Chet Thomson

Chet was one of the early pioneers of racers at Antioch Speedway when the track first started. He raced the $99 claimer cars and for a long time he was the target of other drivers as he was the first to run a V8 motor. Because of that, he started at the back of most races in the 63 or 64 season. He was finally claimed, but he refused and lost all of his points that year, in which I believe he was the points leader. Chet won a total of six mains and later won a Vallejo speedway championship. His son owns a car in his memory that several drivers have driven the last few years and there is a memorial race in his name every year.