Second Annual National Championship Jalopy Races
On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the
Kansas State Fairgrounds
Hutchinson, Kansas
Sunday – July 27, 1958
Promotional Company – Merrick Racing Promotions (M.R.P.)
Race Director – Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas
Trophy Queen – Joyce Dusbabek of Enid, Oklahoma
Time trials for these races were run on Saturday afternoon, July 26, 1958
Only the fastest 100 from time trials got to compete in the races
All cars were 1953 model and older automobiles
Attendance – 10,000
Reuben Loepp Todd White collection
|
Jerry Collins Gary Shinkle collection
|
Willie Berger Todd White collection
|
K. O. Christian Roy Pulver collection
|
Will Forrest Gary Virden photo
|
Pete Jacobs Jacobs family collection
|
Bill Nelson Harriet Ramsey collection
|
Ralph Cole Gary Virden photo
|
Frank Lies Mary Ann Heaton photo
|
Forrest Coleman Mike McCoy collection
|
Charlie Hiner Charlie Hiner collection
|
Jay Moore Edna Greenleaf collection
|
Leland Salmans Alan Salmans collection
|
Jim Miller Gary Virden photo
|
Bill Nichols Gary Virden photo
|
Red Walker Gary Virden photo
|
Stan Trahern Burnett collection
|
Todd White Todd White collection
|
Grady Wade Loretta Cox collection
|
Bob Salem Bob Salem collection
|
Cliff Durr Gary Virden photo
|
Dick Hendershot Todd White collection
|
Jack Petty Gary Virden collection
|
Gene Keel Todd White collection
|
Loyd Hildreth LaDean Luther collection
|
Dale Reed Loretta Cox collection
|
Doran Raine, Jr. Doran Raine, Jr. collection
|
Jack Walker Gary Virden photo
|
Roy Bryant Southwest Daily Times photo
|
Clyde Ferguson Gary Verdin photo
|
Bill Curless Gary Virden photo
|
Kenneth Jackson Gary Virden photo
|
Clarence Cochran Hutchinson News-Herald photo
|
Donald Deck Todd White collection
|
Henry Ellington Ellington collection
|
Gaylon Albright Albright collection
|
Clyde Havens Albright collection
|
Johnny Elam Todd White collection
|
Duane Caldwell Cokeley collection
|
Ted Kreger Cokeley collection
|
Lyle Lewis Cokeley collection
|
Willie Hecke Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame
|
Cliff Schriner Cokeley collection
|
Bob Haberman Haberman collection
|
Johnny Thomas Thomas collection
|
Allan Fischer Coffman collection
|
Warren Farney Bill Nicholson collection
|
Fritz Kuntzsch Klein collection
|
Bob Webster :Leland Salmans collection
|
Paul Grumbein McFarren collection
|
First Heat Race – 20 Cars – 10 Laps The first 8 cars qualify for the championship race |
|||||
Finished |
Started |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
1 |
11 |
90 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, KS |
$30 |
2 |
13 |
93 |
Johnny Elam |
Wichita, KS |
25 |
3 |
4 |
95 |
Harold Shute |
Dodge City, KS |
20 |
4 |
3 |
98 |
Paul Grumbein |
Ness City, KS |
15 |
5 |
16 |
81 |
Cliff Durr |
Wichita, KS |
10 |
6 |
7 |
97 |
Darrell Harms |
Dodge City, KS |
10 |
7 |
12 |
85 |
Warren Farney |
Larned, KS |
5 |
8 |
18 |
86 |
Loyd Hildreth |
Wichita, KS |
5 |
9 |
1 |
00 |
Ted Moosine |
|
|
10 |
2 |
99 |
Bill Bookout |
Wichita, KS |
|
11 |
5 |
96 |
Melvin Cattrell |
Wichita, KS |
|
12 |
6 |
91 |
Gil Storey |
Wichita, KS |
|
13 |
8 |
89 |
_____ Walker |
|
|
14 |
9 |
92 |
Fritz Kuntzsch |
Larned, KS |
|
15 |
10 |
87 |
Clarence Cochran |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
16 |
15 |
94 |
Ferrill Curtis |
Timken, KS |
|
17 |
17 |
88 |
Chet Phares |
Enid, OK |
|
18 |
19 |
84 |
Dick Barr |
Wichita, KS |
|
19 |
20 |
82 |
Bill Teke |
Enid, OK |
|
20 |
13 |
83 |
Jim Curley |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
Curless had lapped the entire field by the end of the third lap. |
