CRAZY WHEELS

12 Nov

The Wally ‘CRAZY WHEELS’ Baker Story

The Man, The Myth, The Legend

*Wally ‘Crazy Wheels’ Baker (left) Leroy ‘the Darting Dragon’ Vanconnet (right)*

Wally Baker passed away last week and at Rex Hutchison Racing Engines we’re deeply moved by that.

Most of us know him as ‘Crazy Wheels’. I was at Susan Gordon’s home a few years back working on a made for television documentary for her brother Jimmy Gordon. While I was there, Wally and I had a nice on camera interview and a bunch of memories and bench racing.

I asked Wally where he got the nick name ? He said it was a reporter that gave that to him.

I asked him who was the best driver he’d ever seen ? He told me the best driver he’s ever seen was Leroy Vanconnet.

A slice of irony is several years later, I asked Leroy Vanconnet the same question. Leroy said without a doubt Wally Baker was the best driver he’d ever seen.

Well, I saw both of them and they were that good.

When Sacramento drivers Jimmy Gordon, Ernie Purssell, and Walt Reiff were killed at the J.C. Agajainian Open Comp Sacramento Mile dirt race, it caused a cascade effect in the Sacramento racing community. Jimmy drove the number 98 Fasse Agajainian Champ car that fateful day and Jimmy’s Championship number 1 Super Modified was left without a driver. Jimmy was signed by Aggie to drive the 500 but Jimmy wanted one year to run the champ car circuit on dirt. The number 1 car had Johnny Brazil sit in it for the 1/2 mile open comp race at Capitol. Johnny lost control trying to qualify on the dirt and was nearly killed going completely through the fence in turn 1. The car was destroyed. Shortly there after a new car was built and numbered as 100 and had Larry Vickory sit in for a race until a bereaved Jack Gordon asked Wally to permanently take over the driving duties for the Legendary Capitol Speedway Super Modified. Crazy Wheels and Jimmy Gordon along with the rest of the Gordon Family were extremely close friends. Ironically non of us knew that because the two had a tremendous rivalry and fan base. This rivalry is why Capitol Speedway packed the stands to nearly 6,ooo fans every Saturday night.

There were many great stories about Wally ‘Crazy Wheels’ Baker but I’ll share my personal favorite.

It was of course a great main event at Capitol. Back in those days it was all about points for championships. No Bullshit playoffs or fast time starting in front crap. The more cars you past the more points you received and the person that scored the most points was CSRA Champion.

(California State Racing Association, For the California State Championship encompassing every racetrack in the state

As the story goes, Wally was starting from the back and driving like, ‘Crazy Wheels’. He moved a couple cars and was already midfield. Him an another car tangled up flipping and barrel rolling from turn 1 to the end of turn 2. The field was quickly red flagged. They flipped it off its lid and Wally jumped back in it and went to the back of the pack. Because of the red flag Wally was on the same lap. Hell, he’d had made it to midfield already.

After the restart ‘Crazy Wheels’ is again driving like, ‘Crazy Wheels’ and was passing cars in bunches. ‘Crazy Wheels’ is now passing 3 cars down the back shoot when one of the cars pulls out of line. ‘Crazy Wheels’ hits the left rear and sails through the air again in a cartwheel barrel roll combo. It was a spectacular crash worthy of dying. The race was red flagged again and ‘Crazy Wheels’ jumps out and brushed the heavy Capitol clay off himself. The ambulance people are arguing with Wally to get in the ambulance. Wally is furious and simply will not get in it. His race car is flipped back over onto its wheels. and what’s left of the top wing is just torn off. The dam car was all bent to hell the first time but now ‘Crazy Wheels’ jumps back in the racer and must lean over the steering wheel because the cage is crushed. Unbelievably they push started ‘Crazy Wheels’ and they let him take the green one more time and he’s still on the lead lap with a chance for points and the win !

*Car 100 Crazy Wheels driving the Jack Gordon Special, Car 555 Billy Sellers*

‘Crazy Wheels’ starts passing cars left and right. Moving cars like a dozer. Somehow ‘Crazy Wheels’ is in 5^th with 6 to go. Once again entering turn 2 he drives over a wheel and sails that Black 43 into another combo, cartwheel and barrel roll. As the race car landed and came to a stop this time it was on its wheels. All the officials were arguing he had to get in the ambulance. Wally simply would not get in the ambulance. In fact he tried to get in the car. The roll cage was torn off both ‘A’ pillars and Wally was yelling, “tear the cage off so I can finish the race.” At this point his crew and others wrestled him off the track.

When the car was towed by the grandstands the cage only had one ‘B’ pillar connecting the entire cage to the completely totaled out race car.

Wally ‘Crazy Wheels’ Baker got his name the old fashion way.

HE EARNED IT !

A couple quick stats to remind you just how good he was.

5 time CSRA Champion on the World’s Fastest Quarter Mile Sticky Icky Clay.

3 time runner up to the late Legendary Jimmy Gordon.

Never finishing below 3^rd for the CSRA Championship ten years straight.

Thank You Wally ‘Crazy Wheels’ Baker

Thank you for your bravery, your toughness and man how you could drive.

GOD’s Speed ‘Crazy Wheels’

Von Richards

Pictures supplied by Mary Sellers Family Collection

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November 19, 2024 at 9:38 am Log in to Reply

The Man, The Myth, The Legend forever. Wally ‘Crazy Wheels’ Baker.

CRAZY WHEELS

1 thought on “CRAZY WHEELS”

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