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