77 Speedway

Arkansas City, Kansas

 

 

When it opened, 77 Speedway was a flat 1/3 mile dirt oval racetrack located on a 32-acre tract of land one mile south of the Arkansas River and ½ mile west of (old) U. S. Highway 77 on the south edge of Arkansas City, Kansas in an unincorporated community known as “I.X.L.”  The speedway was first opened on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1955 by its co-owners Allen Carter, Elmer Ortin, Ted and Joyce Allen.  Ted Allen was the new racetrack’s manager and Paul Borror was placed in charge of novelity races and special events.  At the time, the racetrack management optimistically claimed there were enough bleachers to hold 1,800 race fans with a parking capacity of 3,000 cars.

The following year, Gene and Clara Bullard joined the Allens as partners in the venture and the racetrack was lengthened by a total of 75 feet.  The high cost of insurance and worry about the possibility of injury to the spectators sitting in cars parked along the road just outside the racetrack prompted the Allens and Bullards to lease the speedway to Paul Borror in 1957.  Borror operated the racetrack himself until the fall of 1958 when he hired “Monk” Holt of Wichita, Kansas to manage the racetrack for him.

In the spring of 1960, Jim Collins of Hutchinson, Kansas, subleased the racetrack from Borror.

The last races run at 77 Speedway were in connection with the local “Arkalalahcelibration on October 29, 1960.  Borror then closed the racetrack and returned the facility to the Allens.  The racetrack was dismantled with the bleachers being moved a short distance to a rodeo arena operated by the Arkansas City Saddle Club.

In all, 77 Speedway operated for most of six seasons,  Micro midgets were added to the program and raced at the speedway in 1957 and 1958.

Few of the cars that raced at 77 Speedway were fancy and the purses were often megar but some of the top drivers in the area competed there anyway.

Track photographer Gary Virden took each of the photographs below.

 

 

The #24, shown here leading, was owned by Bob Thackery and driven by Forrest Coleman, both of Wichita, Kansas.  The “8 ball” car in second place was owned by Lawrence Brooks of Arkansas City.  Max Naden of Ponca City, Oklahoma was driving the #6 Ford sedan shown here in third place – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

#2 Jim McAmis of Wichita, Kansas driving a car owned by Elmer Orton of Arkansas City.  The #51 was owned and driven by Bob Newman of Winfield, Kansas – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

This photograph was taken from the infield.  The #4 car at right was owned by Joe Collins of Winfield, Kansas – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

“They’re Off” to a Sunday afternoon at the races – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

The #6 Ford sedan was driven by Max Naden of Ponca City, Oklahoma.  Note the flagpole at right – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

The #2 Ford coupe was owned by Elmer Orton, of Arkansas City and driven by Jim McAmis of Wichita, Kansas.  The “8 Ball” Ford coupe at left was owned by Lawrence Brooks of Arkansas City – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

#00 Keith Jackson is shown here tangling with another competitor while #11 Buddy Quick of Wichita, Kansas slipped by on the inside during some tight racing action – Gary Virden collection

 

 

Racing through turns one and two on a Sunday afternoon – Gary Virden collection

 

 

Flagman Lyle Baker of Wichita, Kansas introduces Ken Jackson to the crowd before a race begins.  Ken, from Ponca City, Oklahoma, drove the #72.  That is Allen Carter’s #35 Ford coupe at left – Gary Virden collection

 

 

An unidentified group of jalopies races through turns one and two on a Sunday afternoon.  If you can indentify any of these cars, please contact Bob Lawrence at sprintguy @ cox.net – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#39 Cliff Durr leads an unidentified sedan while a car driven by Milford Martin can be seen just entereing the picture – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#4A was owned by Ernie McCoy while the “8-Ball” was owned by Lawrence Brooks, both from Arkansas City.  It is unknown who the drivers of these two ford coupes were on this particular Friday night – Gary Virden collection

 

 

Do you recognize either of these cars racing through the first turn?  If you do, please contact Bob Lawrence at sprintguy @ cox.net – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#40 Leon Bowman in a coupe owned by K. O. Christian, both from Wichita, Kansas.  If you know who was driving the other car, please contact Bob Lawrence at sprintguy @ cox.net – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#62 Bill Curless of Arkansas City trying to slip by #51 on the inside - Larry Brooks collection

