Rea Bray

in 1934

Irwin family collection

 

Rea Clyde Bray

1902 – 1941

 

Rea Bray was born on January 30, 1902 in Kansas, a son of James Pascal “J. P.” Bray and Mattie Gertrude (Carrier) Bray.

In July of 1920, Bray was riding his motorcycle near Garfield Park in Topeka, Kansas, with a young lady perched on the tank, when a policeman signaled for him to stop.  He didn’t and a 20-block chase ensued before the young couple was overtaken by pursuing officers.  Two people on his motorcycle had proved to be more of a handicap than he had thought it would be.  It took Bray about an hour to raise the $10 bail money it took to get him released from jail.

The name of the young lady on the motorcycle is unknown but Bray was married first at Wichita, Kansas in 1920 to Ethel Virginia White, who gave her address on the marriage license as Denver, Colorado.

Early in 1922, Bray and a partner, Ernest Rodecker, opened the Bray & Rodecker Auto Repair Co. on the southeast corner of 7th and Jackson Streets in Topeka.  Bray was married second to Eula M. Bray before 1930 but nothing more is known about Eula except that she was born c1908 in Missouri.

The following is an incomplete record of the races that Bray competed in:

 

September 19, 1925 – 1/2  mile dirt oval – Kansas Free Fairgrounds in Topeka, Kansas

            Car:  Bearcat special

Finish:  Bray ran the 3rd fastest 2-lap time in time trials of 1:15,2 which was only slower than the times run by Elfreda Mais of Indianapolis, Indiana and Harley Wells of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving the Ackerman special.

  Bray finished 2nd in the 5-mile consolation race behind Willard C. Prentiss of Denver, Colorado in the #2 Star special.

            Feature race winner:  Oscar Anderson of Iron Mountain, Michigan who was driving a red Fiat #1.

 

May 31, 1926 – 1 mile dirt oval – Overland Park at Denver, ColoradoSanctioned by the Overland Park Racing Association (O. P. R. A.).

            Car:  #17 Garry Brothers special

Finish:  Bray finished 2nd in the 5-mile consolation race behind Willard C. Prentiss of Denver, Colorado in the #2 Star special.

            Feature race winner:  Matt Pulver of Longmont, Colorado in the #3 Baker special

 

July 5, 1926 – 1 mile dirt oval – Overland Park at Denver, ColoradoSanctioned by the Overland Park Racing Association (O. P. R. A.).

            Car:  #17 Garry Brothers special

Finish:  Bray finished in the money and gained 35 points in the season point standings but just where he finished in what race is currently unknown.

            Feature race winner:  Chester “Chet” Gardner of Denver, Colorado in the #8 Gardner special.

 

July 17, 1926 – 1 mile dirt oval – Overland Park at Denver, ColoradoSanctioned by the Overland Park Racing Association (O. P. R. A.).

            Car:  #17 Garry Brothers special

Finish:  Bray finished in the money and gained 25 points in the season point standings but just where he finished in what race is currently unknown.

            Feature race winner:  Fred Merzney of Denver, Colorado in a #4 Fronty Ford

 

August 30, 1927 – ½ mile dirt oval – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska

            Finish:  It is currently unknown how Bray finished in these races

            Feature race winner:  Vic Felt of Deer Trail, Colorado

 

August 31, 1927 – ½ mile dirt oval – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska

            Car:  Curtiss

Finish:  Bray ran the 5th fastest lap in time trials of 30.8 which was slower than the laps run by Vic Felt, John Bagley, Howard Wills and Willard C. Prentiss.

            Feature race winner:  Vic Felt of Denver, Colorado

 

September 1, 1927 – ½ mile dirt oval – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska

            Finish:  Bray “crashed into a fence”

            Feature race winner:  John Bagley

            Note:  18,000 spectators watched this three-day program at Ord, Nebraska

 

            Bray took a job as a patrolman on the Hutchinson, Kansas police force in 1928.  He worked nights primarily as a motorcycle patrolman although he drove patrol cars during inclement weather.  He had a colorful career for about three years, dividing his time between traffic enforcement and bootlegging investigations.  He was quick (at least by today’s standards) to shootout the tires of those who chose to flee from prosecution.  During that time, he continued to drive his racing cars.

 

July 28, 1928 – ½ mile dirt oval – Cowley County Fairground at Winfield, Kansas

            Car:  #11 Fronty Ford special

            Finish:  Bray set the fastest time in time trials with a one-lap track record of 33.4 seconds.

                        Bray finished 4th in the 1st heat race behind Mack McAnally of Winfield; James F. Pickens of Arkansas City, Kansas; and James E. Snyder of Arkansas City, Kansas.

