Charlie
Erickson is the man who helped bring racing to the people
with the 1972 founding of The First Association of
Independent Racers (F.A.I.R) which is the oldest and largest
private support team for independent racers.
Although born in Kansas City, Missouri on May 28th, 1928
Erickson became a California resident not six months into
his life. He grew up in the Los Angeles area. Just as most
young men of the time did, on his seventeenth birthday he
enlisted in the U.S. Marines to do his part in World War II.
Soon after he enlisted the war came to a close however
Erickson remained enlisted for the next twelve and a half
years.
He served around the globe with the majority of his military
career centered around the operation of flame thrower tanks.
The Marines first stationed him in Tsingtao, China, the
official mission was to help escort the former Japanese
occupying force out of the country. He returned stateside to
Barstow, California in 1949 and became the Marines
specialist in flame thrower tanks. In Barstow he refurbished
five Sherman tanks back into fighting condition. In 1950 as
testing of the tanks wrapped up, Erickson and the tanks were
shipped off to the Korean War. He served fourteen months in
Korea, two back to back tours. He completed his required
recruiting duty around the U.S. The Marines then sent him to
Okinawa and where he spent six months there away from his
family. In 1951 he received a message from the Red Cross
informing him that his wife was gravely ill. Upon returning
home he requested a discharge so that he could spend more
time with his family. He reached the rank of Tech Sergeant
by the time of his departure.
Erickson began his second career in 1951. His brother-in-law
Jay Botello worked as the fleet manager for the downtown Los
Angeles Ford Dealership. Erickson worked for Botello as a
salesman. He always strove to learn as much as he could
about the vehicles he sold. Soon Erickson moved on to be the
Fleet Manger at the La Puente Ford Dealership.
While working at the La Puente Dealership he saw his first
Ford Bronco in 1966. He viewed the Bronco as a well designed
vehicle that had great marketability.
One day that same year he met a four-wheeling enthusiast by
the name of James Bond while working at the dealership. Bond
encouraged Erickson to attend on of the Wygoers Bronco-Jeep
Club meeting and to try his hand at one of the club runs.
Erickson attended and found himself hooked. He, his wife and
two young daughters became regular members of the club going
for weekend runs around the state.
During one of the weekend runs with at Mantachie Meadows,
Erickson met Ed Pearlman and they struck up a lasting
friendship. The two men would spend hours discussing
different ideas they had to help the new sport of
four-wheeling grow. Erickson supported Pearlman’s concept
for a race across the Baja by volunteering to help officiate
the first two races. At the 1967 NORAA Mexican 1000 Rally he
and his wife officiated at check point one, documenting each
racer as they came through the line. In 1968 he served as a
race steward and judged competitors complaints at the finish
line.
1968 proved to be a busy year for Erickson. His friend James
Bond had passed the reigns of hosting and organizing the
annual, Labor Day weekend, Pismo Beach Rally. Over 165,000
people attended the event over the course of the weekend
making it the largest one during its history. 350 volunteers
oversaw events such as hill climbing, drag racing and
obstacle courses. Local officials and police commended
Erickson for organizing such a large event with out any
altercations or trouble.
While the Pismo Beach Rally reached out to a large number of
four wheel enthusiasts, Erickson’s next endeavor would truly
bring the ability to race to the people. Racing off-road
vehicles can be an expensive experience especially with out
industry sponsorships and race day mechanical assistance.
This point was brought home to Erickson by a young suitor of
his 16 year old daughter. The young man found the idea of
racing interesting but saw no fincically feasible way of
participating and suggested the idea of a race day
assistance “co-op.” Erickson saw the logic behind the young
mans idea and quickly made it a reality. Within a few days
and the placement of two phone calls he hosted a meeting of
34 individuals at his home to discuss the formation of such
a group. The name FAIR arose, the First Association of
Independent Racers.
Erickson stayed involved with FAIR for the next eleven
years. The association stood by its mission to be “fair” and
helped any racer in need of assistance regardless of their
membership or not. During the early years the club only
charged an $18 membership fee which covered the cost of
feeding the volunteers in the pit crews. The group
incorporated as non-for-profit in 1972. It has a very active
membership today and a successful race record for its
membership. The organization still sticks to its guidelines
of treating others fairy and with respect. The objective of
the club is for race teams to pool resources and form one
large support organization that provides full pit support
for individual teams.
Sources:
Interview with Charlie Erickson, May 2006
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