Andrew B. “Cokey” Fuller
1902 - 1932
Andrew “Cokey” Fuller of Arkansas City, Kansas in the Gallivan Ford he co-owned with Joe Hutchinson at Arkansas City Speedway located just west of Arkansas City on July 4, 1929 – Lew Irwin collection
Cokey Fuller was born February 25, 1902 at Guthrie, Oklahoma to Louis L. Fuller (1875-1914) and his wife, Rose (1882-1944). Cokey was 3/16 Osage Indian* and his father was an heir to oil money from tribal lands in Oklahoma so, when the elder Fuller was killed in an automobile accident, he left Cokey well enough off to attend college and indulge in his passion for automobile racing.
Cokey attended the Missouri Military Academy at Mexico,
Missouri where he was a star athlete in track and field events.
Representing the academy, he won the conference high hurdle championship in a
meet at the University of Chicago in June of 1922. He graduated from the
Missouri Military Academy in 1923 and to celebrate the upcoming event, he
purchased a new Haynes speedster special in Arkansas City in January of that
year.
He then purchased a Ford racing car that had been
custom built for him in Kansas City c1925 which he referred to as the “Fuller
special”.
The Arkansas City Racing Association was formed on May 22, 1929 at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Arkansas City and Herman B. Magnus (1898-1945) was elected president of the new organization. The purpose of the organization was to operate the Arkansas City Speedway a.k.a. the West Madison Speedway then under construction west of Arkansas City. Cokey was elected vice president and thus, served as one of the five members on the board of directors of that organization.
Cokey, who got his nickname due to his fondness for mixing whisky with Coke-a-Cola, found early success as a driver in races in Oklahoma. By 1929, he and partner Joe Hutchinson had purchased a racing car complete with a new Gallivan Ford engine (one of only seven that had been built up to that time) and hit the Midwestern racing circuit.
The following is an incomplete listing of his driving record as gleaned from various newspaper articles of the time. Each of these racetracks was a half-mile dirt oval unless otherwise noted:
September 6, 1926 – Speedway Park one mile north of Cushing, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: His own Fuller special Ford #111
Finish: Fullers’ name does
not appear in the published results of these races.
Feature race winner: Dick Calhoun of Cleveland, Oklahoma who was driving his own Calhoun special #26.
September 24, 1926 – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas
Car: His own Fuller special Ford #11
Finish: Although Fuller entered these races, his name does not appear in the published results.
Feature race winner: Charles “Butch” Lebsack of Otis, Kansas who was driving a Kerbs’ special #4 owned by Leonard Kerbs who was also from Otis.
September 25, 1926 – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas
Car: His own Fuller special Ford #11
Finish: Although Fuller entered these races, his name does not appear in the published results.
Feature race winner: Charles Victor “Vic” Felt of Deer Trail, Colorado who was driving a Fronty Ford.
July 4, 1927 – Speedway Park one mile north of Cushing, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: Chevrolet Special #4 owned by Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: 3rd in the 6-mile, 2nd heat race behind Roy Rinehart of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving the Kanotex Special and Forest “Blackie” O’Bannon of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving his own Chevrolet special #45.
2nd in a 4-mile race behind Earl L. Hovenden of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving a Chevrolet Special #2 owned by George Dwight Moody who was also from Arkansas City, Kansas.
Fuller lost a tire in the 15-mile Cushing Sweepstakes
race and drove several laps on the rim while he waited for his pit-crew to
ready a new tire for him. He then
stopped in the pits for the new tire. 13
laps later, he lost another tire from that same rim and, again, drove several
laps on the rim waiting for a new tire to be readied for him. He then stopped in the pits for that new
tire. When he rejoined the race, he was
3-laps behind the leaders of the race but made a valiant effort to catch
up. He did not place in the race, which
was won by Earl L. Hovenden, but
his hard-charging style did win the respect of the spectators.
Feature race winner: Earl L. Hovenden of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving a Chevrolet
Special #2 owned by George Dwight
Moody who was also from Arkansas City, Kansas.
July 23, 1927 – Anthony Downs in Anthony, Kansas
Car: Fuller’s own Frontenac Ford special #4
Finish: 1st in the 6-car, 7½ mile, 2nd heat race, finishing the race in 9:06.0 and ahead of Fred Lentz of Hutchinson, Kansas who was driving his own #5 Lentz Dodge special and Ralph Moody of Arkansas City, Kansas who finished in 3rd place.
