Tenth Annual National Modified Jalopy Championship Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

Hutchinson, Kansas

Sunday – July 31, 1966

 

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

Race Director – Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas

Starter / Flagman – Al Alexander of Wichita, Kansas

National Jalopy Trophy Queen – Peggy Vratil of Larned, Kansas

 

Attendance – 15,200 plus “more than 2,000 fans had to be turned away”

 

Henry Ellington is shown here getting the checkered flag from starter Al Alexander to win the 50-lap National Championship Race on this afternoon.  The car was owned by Angel Construction Company of Hutchinson – Hutchinson News photo 

 

 

 

 

Pinky Mullens

Bob Mays collection

 

Forrest Coleman

National Jalopy Championship program

 

Don Spreier

Cokeley collection

 

Ed Schauf

Bob Mays collection

 

David Ross

Bob Mays collection

 

Forrest Coleman

Hutchinson Nationals Program

 

Don Spreier

Dodge City Globe

 

Bill Curless

Bob Mays collection

 

Lee Salmans

Dodge City Globe

 

Bob Peck

High Plains THUNDER  by Bob Mays

 

Garry Abell

Racing from the Past website

 

Billy Patton, Sr.

Kristi Truboulie collection

Racing from the Past website

 

 First Heat Race – 10 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

1

00

Benny Taylor

Tulsa, Oklahoma

2

20

Pinky Mullens

Wichita, Kansas

3

52

Mike Niffenegger

Kalona, Iowa

 

44

Ray Riner

Wichita, Kansas

 

02

Bob Wills

Enid, Oklahoma

 

35

Jerry Reed

Wichita, Kansas

 

81

Bill Martinson

McPherson, Kansas

 

07

John Beeson

Scott City, Kansas

 

83

Alvin Riley

Medora, Kansas

 

62

Bill Curless

Arkansas City, Kansas

 

35

Jerry Reed

Wichita, Kansas

 

86

Jay Schrock

Hutchinson, Kansas

 

72

Bud Haehn

Wichita, Kansas

 

20

Pinky Mullens

Wichita, Kansas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Heat Race – 10 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

1

2

Buddy Cagle

Tulsa, Oklahoma

2

8

Garry Abell

Salina, Kansas

3

09

John McGee

Dodge City, Kansas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third Heat Race – 10 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

1

57

Harold Leep

Wichita, Kansas

2

54

David Ross

Jetmore, Kansas

3

00

Billy Patton, Sr.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth Heat Race – 10 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

1

88

Don Spreier

Larned, Kansas

2

4

Forrest Coleman

Wichita, Kansas

3

97

Bill Nelson

Wichita, Kansas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trophy Dash – 5 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Time

  1

54

David Ross

Jetmore, Kansas

2:05.0

  2

57

Harold Leep

Wichita, Kansas

 

  3

2

Buddy Cagle

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

  4

4

Forrest Coleman

Wichita, Kansas

 

  5

88

Don Spreier

Larned, Kansas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semi–Nationals Race – 30 Laps 

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Purse

1

8X

Herb Copeland

Dodge City, Kansas

$451.00

2

2

Buddy Cagle

Tulsa, Oklahoma

267.90

3

09

John McGee

Dodge City, Kansas

180.00

4

135

Bud Lindstrom

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

160.00

5

00

Benny Taylor

Tulsa, Oklahoma

140.00

DNF

07

John Beeson

Scott City, Kansas

 

DNF

73

Bob Peck

Manhattan, Kansas

 

DNF

 

Bob Criner

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

DNF

52

Mike Niffenegger

Kalona, Iowa

 

According to newspaper reports, cars driven Beeson, Peck, and Criner crashed together in the south turn on the 4th lap however Criner’s name does not appear on the time trial sheets indicating that this may have been an error.

