Cowley County Fair

Winfield, Kansas
Tuesday - October 9, 1928

 

Arkansas City Daily Traveler
Tuesday, October 2, 1928 - Page 8:

3 A. C. Drivers Enter County Fair Car Races

     Three Arkansas City auto race drivers will compete in Winfield next week at the Winfield Fair auto races in the big field for the fair championships.  Andrew Fuller, Ira McIntire, and R. D. Hill are the local men who will compete.

     Andy Fuller, who will drive a Chevrolet special, will enter the races a favorite because of his past performances on dirt tracks in this territory.  Especially at Cushing this year on the track which is considered one of the fastest half-mile ovals in the middle-west, as Fuller grabbed the large share of the prize money.

     Ira McIntire will drive a Rajo Ford, a racing job owned by Joe Hutchinson.  McIntire won $175 at the Cushing Labor Day races.  Russell Hill, who will race his Fronty Ford, will complete the local entry list.

     Seven other fast drivers (are) coming from Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, have been signed so far by George Nelson, in charge of the fair’s racing programs.

     Tom Holden Denver will drive a Chrysler “70”; Leech Fox of Kansas City, will drive a Mayfield special; “Happy” Fox, of Topeka, will bring something new to tracks near here in the shape of a front-wheel-drive Ford.  Jack Burton, Miami, Oklahoma, will drive a Leech Special; “Dusty” Deines of Topeka will drive a Hudson; Bobby Maze, Milwaukee, Wisconsin3 will drive a Scott special; and Ralph Chrysler, Omaha, will drive a Rajo Ford.  Mr. Nelson expects to sign between five and eight more drivers before the program starts Tuesday.

 

Arkansas City Daily Traveler
Wednesday, October 3, 1928 - Page 12:

Will Race At The Winfield Fair

Arkansas City Daily Traveler
Saturday, October 6, 1928 - Page 11:

Russell Hill To Race At The Winfield Fair

    Andrew Fuller, Arkansas City racing driver, will be one of the feature attractions at the Winfield Fair auto races which will be run Tuesday and Saturday of next week.  Fuller has earned a reputation on dirt tracks in this part of the country as one of the most fearless of the half and quarter-mile drivers and will be a favorite to win the majority of his starts next week.

     Click your mouse on the picture to see a side view of the same car.

  Russell Hill, local auto race-driver, will be one of the attractions at the Winfield Fair next Tuesday and Saturday when the auto races will be held on the Fair track.  Hill's car, a Fronty Ford, is in top shape now and in perfect condition to grab off several of the prizes.

     (Webmaster's Note:  This same picture was used in another ad 11 months later but, in that instance, the driver was identified as Louis "Speed" Irwin, of Arkansas City, KS.  If you know who the man, standing beside the car, really was, please contact Bob Lawrence.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The above ad appeared on page 7 of the Thursday, October 4, 1928 issue of the Winfield Daily Courier while the ad above at right was on page 3B of the Saturday, October 6, 1928 issue of that same newspaper.  Click your mouse on each of those ads to see larger versions on which you can read the print and view the photographs of the racing automobiles.

     The ad at right was published in the Arkansas City Daily Traveler on Saturday, October 6, 1928, page 3, and again on Friday, October 12, 1928, page 9.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winfield Daily Courier
Thursday, October 4, 1928, Page 10:

Handbill

AUTO  RACES  COMING  TWO  DAYS  AT  FAIR
Italian Motored Racer to be Favorite with Local Fans

    Seven big events are booked each day, October 9 and 13, at the Nelson Auto races which will be one of the big attractions at the eighth annual Cowley County Fair here next week.  Never in the history of the half-mile dirt track here has there been such a string of racing cars piloted by such daring and fearless drivers.

     Among the entries are two from Arkansas City (Kansas), Andrew “Cokie” Fuller and R. D. Hill.  Fuller in his Chevrolet Special has been taking his share of the money at races this summer and is expected to be one of the strong contenders here next week.  Tuesday at Abilene, Texas, Fuller turned over on the track but escaped injury.  Today at Haskell, Texas, Fuller is in the races there and has an engagement in Old Mexico this month.  Both of the Arkansas City cars are speedy and will be among the favorites here.

     Leach Fox, of Kansas City, driving a Mayfield Special with the significant number C-13 is said to be the headliner on the program.

     Bob Maze, Milwaukee, Wisconsin3, in his Scott Special will be back again.  Maze has been racing in Kansas for the last five years and will be remembered as the driver who came in a close second in the 8-lap preliminary race here this spring.

     The fast Superior Special powered with a Hispana Italian airplane motor and owned by the Superior garage here will be in the races.  At the race meeting in July, this roaring demon (took) two firsts and placed second in the 12-lap final of a six event program.