3rd the 3-mile, 3-corner race behind
Charles “Butch” Lebsack of Wichita, Kansas who was
driving a Kerbs’ special #K1 owned by Leonard Kerbs of Otis, Kansas and Harley Wells
of Miami, Oklahoma who was driving a Ford Frontenac
#27 owned by Ralph R. Scott of Miami, Oklahoma and sponsored by the Scott Motor
Company of Miami.
Feature race winner: Charles
“Butch” Lebsack of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a Kerbs’ special #K1 owned by Leonard Kerbs of Otis, Kansas.
July 30, 1927 – Cowley County Fairgrounds on the west edge of Winfield, Kansas
Car: Fuller’s own Frontenac Ford special #4 and a Chevrolet special #44 owned by Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Finish: Something
happened to Fuller’s own Frontenac special #4 in one of the preliminary races causing
Fuller to switch cars and drive Hutchinson’s Chevrolet special #44 in the
feature race.
2nd
in the feature race behind Earl L. Hovenden
of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving a Chevrolet #2 owned by George Dwight
Moody who was also from Arkansas City, Kansas.
Feature race winner: Earl L. Hovenden of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving a Chevrolet #2 owned by George Dwight Moody who was also from Arkansas City, Kansas.
September 5, 1927 – Speedway Park one mile north of Cushing, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Although Fuller
entered these races, his name does not appear in the published results.
Feature race winner: Ted Simpson of Los Angeles, California who was driving an 8-cyllinder Miller special
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Andrew “Cokey” Fuller Arkansas City Traveler photo |
September 15, 1927 – Noble County Fairgrounds at Duncan, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller placed in two
races but it is unknown which races those were or what place he got in each of
them.
Fuller “hit a mud hole
and turned his car over” during these races.
He was uninjured and the car received very little damage in the
accident.
September 16, 1927 – Noble County Fairgrounds at Duncan, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller won the
12-lap race.
September 17, 1927 – Noble County Fairgrounds at Duncan, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller finished in
2nd place in the sweepstakes race.
September 21, 1927 – Childress State
Fairgrounds at Childress, Texas –
Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
September 22, 1927 – Childress State
Fairgrounds at Childress, Texas –
Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
September 23, 1927 – ⅝ mile
oiled dirt oval – Oil
Belt Speedway at Breckenridge, Texas –
Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but his name does not appear in the published results.
Feature race
winner: Johnny Kreiger
of Rochester, New York who was driving a car owned by Lloyd Fisher of Longmont,
Colorado.
September 24, 1927 – ⅝ mile
oiled dirt oval – Oil
Belt Speedway at Breckenridge, Texas –
Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
September 25, 1927 – ⅝ mile
oiled dirt oval – Oil
Belt Speedway at Breckenridge, Texas – Sanctioned
by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but his name does not appear in the published results.
Feature race winner: Eddie Neva of San Antonio, Texas who was driving the #7-11 Ford Frontenac Well-Brook special owned by Maxie L. Brooks & M. T. Wells
September 28, 1927 – Oklahoma State Fairgrounds a.k.a. Colcord Speedway in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
Note
that Cokey Fuller was entered at two different places
in two different states on September 28, 1927.
It is unknown which, if either, place he actually raced.
September 28, 1927 – ⅝ mile
dirt oval – West
Texas State Fairgrounds at Abilene, Texas
– Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
September 29, 1927 – ⅝ mile
dirt oval – West
Texas State Fairgrounds at Abilene, Texas
– Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
September 30, 1927 – ⅝ mile
dirt oval – West
Texas State Fairgrounds at Abilene, Texas
– Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
October 2, 1927 – Texas - Oklahoma
Fairgrounds at Wichita Falls, Texas –
Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
October 3, 1927 – Texas - Oklahoma
Fairgrounds at Wichita Falls, Texas –
Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
October 7, 1927 – Haskell Speedway at Haskell, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
October 8, 1927 – Haskell Speedway at Haskell, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
October 9, 1927 – Douglas Fairgrounds at Douglas, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
October 14, 1927 – Tri-State Fairgrounds at Amarillo, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
October 15, 1927 – Tri-State Fairgrounds at Amarillo, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered these
races but the race results have yet to be located.
October, 1927 – San Angelo Fairgrounds at San Angelo, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #2 Fuller Special
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
May
30, 1928 – Speedway Park one mile north of Cushing, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by
A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Purse: Fuller
won a total of $400 in these races.
