100 Year + - Ventura Motorsports Gathering

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I N T E R V I E W BREAKING LOCAL SPEED LIMITS Cory Kruseman’s Sprint Car and Midget Driving School at the Ventura Raceway Cory Kruseman is smiling. And why not? He’s on the verge of history: The “Kruser” is just 13 wins shy of overtaking legendary driver Dean Thompson as the winningest open wheel sprint car racer of all time. At just 38, Kruseman has his own sprint and midget car driving school -- the only official school of the United States Auto Club -- and a spacious garage full of toys and tools. His wife Carri, his high school sweetheart, just started her own pet kennel business and the couple have a precocious 8-year-old daughter, Casey. “I live a charmed life,” says Kruseman, who started racing a quarter century ago at a fresh-faced 13 and still has the fire inside to buckle in for 40 to 50 races a year. It would be fitting if the Ventura native and former member of Tony Stewart Racing set the record at Ventura Raceway, the venerable hometown dirt track where his racing career started. It’s still his favorite. This from a guy who has burned rubber on tracks all over the world, from Paris to Australia. The raceway is also home to the Cory Kruseman’s Sprint Car and Midget Driving School. He gives credit to the raceway’s longtime owner, Jim Naylor, who doubles as track announcer. “There is not a better dirt track out there,” Kruseman says of the 1/5-mile, high banked clay oval at Seaside Park at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. “It’s a technical track. The surface is nice. The amenities are top notch. And Jim cares about the racers. He cares about the fans.” Kruseman cares about winning, and always has. He won his first race at 14. In a go-kart. In the third race he ever entered. After graduating Buena High School in 1989, Kruseman moved from go-karts and stock cars to USAC Three Quarter Midgets. In less than six years, he earned such titles as Non Winged World Champion, Chili Bowl Champion, Western States Dirt Track Champion, ESPN Points Series Winner, TQ Midget Fall Nationals Champion and set numerous records, some of which still stand. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he traveled to Paris for the “Le Midget Grand Prix,” competed in the Australian Grand Prix, launched his illustrious sprint car career, and participated in his first IRL race at Texas Motor Speed- 10 way, where he clocked in at 219 mph. It remains the fastest speed he’s ever reached. As for his proudest accomplishments, he points to his major wins — he’s won the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. twice — but most of all he appreciates being respected in the sport. During one stretch, he was selected most popular driver six years in a row. “That meant a lot,” he says. While race cars have brought some of his greatest highs, they’ve also brought pain. His father was killed in a race car accident in El Centro when Kruseman was a teenager. It was traumatic, but didn’t deter the youngster from following his father’s footsteps. At the time, being around tracks was familiar, and it was where his family and friends were. “For some reason, I decided racing was something that I needed to do. I wanted to be behind the wheel.” Later, in 1995, on a mile course in Sacramento, he was racing a midget when it flipped 14 times, shattering several of his bones. Walking away from Tony Stewart wasn’t easy, either. He described the NASCAR great as a stellar boss who treated everyone with respect. But it came down to his addiction to dirt tracks and his family. He had spent less than 70 nights in his own bed that year. He couldn’t afford to bring his wife and daughter with him on the road. And he felt he couldn’t afford to miss any more time being away from them. “It was a good decision for me,” he recalls. “If I looked back and had anything to change, I would not change anything.” Kruseman’s latest venture is actually a return to his roots. This year he added go-kart classes, one of the more affordable forms of racing, to his school, which serves about 400 students annually, many who cross oceans to get there. Even for a guy who has made a living flinging 870-hp sprint cars on bullrings around the country, driving karts never gets old. “My karting days were some most of the most fun I’ve ever had racing,” Kruseman says. He still competes in karts, often against his students. “Some of today’s best drivers got their start in karting and it’s one of the best training tools you can run.” So how long will he keep racing? “Until I quit having fun, I guess,” he says, again breaking into a smile. “I have the best wife in the world and a beautiful daughter. As long as I stay competitive and as long as my family support is there, I will stay at it. My desire for winning has been everything. But I also feel like I have a lot to share.”
Roy Charles 1996 Porsche 911 Porsche Carrera GT2 aero package, custom stereo system, custom interior and much more. PCA-SBR member. Tom Egidi 1993 Porsche RS America The RS America is a lightened, limited edition, performance version of the venerable Porsche 911 Carrera. According to Porsche it was developed to both commemorate the 20th anniversary of and capture the spirit of the original Porsche 911 RS. It is distinguished from a standard Carrera of the day by lacking many of the usual luxury features, fitted with the sport suspension from a 911 C2 Turbo, as well as upgraded struts, stiffer front stabilizer bar and 17inch wheels. This all original example is #437 of only 701 produced for model years 1993 and 1994 for export to North America. For more information on this model visit: rsamerica.net Susan Grasso 1964 Porsche 356 C Originally a California car this 1964 Porsche 356C sunroof coupe was restored as per the factory build sheet in Ivory and red leather. GERMAN 11 Sam Grasso 1971 Porsche 911S We are the second owner of this 1971 Porsche 911S. The car has not been restored and is complete with “S” options including Recaro sport seats, aluminum engine cover, etc. The car is finished in Metallic Silver over a black interior. Mike Hernandez 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SL BEAUTIFUL, all original 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SL. One of the nicest 450SL’s around. Original California car, owned by the original owner up until recently. This car has very low miles, and has records supporting this. The car is completely original inside and out! The paint and body are in excellent condition and the interior is absolutely like new! The carpets, seat, dash and door panels are in pristine condition. This SL also has both tops. The original owner took excellent care of this car. Mechanically, the car needs nothing at all - it runs and drives as good as the day it rolled off of the showroom floor.
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Page 4 and 5: TABLE OF CONTENTS Credits 1 2 Presi
Page 6 and 7: Welcome, Automobile Enthusiasts! Th
Page 8 and 9: Jeff Gean 1968 Chevy Corvette 1968
Page 10 and 11: Santa Rosa Valley, Calif. resident
Page 12 and 13: Greg Ashe 1971 Jaguar E-Type Series
Page 16 and 17: I N T E R V I E W Ernie Nagamatsu O
Page 18 and 19: Ernie Nagamatsu 1955 Porsche 356 Sp
Page 20 and 21: Ron Avery 2003 Maserati Coupe GT 19
Page 22 and 23: Jim Oldham 1988 328 GTSI Pinin Fari
Page 24: Richard Glass ad 6-10-09:Layout 1 6
Page 31 and 32: REBUILDING A PIECE OF HISTORY Bill

100 Year + - Ventura Motorsports Gathering

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