Sprint Car Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Wednesday – September 19, 1962
Sanctioned by – International Motor Contest Association (I.M.C.A.)
Promotional company – Auto Racing Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Race Promoter – Frank R. Winkley of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Scorekeeper – Verna Winkley of Minneapolis, Minnesota
First Heat Race –7 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
Jerry Richert |
Forrest Lake, Minnesota |
|
2 |
Gordon Woolley |
Waco, Texas |
|
3 |
Gordon Herring* |
Golden, Colorado |
|
4 |
Charlie Lutkie |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
Bill Billingsley |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
Billingsley spun into the fence while warming up for this race.
Second Heat Race – 8 Cars – 8 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
Pete Folse |
Tampa, Florida |
3:24.18 |
2 |
Sonny Helms** |
Des Moines, Iowa |
|
3 |
Roger Lane |
Blue Springs, Missouri |
|
4 |
Sonny McDaniels |
Houston, Texas |
|
5 |
Walt “Duke” Wyrembek |
Los Angeles, California |
|
6 |
Larry Cahill |
Iowa City, Iowa |
|
7 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
8 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
Lane spun out in the southeast turn in this race but all of the other cars missed him and he was able to join the field on the restart.
Australian Pursuit – 10 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
|
1 |
Sonny McDaniels |
Houston, Texas |
|
2 |
Gordon Herring* |
Golden, Colorado |
|
|
Roger Lane |
Blue Springs, Missouri |
DNF |
Lane spun out in the northeast turn in this race and the caution flag was out until his car could be removed from the racetrack. All competitors except McDaniels and Herring were eliminated within the first five laps. McDaniels had started far back in the pack to cross the finish line 50 yards ahead of Herring.
Consolation Race – 7 Cars – 7 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
Newton "Buzz" Rose |
Los Angeles, California |
3:00.27 |
2 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
3 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
4 |
Walt “Duke” Wyrembek |
Los Angeles, California |
|
5 |
Ted Ready |
St. Paul, Minnesota |
|
6 |
Larry Cahill |
Iowa City, Iowa |
|
7 |
Bill Billingsley |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
Feature Race – 15 Cars – 20 Laps
Place |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
Pete Folse |
Tampa, Florida |
8:52.39 |
2 |
Gordon Woolley |
Waco, Texas |
|
3 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
4 |
Jerry Richert |
Forrest Lake, Minnesota |
|
5 |
Newton "Buzz" Rose |
Los Angeles, California |
|
6 |
Sonny McDaniels |
Houston, Texas |
|
7 |
Roger Lane |
Blue Springs, Missouri |
|
8 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
9 |
Charlie Lutkie |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
10 |
Walt “Duke” Wyrembek |
Los Angeles, California |
|
11 |
Bill Billingsley |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
12 |
Roy Walker |
Colorado Springs, Colorado |
|
13 |
Gordon Herring* |
Golden, Colorado |
|
14 |
Sonny Helms** |
Des Moines, Iowa |
|
15 |
Larry Cahill |
Iowa City, Iowa |
|
Folse lead every lap of this race to finish 1/8 mile ahead of second place Woolley. All of the front running cars chose the high groove and ran very close to the outside fence throughout this race with some even bumping it slightly at times.
Mechanic Don Sheppard told Rose that the high groove would be the fastest way around the racetrack. Rose had been running the low groove all day and had his doubts but he let Sheppard persuade him to put knobby tires on the Diz Wilson owned car and give it a try. It was a good decision and turned out to be Rose’s best race of the afternoon.
Singer Jimmy Dean at left makes a presentation to Pete Folse at right during this race program with race promoter Frank Winkley looking on - I.M.C.A. yearbook
Jerry Richert Jerry Richert, Jr. collection |
Harold Leep Mauck photo from the Petty collection |
Pete Folse Bob Mays collection |
Charlie Lutkie Charlie Lutkie collection |
Roy Walker Leroy Byers photo from the book Big Car THUNDER by Bob Mays |
Gordon Woolley Texas Speedzone |
Duke Wyrembek Mauck photo from the Petty collection |
Gordon Herring L. A. Ward photo from the book Big Car THUNDER by Bob Mays |
Dale Reed L. A. Ward photo from the book Big Car THUNDER by Bob Mays |
Sonny Helms Lou Ash photo from the book Big Car THUNDER by Bob Mays |
Buzz Rose Lou Ash photo from the book Big Car THUNDER by Bob Mays |
Bill Billingsley Armin Krueger photo from the book Big Car THUNDER by Bob Mays |
Gordon Woolley
Leroy Byers photo from the book
Big Car THUNDER by Bob Mays
* Gordon Kenneth Herring (1920-1964) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Owatonna, Minnesota.
** Max “Sonny” Helms (1927-1964) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Bloomfield, Iowa.
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