Finish:
Won the 5-lap Oklahoma
Championship dash in 2:42.0, finishing ahead of Earl L. Hovenden of Arkansas City, Kansas
who was driving the #K-1 Kerbs special owned by Leonard Kerbs of Otis, Kansas.
Won the 6-mile heat race in 6:32.0.
Won the 4-mile heat race in 4:18.0. Bill Tennill of Taylor, Texas finished in 2nd
place in his Fronty Ford Tennill special.
Feature race winner: Lee
Bammel of Taylor, Texas who was driving his own Bammel special Fronty Ford #U2.
July 4, 1928 – Speedway Park one mile north of Cushing, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by
A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: 2nd
fastest time trial going two laps in 58.4 seconds. The only man to run a faster time trial was
John Boling of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Won the 3-lap championship dash in 1:28.0, finishing ahead
of Earl L.
Hovenden of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving the #K-1 Kerbs
special owned by Leonard Kerbs of Otis, Kansas.
4th in the 15-lap heat race behind Earl L.
Hovenden of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving the #K-1 Kerbs
special owned by Leonard Kerbs of Otis, Kansas; Russell D. Hill of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving his own
Laurel special and Art Hutchin who was driving car #101 Hutchins special. Fuller had dropped out of this race on the 8th
lap with engine trouble, but then reentered the race two laps behind and had
made up one of those two laps by the end of the race.
Won the second 15-lap heat race in 8:05.4 finishing ahead of
Ira T. McIntire of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Won the 30-lap feature race after passing John Boling of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who was driving Dick Calhoun’s
car, for the lead on the 25th lap.
Fuller’s time for the race was 15:33.4 and he won $425 from the purse
for his effort which brought his total winnings for the day to $605.
Feature race winner:
Andrew “Cokey” Fuller
August 28, 1928 – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: Green Model A Ford
Finish: Won the 4-lap trophy dash finishing in front of John Bagley of Omaha, Nebraska in his own bright red Frost #4 Ford. This was a very popular victory with the spectators considering that Bagley set quick time in time trials and then won every other race that he competed in that day.
Feature race winner: John Bagley of Omaha, Nebraska won the 24-lap feature race while driving his own bright red Frost Ford #4.
August 29, 1928 – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: Green Model A Ford
Finish: Tied with Wilson Pingrey of St. Louis, Missouri for the fastest time in time trials with 29.0 seconds for one lap of the ½ mile racetrack. Pingrey was driving the Howe Hisso #100.
Won one of the races followed by John Bagley of Omaha, Nebraska in his own
bright red Frost Ford #4.
Feature race winner: John Bagley of Omaha, Nebraska won the 24-lap feature race while driving his own bright red Frost Ford #4.
August 30, 1928 – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: Green Model A Ford
Finish: “Won the second race.”
Feature race winner: John Bagley of Omaha, Nebraska won the 24-lap feature race while driving his own bright red Frost Ford #4.
August 31, 1928 – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: Green Model A Ford
Finish: “3rd in the feature race behind John Bagley
of Omaha, Nebraska who was driving his own bright red Frost Ford #4 and Johnny Kreiger of Rochester, New York who was driving a
car owned by Lloyd Fisher of Longmont, Colorado.
Feature race winner: John Bagley of Omaha, Nebraska who was driving his own bright red Frost Ford #4.
September
3, 1928 – Speedway Park one mile north of Cushing, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by
A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: 3rd in time trials behind Eddie Neva**** of San
Antonio, Texas who was driving the #7-11 Ford
Frontenac Well-Brook special owned by Maxie L. Brooks & M. T. Wells,
and Pat Cunningham
of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving the supercharged Ford Frontenac B &
B special #700. Fuller’s time was 58.1
and he won $40 from the purse for his effort.
Won a special
5-lap dash for the fastest cars from time trials. Fuller finished the race in 2:27.4 and in
front of George Lawhon of St. Joseph, Missouri. The victory paid him $90 from the purse.
3rd
in a 15-lap race behind Eddie Neva**** of San Antonio, Texas who was driving
the #7-11 Ford Frontenac Well-Brook special owned by
Maxie L. Brooks & M. T. Wells, and Pat
Cunningham of St.
Joseph, Missouri who was driving the supercharged Ford Frontenac B & B
special.