Second Heat Race – 20 Cars – 10 Laps The first 8 cars qualify for the championship race |
|||||
Finished |
Started |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
1 |
3 |
78 |
Glenn Leasher1 |
Wichita, KS |
$30 |
2 |
2 |
79 |
George Witzke |
Wichita, KS |
25 |
3 |
18 |
63 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
20 |
4 |
8 |
73 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, KS |
15 |
5 |
16 |
65 |
Darrell Scott |
Enid, OK |
10 |
6 |
1 |
60 |
Bob Haberman |
Larned, KS |
10 |
7 |
5 |
76 |
Paul Hendershot |
Hutchinson, KS |
5 |
8 |
7 |
74 |
Dick Hendershot2 |
Hutchinson, KS |
5 |
|
6 |
75 |
Glenn Watkins3 |
Hooker, OK |
|
|
9 |
72 |
Don Spreier |
Larned, KS |
|
|
11 |
70 |
Jack Petty |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
12 |
69 |
Duane “MaGoo” Magner |
Ponca City, OK |
|
|
13 |
68 |
Harold Portlock |
Newton, KS |
|
|
14 |
67 |
Verlin Smith |
Enid, OK |
|
|
15 |
66 |
Dan Stower |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
17 |
64 |
Curley Jenkins |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
19 |
62 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
20 |
61 |
Cliff Schriner |
Dodge City, KS |
|
DNF |
4 |
77 |
Lee Morgan |
|
|
DNF |
10 |
71 |
Frank Watkins |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
One source identifies the driver of the #75 car as B. F. Watkins of Pretty Prairie, KS. |
Third Heat Race – 20 Cars – 10 Laps The first 8 cars qualify for the championship race |
|||||
Finished |
Started |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
1 |
3 |
58 |
Doran Raine, Jr. |
Wichita, KS |
$30 |
2 |
4 |
57 |
Wilbur "Willie" Berger |
Newton, KS |
25 |
3 |
8 |
53 |
Dick Ungar |
Wichita, KS |
20 |
4 |
12 |
49 |
Ken Jackson |
Ponca City, OK |
15 |
5 |
17 |
44 |
B. B. Allen |
Enid, OK |
10 |
6 |
7 |
54 |
Francis Kingan |
Enid, OK |
10 |
7 |
16 |
45 |
Allan Fischer |
Hooker, OK |
5 |
8 |
2 |
59 |
Bob Webster |
Larned, KS |
5 |
|
1 |
60 |
Bob Haberman |
Larned, KS |
|
|
5 |
56 |
Bob Riner |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
11 |
50 |
Todd White |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
13 |
48 |
Marvin Smith |
Hooker, OK |
|
DNF |
15 |
46 |
John Marshall |
Wichita, KS |
|
DNF |
18 |
43 |
Rolland Crocker |
Salina, KS |
|
DNF |
19 |
42 |
Donald Deck |
Wichita, KS |
|
DNF |
20 |
41 |
Dan Peterson |
Wichita, KS |
|
DNF |
14 |
47 |
Robert Brown |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
DNF |
10 |
51 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, KS |
|
DNF |
9 |
52 |
Bert Phares |
Enid, OK |
|
DNF |
6 |
55 |
Wayne Harbold |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
After several restarts, the field was down to just 13 cars by the time the race got under way. |
Fourth Heat Race – 20 Cars – 10 Laps The first 8 cars qualified for the championship race |
|||||
Finished |
Started |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
1 |
1 |
40 |
Stanley Trahern |
Sublette, KS |
$30 |
2 |
3 |
38 |
Johnny Thomas |
Ashland, KS |
25 |
3 |
5 |
36 |
Bill Nash |
Enid, OK |
20 |
4 |
19 |
22 |
Ted Kreger |
Dodge City, KS |
15 |
5 |
2 |
39 |
Clyde Havens |
Newton, KS |
10 |
6 |
16 |
25 |
Bill Nichols |
Wichita, KS |
10 |
7 |
7 |
34 |
Duane Caldwell |
Sublette, KS |
5 |
8 |
9 |
32 |
Dean Lewis |
Dighton, KS |
5 |
9 |
20 |
21 |
Jim Miller |
Arkansas City, KS |
|
10 |
4 |
37 |
Lyle Lewis |
Dighton, KS |
|
11 |
6 |
35 |
John Riead |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
12 |
8 |
33 |
Bill Nave |
Chase, KS |
|
|
10 |
31 |
Wendell Cummings |
Hastings, NE |
|
|
11 |
30 |
Jim McAmis |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
12 |
29 |
