Seventh Annual National Championship Jalopy Races at Hutchinson, Kansas on July 28, 1963

Seventh Annual National Championship Jalopy Races for

Sportsman Modifieds on the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

Hutchinson, Kansas

Sunday – July 28, 1963

Time trials for these races were run on Saturday afternoon, July 27, 1963

(These cars were known regionally as “rails.)

Promotional Company – Merrick Racing Promotions (M.R.P.)

Race Director – Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas

Flagman / Starter – Al Alexander of Wichita, Kansas

Pit Steward – Roger Holuska of Dodge City, Kansas

Trophy Queen – Clarissa Sell of Wichita, Kansas

Total Purse Paid – $5,000

Attendance – 16,000

This photo was taken as the cars pulled away for the start of the 50-lap championship race. Driving the pace car was Jack Merrick. Beside him turned backward in the front seat was Roger Holuska. Fingers in the air was starter Al Alexander. The other man in the pace car has yet to be identified. Starting on the pole of the race was Grady Wade in car #11 owned by LaVern Nance. Outside of the front row was Dave Ross in his own car #54. Starting inside of the second row was car #57 driven by Jim Macy. Outside of the second row was car #46 owned by Larry Hall and driven by Jay Woodside and inside of the third row was Roy Bryant in the #7 car owned by Lawrence Miller - Lies collection

Bill Nelson

81 Speedway program

David Ross

David Ross collection

Pinky Mullens

Bob Mays collection

Leon Bowman

Bob Mays collection

Ed Schauf

Bob Mays collection

Jack Petty

Ken Gretemen photo

Alvin Riley

Gary Shinkle collection

Bill Bookout

Mullens family collection

Reuben Loepp

Mohawk Speedway program

Bill Curless

77 Speedway program

Walt McWhorter

Bob Mays collection

Dick Hendershot

Mohawk Speedway program

Charlie Pitts

Charlie Pitts collection

Jay Woodside

Larry Hall collection

Lucky Niemeyer

Hutchinson News photo

Dick Walker

Bob Mays collection

Jim McAmis

Stults collection

Jay Schrock

Roger Burnett collection

Grady Wade

Kenny Greteman photo

Ray Riner

Kenny Greteman photo

Nut Cokeley

Cokeley collection

Jerry Everhart

Everhart family collection

Francis Kingan

Cokeley collection

Ben Steadman

Cokeley collection

Bill Rigsby

Coffman collection

Roy Bryant

Lies collection

Bob Peck

High Plains THUNDER by Bob Mays

Melvin Herrell

Melvin Herrell collection

Dick Unger

Lies collection

Dick Doran

Doran collection

First Heat Race – 16 Cars – 10 Laps
Start	Place	Car #	Driver	From	Time
14	1	32	Francis Kingan	Enid, OK	5:37.0
12	2	41	Keith Cofield	Wichita, KS
9	3	80	Vester VanSickle	Hutchinson, KS
13	4	38	Dick Doran	Wichita, KS
1	5	63	Marvin Bischoff	Williamsburg, KS
16	6	5	Harold Armstrong	Wichita, KS
8	7	83	Alvin Riley	Medora, KS
11	8	33	Milton Ward	Great Bend, KS
5	9	70	Duane Cauley	Hutchinson, KS
6	10	34	Frank Spial	Wichita, KS
2	DNF	61	Don Graves	Wichita, KS
15	DNF	75	Jim Hill	Wichita, KS
3	DNF	82	Bill Elliott	Wichita, KS
4	DNF	77	Donald Herrell	Springdale, AR
7	DNF	81	Bryson Mills	Newton, KS
10	DNF	16	Gene Potts	Great Bend, KS
Only 8 cars were still running on the lead lap at the end of this race.

