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Hugh RandolphJanuary 17, 1932 - November 21, 2019RIP Pop ❤️❤️ I've been waiting to post until some affairs that are still being sorted... Its been a rough several weeks Monday Oct 21st, Pop took his last checkered flag at 87 years young. We are crushed..Hugh Randolph passed peacefully during one of his "well thought out naps" as he would say.. A huge fan of speedway from the late 60s, he bought himself a speedway bike as an early birthday present to himself when he turned 72. All 3 of his sons, Lee, Keith and Rob all raced motorcycles and pop used his ingenuity in every facet of racing to gain an edge. His nephew Denny Bartlett raced speedway in the 70s, Denny was also known as "Robin Hood" after he was blackballed by a promoter for racing at San Bernardino. His son Lee raced on the circuit in the 70s also, until he followed his career in the automotive industry. Lee came back to ride a few races with Pop 15 years ago to do it together, fun times were had. 20 years ago, pop purchased the powder coat business I was running, and became a silent partner on the condition I would stay and run it and build a future for my family. Just before Dane was born, he moved Lisa and me into one of his properties so we could stay in Costa Mesa. When pop asked me how I felt about being a promoter, and if we should but Industry...of course I jumped at it. We bought it, and myself, Lee and Rob started running Industry. Pop always wanted to be the silent partner...he would show up to race on Wednesdays, insisted on paying his entries every week and had the time of his life. We sold after it started affecting the powder coat shop because 3 of us were so busy at the track. I was asked to come back a couple years later after Carol Perez and the city asked me to take it over, and with pops blessing, I did. Pop also started American Speedway Coalition to video speedway racing, with Mark Williams, and another great friendship was born. When pop was 74, he crashed and broke his back at CM.. We thought it was time to sell the bike....but pop thought different, he asked me to fix everything because he signed up for opening night. We spent many day and nights working on the speedway bikes...he just loved every single aspect of the sport. Hugh wanted to try out the speedway sidecar, so close friend Joe Jones went over a few things, and said just hang on! Joe did not hold back and pop had the time of his life! He was holding on so tight, he couldn't let go after they were done taking laps haha... Pop was a father figure to me, one of my greatest friends, and a mentor in life. Pop was Danes Grampa... Pop thoroughly enjoyed speedway and all the friends he made. He has helped so many people over the years, and never wanted any recognition. We have lost an amazing person. Celebrate life and chase your dreams is what pop would say... "Ive done everything I wanted to do, and its been a heck of a ride..." I lost a dad, a business partner and great friend... just still doesn't seem true. This man has forever changed my life... We will have a celebration of life for pop in January at our speedway shop in Costa Mesa. I will announce the date as it gets closer. Enjoy life and your family... ---- ---- “My goal, is to not fall off or crash,” could easily reflect how Hugh Randolph lived. Sharp, not afraid of danger he worked his way up to Captain before retirement from the Los Angeles Fire Department. What to do, what to do, Randolph was looking for excitement and found it when his sons Keith and Lee Crecelius, introduced him to Speedway Motorcycle racing. Randolph was fascinated with the 500cc brakeless machines and the strange style of the jockeys that raced them. Hey, I’m still a young man the 72 year old Randolph said so he bought a bike, took some lessons and on August 14, 2004 rider #308 competed in his first race. Well OK, it could have been better but it mattered little. I am just doing this for fun and to let me know I’m still alive he would joke. You just never know about Speedway. It’s a fickle lady that makes hero’s when you least expect it and did so with Hugh Randolph. The crowd adored him. Nickname: "Kuldad" all could sense his passion for the sport and they cheered him on. First place or last it mattered none, he was their champion. Randolph raced for five years before retiring at age 77. Well, you know Speedway, first it’s watching, then it’s racing and before you know it you’re a promoter. And so it was that with son Lee and former rider Kelly Inman he began promoting races in the Grand Arena at the City of Industry. Highly successful they set the bar of Speedway promotion that continues to this day. Of course there is was more to Hugh Randolph. In 1997 he established Specialized Ceramic & Powder Coatings in Huntington Beach California. Specializing in custom powder and ceramic