Big Car Races on the

Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

 Hutchinson, Kansas

Thursday – July 4, 1940

 

 

Races sanctioned by – Southern Racing Association

Race promoter – Tige Beal of Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sponsor – Hutchinson Junior Chamber of Commerce

Attendance – 2,000 by one reporter's estimate, 4,000 by another reporter's estimate

Track condition – “Poor”

 

 

 

This photo of Ralph Foster of Salina, Kansas was taken while he was seated in his Hisso on its trailer on June 30, 1940 but the placard was advertising these races in Hutchinson to be run on this July 4th - L. A. Ward photo form the Randy Pedersen collection

 

 

 

 

This photo of Clarence Merritt in the Peaches Campbell owned DO Hal car was taken after his feature race victory on this date at Hutchinson.  That is Peaches Campbell standing at right – Darrin McKim collection 

 

 

  

Time Trials – 1 Lap

Place

Driver

From

Time

1

Clarence Merritt

Chelsea, Oklahoma

29.8

 

Art Thomas

Independence, Missouri

 

 

Waldo Barnett

Hutchinson, Kansas

 

 

Wesley McCracken

 

 

 

Harry West

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

 

Claude Garin

Wichita Falls, Texas

 

 

Bill Hatcher

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

 

Jack Kannapel

Newton, Kansas

 

 

Angelo Howerton

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

 

Val Jameson

Wichita, Kansas

 

 

Fred Bass

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

 

Jim Sherrill

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

 

Ralph Foster

Salina, Kansas

 

 

 

 

First Heat Race – 6 Cars - 10 Laps

Place

Driver

From

Time

1

Clarence Merritt

Chelsea, Oklahoma

5:06.2

2

Art Thomas

Independence, Missouri

 

3

Waldo Barnett

Hutchinson, Kansas

 

4

Wesley McCracken

 

 

 

 

 

Second Heat Race – 10 Laps

Place

Driver

From

Time

1

Harry West

Tulsa, Oklahoma

5:16.0

2

Claude Garin

Wichita Falls, Texas

 

3

Bill Hatchett

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

 

 

 

Consolation Race

Place

Driver

From

Time

1

Jack Kannapel

Newton, Kansas

 

2

Angelo Howerton

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

3

Val Jameson

Wichita, Kansas

 

 

Wesley McCracken

 

DNF

                Wesley Irvan McCracken’s car burst into flames in front of the south end of the grandstand and McCracken huddled behind the cowl until the car slowed enough that he could jump to safety.  He was not injured but his car was severely damaged.

 

 

 

Specialty Race – 5 Laps

Place

Driver

From

Time

1

Waldo Barnett

Hutchinson, Kansas

2:39.2

 

 

 

Feature Race – 11 Cars - 15 Laps          

Place

Driver

From

Time

1

Clarence Merritt

Chelsea, Oklahoma

7:54.0

2

Fred Bass

Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

3

Claude Garin

Wichita Falls, Texas

 

 

Jim Sherrill

Tulsa, Oklahoma

DNF

                According to various newspaper accounts, C. T. “Jim” Sherrill arrived at the track late and his car failed the safety inspection.  The feature race was the only event remaining on the program but officials ordered Sherrill's car removed from the premises.  Sherrill talked to the gateman on his way out and convinced him to hold the gate open for him at the beginning this final event.  When the cars began their pace lap, Sherrill started up his car in the parking lot, drove through the open gate, and joined the field at the back.  He was trailing the field by quite some distance on the second lap when he lost control of his car in the northwest turn and crashed through the fence and then into the brick wall of the paddock.  Sherrill was seriously injured and his car was destroyed in the accident.

                L. A. Ward's account in National Auto Racing News said that Sherrill's car lost the nut that held the steering wheel in place leaving Sherrill no control and causing the car to crash.  Crash helmets were not required at that time and Sherrill was not wearing one helping to account for the serious head injuries he suffered.

                In his book, One Tough Circuit, Bill Hill tells the rest of the story.  It seems that Sherrill’s car actually came to rest on top of a brick men’s restroom burning the occupant when the radiator burst.  The incident thus earned Sherrill the nickname “Radiator” Sherrill.

 

 

 

Murray Earl of Hutchinson, Kansas is shown in a car that he owned in this photo that was taken at Hutchinson on this day.  The car was driven by Waldo Barnett - Roy Eaton collection

 

 

 

  

Angelo Howerton

“One Tough Circuit” by Bill Hill

 Fred Bass

Roy Pulver collection

Harry West

Larry Sullivan photo

Val Jameson

Swart family collection

 

 

 

Art Thomas

Elliott collection

 

 

 

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