“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.  Hes 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 - Sportsmans 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

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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