“Straight Jalopy” and “Chopped Jalopy” Races
a.k.a. Jalopy and Rail Races or just as Jalopy Races
Sportsman Park - Oakley, Kansas
Sunday Afternoon - September 4, 1960
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – September 1, 1960 – Front Page:
Try For More Cars in Races
The official starter, a Great Bend man, is supposed to bring along jalopy entries in races here Sunday. He’s promised Junior of Chamber of Commerce members that additional help with fellow Great Benders adding to the field.
Also helping is a $300 purse. Local drivers will be entered in the races with time trials beginning at 1:30 p.m. and races at 2 p.m.
ACTION - THRILLS - SPILLS
JALOPY RACES
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Grandstand - Sportsman’s Park
1:30 Time Trials . . . 2 p.m., Races
Two hour jalopy program of thrills
At Least 15 Cars Expected . . . More. Better
$300 GUARANTEED PURSE
EIGHT RACES
Including A & B features, Australian pursuit, the main event
Sponsored by
The Oakley Junior Chamber of Commerce
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Gene Coffman’s admission ticket Coffman collection |
Jalopy Feature Race Winner Gene Coffman of Liberal, Kansas (right) with the Jalopy’s Wwner Bob Lorenz of WaKeeney, Kansas
This car was originally built for Coffman to drive by Merle Trahern of Sublette, Kansas. In 1960, Trahern sold the car to Pat Patterson and Glen McKenzie who put driver Bill Haviland behind the wheel. Lorenz then purchased the car from Patterson and McKenzie. Lorenz kept Haviland as driver for a short time before replacing him with Coffman. Later, Lorenz got Clarence “Nut” Cokeley to drive this car for him. Lorenz then sold the car to Laverne Owens and Andy McKinley who both served stints as the car’s driver – Coffman collection
Rail Time Trials – 5 Cars – 1 Lap
Place |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Time |
1 |
88 |
Paul Garrett |
Oakley, Kansas |
27.9 |
2 |
24A |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
29.0 |
3 |
43 |
Jay Woodside |
Wichita, Kansas |
29.0 |
4 |
22 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
29.6 |
5 |
54 |
David Ross |
Jetmore, Kansas |
31.0 |
#43 was owned by Pius Selenke of Wichita, Kansas.
#22 was owned by Bob Salem of Dodge City, Kansas.
#54 was owned by David Ross of Jetmore, Kansas.
Jalopy Time Trials – 11 Cars – 1 Lap
Place |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Time |
1 |
16 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, Kansas |
29.6 |
2 |
4 |
Don Lytle |
Culbertson, Nebraska |
29.9 |
3 |
31F |
Bob Buchholz |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
30.5 |
4 |
39A |
Milton Luft |
Great Bend, Kansas |
31.0 |
5 |
21 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, Kansas |
35.8 |
6 |
1 |
Dennis Scheetz |
Oakley, Kansas |
NT |
7 |
75 |
Phil Simmons |
Norton, Kansas |
NT |
8 |
97 |
Howard Cochran |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
NT |
9 |
99 |
Barney Morrison |
Great Bend, Kansas |
NT |
10 |
5 |
John Small |
Franklin, Nebraska |
NT |
11 |
69 |
Andy McKinley |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
NT |
#4 was a Chevrolet coupe known as the “Little Jewel”. It was owned by a group of men from McCook, Nebraska.
#31F was owned by Bob Buchholz of WaKeeney, Kansas.
#21 and #97 were both owned by Bob Lorenz of WaKeeney, Kansas.
#75 was a Ford coupe owned by Lee Barnhill of Kensington, Kansas.
#69 was a Ford coupe owned by Fritz Glassman of Oakley, Kansas.