Second Heat Race – 18 Cars – 10 Laps
Start	Place	Car #	Driver	From	Time
1	1	12	Wylan Cattrell	Wichita, KS	5:25.0
18	2	9	Bob Roberts	Halstead, KS
3	3	76	Gene Angel	Hutchinson, KS
5	4	49	John Riead	Hutchinson, KS
12	5	69	Jack Petty	Wichita, KS
14	6	2	Dick Unger	Wichita, KS
4	7	97	Bill Nash	Enid, OK
11	8	23	Paul Befort, Jr.	Garden City, KS
9	9	40	Doran Raine, Jr.	Wichita, KS
2	10	24	Bob Peck	Manhattan, KS
15	11	48	Leon Bowman	Wichita, KS
17	12	67	Jim Macy	Wichita, KS
10	13	35	Bill Harper	Hutchinson, KS
6	14	31	Warren Bennett	Wichita, KS
16	15	92	Terry Kerstine	Wichita, KS
7	DNF	18	Doyle “Shot” Hampton	Wichita, KS
8	DNF	00	T. J. Newman	Wichita, KS
13	DNF	20	Pinky Mullens	Wichita, KS
Cattrell lead most of this race with Befort challenging him on every straightaway. Befort finally took the lead with a quarter mile remaining in the race but both he and Cattrell carried too much speed into the final turn and spun out. Cattrell was able to get his car restarted first and crossed the finish line in time to win the race.

Third Heat Race – 15 – 10 Laps
Start	Place	Car #	Driver	From	Time
1	1	66	Dick Walker	Arkansas City, KS	4:57.0
4	2	3	George Witzke	Wichita, KS
3	3	56	Bud Montgomery	Denver, CO
15	4	52	Walt McWhorter	Wichita, KS
12	5	36	Henry Ellington	Hutchinson, KS
10	6	85	Jim McAmis	Wichita, KS
6	7	8	Clarence “Nut” Cokeley	Liberal, KS
14	8	86	Jay Schrock	Hutchinson, KS
5	9	73	Melvin Herrell	Hutchinson, KS
11	10	65	Reuben Loepp	Hutchinson, KS
7	11	21	Lucky Neumeier	Kansas City, MO
9	12	19	Otis “Ody” Fellows	Denver, CO
8	13	47	Clyde Ferguson	Arkansas City, KS
13	DNF	88	Ed Schauf	Wichita, KS
2	DNF	60	Bob Moberly	Denver, CO

Fourth Heat Race – 17 Cars – 10 Laps
Start	Place	Car #	Driver	From	Time
2	1	43	Ray Riner	Wichita, KS	4:50.0
4	2	4	Forrest Coleman	Wichita, KS
8	3	29	Charlie Lutkie	Wichita, KS
10	4	1	Dale Reed	Wichita, KS
11	5	7	Roy Bryant	Wichita, KS
1	6	6	Jerry Collins	Hutchinson, KS
3	7	28	Charlie Pitts	Hutchinson, KS
17	8	11	Grady Wade	Wichita, KS
7	9	50	Ben Steadman	Sharon, OK
14	10	46	Jay Woodside	Wichita, KS
12	11	27	Virgil Chapman	Kansas City, MO
6	12	94	Bill Bookout	Wichita, KS
15	13	57	John Macy⁵	Wichita, KS
5	DNF	62	Bill Curless	Arkansas City, KS
9	DNF	53	Frank Lies	Wichita, KS
13	DNF	55	Jerry Everhart	Wichita, KS
16	DNF	54	David Ross	Jetmore, KS
#55 Everhart broke a crankshaft.

Trophy Dash – 11 Cars – 5 Laps
Start	Place	Car #³	Driver	From	Time
10	1	4	Forrest Coleman	Wichita, KS	2:27.0
3	2	1	Dale Reed	Wichita, KS
9	3	43	Ray Riner	Wichita, KS
7	4	52	Walt McWhorter	Wichita, KS
11	5	29	Charlie Lutkie	Wichita, KS
4	6	12	Wylan Cattrell	Wichita, KS
8	7	66	Dick Walker	Arkansas City, KS
1	8	32	Francis Kingan	Enid, OK
6	9	76	Gene Angel	Hutchinson, KS
5	10	49	John Riead	Hutchinson, KS
2	11	80	Vester VanSickle	Hutchinson, KS

