First Annual Kansas State Modified Jalopy Championship Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Wednesday – September 22, 1965
Promotional Company – Merrick Racing Promotions (M.R.P.)
Race Director – Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas
Attendance – 7,000
Part of the Aftermath of the First Lap Crash in the First Heat Race
The white coupe at left is #4 Dale Reed. The white sedan third car from left is #50 Bob Reynolds. The sedan at right is #73 James Kline. The missing section of fence at far right is where #7 Roy Bryant exited the racetrack – Hutchinson News photo
First Heat Race – 15 Cars – 8 Laps
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
1520 |
Jim Powell |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
3:57.60 |
2 |
88 |
Don Spreier |
Larned, Kansas |
|
3 |
|
Garry Abell |
Salina, Kansas |
|
4 |
73 |
Bob Peck |
Manhattan, Kansas |
|
5 |
24 |
Jay Woodside |
Kansas City, Missouri |
|
6 |
12 |
Ray Riner |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
7 |
|
John Nealey |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
|
22 |
Bill Rigsby |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
|
50 |
Bob Reynolds |
Edmond, Oklahoma |
|
|
73 |
James Kline |
Russell, Kansas |
|
|
4 |
Dale Reed |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
|
7 |
Roy Bryant** |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
DNF |
5 |
Willie Hecke |
Holdrege, Nebraska |
|
There was a 7-car accident in first turn on the first lap of this race involving the cars of Powell, Bryant, Rigsby, Reynolds, Kline, Reed, and Peck with Bryant’s car going completely through the fence. Only 10 of the original 15 starters were able to restart the race.
Hecke’s car lost a rear wheel in a separate incident.
Second Heat Race – 8 Laps
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
99 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
3:55.04 |
2 |
3 |
Melvin Rogers |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
3 |
1 |
H. A. Ratzlaff |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
4 |
|
Bill Nelson |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
76 |
Gene Angel |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
6 |
98 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, Kansas |
|
7 |
86 |
Jay Schrock |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
8 |
43 |
Elmer Burkhart |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
9 |
|
Leon Bowman |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
10 |
44 |
Melvin Herrell |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
Third Heat Race – 8 Laps
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
55 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, Kansas |
3:43.25 |
2 |
62 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
|
3 |
19 |
Cleman Humphrey |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
4 |
47 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
|
5 |
101 |
Bob Eichor |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
6 |
15 |
Gene McClelland |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
7 |
26 |
Dick Hendershot* |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
8 |
29 |
Herb Copeland |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
9 |
36 |
Henry Ellington |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
10 |
22 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
11 |
35 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
|
12 |
00 |
Don Shumard |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
Trophy Dash – 5 Laps
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
3 |
Melvin Rogers |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
2:27.0 |
2 |
1520 |
Jim Powell |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
3 |
1 |
H. A. Ratzlaff |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
4 |
55 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
5 |
88 |
Don Spreier |
Larned, Kansas |
|
6 |
19 |
Cleman Humphrey |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
7 |
99 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
8 |
62 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
|
B Feature Race – 12 Laps
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
22 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, Kansas |
6:25.22 |
2 |
7 |
Roy Bryant** |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
3 |
5 |
Willie Hecke |
Holdrege, Nebraska |
|
4 |
36 |
Henry Ellington |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
5 |
|
Leon Spain |
Manhattan, Kansas |
|
6 |
87 |
Bud Hatch |
Yates Center, Kansas |
|
7 |
00 |
Don Shumard |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
8 |
|
Bill Bookout |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
9 |
35 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
|
10 |
90 |
Sam Brittendoll |
Salina, Kansas |
|
11 |
43 |
Elmer Burkhart |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
12 |
|
Jack Petty |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
|
51 |
Mel Montgomery |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
DNF |
44 |
Melvin Herrell |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
This race was originally scheduled to run 15 laps but officials ruled it complete after Herrell’s car broke an axle, lost the rear wheel, crashed into the outside wall in front of the grandstands and overturned.
A Feature Race – 20 Laps
Place |
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Time |
1 |
99 |
Harold Leep |
Wichita, Kansas |
8:28.20 |
2 |
55 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
3 |
101 |
Bob Eichor |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
4 |
19 |
Cleman Humphrey |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
5 |
|
Bill Nelson |
Wichita, Kansas |
|
6 |
47 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
|
7 |
76 |
Gene Angel |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
8 |
88 |
Don Spreier |
Larned, Kansas |
|
9 |
86 |
Jay Schrock |
Hutchinson, Kansas |
|
10 |
16 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, Kansas |
|
|
73 |
Bob Peck |
Manhattan, Kansas |
|
DNF |
1520 |
Jim Powell |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
DNF |
1 |
H. A. Ratzlaff |
Dodge City, Kansas |
|
DNF |
62 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, Kansas |
|
The cars of Curless and Ratzlaff collided and both overturned in the first turn on the first lap. Powell, Potts, and Peck all took evasive measures to miss the two crashing cars with Powell’s car hanging up on a guard rail, Peck’s car jumping over a 3-foot pile of mud into the infield, and Potts’ car sliding to a stop before it hit anything. Powell was able to get his car restarted but dropped out on the 14th lap with a flat tire.
This photo was taken on the pace lap of one of the races run on this day but it has not been determined just which one. Car #1520 was sponsored by radio station KOMA-AM in Oklahoma City and driven by Jim Powell of Oklahoma City – Hutchinson News photo
Leon Bowman Bob Mays collection |
Bill Curless 77 Speedway program |
Jack Petty Ken Gretemen photo |
Frank Lies Bob Mays collection |
Dick Hendershot Mohawk Speedway program |
Bill Nelson Dodge City Globe |
Dick Walker Bob Mays collection |
H. A. Ratzlaff Lyndon Greaney photo |
Bud Hatch Bob Mays collection |
Don Spreier Cokeley collection |
Jay Schrock Roger Burnett collection |
Bob Salem Roger Burnett collection |
Ray Riner Kenny Greteman photo |
Elmer Burkhart Cokeley collection |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley Cokeley collection |
Bob Peck High Plains THUNDER by Bob Mays |
Harold Leep Kenny Greteman photo |
Roy Bryant Bob Mays collection |
Don Shumard Roger Burnett collection |
Jay Woodside Bob Mays collection |
Mel Montgomery Montgomery family collection |
Don Spreier Dodge City Globe |
Bill Rigsby Rigsby collection |
Willie Hecke Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame |
Garry Abell
Deen Woods collection
* Richard M. “Dick” Hendershot (1925-1976) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Salina, Kansas.
** In a ceremony before these races, Kansas Governor Bill Avery presented driver Roy Bryant with a diamond pin commemorating his victory in the National Championship Jalopy races run here on August 1, 1965.
Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page