Jalopy Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

 Hutchinson, Kansas

Labor Day - Monday – September 2, 1957

 

 

 

Promoter – Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas 

Attendance – “more than 3,000”

Entries – 50 cars

 

This was a qualifying race for the First Annual National Jalopy Championship

 to be held at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 5, 1957

 

 

 

Wilbur “Willie” Berger of Newton, Kansas is shown here receiving the trophy that he was presented for winning the trophy dash.  The trophy girl was Janell Rabourn of Hutchinson, Kansas and the man standing to the right of Berger is Bill “Chief” McAninch of Wichita, Kansas who was a mechanic on the car.  Click your mouse on the photo to see another of Berger and Rabourn taken at about the same time – Tom Kelso photos from the Jim Kelso collection

 

 

 

Initial Start of the B Feature

This photo shows the cars going into the first (southwest) turn on the initial start of the B feature on this day.  Car #79 driven by Carl Vincent can be seen at right crashing into a concrete retaining wall which caused the first of three restarts of this race – Hutchinson News photo

 

 

 

Lined Up for the A Feature

#2 was driven by Clyde Havens of Newton, Kansas.  The driver of the other car has yet to be identified – Lehman collection

 

 

 

First Heat Race

McCarty had just taken over the lead when he blew a tire and crashed through the fence in the south turn.

 

 

  

Second Heat Race

Curley made two 360° spins during this race but did not hit anything.

 

 

  

Third Heat Race

May’s car spun out and rolled over in the north turn.

 

 

  

Trophy Dash

 

 

  

B Feature Race – 21 Cars - 15 Laps

On the initial start, Carl Vincent’s #79 hit a concrete retaining wall and broke a tie rod.

On the restart start, the field made ¾ of a lap before Pierce crashed into the fence in the north turn.  Due to poor visibility in the dust, Pierce’s accident was the beginning of a 9-car pileup that injured drivers White, Hampton, and McCaslin.

On the next restart, Vincent spun out in the middle of the track causing the flagman to restart the race again.

By the time the race got underway on the fourth try, only 9 cars were running and only 4 cars finished this race.

Jones was in third place when he lost control and crashed through the fence in the north turn.

 

 

A Feature Race – 23 Cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return to the Feature Race Winners at Hutchinson, Kansas web page