     Happy Fox, of Topeka, will have the only Front Wheel Drive in the lineup.  Ira McIntire, Arkansas City, is entered in a Rajo Ford.


Chrysler Entered

     When Tom Holden of Denver rolls out onto the track in his Chrysler 70 and flashes around the oval, there will be expressions of admiration from the racing fans.  There never has been a Chrysler racing car on the local track.  Holden and his Chrysler ask no odds.  Neither does the local Superior Special.  Fearless and daring drivers will be at the wheels of both cars and this pair promise to take all they can get.

     Dusty Deines of Topeka will be here driving a Hudson and Jack Burton from Miami, Oklahoma has a Leech Special entered.  Ralph Chrysler of Omaha has a Rajo Ford that has a reputation as a dust kicker from one side of the continent to the other.

 

Some of the sentences in the above article were rearranged a little and the headline was changed to read:
A. C. Cars In Winfield Race
Events At County Fair Next Week Attract Many Aces
before it was reprinted on page 12 of the Arkansas City Daily Traveler on Wednesday, October 5, 1928.

 

 

 

Winfield Daily Courier
Wednesday, October 10, 1928, Page 4:

FAST AUTO RACES THRILL LARGE CROWD
Four Racing Cars Crack-up in Last Race Finals Saturday

   Taking their lives in their hands, eleven daredevil drivers battled through a dense screen of dust on the fairgrounds half-mile dirt track yesterday afternoon in seven fast auto racing events.  At times, the cars were completely hidden in the heavy dust.  Against this handicap, good time was made and everything went smoothly until in the last event which was 15 laps of the 30-lap final.  The other 15 laps will be run next Saturday afternoon.

     In the 15-lap race, there were seven entries.  When the race was well under way, the local Superior Special driven by W. A. Sparling; a Kerbs Special driven by J. F. Pickens, Arkansas City, in a Ford Special; R. A. McIntire in a Rajo Ford; and Dusty Deines, Topeka; cracked up with considerable damage to the cars but no casualties to the drivers.  The cars will be repaired and ready for the races Saturday.

 

Event

Finish

Car#

Driver

Hometown

Car

Reason Out

Time

Time Trials:

1.

 

 

 

 

Running

 

  1 lap

2.

44

Ira T. McIntire

Arkansas City, Kansas

Rajo Ford

Running

33:0

 

 

43

Wendell A. Sparling1

Winfield, Kansas

Superior Special

Running

34.0

 

 

K-1

James F. Pickens

Arkansas City, Kansas

Kerbs Special

Running

 

 

 

15

Russell D. “R. D. “Hill5

Arkansas City, Kansas

Frontenac

Running

 

 

 

4

Andrew “Cokey” Fuller2

Arkansas City, Kansas

Chevrolet

Running

 

 

 

70

Tom Holden

WaKeeney, Kansas

Chrysler 70

Running

 

 

 

9

Bob Maze3

Topeka, Kansas

Scott Special

Running

 

 

 

51

Jack Burton

Miami, Oklahoma

Leech Special

Running

 

 

 

571

Happy Fox

Topeka, Kansas

Front-Wheel-Drive Ford

Running

 

 

 

7-11

Ralph Chrysler

Omaha, Nebraska

Rajo Ford

Running

 

 

 

15

Dusty Deines

Topeka, Kansas

Hudson

Running

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Heat:

1.

K-1

James F. Pickens

Arkansas City, Kansas

Kerbs Special

Running

5:38.0

  5 cars

2.

44

Ira T. McIntire

Arkansas City, Kansas

Rajo Ford

Running

 

10 laps

3.

15

Russell D. “R. D. “Hill5

Arkansas City, Kansas

Frontenac

Running

 

 

4.

43

Wendell A. Sparling1

Winfield, Kansas

Superior Special

Running

 

 

5.

4

Andrew “Cokey” Fuller2

Arkansas City, Kansas

Chevrolet

 

 

     “Wendell A. Sparling came tearing out of a dust cloud for fourth place.  Andrew “Cokey” Fuller2, driving a special built car for Andrew Bro___, dropped out on the fifth lap.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Heat:

1.

70

Tom Holden

WaKeeney, Kansas

Chrysler 70

Running

3:38.0

  6 laps

2.

9

Bob Maze3

Topeka, Kansas

Scott Special

Running

 

 

3.

51

Jack Burton

Miami, Oklahoma

Leech Special

Running

 

 

4.

571

Happy Fox

Topeka, Kansas

Front-Wheel-Drive Ford

Running

 

     “Tom Holden came in far in the lead.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third Heat:

1.

7-11

Ralph Chrysler4

Omaha, Nebraska

Rajo Ford

Running

5:48.0

10 laps

2.

571

Happy Fox

Topeka, Kansas

Front-Wheel-Drive Ford

Running

 

 

3.

9

Bob Maze3

Topeka, Kansas

Scott Special

Engine

 

 

4.