Bray lead from the start but, with 2 laps remaining in the 8-lap, second heat, his Bray’s steering gear locked up and the car did a 360° spin.  He was credited with finishing in 4th place behind Mack McAnally, Bob Maze of Topeka, Kansas; and A. R. Bobs of Arkansas City, Kansas.  (Note:  A. R. Bobs is believed to have been an alias used by Russell D. Hill of Arkansas City.)

Bray finished a close 2nd place behind James F. Pickens among the 6 cars that started the 8-lap 3rd heat race.

Bray started 3rd and finished in 3rd place in the 6-car, 8-lap consolation race behind Phineas C. “Dad” Harrier of Hiawatha, Kansas and R. F. Dutton of Arkansas City, Kansas.  (Note:  R. F. Dutton is believed to have been an alias used by Forest “Blackie” O’Bannon of Arkansas City.)

            Feature race winner:  James F. Pickens of Arkansas City, Kansas

 

August 24, 1928 – 1 mile dirt oval Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri

            Car:  Fronty Ford special

            Finish:  No results of these races have been located to date.

 

August 25, 1928 – 1 mile dirt oval Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri

            Car:  Fronty Ford special

            Finish:  Bray finished 2nd to Albert “Al” Koepke of Topeka in the 10-mile race.

                        Bray finished 2nd to Rex Edmonds of Houston, Texas in the straw-hat derby.

                        Bray finished 5th behind Albert “Al” Koepke; Phineas C. “Dad” Harrier; Barney Oman of Los Angeles, California; and Rex Edmonds of Houston, Texas in the 50-mile feature race.

            Feature race winner:  Albert “Al” Koepke of Topeka, Kansas

 

September 6, 1928 – ½ mile dirt oval – Ottawa County Fairgrounds at Miami, Oklahoma Sanctioned by A. A. A.

            Car:  Bray’s own Fronty Ford special

Finish:  4,000 fans saw Bray finish 3rd in the 1st heat race behind Vern McComb of St. Joseph, Missouri and 8.2 seconds behind John Boling of Cushing, Oklahoma who finished in 2nd place.  McComb collected $125 for the victory.

Bray finished 3rd behind Harley Wells of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving the Bammel special owned by Lee Bammel of Taylor, Texas and just a fraction of a second behind 2nd place finisher, Earl Hovenden of Duncan, Oklahoma who was driving the dual overhead cam #K-1 Fronty Ford owned by Leonard Kerbs of Otis, Kansas in the 2nd 10-lap heat race.

                        Bray finished in 2nd place, 8.4 seconds behind Earl Hovenden of Duncan, Oklahoma in the 3rd 10-lap race.

                        Bray finished in 2nd place, 6.6 seconds behind Henry Donica of Cardin, Oklahoma in the 8-lap consolation race.

Bray lost a tire early in the 24-lap Grand Sweepstakes race but still managed to finish in 4th place behind Vern McComb of North Chicago, Illinois in the Lawhon special owned by the Lawhon Brothers of St. Joseph, Missouri; Earl Hovenden of Duncan, Oklahoma driving a dual overhead cam Fronty Ford special owned by Leonard, Kerbs of Otis, Kansas and Harley Wells of St. Joseph, Missouri who finished 3rd driving the Bammel special owned by Lee Bammel of Taylor, Texas.  McComb collected another $450 from the $800 total purse for his victory in the sweepstakes.

            Feature race winner:  Vern McComb of North Chicago, Illinois

 

September 8, 1928 – ½ mile dirt oval – Ottawa County Fairgrounds at Miami, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by A. A. A.

            Car:  Bray’s own Fronty Ford special

            Finish:  2,000 spectators saw Bray finish in 2nd place, just .4 seconds behind Harley Wells of St. Joseph, Missouri who was driving the Bammel special owned by Lee Bammel of Tayler, Texas in the 10-lap 3rd heat race.

Feature race winner:  Earl Hovenden of Duncan, Oklahoma.

 

September 17, 1928 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas

          Car:  #1434 Superior special Hisso owned by Wendell Sparling of Winfield, Kansas

            Finish:  15,000 spectators saw these races but Bray’s name is not listed in the published results.

            Feature race winner:  Rex Edmonds of Houston, Texas

 

September 21, 1928 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas

          Car:  #1434 Superior special Hisso owned by Wendell Sparling of Winfield, Kansas

            Finish:  An overflow crowd” saw these races but Bray’s name is not listed in the published results.

            Feature race winner:  Rex Edmonds of Houston, Texas

 

August 28, 1929 – 1 mile dirt oval Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri

            Finish:  Bray finished in 3rd place in a 5-mile heat race.