Semi–Final Race – 30 Cars – 30 Laps 37 cars were scheduled to start this race but 7 of those scratched.
Start	Place	Car #	Driver	From	Time
1	1	66	Dick Walker	Arkansas City, KS	15:30.0³
7	2	69	Jack Petty	Wichita, KS
3	3	67	Jim Macy	Wichita, KS
18	4	12	Wylan Cattrell	Wichita, KS
16	5	76	Gene Angel	Hutchinson, KS
2	DNF	92	Terry Kerstine	Wichita, KS
4	DNF	9	Bob Roberts	Halstead, KS
5	DNF	48	Leon Bowman	Wichita, KS
6	DNF	2	Dick Unger	Wichita, KS
8	DNF	23	Paul Befort, Jr.	Garden City, KS
9	DNF	35	Bill Harper	Hutchinson, KS
10	DNF	40	Doran Raine, Jr.	Wichita, KS
11	DNF	00	T. J. Newman	Wichita, KS
12	DNF	18	Doyle “Shot” Hampton	Wichita, KS
13	DNF	31	Warren Bennett	Wichita, KS
14	DNF	49	John Riead	Hutchinson, KS
15	DNF	97	Bill Nash	Enid, OK
17	DNF	24	Bob Peck	Manhattan, KS
19	DNF	5	Harold Armstrong	Wichita, KS
20	DNF	38	Dick Doran	Wichita, KS
21	DNF	75	Jim Hill	Wichita, KS
22	DNF	32	Francis Kingan	Enid, OK
23	DNF	41	Keith Cofield	Wichita, KS
24	DNF	16	Gene Potts	Great Bend, KS
25	DNF	72	Bill Rigsby	Wichita, KS
26	DNF	83	Alvin Riley	Medora, KS
27	DNF	80	Vester VanSickle	Hutchinson, KS
28	DNF	70	Duane Cauley	Hutchinson, KS
29	DNF	34	Frank Spial	Wichita, KS
30	DNF	82	Bill Elliott	Wichita, KS
	DNS	26	Dick Hendershot²	Hutchinson, KS
	DNS	20	Pinky Mullens	Wichita, KS
	DNS	33	Milton Ward	Great Bend, KS
	DNS	81	Bryson Mills	Newton, KS
	DNS	77	Donald Herrell	Springdale, AR
	DNS	61	Don Graves	Wichita, KS
	DNS	63	Marvin Bischoff	Williamsburg, KS
Kingan’s car ran over a wheel on the car driven by Newman in the south turn causing Kingan’s car to overturn several times in spectacular fashion. The cars of Armstrong, Riead, Cauley, Befort, Cofield, and Bennett all crashed into the wreckage with Armstrong’s car also over turning. Riead was the only driver involved who was able to continue in the race. Roberts dropped out with a faulty clutch while running in second place near the end of the race.

Feature Race – 29 Cars – 50 Laps - Purse: $4,868 31 cars were scheduled to start this race but 2 of those scratched
Start	Place	Car #	Driver	From	Time
5	1	7	Roy Bryant	Wichita, KS	22:18.0⁴
9	2	53	Frank Lies	Wichita, KS
12	3	4	Forrest Coleman	Wichita, KS
4	4	46	Jay Woodside	Wichita, KS
11	5	50	Ben Steadman	Sharon, OK
10	6	94	Bill Bookout	Wichita, KS
27	7	8	Clarence “Nut” Cokeley	Liberal, KS
13	8	62	Bill Curless	Arkansas City, KS
23	9	36	Henry Ellington	Hutchinson, KS
2	10	54	David Ross	Jetmore, KS
21	11	86	Jay Schrock	Hutchinson, KS
8	DNF	29	Charlie Lutkie	Wichita, KS
15	DNF	28	Charlie Pitts	Hutchinson, KS
6	DNF	27	Virgil Chapman	Kansas City, MO
16	DNF	88	Ed Schauf	Wichita, KS
1	DNF	11	Grady Wade	Wichita, KS
3	DNF	57	John Macy⁵	Wichita, KS
7	DNF	1	Dale Reed	Wichita, KS
14	DNF	43	Ray Riner	Wichita, KS
17	DNF	6	Jerry Collins	Hutchinson, KS
18	DNF	65	Reuben Loepp	Hutchinson, KS
19	DNF	52	Walt McWhorter	Wichita, KS
20	DNF	85	Jim McAmis	Wichita, KS
22	DNF	47	Clyde Ferguson	Arkansas City, KS
24	DNF	21	Lucky Neumeier	Kansas City, MO
25	DNF	19	Otis “Ody” Fellows	Denver, CO
26	DNF	73	Melvin Herrell	Hutchinson, KS
28	DNF	60	Bob Moberly	Colorado Springs, CO
29	DNF	56	Bud Montgomery	Denver, CO
	DNS	55	Jerry Everhart	Wichita, KS
	DNS	3	George Witzke	Wichita, KS
Lutkie was running in 8^th place with about 10 laps remaining when he ran into a car that had spun out in the northwest turn. Pitts received minor injuries when he was struck by boards as his car crashed into the outside fence in the southeast turn. Chapman crashed through the fence and out of the racetrack in the south turn. Schauf crashed into the fence in the southwest turn. Wade lead the first 6 laps from the pole before loosing his clutch. Bryant then took over 1^st place and led the rest of the way. Bryant finished the race only a few yards ahead of Lies. Only 12 cars were able to finish the race. 1^st place in this race paid $480.