          Before the race could be stopped for that incident, Niffenegger’s car crashed through the fence in the northwest turn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Championship Race – 50 Laps

Place

Car #

Driver

From

Purse

  1

76

Henry Ellington

Hutchinson, Kansas

$1,139.50

  2

71

Dale Case

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

518.00

  3

88

Don Spreier

Larned, Kansasq

457.00

  4

62

Bill Curless

Arkansas City, Kansas

300.00

  5

99

Ed Schauf

Wichita, Kansas

200.00

  6

150

Cleman Humphrey

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

182.00

  7

4

Forrest Coleman

Wichita, Kansas

170.00

  8

10

Leland Salmans

Larned, Kansas

160.00

  9

31

Leon Spain

Manhattan, Kansas

150.00

10

34

Walt Pickard

Pueblo, Colorado

140.00

DNF

57

Harold Leep

Wichita, Kansas

212.00

DNF

55

Frank Lies

Wichita, Kansas

 

          Schauf was the race’s early leader before he was passed by Ellington.  Schauf and Lies were involved in a minor accident that caused Lies to have to drop out of the race.  Ellington then slid high on the racetrack in the southwest turn and that let Leep by.  Leep built up a half lap lead and led until the next to the last lap when his engine quit allowing Ellington to again regain the lead which held to the end.  At the end, Ellington had lapped all but second place finisher Case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This photo of Jerry Everhart of Wichita, Kansas with Lawrence Miller’s coupe was taken the morning of these races at Hutchinson.  Miller, from Arkansas City, Kansas, had selected Everhart to be his driver in an attempt to win an unprecedented fourth straight Hutchinson Nationals title as a car owner – Everhart family collection

 

 Frank Lies on the Hutchinson racetrack lining up the Kenny Riffel owned #55 for one of the races on this day - Lies collection

 

#22 at left was driven by Bob Salem of Dodge City, Kansas; the #47 second from left was owned by Rocky Rockhold and driven by Dick Walker both of Arkansas City, Kansas; and the gold over white 1934 Ford coupe #50 third from left was driven by Bob Reynolds of Oklahoma City and sponsored by Reynolds Automotive of Edmond, Oklahoma – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

This photo was taken about the same time as the photo below.  The yellow #21 sedan in the background at right was driven by Charlie Lutkie of Wichita, Kansas – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

#6 was owned and driven by Joe Lehman of Denver, Colorado.  The yellow #21 sedan in the background at right was driven by Charlie Lutkie of Wichita.  The #7 just to the left of the orange van was owned by Lawrence Miller of Arkansas City, Kansas and driven by Jerry Everhart of Wichita – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The next six photographs were taken with the camera panning slightly to the left after each photo.  Car #54 was driven by David Ross of Jetmore, Kansas – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The #58 coupe in the center of this photo was driven by Mel Montgomery of Wichita, Kansas.  The car just on the other side of the #58 is the #4 that was owned by Ernie McCoy and driven by Forrest Coleman.  The #6x at left was driven by Bobby Laden of Oklahoma City – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The camera continued to pan to the left.  The #58 coupe in the foreground was driven by Mel Montgomery who had qualified 21st quickest in a field of 81 cars.  The car next to the #58 is the #4 owned by Ernie McCoy and driven by Forrest Coleman.  Coleman had qualified 20th fastest.  #6x was driven by Bobby Laden of Oklahoma City – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The camera continued to pan to the left.  This photo was taken just seconds from the time the photos above it were taken.  The white sedan #76 in the background in the left part of is photo was owned by the Angel Construction Company of Hutchinson and driven by Henry Ellington – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The #1 car was driven by H. A. Ratzlaff of Dodge City, Kansas.  Also visible in the background at right is the white #76 sedan driven by Henry Ellington of Hutchinson – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

 Car #1 was driven by H. A. Ratzlaff of Dodge City, Kansas – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

Car #1 H. A. Ratzlaff of Dodge City, Kansas – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The #9 coupe at left was driven by Ray Powell of Wichita, Kansas.  Note the rather volatile seating arrangements at right – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The red coupe #11 at right was owned by the Reiben family of Dodge City, Kansas and driven by Roy Bryant of Wichita.  The #97 at far right was owned by Larry Prather and driven by Bill Nelson of Wichita - Lyndon Greaney photo

 

This coupe was owned by Roger Nelson and driven by Walt Pickard.  Both men were from Pueblo, Colorado.  The car visible over the #34 car and outside of the tent is the #09 driven by John McGee of Dodge City, Kansas – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