Dropped out of
another 15-lap race with a broken connecting rod. This race was won by George Lawhon of St. Joseph, Missouri in 1st place, Ira T.
McIntire of Arkansas
City, Kansas in 2nd place and Earl
Hovenden of Otis,
Kansas who drove a Ford special #K-1 owned by Leonard Kerbs who was also from Otis, Kansas to a 3rd
place finish.
Feature race
winner: John Boling of Tulsa, Oklahoma who was driving the supercharged
Ford Frontenac B & B special #700 that had been built by Leonard Kerbs of Otis, Kansas and entered by Pat
Cunningham of St.
Joseph, Missouri.
September 6, 1928 – Ottawa County Fairgrounds
at Miami, Oklahoma – ½ mile dirt oval – Sanctioned by
A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Although Fuller
entered these races, his name does not appear in the published results.
Feature race
winner: Vern McComb of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving the Lawhon special #X3 owned by George Lawhon
who was also from St. Joseph, Missouri.
September 8, 1928 – Ottawa County Fairgrounds at Miami, Oklahoma – ½ mile dirt oval – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: 7th in a field of 17 cars in the
12-lap feature race.
Feature race
winner: Earl Hovenden of Otis, Kansas who drove a Ford special #K-1 owned
by Leonard Kerbs who was also from Otis, Kansas
September 15, 1928 – Kansas Free Fairgrounds
in Topeka, Kansas
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Broke an engine rod
Feature race winner: Swan Peterson of Galesburg, Illinois who was
driving his own Fronty Ford #11.
September 29, 1928 – ⅝ mile dirt oval – West Texas Fairgrounds a.k.a. Abilene Fairgrounds at Abilene, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas
City, Kansas.
Finish: Won $60 for 2nd
place in the 8-lap 3rd heat race, finishing behind Vern McComb of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving a Lawhon special owned by George Lawhon
who was also from St. Joseph, Missouri.
Feature race winner: Clyde Gilbert of
Boulder, Colorado who was driving a Baker special Ford Frontenac.
October 2, 1928 – ⅝ mile dirt oval – West Texas Fairgrounds a.k.a. Abilene Fairgrounds at Abilene, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Finish: Fuller
“overturned” the car on the racetrack.
Feature race winner: Chet Gardner of Denver, Colorado who was driving the Buckeye Duesenberg #47 owned by Gibson Bradfield
October 4, 1928 – Haskell Speedway at Haskell, Texas – ⅝ mile dirt oval
Car: Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
October 9, 1928 – Cowley County Fairgrounds on the west edge of Winfield, Kansas
Car: Fuller’s own Chevrolet #4
Finish: 5th in the
first heat race behind James “J. F.” Pickens, Ira T.
McIntire, Russell D. Hill,
and Wendell Sparling
after dropping out on the 5th lap with engine trouble.
4th in the fourth heat race behind Russell D. Hill, Ira T. McIntire, and Ralph Chrysler after dropping out with engine failure.
Feature race winner: Ralph Chrysler***** of Omaha, Nebraska who was
driving a Rajo Ford #7-11.
April 20, 1929 – Tulsa State Fairgrounds in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fuller entered these
races but the race results have yet to be located.
April 21, 1929 – Fair Park at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on Eastern Avenue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: These races were postponed until April 28, 1929 due to cold weather.
April 28, 1929 – Fair Park at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on Eastern Avenue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Finish: Fuller’s name does not appear in the published
results of these races.
Feature race winner: Bill K. Spence of Los Angeles, California
May 22, 1929 – Noble County Fairgrounds at Duncan, Oklahoma
Car: Fuller drove a Fronty Ford #44 owned by Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Although Fuller did not win any races this day, he did place in the two races that he did compete in.
May 26, 1929 – Tulsa State Fairgrounds in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Car: Fuller drove a Fronty Ford #44 owned by Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Finish: Although Fuller
entered these races, the race results have yet to be located.
June 16, 1929 – Tulsa State Fairgrounds in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Car: Fuller drove a Fronty Ford #44 owned by Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Finish: 2nd in
the 1st 12-lap heat race.
2nd in the 30-lap sweepstakes
race.
July 4, 1929 – Arkansas City Speedway a.k.a. West Madison Speedway less than one-mile west of Arkansas City, Kansas
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Qualified: Tie for 1st place at 31.2 seconds with Mack McAnally of Arkansas City, Kansas who was driving his own Fronty Ford.