Forrest Coleman receiving the trophy by Clarissa Sell after he won the trophy dash on this afternoon – McCoy collection

Feature Winner

Wynn’s Friction Proof representative Clarence Craig at left is shown presenting Roy Bryant a check after his victory while race queen Clarissa Sell looks on – Photo from the Hutchinson News

The Beginning of the Seven Car Pile-up in the Semi-Final

The #5 of Harold Armstrong is shown here during a series of rollovers near the inside of the racetrack while #97 Bill Nash, #70 Duane Cauley, and #76 Gene Angel all pass by – Bob Mays collection

#32 Francis Kingan and #00 T. J. Newman crashing near the outside wall – Hutchinson News photo

Near the End of the Seven Car Pile-up in the Semi-Final

#41 Keith Cofield is shown here crashing into the abandoned car #00 that was driven by T. J. Newman and had been sitting on the racetrack for several laps before this incident. That is the #32 that was driven by Francis Kingan on the other side of Newman’s car with its wheels in the air – Perry Luther collection

Some of the Aftermath of the Seven Car Pile-up in the Semi-Final

Keith Cofield, driver of the #41 car at left, extricates himself from his car after crashing into several abandoned cars on the final lap of the race. The #23 car at far left (behind Cofield’s #41) had been driven by Paul Befort, Jr., the #00 had been driven by T. J. Newman, and the #32 (overturned car at right) had been driven by Francis Kingan – Perry Luther collection

Clearing the racetrack after the seven car pileup in the semi-final – Will Cokeley collection

Feature Race Mishap

Charlie Pitts’ car is seen here after he crashed it into the outside fence just exiting the southeast turn onto the back straightaway. Pitts received minor injuries when he was struck by flying boards – Charlie Pitts collection

This photo of Frank Lies in his own car was taken on this afternoon at Hutchinson. The car had been built by Jack Walker and the engine was built by Kenny Riffel. Lies finished second to Roy Bryant in the 50-lap championship race – Lies collection

This pit pass was worn by Gene Coffman who owned car #72 driven by Bill Rigsby – Coffman collection

To view part one of a YouTube video that was taken of the races on this weekend

(Note that the video is incorrectly titled on YouTube)

Dwane Wolfe collection

To view part two of a YouTube video that was taken of the races on this weekend

Dwane Wolfe collection

¹ The official program did not list a 13^th position in time trials skipping from 12^th to 14^th position instead.

² Richard M. “Dick” Hendershot (1925-1976) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Salina, Kansas.

³The time given here is at appeared in the Hutchinson News while the time announced over the public address system immediately after this race was 18:30.0.

⁴The time given here is at appeared in the Hutchinson News while the time that appeared in the Wichita Eagle was 27:38.0.

⁵One source names this driver as Ken Myers of Augusta, Kansas.

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