coating they are a very successful business with an annual revenue of 2.4 million dollars and over a dozen full time employees. His kids and Kelly Inman still operate the business to this day. The death of Hugh Randolph is a sad affair that will reach far wider than our racing community. He touched so many lives. He was so well respected. We will morn and miss you. Celebration of Life & Chase your Dreams - by Howie Zechner I was delighted when my Hugh Randolph, Celebration of Life – Birthday Remembrance invitation came. I knew it had been in the works for some time and just assumed it had lost its fire. Obviously I was wrong cause the invite reflected a well-planned gathering at an exclusive private Country Club in Costa Mesa California. Now don’t get the wrong impression cause it’s not like Hugh Randolph and I were lifetime friends or the best of buds. Still I had a lot of respect for the man, his accomplishments, friends and love of motorcycle racing. I first recall meeting Hugh Randolph when he got into Speedway so I’m no authority on his life. Like most of you I know he retired as Captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department, and had three sons who were all avid motorcycle riders. In 1997 he purchased Specialized Ceramic & Powder Coatings in Huntington Beach and made the previous owner Kelly Inman a partner in the business. Everything before then I have forgotten or am not aware of but here’s what I do know. Bored with retirement Hugh Randolph was looking for excitement and found it when sons Keith, Lee and Rob introduced him to Speedway motorcycle racing. Unlike any of the other motorcycles he had owned and ridden Hugh developed a fascination with Speedway and those who raced them. Promising the boys he only wanted to acquire the skill of how they handled and not race the 500cc brakeless machines Hugh bought his own and took lessons at the famous Maely Ranch track in Corona California. Well we all know that promises made in the heat of passion do not have a long shelf life so the urge to race soon outweighed the multitude of reasons not to. Your never to old was his reply when the family would remind him he was 72. If you don’t crash what does it matter he would joke but all knew that in Speedway it was not a matter of if but when. Sporting his new leathers and 308 rider number Hugh Randolph competed in his first race on August 14, 2004 and finished in last place. OK, it could have been better but it mattered little to him. I am just doing this for fun and to let me know I’m still alive he would joke. You just never know about Speedway. It’s a fickle lady that makes heroes when you least expect it and did so with Hugh Randolph. Nicknamed "Kuldad" the crowd adored him. They could sense his passion for the sport and cheered him on. First place or last it mattered none, he was their champion. Randolph raced for five years before retiring at age 77. Well, you know Speedway is very addicting. First it’s watching, then it’s racing and before you know it you’re a promoter. And so it was that with son Lee and former rider Kelly Inman he began promoting races in the Grand Arena at the City of Industry. Highly successful they set the bar of Speedway promotion that continues at that location to this day. I lost track of Hugh after he stopped promoting and racing. Kelly Inman would talk about him here and there. They were very close. On a beautiful warm spring day the Hugh Randolph, Celebration of Life – Birthday Remembrance was held on Saturday, March 7, 2020. There was no mistaking the location as Hugh Randolph’s Speedway bike and restored 1929 Ford Paddy Wagon were parked in front of the Country Club entrance. Upstairs a large private room that could hold about 150 people was filled with his relatives, friends and Speedway comrades. Randolph’s white/orange/black leathers hung on the wall and several tables held pictures, plaques, letter of commendation and awards. An open bar with a bartender that knew how to mix and lots of appetizers made the mingle tingle with good conversation. Lunch was two full tables of Mexican with more food than anyone could eat regardless of how many times they went back for refills. Desert was the same and everyone was stuffed when the planned speakers came to the podium. Speakers that included Randolph’s Grandson Kyle and his sons all gave a moving tribute to the man they loved. All passionate but none was more moving than when Kelly Inman spoke. “I considered him my 2nd father and was crushed when he passed” Kelly said. “I lost a dad, a business partner and great friend who forever changed my life. Hugh Randolph would have been proud of the presentation in his honor. It was a joyful event that never lost sight of the tragedy of death. Howie Zechner
Nickname: "Kuldad" Bike: Jawa Tracks Ridden: Achievements:
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