaking up fights. The Strube boys would get into it with a Shannon or Bolander and here would come dad to break it all up. At the end of the evening all would be friends again. Boys will be boys.  I grew up on dirt track racing and loved it. I remember that dad had a picture of me sitting in Ed Bolen's car. I had many checkerd flags in my room. Drivers would give me one if they won more than one race. Dad used to have his "whites" cleaned and pressed before each race. Not that he came home with them white. I felt sorry for his poor dry cleaner. He took pride in his job as the track nurse.  

I remember when the Kickapoo Creek flooded and they had boats in the infield. And all the damage that the water did to the track. Things were never the same at the track after that.

Doc passed away on August 2,2001 at 12:52 pm. He suffered for many years with emphasymia, conjestive heart failure and COPD. He went to sleep one day in the hospital and never woke up again. It was the saddest day of my life. My father was everything to me. He was a father but he was also my friend. Doc lived with me for over 15yr when he became sick. never once did I regret taking care of him.

I will never forget the day my daughter was born and the joy that my father had on his face. He loved her so much. She was and still is a tom-boy. Or as Doc called her Wiggleworm. (Poor kid) My oldest grandson Zachary was born at 12:52pm. Different month, day and year from when dad passed away. So weird, when I heard the time I just collapsed. Doc was definately there when his first great grandson was born. And Zachary is alot like Doc. My  poor daughter. No she loves haveing her son like her grandfather.

Just a huge fan who loves watching and racing.