Finish: Won the 1st 4-car, 6-lap heat race
in 3:24.0. Louis “Speed” Irwin
of Iola, Kansas finished in 2nd place, 1.4 seconds behind
Fuller. Irwin was driving a Fronty Ford
owned by Russell
D. Hill of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Won the 3rd 4-car, 6-lap heat
race also in 3:24.0. He was followed in
2nd place by Joe Taylor of Ponca City, Oklahoma who was driving a
Fronty Ford #101 owned by Art Hutchin
of Omaha, Nebraska.
Won the 10-lap feature race in 5:45.4. He was followed in 2nd place by
Joe Taylor of Ponca City, Oklahoma who was driving a Fronty Ford #101 owned by Art Hutchin
of Omaha, Nebraska.
Feature race winner:
Andrew B. “Cokey” Fuller of Arkansas City
July 20, 1929 – Anthony Downs in Anthony, Kansas
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: 2nd in B feature race.
Feature race
winner: Louis “Speed” Irwin of Iola, Kansas who was driving a Fronty Ford owned
by Russell D.
Hill of Arkansas City, Kansas.
August, 1929 – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Feature race
winner: Bert Ficken of Denver,
Colorado who was driving the bright red Frost Ford #4 that was owned by John Bagley
of Omaha, Nebraska.
September 2, 1929 – Arkansas City Speedway a.k.a. West Madison Speedway less than one mile west of Arkansas City, Kansas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Qualified: Tie for 1st place at 31.1 seconds with Earl L. Hovenden of Duncan, Oklahoma who was driving his own Fronty Ford special #1.
Finish: 3rd in the 1st match
(heat) race behind Earl L. Hovenden
of Duncan, Oklahoma and Cotton Grable of
Houston, Texas but a burned piston eliminated Fuller from the rest of the
program.
Feature race winner: Earl L. Hovenden of Duncan, Oklahoma who was driving his own Fronty Ford special #1.
September 10, 1929 – Speedway Park one mile north of Cushing, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Finish: 2nd in the 6-lap, 1st
heat race behind Earl
L. Hovenden of Duncan, Oklahoma who was driving his own single overhead
cam Fronty Ford special #1.
2nd in the sweepstakes race
behind Cotton
Grable of Houston, Texas who was driving a Chrysler special #32 owned
by William J. “Willie” Mahovil, Sr. of Houston,
Texas.
Feature race
winner: Cotton Grable of Houston, Texas who was driving a Chrysler special
#32 owned by William J. “Willie” Mahovil, Sr. of
Houston, Texas.
September 12, 1929 – Collingsworth County Fairgrounds at Wellington, Texas
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fuller entered these races but the race results have yet to be located.
September 14, 1929 – Collingsworth County Fairgrounds at Wellington, Texas
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but the race results have yet to be located.
September 17, 1929 – Noble County Fairgrounds at Duncan, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: 2nd in the second heat race behind
Vern McComb of St. Joseph, Missouri.
3rd in the feature race behind Sam Hoffman of Sioux City, Iowa and Johnny Kreiger of Rochester, New York.
Purse: He won a total of $20 for the day
Feature race winner: Sam Hoffman of Sioux City, Iowa
September 18, 1929 – Noble County Fairgrounds at Duncan, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: 3rd in the third heat race behind Johnny Kreiger of Rochester, New York and Vern McComb of St. Joseph, Missouri.
DNF in
the feature race won by Johnny
Kreiger of Rochester, New York.
Feature race winner: Johnny Kreiger of Rochester, New York.
September 24, 1929 – Childress Fairgrounds at Childress, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fuller entered these races but the race results have yet to be located.
September 25, 1929 – ⅝ mile dirt oval - West Texas Fairgrounds a.k.a. Abilene Fairgrounds at Abilene, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fuller’s name does
not appear in the published results of these races.
Feature race winner: Chet Gardner of Denver, Colorado who was driving the Buckeye Duesenberg #47 owned by Gibson Bradfield
September 26, 1929 – Childress Fairgrounds at Childress, Texas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Qualified: 9th place at 65.03 seconds (time for two laps) behind Johnny Kreiger of Rochester, New York, Sam Hoffman, Chet Gardner, John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa, Pat Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri, Francis Quinn in the Hooker #99 car, Vic Felt, of Deer Trail, Colorado and George Barringer of Wichita Falls, Texas.
