Time Trials for the
Fourth Annual National Championship Jalopy Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Saturday – July 30, 1960
(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 – Ted Davis of Junction City, Kansas
Trophy Queen – Alice Marie Sale of Penalosa, Kansas
The definition of a “jalopy” changed in Jack Merrick promoted events before this race to allow “just about any body styling”. Beginning in 1960, a jalopy consisted of a “frame, wheels, and roll bar surrounded by whatever metal enclosure the owner chooses to use”. Engines, however, had to remain “stock” and “originally assembled before 1949”.
Some new railroad ties were installed this year to help keep cars from crashing into the wooden fence surrounding the racetrack. The repair bill had been averaging $500 to $700 after each day of racing.
Cars lined up to get gasoline just outside the back pit gate. After officials filled each car with gasoline, they placed a seal on the tank. If a post-race inspection revealed that the seal had been tampered with, the car was disqualified. The two men walking toward the camera at left are drivers Stanley Trahern and Gene Coffman - Dorothy Cokeley photo
Bill Nelson 81 Speedway program
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K. O. Christian David Ross collection
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Lee Salmans Alan Salmans collection
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Will Forrest Mike McCoy collection
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Pete Jacobs Jacobs family collection
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Orval Beckel David Ross collection
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Jay Woodside Bob Mays collection
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Bill Curless 77 Speedway program
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Ralph Cole 77 Speedway program
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Charlie Hiner Charlie Hiner collection
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Henry Ellington Ellington collection
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Pinky Mullens Mullens family collection
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Jerry Collins Gary Shinkle collection
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Jack Petty Ken Gretemen photo
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Alvin Riley Gary Shinkle collection
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Bob Salem Bob Salem collection
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Bill Bookout Mullens family collection
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Reuben Loepp Mohawk Speedway program
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Cliff Durr Cokeley collection
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Todd White Todd White collection
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Dick Hendershot Mohawk Speedway program
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Charlie Pitts Charlie Pitts collection
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Johnny Elam Todd White collection
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Stan Trahern Burnett collection
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Clarence Cochran Hutchinson News-Herald photo
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Roy Andrews Roy Andrews collection
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Bud Hutson Gary Virden photo
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Buddy Carroll Gary Virden photo
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John Riead John Riead collection
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Willie Hecke Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
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Nut Cokeley Dorothy Cokeley photo
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Francis Kingan Cokeley collection
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Gene Coffman Coffman collection
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Roy Bryant Lies collection