51

Jack Burton

Miami, Oklahoma

Leech Special

 

 

     “Ralph Chrysler crowded Happy Fox out of the lead on the third lap.  Fox crowded Chrysler the rest of the way to finish a close second.  Jack Burton dropped out in the sixth lap and Bob Maze pulled into the pits on the ninth lap with engine trouble.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth Heat:

1.

15

Russell D. “R. D. “Hill5

Arkansas City, Kansas

Frontenac

Running

3:27.0

  6 laps

2.

44

Ira T. McIntire

Arkansas City, Kansas

Rajo Ford

Running

 

 

3.

7-11

Ralph Chrysler4

Omaha, Nebraska

Rajo Ford

Running

 

 

4.

4

Andrew “Cokey” Fuller2

Arkansas City, Kansas

Chevrolet

Engine

 

     “Andrew ‘Cokie’ Fuller dropped out in the fourth lap when his engine went bad.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Pursuit

1.

571

Happy Fox

Topeka, Kansas

Front-Wheel-Drive Ford

Running

 

     “Happy Fox passed the other four entries in 8 laps.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final:

1.

7-11

Ralph Chrysler4

Omaha, Nebraska

Rajo Ford

Running

No Time

  8 cars

2.

70

Tom Holden

WaKeeney, Kansas

Chrysler 70

Running

 

15 laps

3.

571

Happy Fox

Topeka, Kansas

Front-Wheel-Drive Ford

Running

 

 

4.

15

Russell D. “R. D. “Hill5

Arkansas City, Kansas

Frontenac

Running

 

 

5.

43

Wendell A. Sparling

Winfield, Kansas

Superior Special

Wreck

 

 

6.

K-1

James F. Pickens

Arkansas City, Kansas

Kerbs Special

Wreck

 

 

7.

44

Ira T. McIntire

Arkansas City, Kansas

Rajo Ford

Wreck

 

 

8.

15

Dusty Deines

Topeka, Kansas

Hudson

Wreck

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard Kerbs and His Frontenac

Leonard E. Kerbs (1895-1960), of Otis, Kansas is pictured here in the Frontenac he entered in this race at Winfield for driver James F. Pickens (1895-1968), of Arkansas City, Kansas.  Click your mouse on the photograph to see some other photographs of the Kerbs racing car including one of the car loaded on its transporter in front of Kerbs' garage in Otis.

Arthur and Louis Chevrolet built Frontenacs primarily from modified Ford parts.  Parts, or complete racecars, could be purchased from the Chevrolet Brother's Frontenac Motor Company by anyone with the money to go racing.  A complete, new Frontenac cost around $2,700 in the 1920s.

 

 

 

SOME OF THE DRIVERS WHO RACED AT WINFIELD ON THIS DATE WERE:

 

Wendell A. Sparling

1896 - 1954

Tom Holden

1906 - 1987

James F. Pickens

1895 - 1968

Robert M. “Bob” Maze

1906 - 1978

 

 

 

 

1 Wendell Arthur Sparling was born on February 8, 1896 at Chillicothe, Missouri and moved to Winfield, Kansas in 1927.  He purchased the Superior Garage (606 N. Main St.) shortly thereafter.  The car that he raced as the "Superior Special" sported a dual-ignition Hisso engine built by Hispano-Suiza.  Witnesses who saw the car in competition, remember it as being the largest car on the racetrack and very fast.  Sparling sold the Superior Garage c1930 and moved to Gladewater, Texas before going on to California a few years later.  He spent several years working as a mechanic and operated a 500-acre dairy in Stanislaus County, California.  Sparling passed away on July 4, 1954 at Ceres, California and is buried at Pomona, California.

2 Andrew B. "Cokey" Fuller (1902-1932) died in Denver, Colorado and is interred in the Riverview Mausoleum in Riverview Cemetery at Arkansas City, Kansas.  He got his nickname through his fondness for whisky mixed with Coca-Cola.

3 Robert Mervin “Bob” Maze (1906-1978) occasionally claimed to be from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to help make it appear that a race was drawing participants from far off places but he actually lived in Topeka, Kansas his entire life.


4 This was probably Ralph James Chrysler who was born in 1896 at Junction City, Kansas and died in 1963 in Los Angeles, California although some have speculated that “Ralph Chrysler” may have been a pseudonym used by Speck Heminger of Hastings, Nebraska when he raced in non-AAA sanctioned races.

 

5 Russell Darius “R. D.” Hill (1901-1984) was born in Kansas City, Kansas and moved Arkansas City, Kansas in the 1920s.  He owned and drove racing cars around Kansas until the late 1930s when he moved to Yankton, South Dakota.  R. D. Hill passed away at Mesa, Arizona and is buried in the Yankton City Cemetery in Yankton, South Dakota.

 

 

 

 

 

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