Donald “Red” Walker |
Arkansas City, KS |
|
|
13 |
28 |
Jack Walker |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
14 |
27 |
Gordon Dodson |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
15 |
26 |
Willie Hecke |
Franklin, NE |
|
|
18 |
23 |
Stan Haack |
Hastings, NE |
|
DNF |
17 |
24 |
Reuben Loepp |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
Fifth Heat Race – 20 Cars – 10 Laps The first 8 cars qualified for the championship race |
|||||
Finished |
Started |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
1 |
3 |
18 |
Gaylon Albright |
Newton, KS |
$30 |
2 |
20 |
1 |
Will Forrest |
Wichita, KS |
25 |
3 |
11 |
10 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, KS |
20 |
4 |
6 |
15 |
James Goodson |
Manhattan, KS |
15 |
5 |
15 |
6 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, KS |
10 |
6 |
2 |
19 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, KS |
10 |
7 |
12 |
9 |
K. O. Christian4 |
Wichita, KS |
5 |
8 |
8 |
13 |
Jerry Collins |
Hutchinson, KS |
5 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, KS |
|
10 |
10 |
11 |
Frank Brennfoerder |
Davenport, NE |
|
11 |
13 |
8 |
Henry Ellington |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
12 |
14 |
7 |
Cliff Sealock |
Hastings, NE |
|
13 |
16 |
5 |
Ralph Cole |
Wichita, KS |
|
14 |
17 |
4 |
Bill Nelson |
Wichita, KS |
|
15 |
19 |
2 |
Pete Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
|
16 |
1 |
20 |
Ray Duffin |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
17 |
5 |
16 |
Leland Salmans |
Larned, KS |
|
DNF |
4 |
17 |
John McGee |
Wichita, KS |
|
DQ |
18 |
3 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, KS |
|
DQ |
7 |
14 |
Jay Moore |
Pittsburg, KS |
|
Potts was disqualified after the Semi-Final for using a 12-volt battery. Moore crossed the finish line first but was disqualified when he refused to tear his engine down for inspection following the championship race. Cokeley started outside of the front row and lead on two different occasions before finishing in 7th place. When Moore was disqualified, it moved Cokeley up to sixth position for which he was paid $10 in prize money. |
.
Trophy Dash – 13 Cars - 5 Laps |
|||||
Finished |
Started |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
1 |
4 |
78 |
Glenn Leasher1 |
Wichita, KS |
$50 |
2 |
1 |
90 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, KS |
20 |
3 |
6 |
63 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
15 |
4 |
13 |
1 |
Will Forrest |
Wichita, KS |
10 |
|
2 |
95 |
John Elam |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
3 |
93 |
Harold Shute |
Dodge City, KS |
|
|
5 |
79 |
George Witzke |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
7 |
57 |
Willis Burger |
Newton, KS |
|
|
8 |
58 |
Doran Raine, Jr |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
9 |
40 |
Stanley Trahern |
Sublette, KS |
|
|
10 |
36 |
Bill Nash |
Enid, OK |
|
|
12 |
18 |
Gaylon Albright |
Newton, KS |
|
DQ |
11 |
14 |
Jay Moore |
Pittsburg, KS |
|
Moore finished this race in 5th place but was disqualified when he refused to tear his engine down for inspection following the championship race. 5th place purse money of $5 went to the next place finisher but it is unknown who that was. |
Semi-Final – 30 Laps – 51 Cars – Purse: $450 |
|||||
Finished |
Started |
Car #4 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
1 |
5 |
7 |
Cliff Sealock |
Hastings, NE |
$100 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
Ralph Cole |
Wichita, KS |
70 |
3 |
10 |
16 |
Leland Salmans |
Larned, KS |
55 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
Henry Ellington |
Hutchinson, KS |
45 |
5 |
12 |
21 |