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Melvin Herrell Melvin Herrell collection
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Frankie Lies Lies collection
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Time Trials – 1 Lap |
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Place |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
1 |
Jay Woodside |
Wichita, KS |
28.96 |
2 |
2 |
Bill Nelson |
Wichita, KS |
29.02 |
3 |
3 |
Jerry Collins |
Hutchinson, KS |
29.28 |
4 |
4 |
Leon Spain |
Manhattan, KS |
29.49 |
5 |
5 |
Charlie Lutkie |
Wichita, KS |
29.52 |
6 |
6 |
K. O. Christian2 |
Wichita, KS |
29.52 |
7 |
7 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, KS |
29.69 |
8 |
8 |
Bud Looney |
Wichita, KS |
29.86 |
9 |
9 |
Leland Salmans |
Larned, KS |
29.87 |
10 |
10 |
Will Forrest |
Wichita, KS |
29.92 |
11 |
11 |
Orval Beckel |
Wichita, KS |
29.92 |
12 |
12 |
Pete Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
29.96 |
131 |
14 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, KS |
30.00 |
14 |
15 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, KS |
30.03 |
15 |
16 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, KS |
30.04 |
16 |
17 |
Francis Kingan |
Enid, OK |
30.08 |
17 |
18 |
Bud Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
30.08 |
18 |
19 |
Ralph Cole |
Arkansas City, KS |
30.10 |
19 |
20 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, KS |
30.20 |
20 |
21 |
Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, KS |
30.24 |
21 |
22 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, KS |
30.26 |
22 |
23 |
John McGee |
Dodge City, KS |
30.27 |
23 |
24 |
Henry Ellington |
Hutchinson, KS |
30.27 |
24 |
25 |
Pinky Mullens |
Wichita, KS |
30.28 |
25 |
26 |
Jack Petty |
Wichita, KS |
30.49 |
26 |
27 |
Alvin Riley |
Medora, KS |
30.50 |
27 |
28 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, KS |
30.50 |
28 |
29 |
Jim Goodson |
Manhattan, KS |
30.51 |
29 |
30 |
George Hilton |
Ponca City, OK |
30.52 |
30 |
31 |
Dutch Davis |
Dodge City, KS |
30.53 |
31 |
32 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, KS |
30.60 |
32 |
33 |
Don Lytle3 |
McCook, NE |
30.66 |
33 |
34 |
Walt McWhorter |
Wichita, KS |
30.68 |
34 |
35 |
John Riead |
Hutchinson, KS |
30.69 |
35 |
36 |
Gordon Dodson |
Wichita, KS |
30.72 |
36 |
37 |
Doyle “Shot” Hampton |
Wichita, KS |
30.74 |
37 |
38 |
Bill Bookout |
Wichita, KS |
30.74 |
38 |
39 |
Jack Walker |
Wichita, KS |
30.84 |
39 |
40 |
Reuben Loepp |
Hutchinson, KS |
30.84 |
40 |
41 |
Ray Duffin |
Hutchinson, KS |
30.85 |
41 |
42 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
30.86 |
42 |
43 |
Bill Nash |
Wellington, KS |
30.94 |
43 |
44 |
Clifford Durr |
Derby, KS |
30.95 |
44 |
45 |
Todd White |
Hutchinson, KS |
31.03 |
45 |
46 |
John Marshall |
Wichita, KS |
31.12 |
46 |
47 |
John Becker |
Salina, KS |
31.21 |
47 |
48 |
Otto Rohla |
Athol, KS |
31.22 |
48 |
49 |
Leon Bowman |
Wichita, KS |
31.24 |
49 |
50 |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, KS |
31.27 |
50 |
51 |
Dick Hendershot4 |
Hutchinson, KS |
31.27 |
51 |
52 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, KS |
31.29 |
52 |
53 |
Casson Lyons |
Smith Center, KS |
31.40 |
53 |
54 |
Jack Grimes |
Wichita, KS |
31.44 |
54 |
55 |
Laurie Collins |
Manhattan, KS |
31.46 |
55 |
56 |
Bob Riner |
Wichita, KS |
31.46 |
56 |
57 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, KS |
31.54 |
57 |
58 |
Johnny Elam |
Hutchinson, KS |
31.59 |
58 |
59 |
Willie Hecke |
Franklin, NE |
31.65 |
59 |
60 |
Phil Simmons |
Norton, KS |
31.69 |
60 |
61 |
Gene Angel |
Hutchinson, KS |
31.69 |
61 |
62 |
Don Spreier |
Larned, KS |
31.81 |
62 |
63 |
Clarence Cochran |
Hutchinson, KS |
31.86 |
63 |
64 |
Stanley Trahern |
Dodge City, KS |
31.86 |
64 |
65 |
Ben Gitgood |
Woodward, OK |
31.96 |
65 |
66 |
Vester VanSickle |
Hutchinson, KS |
31.97 |
66 |
67 |
Al Taft |
Denver, CO |
31.98 |
67 |
68 |
Melvin Herrell |
Hutchinson, KS |
32.00 |
68 |
69 |
Gil Storey |
Wichita, KS |
32.01 |
69 |
70 |
Ron Nicholson |
Larned, KS |
32.15 |
70 |
71 |
T. J. Newman |