Finish: 3rd in the third heat race behind Johnny Kreiger of Rochester, New York and Vern McComb of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving a Lawhon special owned by George Lawhon.
7th
in the feature race behind Johnny Kreiger of Rochester, New York; Chet Gardner of
Denver, Colorado, John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa, Sam Hoffman
of Sioux City, Iowa, Francis Quinn and Vic Felt of
Deer Trail, Colorado.
Feature race
winner: Johnny Kreiger of Rochester, New York
May 28, 1930 – Noble County Fairgrounds at Duncan, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Results of these races have yet to be located.
May 30, 1930 – Noble County Fairgrounds at Duncan, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Results of these races have yet to be located.
June 1, 1930 – Fair Park at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on Eastern Avenue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fuller’s name does not appear in the limited
published results of these races that have been located to date.
Feature race winner: Mack McAnally of Oklahoma City
June 22, 1930 – Creve Coeur Lake Speedway a.k.a. Greater St. Louis Speedway at Upper Creve Coeur, Missouri
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fuller entered these races but the race results have yet to be located.
July 4, 1930 – Arkansas City Speedway a.k.a. West Madison Speedway less than one mile west of Arkansas City, Kansas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas and the Hutchinson special #44 that was wholly owned by Joe Hutchinson.
Qualified: 4th in time trials with a time of 31.6 seconds behind Pat Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri, Rea Bray of Hutchinson, Kansas and Lew Irwin of Iola, Kansas.
Finish: Won a total of $145 for finishing 2nd
in the first heat race behind Pat Cunningham
of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving the B & B special supercharged
Fronty Ford #700.
Having
already qualified the Gallivan Ford #30-30 for the feature race, Fuller
replaced Gilbert
B. Eddie in Hutchinson’s Hutchinson special #44 and finished in 3rd
place in the 3rd heat race behind Lew Irwin of
Iola, Kansas who was driving the Hill special Fronty Ford #7 owned by Russell D. Hill
of Arkansas City; and Robert Landon of Arkansas City who was driving the Moody
special #2 that was owned by the Moody brothers
of Arkansas City. That finish earned
Fuller $20 from the posted purse but did not qualify that car for the feature
race.
3rd
in the feature race behind Pat Cunningham
of St. Joseph, Missouri and Rea Bray of
Hutchinson, Kansas.
Feature race winner: Pat Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving the B & B
special supercharged Fronty Ford #700.
July 29, 1930 – Anthony Downs in Anthony, Kansas
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Results of these races have yet to be located.
July 20, 1930 – Arkansas City Speedway a.k.a. West Madison Speedway less than one mile west of Arkansas City, Kansas – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: Ford roadster owned by Matt Ward of Duncan, Oklahoma
Qualified: 4th place at 31.6 seconds behind Pat Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri, and Lew Irwin of Iola, Kansas.
Finish: Won a 10-lap match race in 6:40.0. L. B. Ward finished in 2nd place
.2 of a second behind.
Won
the 25-lap feature race in 15:16.4. Lawrence
O. “Hughie” Hughes of Beatrice, Nebraska finished in 2nd
place in a Chrysler “75” Roadster.
Feature race winner: Andrew B. “Cokey” Fuller of Arkansas City
August 17, 1930 – Ak-Sar-Ben at Omaha, Nebraska – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fullers’ name does not appear in the
published results of these races.
Feature race winner: Bert Ficken of Denver, Colorado
August 26, 1930 – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska – Sanctioned by A.A.A.
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: Fuller entered
these races but his name does not appear in the published race results.
August 28, 1930 – North Central Kansas Free Fairgrounds Racetrack in Belleville, Kansas
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Finish: 3rd in the second heat race
behind Rea Bray of Hutchinson, Kansas. and _____ Cline of Jefferson City, Tennessee.**
3rd in the feature behind Vern McComb of Sioux City, Iowa and Clyde Gilbert of Longmont,
Colorado.
Feature race winner: Vern McComb of Sioux City, Iowa
August 29, 1930 – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas
Car: #30-30 Gallivan Ford that Fuller co-owned with Joe Hutchinson of Arkansas City, Kansas
Finish: 3rd in the consolation behind Jim White and Fred Dresselhuys.
9th in the finals behind John
Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa; Lew Irwin of
Iola, Kansas; Pat
Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri; Vern McComb
of North Chicago, Illinois who was driving the Palmer special #500 owned by S.
