Just got word from the west coast that CRA roadster and sprint car racer, Walt James has died.
I believe he was 86 years old..............
RIP racer

Walt was also the brother of AAA driver, Joe James, who died in a sprint car at San Jose Speedway in 1952.

Oh my, RIP! We gave him a special thought this last weekend at Calistoga. We missed the 15 sprinter! Saw him last year at All American Speedway doing his thing! Full throttle!
Joe

Walt was a neat guy who loved racing and love to tell stories about the 40 50 60s also his brother was joe james! Rip walt

Father of Lee James, as well.

Walt was a great guy - Joe died in a championship race at San Jose - not a sprint car

Sad news. I got to spend some time with Walt a couple of years at Knoxville during induction weekend and after an IRL race at Pike's Peak. He was definitely interesting to talk with. I also remember the night he took the Bromme vintage sprint car, with the Moser 4 cam Chevy in it, on the half mile at Las Vegas when they were supposed be going around the liitle track in front of the grandstand. Once a racer always a racer. RIP friend

Vern Plotts

Never had the pleasure to see Walt race in person during his prime. However, he had a photographic memory and the ability to tell a story that made you think you were actually at a race 50 years ago. I did have the pleasure to announce him many times over the years in the Oldtimers deal. He still enjoyed standing on the gas.

Another thing about Walt. You hear many people refer to someone having a twinkle in their eye. Not always true. In Walt's case, he truly had a twinkle in his eye! He is will be sadly missed and there will never be another quite like him.

funny enough - my old friend the late Dave Cassady said the exact same thing about Joe- "he had eyes that twinkled"