#94 driven by Garry Fuller, Sr. of Salina, Kansas – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

This photo was taken as the cars were lined up for the first heat race and during the playing of the National Anthem.  Left to right are #62 Bill Curless of Arkansas City, Kansas; #35 Jerry Reed of Wichita, Kansas; #86 Jay Schrock of Hutchinson; #72 Bud Haehn of Wichita, Kansas and #20 Pinky Mullens of Wichita, KansasHaskard photo from the Curless family collection

 

This photo was taken seconds either before, or after the photo above was takenHaskard photo from the Curless family collection

 

The cars are shown lined up here for the start of the first heat race.  On the front row are #44 Ray Riner of Wichita and #02 Bob Wills of Enid, Oklahoma.  On the second row is #20 Pinky Mullens of Wichita.  In the third row is #81 Bill Martinson of McPherson, Kansas.  In the fourth row is #83 Alvin Riley of Medora, Kansas.  In the fifth row is #00 Benny Taylor of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  In the sixth row is #52 Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, IowaSchrater family collection

 

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This photo of the first heat race lineup was taken at about the same time the photo both above it.  #44 on the pole is Ray Riner; #02 on the outside of the front row is Bob Wills.  Click your mouse on this photo to see another taken within seconds of this photo – Lyndon Greaney photos

 

 This photo and the photo below show all but the first row of the starting lineup for the first heat race.  The official at far left is starter / flagman Al Alexander.  Click your mouse on this photo to see another photo of these same cars taken just a minute or so earlier – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The #44 coupe on the pole was driven by Ray Riner of Wichita, Kansas while the #02 on the outside of the front row was driven by Bob Wills of Enid, Oklahoma.  The car on the inside of the second row is the #20 driven by Pinky Mullens of Wichita.  The car on the inside of the third row is the #81 driven by Bill Martinson of McPherson, Kansas.  The car on the inside of the fourth row is the #83 driven by Alvin Riley of Medora, Kansas.  The car on the inside of the fifth row is the #00 driven by Benny Taylor of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The photo taken as the cars were preparing to start of the first heat race – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

This photo was taken on the pace lap for the first heat race of the day.  At left is #35 Jerry Reed of Wichita, Kansas.   The orange coupe to Reed’s left is the #81 driven by Bill Martinson.  The second car back on the inside is #83 Alvin Riley.  The third car back on the inside is the #00 of Benny Taylor – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

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This photo was also taken on the pace lap for the first heat race.  The #44 of Ray Riner is on the pole but the pink #20 driven by Pinky Mullens is now on the outside of the front row – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The field coming down for the start of the first hace.  That is #44 Ray Riner in the lead followed by #20 Pinky Mullens.  #02 Bob Wills can be seen out next to the fence in about fourth place – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

More heat race action – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

Even more heat race action.  Click your mouse on this photo to see another photo taken from the same location showing more heat race action - Lyndon Greaney photos

 

The #34 coupe was a six-cylinder Ford owned by Roger Nelson and driven by Walt Pickard, both of Pueblo, Colorado – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The #88 coupe was driven by Don Spreier of Larned, Kansas.  That is Ernie McCoy’s 1928 Moon coupe #4 at far right that was driven by Forrest Coleman of Wichita – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

That is Ernie McCoy’s #4 coupe at far right that was being driven by Forrest Coleman.  The #6x at left was driven by Bobby Laden of Oklahoma City – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The #88 coupe was owned by Paul Chance and driven by Don Spreier both of Larned, Kansas.  Spreier qualified 19th fastest of the 81 cars entered and then finished third in the feature race – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

 

This is still another photo of the #88 coupe owned by Paul Chance and driven by Don Spreier, both of Larned, Kansas.  The car to the right of the #88 is the #4 that was owned by Ernie McCoy of Arkansas City, Kansas and driven by Forrest Coleman of Wichita, Kansas.  The car on the other side of the #4 is the #58 that was driven by Mel Montgomery of Wichita, Kansas.  Click your mouse on this photo to see another of taken about the same time – Lyndon Greaney photos

 

