Automobile Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

 Hutchinson, Kansas

Saturday, October 9, 1920

 

 

“The American Legion Motor Racing Carnival”

Sponsored by – Lysle H. Rishel Post, American Legion, Hutchinson, Kansas

Racing committee chairman – Frank Knight

Admission – $1.00 

 

 

 

Leonard Kerbs

in his Ford

Don Radbruch collection

Fred Lentz

in his Hudson

Hutchinson Gazette photo

Merle Warren

in his Essex

Wichita Eagle photo

Al Koepke

in his Ford

Jeff Adams collection

 

 

 

Entry List

Driver

From

Automobile

Harold Roller 9

Abilene, Kansas

Ford Special

Leonard Kerbs 10

Otis, Kansas

Ford

Johnny Lee

Wichita, Kansas

Dodge

Jake Strickler

Enid, Oklahoma

Hudson

James I. “Toots” Higgins 6

Newton, Kansas

Hudson Special

Fred Lentz 11

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson

Elmer J. Negy 1

Hutchinson, Kansas

Haynes

Merle Warren

Newton, Kansas

Essex

Al Koepke

Topeka, Kansas

Ford

Earl Baker

Hutchinson, Kansas

Studebaker

George Gass 5

Hutchinson, Kansas

Ford #22

Jeff Crafford

Hutchinson, Kansas

Ford #23

Ralph Gamble 7

Hutchinson, Kansas

Oakland

Bud Strong 4

Hutchinson, Kansas

Laurel Ford

Bill Bryant

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson “Super-Six” Special

Guss Dobrinski 2

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hupmobile

_____  Davis

Hutchinson, Kansas

Davis Special

_____  Roberts

Hutchinson, Kansas

Studebaker

Tommy Rayl

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson Special

Johnny Mais 3

Salina, Kansas

Essex

J. U. Brasier

Hutchinson, Kansas

Fiat

Murl Wilson

Hutchinson, Kansas

Essex

_____  Cline

Hutchinson, Kansas 

Ford

Paul Herschberger 8

Hutchinson, Kansas

Haynes

Frank Chacon 12

Wichita, Kansas

Ford

 

 

 

Time Trials – 2 Laps

This is an incomplete list

Place

Driver

From

Automobile

Time

1 - Tie

Johnny Mais 3

Salina, Kansas

Essex

1:09.4

2

Murl Wilson

Hutchinson, Kansas 

Essex

1:15.0

2

Paul Herschberger 8

Hutchinson, Kansas

Haynes

1:15.0

2

_____  Cline

Hutchinson, Kansas 

Ford

1:15.0

 

 

 

First Heat Race – 10 Laps

For the 5 fastest cars from Reno County, Kansas in time trials

Place

Driver

From

Automobile

Time

1

Bill Bryant

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson “Super-Six” Special

6:11.8

2

Murl Wilson

Hutchinson, Kansas

Essex

 

3

James I. “Toots” Higgins 6

Newton, Kansas

Hudson Special

 

 

Tommy Rayl

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson Special

 

Tommy Rayl challenged Bryant for a short time before the latter pulled away to a decisive victory.

 

 

 

Second Heat Race – 10 Laps

For the 5 slowest cars from Reno County, Kansas in time trials

Place

Driver

From

Automobile

Time

1

George Gass

Hutchinson, Kansas

Ford #22

6:26.8

2

_____  Cline

Hutchinson, Kansas

Ford

 

3

­­­­­ Ralph Gamble 7

Hutchinson, Kansas

Oakland

 

 

 

 

Reno County Open – 20 Laps

Open to any car from Reno County, Kansas

Place

Driver

From

Automobile

Time

1

Fred Lentz 11

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson “Super-Six” Special

12:07.8

2

Paul Herschberger 8

Hutchinson, Kansas

Haynes

 

3

­­­­­Ralph Gamble 7

Hutchinson, Kansas

Oakland

 

 

_____  Cline

Hutchinson, Kansas

Ford

 

Lentz drove the same Hudson “Super-Six” Special that Bill Bryant drove to victory in the first 10-lap heat race.

Cline crashed through the south turn fence.  He was uninjured and his Ford suffered little damage.

 

 

 

Free-for-All Sweepstakes – 30 Laps

Place

Driver

From

Automobile

Time

Purse

1

Harold Roller 9

Abilene, Kansas

Ford Special

17:47.4

$300

2

Johnny Lee

Wichita, Kansas

Dodge

 

  200

3

Jake Strickler

Enid, Oklahoma

Hudson

 

  100

DNF

Johnny Mais 3

Salina, Kansas

Esses

 

 

Harold Roller lapped some of the competitors twice in the 30 laps.  Johnny Lee was Roller’s only real competition after Johnny Mais dropped out with a flat tire.

 

 

 

Race Officials:

Promoter

Frank Knight

Starter

 -

Frank Knight

Flagman

 -

Frank Knight

Timer

 -

Albert Teed

Timer

 -

Dr. H. G. Welsh

Timer

 -

Walter Soden

Judge

 -

Harry H. Taylor

Judge

 -

Ray Hockaday

Judge

 -

Lloyd Brown

 

 

 

Bud Strong

in his Ford

The Accessory and Garage Journal, Vol. 10

Harold Roller

in his Ford

Bob Mays collection

Frank Chacon

in front of his Ford

Bob Mays collection

 

 

 

1 Elmer John Negy (1891-1985)

 

2 Guss Dobrinski (1885-1948) owned a Hupmobile dealership in Hutchinson, Kansas.  He moved to Arizona in 1927 and lived there for the remainder of his live.  He is buried in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

3 John Anton “Johnny” Mais (1888-1961) competed in the Indianapolis “500” in 1915.

 

4 Ancel “Bud” Strong (1893-1952)

 

5 George William Gass (1894-1943)

 

6 James Irving “Toots” Higgins (1895-1947)

 

7 Ralph Dewey Gamble (1898-1971)

 

8 Paul Obee Herschberger (1892-1972)

 

9 Harold Stanley “Doc” Roller (1893-1964)

 

10 Leonard E. Kerbs (1895-1960)

 

11 Fred Sherman Lentz (1885-1952)

 

12 Francisco Pauda “Frank” Chacon (1902-1990)

 

13 Guy Murl Wilson (1893-1945)

 

 

 

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