O. Clemons; Rea Bray
of Hutchinson, Kansas; Phil Cline
of Jefferson City, Tennessee; Jim White of Sharon Springs, Kansas
who was driving his own White special Ford Frontenac and Fred Dresselhuys of Wagner, South Dakota.
Feature race winner: John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa who was driving his own 390 Chevrolet #15 that he claimed was Whippet.
At one time or another, Cokey Fuller held the track records at Arkansas City Speedway a.k.a. the West Madison Speedway west of Arkansas City, Kansas for 1, 6, and 25 laps, the latter two of which were never broken.
Fuller was well on his way to a promising racing career when he unexpectedly passed away on May 20, 1932 in Denver, Colorado. His obituary in his hometown newspaper said that he died of kidney failure, after having been ill for two weeks, while other accounts say that his death was under very suspicious circumstances. His body was returned to Arkansas City, Kansas where it was interred in the Riverview Mausoleum in Riverview Cemetery. ***
After Fuller’s death, Joe Hutchinson drove the
#30-30 Gallivan Ford he had co-owned with Cokey
Fuller in races in Kansas as late as the early 1940s. By August of 1946,
Hutchinson had apparently sold the car to Ora Ray Ash (1925-2000) of
Wellington, Kansas. Ash entered the car
in the races that were run at the annual North Central Kansas Free Fair in
Belleville on August 29th and 30th of 1946. His entry listed the engine as a Ford V-8 but
there was no mention of it being a Gallivan Ford. Ash ran the 17th fastest time
trial of the first day, of the 17 cars that completed a time trial. His time for one lap was 31.03 seconds. There is no known record as to where, or if,
Ash placed in his heat race that day but he did place in 4th in the
5-car, 8-lap consolation race.
There is no known record
that Ash ran a time trial, or placed in a heat race, the next day (August 30,
1946), but he did place in 3rd place in the 5-car, 8-lap consolation
race run on that day. There is no known
record that Ash, or anyone else, ever raced the car after those races.
Joe Hutchinson is said to have had a race car in storage in a garage in Arkansas City, Kansas as late as the 1950s but what race car is currently unknown. It is known that the Gallivan engine was sold to Murray Earl of Hutchinson, Kansas. The 5-foot 10-inch, 230-pound Hutchinson was the Arkansas City Fire Chief from 1954 until he passed away in 1958 while complaining of a severe pain in his back.
Murray Earl ran the Gallivan engine in his #27 big car with driver Waldo Burnett until selling it to John Mauro of Denver, Colorado. Mauro eventually sold the engine to Vic Felt of Deer Trail, Colorado. Felt ran the engine with driver Lloyd Axel.
The next owner of the Gallivan engine was Bill Harding of Hastings, Nebraska. Harding then sold the engine to Jack Lovely of Omaha, Nebraska.
If you know anything more about Andrew “Cokey” Fuller, please contact Bob Lawrence at: sprintguy @ cox.net
A very poor photo of Andrew “Cokey” Fuller in the #4 car he drove in the late 1920s – Photo from the Arkansas City Traveler
Cars driven by Andrew “Cokey” Fuller at left and John Bagley of Omaha, Nebraska made up the front row of the trophy dash run at the Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska on August 28, 1928. Fuller finished first in the green Model A powered racer followed closely by Bagley driving his own bright red Frost Ford #4 – Doug Riedy collection from the book Valley County THUNDER, the History of Racing at Ord, Nebraska by V. Ray Valasek and Bob Mays
Andrew “Cokey” Fuller sitting in his “Fuller special” in front of the home where he lived with his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shearer, at 303 North First Street in Arkansas City, Kansas, c1926.
* One source indicates he was an Omaha Indian.
** This would have been either Frontis Graydon “Major” Cline (1907-1982) or his brother, Philip Bird "Phil" Cline (1903-1978). Both men competed in these races each driving cars known as Cline specials.
*** Twelve years after his death, Cokey’s mother passed away and her body was interred nearby in the same mausoleum.
**** Eddie Neva of San Antonio,
Texas was fatally injured in the 30-lap sweepstakes race run
later that day.
***** This was probably Ralph James Chrysler
who was born in 1896 at Junction City, Kansas and died in 1963 in Los Angeles,
California although some have speculated that “Ralph Chrysler” may have been a
pseudonym used by Speck Heminger of Hastings,
Nebraska when he raced in non-AAA sanctioned races.
