The family requests that you make a donation to the "Make-A-Wish Foundation" in memory of "Jim and Mary Booth" in lieu of remembering Jim with flowers.  If you would like to acknowledge your donation with a card, the address to send it to is:
Booth Remembrance, 36814 Cherry St., Apt. 216, Newark, Ca. 94560
Jim "Grumpy" Booth
Rest In Peace
October 19, 1939 - January 26, 2005
     
PLEASE WAIT WHILE PAGE LOADS...  LOTS OF PHOTOS
January 26, 2005


Jim lost his life Wednesday night from gunfire meant for someone else police say. We all lost a dear friend.

Linda & I first met Jim & his wife, Mary, around 1979 while he was running stock cars on the NASCAR short track circuit. When Baylands Raceway Park opened, Jim was one of the first stock car champions there. Jim soon moved into the open wheel ranks when he ran a super modified in the track's new 360 class. Jim turned to sprint cars a year later and convinced Linda & I we should, too--a move we've never regretted.

Jim was one of the first to discover a new group of self- starting, carbureted, open wheel cars that had eastern modified bodies on them. The Northern California Modified Assoc' or NCMA as it's known as was a group Jim ran with from 1989-1998, even serving as club president for 3 years.
In 1999, Jim was a big influence in the starting of Antioch Speedway's Wingless Spec Sprint class (WSS). He ran a few races before selling his car in order to help care for his wife, Mary, who was battling health problems. A year later Mary passed away, leaving a big void in Jim's life.

Jim tried midget racing in 2002-2003 with BCRA. On a trip to Sunset Speedway in Banks, Oregon, Jim saw a vintage hardtop group that caught his attention. Jim sold the midget and got a hold of an old sedan hardtop with a flathead motor in it. He had plans on running it in 2005

Plans that changed forever by a gunman's bullets. Jim was the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back. He would always help you if he could. On the other hand, he was also one you didn't want pissed at you. If he had a problem with you, you knew it, period. But those moments didn't last long.

My last conversation with Jim was 3 nights ago. He had just signed the papers on his new home in Nevada and was looking forward to loading up the hardtop and heading east. It still hasn't fully hit me yet that I'll never get to turn another lap on a race track with Jim. It probability won't hit, either, till the first lap of the season--when it does that first lap's for Jim.


God Speed Old Friend

The family requests that you make a donation to the "Make-A-Wish Foundation" in memory of "Jim and Mary Booth" in lieu of remembering Jim with flowers.  If you would like to acknowledge your donation with a card, the address to send it to is:
Booth Remembrance, 36814 Cherry St., Apt. 216, Newark, Ca. 94560
This photo was taken up at Banks Or. in 2002 with Mike McCann, Ken Bonnema, myself and others gathered around one of the old hardtops that ran that night. Jim, Ken, Desi Bray and I towed up there for an open comp midget show with the NOMA Midget group. This hardtop is the one Jim owned at the time of his death.
Jim at speed in an early San Jose Speedway shot.
Another one of Jim's early pavement stockcars.
Another shot of Jim at Baylands Raceway Park.
Jim in his RB Auto sponsored stockcar at Baylands Raceway Park.
Jim's super modified he ran with the 360 sprint class at  Baylands Raceway Park.
Jim running with Jim Berryhill during an NCMA main event in the early 90's.
Jim in NCMA action at Antioch Speedway.
Jim's NCMA car ready for action.
Jim packing track at Placerville Speedway in his NCMA car.
Jim's last open wheel car was this Pontiac powered Ellis chassis. He ran it with BCRA.
Jim picks up his trophy for his dash win at Baylands Raceway Park. This was the year he won the championship.
Here's a few photos of Jim from his years of racing...gone but never forgotten.
Here's one of our favorite photos showing Jim with that big smile he had in the car as his camera shy wife Mary sits on the lr tire before a main event. In our sorrow comes the fact that we know they are together again.
Jim and Del Quinn run wheel to wheel during an NCMA heat at Antioch Speedway
Thanks to Jim's family and M&M Photos for the use of these photos for this page for Jim.