Another Racer Passes on: Jim MCLennan of Fremont and Champion Raceway.

[Brock Samson]

i owe him a debt of gratitude as i cut my teeth on his 1/8 and 1/4 mile tracks.. 
i hope he cut a good light on his way up.. 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/11/MNMCLENNAN36.DTL&hw=mission+bay&sn=012&sc=472



 

MCLENNAN, Jim

Sunday, February 11, 2007

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Jim McLennan Drag Racing Pioneer At rest on February 9, 2007 at the age of 74. Beloved husband of Dorothy McLennan of 53 years. Loving father of Bob McLennan, Sandy Stratton and Mike McLennan. Jim is survived by his brother Bob McLennan and sisters, Peggy McDevitt and Marie Marshall. Cherished grandfather of Angela, JJ, Casey, Adam, Brandon, Carter and Brooke. He is also survived by his daughters-in-law, Kim McLennan and Patty McLennan; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Jim McLennan was born in Chicago and moved to San Francisco in 1942. Jim graduated from Balboa High School in San Francisco in 1950. Jim McLennan started Champion Speed Shop in South San Francisco/Colma in 1957. He started the business as a performance speed shop on El Camino Real specializing in helping hot rodders get quality speed parts. After the business became more successful it was moved to its larger location on Old Mission Road. Jim campaigned the legendary Champion Speed Shop Top Fuel Car from 1958 to 1963. Jim was one of the most successful small block Chevrolet racers in that time. The car's best year was in 1961 when it held the Drag News #2 position for over 10 months. Jim was one of drag racing's pioneers. He was one of the first drivers to wear a fire suit (a proximity suit borrowed from the San Francisco Airport) and one of the first cars to use a parachute to slow the car down. During his driving and car building career, he was not only involved as a racer but as a race track promoter as well. In 1957 he opened Half Moon Bay Drag Strip and Cotati Drag Strip. Half Moon Bay was known for its speed records because of its sea level location. In 1963 he opened Champion Speedway, a 1/2 mile oval track across from Candlestick Park in San Francisco. In 1973 a NHRA (National Hot Rod Assoc.) sanctioned 1/8 mile Drag strip was added to the facility. Jim took over the ownership of Fremont Drag Strip in 1967. Fremont Drag Strip had national recognition as one most racer friendly Drag Strips in the country. The who's who of the Drag Racing world would race at Jim's tracks. In 1985 Jim and his sons, Bob and Michael were instrumental in resurrecting the nostalgia drag racing scene. With the help of Roy Brizio, Jim recreated the two popular Champion Speed Shop cars, the twin engine Chevrolet car driven by Michael McLennan and the Kent Fuller car, driven by Sammy Hale. The Champion Cars are still major players in front engine top fuel racing. In 1969 Jim was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Writers' Hall Of Fame by the Chronicle's Gordon Martin. In 1993 Jim was elected into the National Hot Rod Associations Hall of fame. Jim is being inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Farce in March, 2007 in Florida. Google information: Jim McLennan, Drag Racer. Family and Friends may visit on Wednesday after 5:30 PM, and attend the Vigil Service also on Wednesday at 7:00 PM, and the Funeral on Thursday at 10:30 AM, from the chapels of VALENTE MARINI PERATA & CO., 4840 Mission St.; thence to Church of the Epiphany where an 11:00 AM Funeral Mass will be celebrated. Committal to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim's memory to the American Diabetes Association.

[Brock Samson]

i spotted and am correcting the typo at the bottom..

[John_Kunkel]

I remember Jim, I used to run at Cotati, Half Moon and Fremont.

Bon Voyage