Jim Miller |
Arkansas City, KS |
40 |
6 |
18 |
30 |
Jim McAmis |
Wichita, KS |
35 |
7 |
19 |
35 |
John Riead |
Hutchinson, KS |
30 |
8 |
20 |
37 |
Lyle Lewis |
Dighton, KS |
25 |
9 |
8 |
12 |
Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, KS |
20 |
|
13 |
23 |
Stan Haack |
Hastings, NE |
|
|
14 |
24 |
Reuben Loepp |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
15 |
26 |
Willie Hecke |
Franklin, NE |
|
|
16 |
27 |
Gordon Dodson |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
17 |
29 |
Donald “Red” Walker |
Arkansas City, KS |
|
|
21 |
41 |
Dan Peterson |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
22 |
42 |
Donald Deck |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
23 |
43 |
Rolland Crocker |
Salina, KS |
|
|
24 |
48 |
Marvin Smith |
Hooker, OK |
|
|
25 |
50 |
Todd White |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
28 |
55 |
Wayne Harbold |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
29 |
56 |
Bob Riner |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
30 |
60 |
Bob Haberman |
Larned, KS |
|
|
32 |
64 |
Curley Jenkins |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
33 |
66 |
Dan Stower |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
34 |
67 |
Verlin Smith |
Enid, OK |
|
|
36 |
70 |
Jack Petty |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
37 |
72 |
Don Spreier |
Larned, KS |
|
|
38 |
75 |
Glenn Watkins3 |
Hooker, OK |
|
|
39 |
77 |
Lee Morgan |
|
|
|
40 |
82 |
Bill Teke |
Enid, OK |
|
|
42 |
87 |
Clarence Cochran |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
45 |
91 |
Calvin Thornton5 |
Great Bend, KS |
|
|
46 |
92 |
_____ Hoffman5 |
|
|
|
47 |
94 |
Ferrill Curtis |
Timken, KS |
|
|
48 |
99 |
_____ Harrod5 |
|
|
|
50 |
97 |
Darrell Harms |
Dodge City, KS |
|
|
51 |
93 |
John Elam |
Wichita, KS |
|
DNF |
1 |
2 |
Pete Jacobs |
Wichita, KS |
|
DNF |
3 |
4 |
Bill Nelson |
Wichita, KS |
|
DNF |
7 |
11 |
Frank Brennfoerder |
Davenport, NE |
|
DNF |
9 |
13 |
Jerry Collins |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
DNF |
11 |
20 |
Ray Duffin |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
DNF |
26 |
51 |
Dick Walker |
Arkansas City, KS |
|
DNF |
27 |
52 |
Bert Phares |
Enid, OK |
|
DNF |
31 |
62 |
Charlie Pitts |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
DNF |
35 |
68 |
Harold Portlock |
Newton, KS |
|
DNF |
41 |
83 |
Jim Curley |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
DNF |
43 |
88 |
Chet Phares |
Enid, OK |
|
DNF |
44 |
89 |
_____ Walker |
|
|
DNF |
49 |
00 |
Ted Moosine |
|
|
DQ |
2 |
3 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, KS |
|
Potts finished in 8th place but was disqualified after the Championship race for using a 12-volt battery. 10th place through 13th place each received $10 from the purse but it is not known who those five drivers were. |
Championship Race – 44 Cars – 75 Laps – Time: 41:25.0 |
|||||
Finished |
Started |
Car #5 |
Driver |
From |
Purse |
1 |
2 |
6 |
Frank Lies |
Wichita, KS |
$250 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
Forrest Coleman |
Wichita, KS |
200 |
3 |
41 |
7 |
Cliff Sealock |
Hastings, NE |
150 |
4 |
14 |
36 |
Bill Nash |
Enid, OK |
90 |
5 |
25 |
63 |
Roy Bryant |
Wichita, KS |
70 |
6 |
8 |
18 |
Gaylon Albright |
Newton, KS |
60 |
7 |
43 |
8 |
Henry Ellington |
Hutchinson, KS |
50 |
8 |
11 |
25 |
Bill Nichols |
Wichita, KS |
40 |
9 |
21 |
53 |
Dick Unger |
Wichita, KS |
30 |
10 |
13 |
34 |
Duane Caldwell |
Sublette, KS |
20 |
14 |
9 |
19 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, KS |
|
|
6 |
15 |
James Goodson |
Manhattan, KS |
|
|
22 |
57 |
Willis Burger |
Newton, KS |
|
|
3 |
