The Midas Touch

For the last 50 years, the roar of engines and squealing tires has echoed through south Placer County. The All American Speedway at the Placer County Fairgrounds in Roseville celebrated its 50th anniversary season of racing Saturday night at the quarter-mile paved track.In 1955, Bruno Romani borrowed $5,000 from area businesses and convinced the fairgrounds to construct the track. Roseville Speedway, a quarter-mile dirt track, was born. It was first operated in part by the Roseville Volunteer Fire Department.At the end of the 1970 season, pavement was laid down that turned the speedway into what it is today.The track was named All American Speedway in honor of Roseville's 1963 title as an "All-American City." But throughout the track's history, the name has changed several times between Placer County Speedway and All American Speedway.In 1991, the track again became All American Speedway and has stayed under that name since.The speedway's trademark race became the "Rose Classic," which was held during March from 1975-1985 and again from 1991-1996. Rick Poppert, director of competition at the racetrack, remembers the event fondly."The Rose Classic was one of the premier races in California," Poppert said. "It was very tough just to make the field and the crowd was standing room only."In the first 10 years of the race, it attracted over 120 cars annually, with drivers competing for a $5,000 purse.Among those who competed are Poppert himself, and drivers who have competed in NASCAR Nextel Cup including Joe Ruttman, Ernie Irvan, Mike Skinner, and Mike Chase.Poppert finished as high as fifth in the prestigious race.The legacy created by the "Rose Classic" for producing and attracting top talent to the speedway has not changed since the track was paved.Bill McAnally, one of the most notable former champions at the track, won the championship in the inaugural 1990 season for the Pro Stock division.McAnally moved on to starting a championship winning NASCAR Grand National West team and has both driven and owned cars that have raced all over the western United States.According to McAnally, the fan support at the speedway is the best he's seen."We all had cheering sections that wore our colors and our t-shirts," McAnally said. "To this day I have never seen a group of fans with that level of participation."Jim Inglebright won two Pro Stock championships at the speedway and went on to success in the Craftsmen Trucks, Grand National West, Southwest Elite, and even the Nextel Cup series.Former Modified and Pro Stock drivers Eric Schmidt, Josh Bews, Harold Reiker, and Jim Courage Jr. now compete in tour late model racing in the SRL Wild West Shootout, the North State Challenge Series, and the Southwest Elite.Shannon Mansch recently announced a SRL Wild West Shootout ride as well. Mansch has competed in Mini Stocks, Pro-4s, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, and Late Models at the speedway."The speedway has been very instrumental towards my racing career. It has taught me the highs and lows of racing and how very hard it is to compete," Mansch said. "There is a lot to learn about racing and I truly feel it is a great place to race."Recently, All American Speedway took two steps that have allowed for more young and talented drivers to get into racing.With prices rising and car counts dwindling, the Pro Stock division was removed from the weekly program, and the lightweight, lower-cost Modifieds stepped in as the premier class. Not surprisingly, substantially larger car counts have followed.The other division that is opening doors for younger drivers is the California Mini Cup Racing Association "Young Guns." Drivers from ages 8-16 compete in 13 horsepower, half-scale NASCAR-type cars. Twenty-two cars have registered for 2005, including three driven by girls."It's great from a driver development standpoint," Poppert said. "What surprised me about these kids is that they aren't shy to go door-to-door (looking for sponsors)."Fairgrounds officials keep an eye on the future, with an emphasis on making improvements to the track to keep it competitive with other entertainment venues in the area.A recent $120,000 repaving project put a new, more competitive surface on the track."Rather than be happy with our current fan and car counts, I would like to keep improving the facility." Poppert said.Mansch predicts a long, bright future for the speedway."For the next 50 years, I can see it becoming a more popular place with lots of fans coming out to see their favorite driver race," Mansch said. "A lot of good drivers have come from there and I believe there is a lot more to come."