Rose’s fair win a family affair
When Karl Rose wheeled his way to victory in the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) Modified Stock Car feature during the Merced County Fair, it was his father’s sacrifices that first came to mind when he saw the checkered flag.
“Winning the Merced County Fair race helped us a lot – but mostly my dad, who is devoted to the car seven days a week,” Rose said. “Hopefully most of that big crowd knows how much effort he puts into this car.”
Karl works long hours installing stereo systems at his brother Eric’s Merced business. Both boys have been heavily involved racing stock cars at Merced and Chowchilla Speedways. It is their father, Tom, who keeps the team going.
“We really can’t afford to buy the parts necessary to maintain a race car,” says Tom Rose, a retired metal fabricator by trade. “I can make almost any part needed for the car as long as I have the raw materials.”
Tom Rose woks from a modest one-car garage in a tree-lined Merced neighborhood filled with families who have long been there.
“We have the tools necessary to do the job – including a milling machine and a sheet-metal brake,” Tom Rose points out.
“The only thing we can’t make is tires,” he adds.
Tires are a major factor in racing. Teams with money buy tires weekly. For the Roses, going to the prestigious Merced County Fair race with two-year-old tires was a gamble.
“We are hanging around in front of the pack for most of the races,” Tom Rose continues. “We go to the track with a ‘can do’ attitude.”
The “modified” feature during the fair was a one-caution race. Karl Rose, 30, burst into the front of the pack early. Later in the event, Alex Wilson of Salinas challenged him. Rose’s 23 years of racing – he started when he was 7 years old – gave him confidence.
“I caught a little bit of the back wall with my wheel, after I hit a slick spot,” he explained. “I had to hit the brakes a bit, and Alex caught up to me.”
The finish thrilled the fans, but most of all it kept the Rose car racing.
“The money we won will keep us going into August,” Karl Rose smiled. “And that’s only if we can maintain our current budget.”
Big race card before the break
Merced Speedway’s Saturday night program will feature the IMCA Modified and Sport Mods Divisions, as well as Valley Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, and Dwarf Cars.
Rick Diaz of Los Banos comes in this Saturday fresh off a Merced Fair win over rival Bruce “Bubba” Nelson in the IMCA SportMod division. Rookie Josh Hensley of Merced, who won last weekend’s SportMod feature at Chowchilla Speedway, has proven to be a top contender in the division.
The Valley Sportsman division will have more cars this weekend as Merced’s Mike Palmberg reports the group’s racers have been busy getting the retro-racers ready for Saturday. A large field of cars is expected for Saturday night’s event, as Merced Speedway will be dormant for two weeks, returning on July 12 with the Annual Ted Stofle Classic.
Merced Speedway is located inside the Merced County Fairgrounds, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Merced. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for children 6-12. A family four-pack of tickets admits two children and two adults for $32. Racing begins at 7 p.m. The grandstand opens at 5 p.m.
This story was originally published June 19, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Rose’s fair win a family affair."