This photo shows the 1928 Moon coupe #4 that was owned by Ernie McCoy of Arkansas City, Kansas and driven by Forrest Coleman of Wichita, Kansas.  The man kneeling near the right rear of the car appears to be Bob Thackery.  The crew referred to the high-backed seat in this car as being “Coleman’s Throne”.  The car on the other side of the #4 is the #58 that was driven by Mel Montgomery of Wichita, Kansas.  The car behind the #58 (under the trap) is the #34 driven by Walt Pickard of Pueblo, Colorado.  The black coupe in the background (to the right of the confederate flag) is the #09 driven by John McGee of Dodge City, Kansas.  The car to the right of that #09 car is the 1932 Chevrolet sedan #2 owned by Ray Cates and driven by Buddy Cagle, both of Tulsa, Oklahoma – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

This car is also visible in the photo just above and is the 1932 Chevrolet sedan #2 owned by Ray Cates and driven by Buddy Cagle, both from Tulsa, Oklahoma.Lyndon Greaney photo

 

This car is partly visible in the two photos just above and is the 1932 Chevrolet sedan #2 owned by Ray Cates and driven by Buddy Cagle, both from Tulsa, OklahomaHaskard photo from the Curless family collection

 

This #14 car was owned by Wylan Cattrell and driven by Grady Wade both of Wichita, Kansas.  The activity in the background is part of the trophy queen ceremonies.  The cars for that were provided by the Hutchinson Corvette Club – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

The car in the foreground is the #34 owned by Roger Nelson and driven by Walt Pickard, both of Pueblo, Colorado.  The car was powered by an in-line six-cylinder Ford engine.  The car in the background, at right, is #13.  No car with that number took a time trial however.  If you can identify that car or its driver, please contact Bob Lawrence at sprintguy @ cox.net – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

These are the heat race winners on this afternoon.  From left to right are: Benny Taylor, Buddy Cagle, Miss National Jalopy Peggy Vratil, unidentified Wynn’s representative, Harold Leep, and Don Spreier.  Click your mouse on the photo to see another of the same group taken just seconds after this one was taken – Photos from the J. D. Cormack collection

 

 

 Melvin Rogers of Oklahoma City watches the remainder of this race on this afternoon from a rather precarious perch after his #3 car “Goldfinger” stalled in the south turn.  That is #72 Bud Haehn of Wichita, Kansas passing by in Pat Sixk’s modified jalopy – Hutchinson News photo

 

Cars pulling away on the pace lap to start the second heat race.  The white sedan at right is the #188 of Bill Wilson.  The black #09 behind Wilson’s car was driven by John McGee – Lyndon Greaney photo

  

This phot was taken as the cars were being lined up for the 30-lap Semi-National race.  Car #86 was owned by Pat Haskard and driven by Jay Schrock, both of HutchinsonHaskard photo from the Curless family collection

 

Car #8X is seen here sitting on the racetrack after the trophy presentation for winning the 30-lap Semi-Nationals race on this day.  The car was owned by Evart Isaac and driven by Herb Copeland both of Dodge City, Kansas.  Copeland is shown standing in the foreground in front of the car – Lyndon Greaney photo

  

This phot was taken as the cars were being lined up for the 50-lap National championship race.  Car #34 at right was being driven by Walt Pickard of Pueblo, Colorado.  Car #87 in the center of the photo, was owned and driven by Bud Hatch of Yates Center, Kansas.  Car #14 shown directly behind Pickard’s car, was owned by Wylan Cattrell and driven by Grady Wade, both men being from Wichita, KansasHaskard photo from the Curless family collection

 

 #76 owned by the Angel Construction Company of Hutchinson and driven by Henry Ellington also of Hutchinson can be seen here streaking out of the southeast turn onto the back straightaway in route to victory in the 50-lap championship race.  The blue coupe sitting by itself in the infield was owned by George Hibbs and driven by Bill Bookout both of Wichita.  The #6 at far left was owned and driven by Joe Lehman of Denver, Colorado – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

#57 Harold Leep was leading the 50-lap championship race with only one lap remaining when his engine expired - Lies collection

 

The crowd is shown here gathering around Henry Ellington and the #76 Angel Construction Company car after he won the 50-lap championship race – Lyndon Greaney photo

 

Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page

 

 

 

 


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