First Heat Race – Rails – 5 Cars – 8 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
88 |
Paul Garrett |
Oakley, Kansas |
5 |
2 |
24A |
Paul Befort |
Garden City, Kansas |
4 |
3 |
43 |
Jay Woodside |
Wichita, Kansas |
3 |
4 |
54 |
David Ross |
Jetmore, Kansas |
1 |
DNF |
22 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
2 |
Second Heat Race – Jalopies – 6 Cars – 8 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
16 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, Kansas |
6 |
2 |
75 |
Phil Simmons |
Norton, Kansas |
3 |
3 |
4 |
Don Lytle |
Culbertson, Nebraska |
5 |
4 |
31F |
Bob Buchholz |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
2 |
5 |
1 |
Dennis Scheetz |
Oakley, Kansas |
4 |
6 |
39A |
Milton Luft |
Great Bend, Kansas |
1 |
Third Heat Race – Jalopies – 5 Cars – 8 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
21 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, Kansas |
1 |
2 |
97 |
Howard Cochran |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
3 |
3 |
69 |
Andy McKinley |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
2 |
4 |
5 |
John Small |
Franklin, Nebraska |
5 |
DNF |
99 |
Barney Morrison |
Great Bend, Kansas |
4 |
Small’s car spun out on the last lap but he was able to keep it running and completed the race.
Trophy Dash – Rails – 4 Cars – 5 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
88 |
Paul Garrett |
Oakley, Kansas |
1 |
2 |
24A |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
2 |
3 |
43 |
Jay Woodside |
Wichita, Kansas |
3 |
DNF |
22 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
4 |
Trophy Dash – Jalopies – 3 Cars – 5 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
75 |
Phil Simmons |
Norton, Kansas |
2 |
2 |
16 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, Kansas |
1 |
3 |
1 |
Dennis Scheetz |
Oakley, Kansas |
3 |
Grudge Race – Rails – 4 Cars – 5 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
22 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
1 |
2 |
43 |
Jay Woodside |
Wichita, Kansas |
4 |
3 |
24A |
Paul Befort |
Garden City, Kansas |
3 |
DNF |
54 |
David Ross |
Jetmore, Kansas |
2 |
This race paid a total of $20 in prize money split up between the first two finishers.
Consolation Race – Jalopies – 4 Cars – 8 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
1 |
Dennis Scheetz |
Oakley, Kansas |
4 |
2 |
39A |
Milton Luft |
Great Bend, Kansas |
2 |
3 |
99 |
Barney Morrison |
Great Bend, Kansas |
1 |
DNF |
31F |
Bob Buchholz |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
3 |
Feature Race – Rails – 4 Cars – 6 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
24A |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
2 |
2 |
22 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
4 |
3 |
43 |
Jay Woodside |
Wichita, Kansas |
3 |
DNF |
88 |
Paul Garrett |
Oakley, Kansas |
1 |
Feature Race – Jalopies – 10 Cars – 10 Laps
Finish |
Car # |
Name |
From |
Started |
1 |
21 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, Kansas |
1 |
2 |
75 |
Phil Simmons |
Norton, Kansas |
8 |
3 |
16 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, Kansas |
10 |
4 |
97 |
Howard Cochran |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
3 |
5 |
31F |
Bob Buchholz |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
7 |
6 |
69 |
Andy McKinley |
WaKeeney, Kansas |
2 |
7 |
1 |
Dennis Scheetz |
Oakley, Kansas |
9 |
8 |
39A |
Milton Luft |
Great Bend, Kansas |
6 |
9 |
5 |
John Small |
Franklin, Nebraska |
5 |
10 |
99 |
Barney Morrison |
Great Bend, Kansas |
4 |
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – September 8, 1960 – Page 4:
Big Crowd Sees Lots of Action
Sixteen jalopy drivers participated in races here Sunday before an overflow crowd. It was the best turnout of drivers and fans yet, sponsoring Junior Chamber of Commerce said.
Paul Garrett, local driver, placed first in the trophy dash and first in the Class A (rail) heat. Garrett was running first in the feature race until (the last lap of the race when) he (spun out and) went off the track.
The Oakley driver (spun out and) crashed into the only tree near the track (at the southeast corner) after he crossed the finish line in the dash. Nine stitches were taken in his nose.
Another local driver, Dennis Scheetz, placed 4th in the feature race.
Next races here will be September 18th.
Howard Cochran of WaKeeney, Kansas with the jalopy he drove in these races. It was owned by Bob Lorenz also of WaKeeney – Coffman collection
Andy McKinley of WaKeeney, Kansas – Bob Buchholz collection
Gene Potts of Great Bend, Kansas both owned and drove this jalopy when it raced at Oakley – Schrater family collection
Return to the History of Automobile Racing at Oakley, Kansas home page