 

 

#55 Bill Curless, of Arkansas City in his family owned Ford sedan and #89 Jack Petty of Wichita, Kansas in Rocky Rockhold’s car, race through the second turn in 1955 – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

Max Naden of Arkansas City gets his #6 Ford sedan a little sideways going down the front straightaway – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#24 Forrest Coleman of Wichita, Kansas races several others through the second turn in Bob Thackery’s Ford sedan.  Kenny Neely, from Wichita, Kansas owned the #9 Hudson sedan and Joe Collins of Winfield, Kansas owned the #4 Ford coupe – Gary Virden collection

 

 

The “8-Ball” Hudson was owned by Lawrence Brooks while the Ford coupe on the outside was driven by Bill Curless.  Both men were from Arkansas City – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#3 John Watts leads #76 Red Walker on April 28, 1956.  Both men were from Arkansas City – Gary Virden photo from the Watts family collection

 

 

#3 John Watts of Arkansas City leads two unidentified cars and #72 Ken Jackson of Ponca City, Oklahoma on April 28, 1956 – Gary Virden photo

 

 

#33 Ray Chapman racing #3 John Watts for position – Gary Virden collection

 

 

Two unidentified cars spin going into the back straightaway – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#3 John Watts leads #4A owned by Ernie McCoy of Arkansas City, #33 Al Williams of Wichita, Kansas in his own Hudson, and the “8 Ball” Hudson sedan that was owen by Lawrence Brooks of Arkansas City in a race run on April 8, 19 56 – Gary Virden photo from the Watts family collection

 

 

#62 Bill Curless, #71 Bobby Jack Walker, and the #35 Ford coupe that was owned by Allen Carter, during driver introductions before a race.  Each of these were from Arkansas City – Gary Virden collection

 

 

Clyde Ferguson, driving Rocky Rockhold’s #89A, is closely persued by Dick Walker.  All three men were from Arkansas City - Gary Virden collection

 

 

#72 Ken Jackson, driving Jack Norris’ car, takes the checkered flag.  Both men were from Ponca City, Oklahoma – Larry Jackson collection

 

 

“8 Ball” belonged to Lawrence Brooks of Arkansas City and was driven here by Will Forrest of Wichita, Kansas but who was driving the #77 coupe?  If you know, please contact Bob Lawrence at sprintguy @ cox.net – Gary Virden collection

 

 

This photo taken in Arkansas City in September of 1957 shows cars all owned by Arkansas City men: #46 Bob Knox, #35 Allen Carter, #4A Ernie McCoy, and #42 Lawrence Miller – Mike McCoy collection

 

 

A group of men each of whom had ties to Arkansas City stock car racing.  Left to right are: Dick Walker, Rocky Rockhold, Forrest Coleman, Bill Curless, Ernie McCoy, Willis Curless, Bill Turner, Charlie Turner, and Bob Thackery – Mike McCoy collection

 

 

 

 

 

To See Photographs of Some of the Identified Participants and Jalopies that Raced at 77 Speedway

 

To See Photographs of Some Unidentified Participants and Jalopies that Raced at 77 Speedway

 

To See Photographs of Some of the Jalopies that were Wrecked at 77 Speedway

 

 

 

 

 

To See Photographs of Some of the Micro-Midgets that Raced at 77 Speedway

 

To Search this Website or to View a Site Map

 

To Find Links to Other Interesting Websites on the Internet

 

 

 

 

 

To Contact the Webmaster:  sprintguy @ cox.net

To See an Incomplete list of Race Dates and A Feature Winners from 77 Speedway

 

To See the Known Track Records at 77 Speedway

 

 

  

 

 

 

This Website is Dedicated to the Memory of

Gary Joe Virden

1937 – 2001

Without whose camera, foresight, and valuable assistance, another chapter of auto racing history would have been lost forever and this website would not have been possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You To:

Joyce Allen, Larry Brooks, Jana Lumbert, Mike McCoy, Bobby Jack Walker, Dick and Nadine Walker, the Gary Virden family and Rick Watts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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