9 |
K. O. Christian |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
16 |
39 |
Clyde Havens |
Newton, KS |
|
|
|
5 |
Ralph Cole |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
23 |
68 |
_____ Reed, Jr.6 |
|
|
|
7 |
16 |
Leland Salmans |
Larned, KS |
|
|
19 |
45 |
Allan Fischer |
Hooker, OK |
|
|
29 |
76 |
Paul Hendershot |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
30 |
78 |
Glenn Leasher1 |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
33 |
81 |
Cliff Durr |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
35 |
86 |
Loyd Hildreth |
Wichita, KS |
|
|
36 |
90 |
Bill Curless |
Arkansas City, KS |
|
|
37 |
95 |
John Elam |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
44 |
12 |
Charlie Hiner |
Wichita, KS |
|
DNF |
38 |
98 |
Paul Grumbein |
Ness City, KS |
|
DNF |
34 |
85 |
Warren Farney |
Larned, KS |
|
DNF |
28 |
74 |
Dick Hendershot2 |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
DNF |
26 |
65 |
Darrell Scott |
Enid, OK |
|
DNF |
20 |
49 |
Ken Jackson |
Ponca City, OK |
|
DNF |
18 |
44 |
B. B. Allen |
Enid, OK |
|
DNF |
40 |
93 |
Harold Shute |
Dodge City, KS |
|
DNF |
17 |
40 |
Stanley Trahern |
Sublette, KS |
|
DNF |
24 |
59 |
Bob Webster |
Larned, KS |
|
DNF |
27 |
73 |
Bob Salem |
Dodge City, KS |
|
DNF |
39 |
97 |
Darrell Harms |
Dodge City, KS |
|
DNF |
10 |
22 |
Ted Kreger |
Dodge City, KS |
|
DNF |
12 |
32 |
Dean Lewis |
Dighton, KS |
|
DNF |
1 |
1 |
Will Forrest |
Wichita, KS |
|
DNF |
32 |
80 |
Chuck Arnold |
Ulysses, KS |
|
DNF |
15 |
38 |
Johnny Thomas |
Ashland, KS |
|
DNF |
31 |
79 |
George Witzke |
Wichita, KS |
|
DQ |
5 |
14 |
Jay Moore |
Pittsburg, KS |
|
DQ |
42 |
3 |
Gene Potts |
Great Bend, KS |
|
The first 8 finishers from the 5 heat races made up the first 40 qualifiers for this race. 5 more were scheduled to transfer from the Semi-Final but only 4 did. Trahern’s engine “shelled out” on the 48th lap. The accelerator peddle broke on Pitts car forcing him out of the race. The battery fell out of Thomas’ car. Kreger’s car suffered engine failure. Allen’s car crashed into the fence. Will Forrest gave Lies a terrific battle for the front spot for the first 20 laps. Forrest’s Hudson lost its transmission on the 41st lap and he had to drop out of the race. Lies was the only driver to complete the full 75-lap distance having lapped every car in the field at least once. Moore actually crossed the finish line in second place but was disqualified when he refused to tear his engine down for inspection. Potts was disqualified for using a 12-volt battery. Albright’s prize money was $300 for 1st place in the 5th heat race and 6th place in the feature. Cokeley broke a front spindle, lost a wheel, and stopped next to the wall in front of the grandstands on the 71st lap. His car remained there for the remainder of the race. Sealock started 5th in the Semi-Final race and won it. Next, he started 41st in the Championship race and finished in 3rd place. Thus, he was able to pass 43 cars in 105 laps to win at total of $250 from the purse. 11th place through 14th places each received $10 from the purse but it is unknown who those four drivers were. |
The Third Heat Race Lined Up on the Racetrack
Front Row: #60 Bob Haberman of Larned, Kansas on the inside and #59 Bob Webster of Larned, Kansas on the outside.
Second Row: #58 Doran Raine, Jr. of Wichita, Kansas on the inside and #57 Willie Berger on the outside.
Third Row: #56 Bob Riner of Wichita, Kansas on the inside and #55 Wayne Harbold of Hutchinson, Kansas on the outside.
Fourth Row: #54 Francis Kingan of Enid, Oklahoma on the inside and ##53 Dick Ungar of Wichita, Kansas on the outside.