Wichita, KS |
32.16 |
71 |
72 |
Roy Andrews |
Wichita, KS |
32.20 |
72 |
73 |
Ernie Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
32.26 |
73 |
74 |
Dean Sisson |
Hutchinson, KS |
32.33 |
74 |
75 |
Jim Holland |
Hutchinson, KS |
32.40 |
75 |
76 |
Red Siems |
Hutchinson, KS |
32.40 |
76 |
77 |
Duane Culley |
Hutchinson, KS |
32.44 |
77 |
78 |
Bill Halley |
Wichita, KS |
32.59 |
78 |
79 |
Jim Curley |
Hutchinson, KS |
32.64 |
79 |
80 |
Tod White |
Wichita, KS |
32.88 |
80 |
81 |
Francis Hoppenstedt |
Abilene, KS |
32.90 |
81 |
82 |
Paul Grumbein |
Dighton, KS |
33.00 |
82 |
83 |
Lloyd Mart |
Hutchinson, KS |
33.10 |
83 |
84 |
Don Kiser |
Wichita, KS |
33.10 |
84 |
85 |
Leroy Powell |
Great Bend, KS |
33.40 |
85 |
86 |
Mike Bogner |
Hutchinson, KS |
33.54 |
86 |
87 |
Milton Luft |
Ellsworth, KS |
33.66 |
87 |
88 |
Bud Hutson |
Ponca City, OK |
33.92 |
88 |
89 |
Mack McIntosh |
Sedgwick, KS |
34.70 |
89 |
90 |
Buddy Carroll |
Wichita, KS |
34.84 |
90 |
91 |
Willie Hershberg |
Great Bend, KS |
35.47 |
91 |
92 |
Glen Watkins |
Hutchinson, KS |
NT |
92 |
|
Jim Roper |
Newton, KS |
NT |
According to a handwritten notation by Nut Cokeley on his copy of the time trial list above, Jack Walker was replaced in his car by Harold Leep.
According to a handwritten notations by Dorothy (Mrs. Clarence) Cokeley and by Donna (Mrs. Gene) Coffman on their copies of the time trial list above, Casson Lyons of Smith Center, Kansas was actually Bill Nave of Lyons, Kansas while another sources says he was M. Casson of Smith Center, Kansas.
Although Spain turned in the 4th quickest time, it wasn’t set until after he had rolled his car over on its roof during a warm up period.
Watkins suffered a broken jaw when he spun into the fence during a warm up period.
Sisson rolled his car during warm-up laps but was able to repair it in time to participate in time trials.
#16 Gene Potts of Great Bend, Kansas in line to have his car inspected before checking into the pits for time trials on this morning at the Kansas State Fairgrounds – Cokeley collection
Lined up for Time Trials on Saturday
The sticky paper numbers were not applied until the next morning so the car on the racetrack is the #14 of Ralph Cole. That is Bob Thackery standing at left visiting with Forrest Coleman in the Ernie McCoy owned #4A. The #44 is Will Forrest in the second Ernie McCoy owned car. The car at right was the #32 of K. O. Christian – Mike McCoy collection
Mack McIntosh of Sedgwick, Kansas is shown here receiving the white flag from starter Ted Davis during time trials. His time of 34.70 seconds was only the 88th quickest time of the day - Hutchinson News photo
This is the seal that officials put on the engine in Nut Cokeley’s car |
Seals from the Cokeley collection |
This is the seal that officials put on the gas tank in Nut Cokeley’s car |
The race cars were to be brought to the racetrack with no fuel in them on this date. Officials then filled the gas tanks with gasoline, ran a copper wire around the tank and cap, drew the wire tight, and sealed it with a lead seal. The engines were then inspected. If they passed inspection, a copper wire was then run around the engine encompassing the oil pan, heads, intake manifold, and carburetor. That wire was also drawn tight and sealed with another lead seal. The cars were then inspected again at the conclusion of the races. If either the wires or the seals were tampered with the car was disqualified. |
Nut Cokeley’s pit pass – Cokeley collection |
1 The official program did not list a 13th position in time trials skipping from 12th to 14th position instead.
2 Kenneth Ovid “K. O.” Christian (1914-1961) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Wichita, Kansas.
3 Don Lytle (c1932-1961) was fatally injured one year later in the National Jalopy Championship races at Hutchinson.
4 Richard M. “Dick” Hendershot (1925-1976) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Salina, Kansas.
5 Listed car numbers were assigned for this day only and were applied to the cars on sticky paper after time trials.
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