MEMORIAL DAY May 31, 1954
Winfield Daily Courier Thursday, May 27, 1954 Memorial Day Races to Attract Large Crowds at Fairgrounds Monday The biggest sporting event in this part of the country over the Memorial Day Holidays will be the auto races at the Winfield fairgrounds on Monday.      Last season, the largest crowds ever assembled in the big grandstand attended the racing programs held on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day under the sponsorship of the Winfield Lions club and the racing programs offered were among the best seen in the tri-state area.      Joe Collins, who is working with the Lions club members, is lining up the cars and drivers, helping to arrange the program, reports that 50 to 60 racing cars are expected to be on hand for the races here next Monday afternoon. Three Champions      Drivers and cars from Winfield, Arkansas City, Wichita, Newton, Salina, Oklahoma City, Enid, and Alva have signified intention of participating.      Three state champions are expected to be on hand, all in competition and trying for other winnings to their credit.  They are Bill Mears, 1952 Kansas champion; Charlie Lutkie, 1951 Kansas champion, and Will Forrest, 1953 Oklahoma champion.      Joe Collins and Bud Webster of Winfield will have entries in the racing events.  Collins is the owner of a fast machine which so far this season has won three out of five big events in which it has been driven.      Johnny Autrey of Enid will be on hand again this year to start the races.  Time Trials are scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.  and the races at 2 p.m. Results of the races run on May 31, 1954: Will Forrest, pictured below, of Wichita, drove a car owned by Joe Collins, of Winfield to victory in his heat race, the trophy dash, and the A Feature race.
Alva (Oklahoma) Review-Courier Thursday, June 3, 1954, Page 5: Up at Winfield Decoration Day, Max Ritter*, driving Edd Sneary's #0 Ford, won the B feature in a race that started over twenty cars.  The track was very wet as it had rained that night before and as the cars thundered around the track and began to spin out, Ritter showed his smartness by setting a steady pace and then pushed down on the throttle in the closing stages as the track began to dry from constant use. *Max Ritter, of Waynoka, Oklahoma won $205 in prize money at Winfield that day, half of which went to the car owners Edd and Lyle Sneary, of Alva, Oklahoma.
Will Forrest with Joe Collins’ #43 Hudson – Bill Collins collection
Lining Up for One of the Races Car #101 was a 1936 Ford sedan.  The 1934 Ford coupe #44 was owned by Bert Stoner, of Clearwater, Kansas.  The #2 sedan was driven by Rilley Hill, also of Wichita.  The #8 coupe was owned by Lawrence Brooks, of Arkansas City, Kansas.  Can you identify any of the other owners or drivers of these cars?  If so, please contact Bob Lawrence at: sprintguy @ cox.net
Racing on the Front Straight-Away at Winfield J. D. Cox, of Wichita, Kansas goes to the inside in his Red Forshee owned #80 Ford coupe to pass the 1934 Ford coupe #35 that was owned by Allen Carter, of Arkansas City, Kansas and driven on this day by Melvin Cattrell, of Wichita, Kansas.
Literally on the Edges of Their Seats      Spectators at Winfield got an unobstructed view of the action.  Bob Newman of Wichita, Kansas started this race from the pole position in the Pat Lucas owned #57 coupe while J. D. Cox also of Wichita, started outside of the front row in the Red Forshee owned #80 Ford coupe.  Outside of the second row starter was John McGee of Wichita in the Harry Prater owned #34.  Inside of the third row starter was Max Ritter of Waynoka, Oklahoma in the Sneary brothers' 1934 Ford 5-window coupe #0.  Outside third row starter was Bud Webster of Winfield in the #8-Ball Hudson sedan while outside fifth row starter was Larry Hall of Wichita in a light green sedan #64.  Ralph Cole started outside of the sixth row in the Bob Knox owned 1932 Ford coupe #14. Note the car inside the rodeo arena at the right in this photo. Speakers were mounted on the roof of that car and that served as the public address system. The announcer was Bert Deck who owned the car and speakers.
Return to page one of the History of Auto Racing at Winfield website.