Fifth Row: #52 Bert Phares of Enid, Oklahoma on the inside and #51 Dick Walker of Arkansas City, Kansas on the outside.
Sixth Row: #50 Todd White of Hutchinson, Kansas on the inside and #49 Ken Jackson of Ponca City, Oklahoma on the outside.
Seventh Row: #48 Marvin Smith of Hooker, Oklahoma and #47 Robert Brown of Hutchinson, Kansas.
The car on the far left side of the photo is unidentified - Crook collection
This photo was taken on this day and shows trophy dash winner Glenn Leasher receiving his hardware – Cokeley collection
This photo shows the first heat race lined up on the racetrack on this day. #00 Ted Moosine is on the pole, #99 Bill Bookout of Wichita, Kansas is on the outside of the front row, #98 Paul Grumbein of Ness City, Kansas is inside of the second row, #97 Darrell Harms of Dodge City, Kansas is out of the second row, #96 Melvin Cattrell of Wichita is inside of the third row, #95 Harold Shute of Dodge City is outside of the third row, #94 Ferrill Curtis of Timken, Kansas is inside of the fourth row, etc.
The light colored coupe in the lower right hand corner of the photo was built in Cecil Maupin, Sr.’s shop in Dodge City, Kansas and was towed to races all over the state. The car was then raffled off in Dodge City on August 16, 1958 with proceeds going to the Bronco Buster Boy’s Ranch at Dodge City. Click your mouse on the photo to learn more about this jalopy – Todd White collection
The Semi-Final Race Lined Up on the Racetrack
Right to left: #43 Rolland Crocker of Salina, Kansas; #48 Marvin Smith of Hooker, Oklahoma; #50 Todd White of Hutchinson, Kansas; and #56 Bob Riner of Wichita; and #51 Dick Walker of Arkansas City, Kansas are the only cars in this photo to be identified to date. White’s car normally carried the #43 but the flypaper #50 had been applied over that number since Todd had timed in 50th as the fiftieth fastest car in time trials. Click your mouse on the photo above to see what that car looked like as #43. The people seated at the table on the stage at far right were there to score the races – Todd White collection
This photo was taken in the first turn on the first lap of the third heat race. No one was injured but the race had to be restarted for the second time. The cars in this photo have yet to be identified – Hutchinson News photo
This photo shows #6 Frank Lies’ victory calibration on the racetrack in front of the grandstand after he won the 75-lap feature race on this day. Lies’ car is mostly obscured by the people gathered around it. The coupe most visible in this photo is the Maupin car that was being raffled off and is actually parked on a trailer just outside the racetrack fence and thus nearer the camera – Cokeley collection
This photo was taken after the completion of the 75-lap Championship race. #19 was owned by Bud Hibler of Hooker, Oklahoma and driven by Nut Cokeley of Liberal, Kansas. The car is shown here where it came to rest against the wall in front of the grandstand after the left front spindle broke on the 70th lap. The car was left in this precarious position for the final five laps of the race – Cokeley collection
Race Directors
Ebber Higgins |
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Enid, Oklahoma |
O. L. Douglas |
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Wichita, Kansas |
Jim Collins |
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Hutchinson, Kansas |
Verne Hamilton |
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Hutchinson, Kansas |
1 Glenn Lee Leasher (1937-1962) was fatally injured in a crash while attempting to set a new world land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
2 Richard M. “Dick” Hendershot (1925-1976) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Salina, Kansas.
3 One source says this driver was B. F. Watkins of Pretty Prairie, Kansas.
4 Kenneth Ovid “K. O.” Christian (1914-1961) was fatally injured in a racing accident at Wichita, Kansas.
5 Numbers on flypaper issued to the cars after time trials and reflecting the position that they had timed in during time trials.
6 Only the fastest 100 cars from time trials were guarenteeded a starting place in a heat race. The cars that timed in 101st through 115th were kept in reserve on the infield. If any car could not start a race in its assigned position, one of the reserve cars was allowed to take its place. Thus, Mr. Thornton was able to assume the place of #91 Gil Storey, Mr. Hoffman was able to assume the place of #92 Fritz Kuntzsch, and Mr. Harrod was able to assume the place of #99 Bill Bookout all in the Semi-Final and Mr. Reed, Jr. was able to assume the place of #68 Harold Portlock in the Championship Race.
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