Automobile Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

 Hutchinson, Kansas

Wednesday, September 20, 1916

 

Race Promoter – Huff Doward

 

 

Part of the huge crowd is visible in this very poor photo.  9,500 people crowded the grandstands and infield to see these races.  Many more watched from roof tops and other precarious places.  It was said to be the largest crowd that ever saw a Wednesday afternoon program at the Kansas State Fair.  A large rut developed in the south turn of the racetrack that bothered the drivers and affected speeds.  Dust was not a problem until the final race of the dayPhoto from the Dodge City Daily Globe newspaper

 

Time Trials – 1 Lap

Place

Driver

Automobile

 

Time

1

Cliff Woodbury

Duesenberg

 

35.4

2

Louis LeCocq

Briscoe

 

36.0

3

Sig Haugdahl

Mercer

 

37.0

 

Russell George “Buddy” Marr

Marr Special

 

 

 

Dave Koetzla

Case 47

 

 

 

Eddie Hearne

Briscoe

 

 

 

Art Klein

Maxwell

 

 

 

Match Race – 10 Laps

 Place

Driver

Automobile

 

Time

1

Louis LeCocq

Briscoe

 

6:22.4

2

Dave Koetzla

Case 47

 

 

            This race was run for “purse and metal”.

 

First Heat Race – 6 Laps from a standing start

 Place

Driver

Automobile

Purse

Time

1

Eddie Hearne

Briscoe

$100

4:02.4

2

Cliff Woodbury

Duesenberg

     50

 

3

Sig Haugdahl

Mercer

 

 

4

Art Klein

Maxwell

 

 

 

Exhibition Run against Time – 2 Laps

Automobile

Time

“Ford Champion Baby Auto Racer”

1:18.0

 

Australian Pursuit – 10 Laps – 5 Cars

Place

Driver

Automobile

Purse

Time

1

Eddie Hearne

Briscoe

$100

6:14.6

2

Louis LeCocq

Briscoe

     50

 

3

Sig Haugdahl

Mercer

 

 

4

Cliff Woodbury

Duesenberg

 

 

5

Dave Koetzla

Case 47

 

 

            Each car was eliminated as it was passed.  Woodbury first passed Koetzla but was eliminated himself when he was passed by LeCocq.  LaCocq then passed Haugdahl and set out after Hearne coming up just ˝ car length short on at the end of the tenth lap.

 

Exhibition Runs Against Time – 2 Laps

Place

Driver

Automobile

 

Time

1

Louis LeCocq

Briscoe

 

1:12.4

2

Eddie Hearne

Briscoe

 

1:13.0

             

Free-For-All – 10 Laps

 Place

Driver

Automobile

 

Time

1

Eddie Hearne

Briscoe

 

6:14.2

2

Louis LeCocq

Briscoe

 

 

3

Cliff Woodbury

Duesenberg

 

 

4

Sig Haugdahl

Mercer

 

 

5

Art Klein

Maxwell

 

 

            LeCocq scrapped against the fence in the north turn but continued on.  He said it was so dusty that he just could not see where he was going.

            Clyde Cessna made a low pass over the racetrack in his airplane and waved at the crowd.  He then gained altitude and flew away to the east.

 

 

 

 

Cliff Woodbury (1894-1984), Louis LeCocg (1892-1919), Eddie Hearne (1887-1955), Art Klein (1889-1955), and David J. “Dave” Koetzla (1894-1968) have all competed in the Indianapolis “500” as Koetzla drove in relief for Ira Vail in 1922.

 

 

 

 

 

Eddie Hearne

Bob Rushing collection

Louis LeCocq

Rex LeCocq collection

Dave Koetzla

Show Biz Auto Racing by Buzz Rose

 

 

 

Sig Haugdahl

Siguard W. Haugdahl collection

Cliff Woodbury

Jean Culligan Doris collection

 

 

 

 

 

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