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