Valley Timing Association

A Valley Timing Association dash plaque. Photo provided by Steve Corgiat.

Valley Timing Association was a 350-man membership club that covered a 200-mile radius from Stockton where the group was based. Their meets were held down south at El Mirage and up north in Reno.

In May of 1950, the VTA sanctioned its first-ever time trials at the Rosemond Dry Lakes near Lancaster, California. The meet was a collaborative effort involving eight different auto clubs, including the Modesto Century Toppers. Erwin Lee of the Century Toppers served as the lake boss for the event. All participating clubs helped run the meet by contributing to various duties such as timing, safety, patrol, parking lot coordination, and setting up clocks and phone communications across the lake.

Albert Del Porto of Stockton recorded the highest speed of the meet, clocking in at 125 mph. Erwin Lee followed with a second-place speed of 122.86 mph. The event aimed to promote racing on dry lakes as a safer alternative to speeding on highways.<ref name="tmb">

VTA Clubs

Stockton Central Valley
Stockton Franklin Syndicate
Stockton Mid-Cal
Stockton Pace Setters
Stockton Auto
Sacramento Thunderbolts
Sacramento Torquers
Hayward Head Hunters
Westside Auto Club of Newman
Oakdale Foot Hill Flyers
Manteca Thunderjets
Modesto Century Toppers