Automobile Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

 Hutchinson, Kansas

Monday, July 5, 1926

  

Races were co-promoted by William Miner “Bill” Bryant and Charley C. Crow, both of Hutchinson, Kansas****

Attendance:  3,000

 

 

 

Hutchinson News

July 1, 1926 – Page 10 

  

 

 

Entry List

 

Driver

From

Automobile

 

 

Bryant, Bill

Hutchinson, Kansas

Bryant Special

 

 

Crow, Bill *****

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson

 

 

Fields, Jack

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Fronty Ford

 

 

Ging, Delbert

Hutchinson, Kansas

Fronty Ford

 

 

Harrison, Roy

Apache, Oklahoma

Dodge Special

 

 

Lebsack, Charles “Butch”

Great Bend, Kansas

Kerbs Special

 

 

Lentz, Fred

Hutchinson, Kansas

Lentz Special

 

 

McFadden, Gene

Iuka, Kansas

Rajo Ford Special

 

 

Myher, L. W.**

Ponca City, Oklahoma

Chevrolet Special

 

 

O'Laughlin, Roy***

Hutchinson, Kansas

Fronty Ford

 

 

Wells, Slim

Hutchinson, Kansas

Essex

 

 

Williams, Henry “Wingey”*

Wichita Falls, Texas

Chevrolet Special

 

 

 

 

Time Trials – 1 Lap

Place

Driver

From

Automobile

Time

1

Delbert Ging

Hutchinson, Kansas

Fronty Ford

33.60

2

Charles “Butch” Lebsack

Great Bend, Kansas

Kerbs Special

33.75

3

Bill Crow*****

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson

34.00

4

Fred Lentz

Hutchinson, Kansas

Lentz Special

34.20

5

Slim Wells

Hutchinson, Kansas

Essex

36.20

 

Henry “Wingey” Williams*

Wichita Falls, Texas

Chevrolet Special

 NT

 

Bill Bryant

Hutchinson, Kansas

Bryant Special

 NT

 

L. W. Myher**

Ponca City, Oklahoma

Chevrolet Special

 NT

 

Roy Harrison

Apache, Oklahoma

Dodge Special

 NT

 

Jack Fields

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Fronty Ford

 NT

 

Gene McFadden

Iuka, Kansas

Rajo Ford Special

 NT

 

Roy O'Laughlin***

Hutchinson, Kansas

Fronty Ford

 NT

 

 

 

Free-for-All – 10 Laps – 5 Cars

Place

Driver

From

Automobile

Time

1

Charles “Butch” Lebsack

Great Bend, Kansas

Kerbs Special

6:10.0

2

Delbert Ging

Hutchinson, Kansas

Fronty Ford

Running

3

Slim Wells

Hutchinson, Kansas

Essex

Running

4

Bill Crow*****

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hudson

DNF – wrecked

5

Fred Lentz

Hutchinson, Kansas

Lentz Special

DNF – wrecked

            The cars of Lentz and Crow locked wheels on the first turn of the first race.  Lentz’s car careened into the fence knocking down “a good portion of railing”.  Neither driver was injured but only Crow was able to continue as Lentz’s radiator was pierced by the wooden railing.

            When Crow’s car reached the north curve, it slid wide but Crow regained control and roared down the front straight away to begin the second lap.  When Crow reached the south turn, a steering arm broke causing his car to plunge toward the outside fence.  In doing so, it rolled over 1½ times throwing Crow from the seat.  Lebsack, Ging, and Wells had to take evasive maneuvers to miss the wreckage.  Crow did not suffer serious injuries but was hospitalized pending the outcome of x-rays.  He did receive some “wicked” bruises in the accident though.

            Ging finished in a distant second place.

Wells, who had been running in second place, slowed on the eighth lap when his gasoline tank came loose from its mountings.

 

 

  

5-Mile Race – 10 Laps – 3 Cars

Place

Driver

From

Automobile

Time

1

Charles “Butch” Lebsack

Great Bend, Kansas

Kerbs Special

5:45.0

2

Roy O'Laughlin***

Hutchinson, Kansas

Fronty Ford

Running

3

Slim Wells

Hutchinson, Kansas

Essex

Running

            O'Laughlin’s engine started missing on the third lap.  After the race, it was found that the engine had a cracked cylinder.

 

 

 

Kansas Sweepstakes – 30 Laps

Race canceled as only Delbert Ging’s Fronty Ford was still in running order 

 

 

 

Delbert Ging

Robert Ging collection

Charles “Butch” Lebsack

Betty (Kerbs) Able collection

 Fred Lentz

Hutchinson Gazette photo

 

 

 

 

 

* Henry F. “Wingey” Williams (1882-1941) drove racing cars from 1913 to 1931.  He only had use of one arm as the other one was rendered permanently useless in an accident while he was working at a municipal pumping station in Childress, Texas back before he took up racing cars.

 

** Lawrence W. Myher (1901-1993)

 

*** Roy Luther O'Laughlin (1896-1930)

 

**** Charley C. Crow (1893-1972), brother of William H. “Bill” Crow

 

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

 

 

 

 

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