Automobile Races at the Kansas State Fair on July 4,1922

Automobile Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

Hutchinson, Kansas

Tuesday, July 4, 1922

Promoters – Ray Hockaday and Charles Stewart

“A big crowd that filled the big grandstands witnessed these races.”

Delbert Ging in his Essex

Robert Ging collection

Fred Lentz in his Essex

Hutchinson Gazette photo

Merle Warren in his Essex

Wichita Eagle photo

Time Trials – 2 Laps

Stock Car Race – 6 Laps

First Heat Race – 10 Laps – 7 cars

Warren led the first two laps before falling behind with engine trouble.

Higgins started in fifth place and passed into second place on the final lap of the race.

Second Heat Race – 10 Laps – 7 cars

Six cars finished this race.

Free-For-All – 20 Laps – 13 cars

Crow dropped out on the seventh lap with a flat tire.

Higgins lost two laps when he stopped on the fifteenth lap to change a flat tire and repair a burned coil wire.

Bryant dropped out on the sixteenth lap with a flat tire.

Delbert Ging crashed through the south fence but received only scratches.

Lentz took the lead for the first time with only a lap and a half remaining in the race.

James Watkins and his #17 Studebaker

Hutchinson Gazette photo

Delbert G. Ging (1897–1993)

Frank J. Pflughoft (1895–1978)

Merle W. Warren (1890–1948)

James Irving “Toots” Higgins (1895-1947)

Ivell Leland Kennedy (1904-1958)

Keith Zeigler (1896-1952)

William Miner “Bill” Bryant (1887-1947)

Fred Sherman Lentz (1885-1952)

William H. “Bill” Crow (1890-1966), brother of Charley Crow

Charley C. Crow (1893-1972), brother of Bill Crow