 

September 16, 1929 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas Free Fairgrounds in Topeka, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

 

September 20, 1929 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, KansasSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray tied with Emery Collins for 1st place in time trials.  Their lap time of 31.0 seconds each also tied the track record already held jointly by Charles Lebsack and Leonard Kerbs, both of Otis, Kansas.

                        Bray finished 2nd to Emory Collins in the 4-car, 4-lap “State Fair Dash.”

                        Bray was credited with 6th place behind Emory Collins, Percy Ford, Herb Segal, P. H. Hoffman and Spec Heminger after dropping out of the 9-lap championship race on the fifth lap.

            Feature race winner:  Emory Collins of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

 

October 6, 1929 – 1 mile dirt oval – American Legion Racetrack at Oakley, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

            Finish:  Bray won the first 5-mile heat race in 4 minutes, 1.0 seconds finishing 22.0 seconds ahead of L. L. Neff of Winona, Kansas.

Bray followed Bill Epps of Oakley, Kansas for 1 lap in the second 5-mile heat race before Epps dropped out with a broken camshaft.  Bray went on to win that race in 4 minutes, 5.0 seconds finishing 4.0 seconds ahead of L. L. Neff.

                        Bray won the 10-lap sweepstakes race in 8 minutes, 29.0 seconds which was 5.5 seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher L. L. Neff.  The total purse for the days races was $500.

Feature race winner:  Rea Bray of Hutchinson, Kansas

 

October 20, 1929 – 1 mile dirt oval – Ar-Sar-Ben at Omaha, Nebraska – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray finished 3rd in the 10-lap feature race behind Bert Ficken and Hamp Cox.

Feature race winner:  Bert Ficken of Omaha, Nebraska

 

June 1, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on the east side of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray won the 15-lap Oklahoma State Championship race.

Feature race winner:  Mack McNally of Oklahoma City.

 

July 4, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – Arkansas City Speedway a.k.a. West Madison Speedway at Arkansas City, Kansas – Sanctioned by A. A. A.

            Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

            Finish:  A small crowd watched Bray run the 2nd fastest time in time trials of 31.2 seconds which was .4 seconds behind Pat Cunningham who had the fastest time of the day.

Bray collected $35 from the purse for finishing 3rd behind Pat Cunningham and Cokey Fuller in the 1st 10-lap heat race.  He finished on only 3 wheels, 10.4 seconds behind Fuller who was .2 seconds behind Cunningham.

Bray was paid $75 for finishing 1st in the 2nd 10-lap heat race in which he beat Jimmy Davis of Duncan, Oklahoma by 12.2 seconds.  Bray ran the 10-lap distance in 5 minutes, 17.2 seconds which was a new track record for that distance that still stands.

Bray finished 2nd to Pat Cunningham in the 16-lap “Kanotex & Shell Refinery Sweepstakes” race.  Bray’s time was 8 minutes, 30.0 seconds which was 4 seconds slower than Cunningham.  Bray’s share of the purse for finishing 2nd in this race was $175.

Feature race winner:  Pat Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri

 

July 25, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – Bo Stearns Track north of Wichita, Kansas – Sanctioned by A. A. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

            Finish:  Bray finished in 2nd place in the 5-mile 1st heat race for the 6 fastest cars from time trials.  Pat Cunningham won that race in a Gallivan Ford.

                        Bray also finished a close 2nd behind Pat Cunningham in a special 6-lap race.

Bray suffered a blown tire in the 25-lap feature race which caused his Fronty to spin completely around in a 360° circle before finally coming to a stop.  There was enough damage that his car was unable to complete the race which was won by Lawrence Hughes.

 Feature race winner:  Lawrence Hughes of Beatrice, Nebraska

 

July 27, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – Senter Park at Franklin, Nebraska

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

            Finish:  No results of these races have been located to date.

 

August 28, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray suffered a broken shoulder in the 1st heat race when he was involved in a 4car accident in which Ben Galiano (or Gagliano) of Kansas City, Missouri was fatally injured.

Feature race winner:  Vern McComb of North Chicago, Illinois

 

August 29, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray won the 2nd 5mile heat race in 4 minutes, 43.0 seconds.

Feature race winner:  John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa

 

September 14, 1930 – 1 mile dirt oval – American Legion Racetrack on the southwest edge of Oakley, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #4 Bray special Fronty Ford

            Finish:  Bray won the 16-lap sweepstakes race in 6 minutes, 1.0 seconds

Feature race winner:  Rea Bray of Hutchinson, Kansas

 

September 15, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

          Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill of Arkansas City, Kansas and #4 Bray special Fronty Ford owned by Rea Bray

            Finish:  Bray set the quickest time of the day in time trials with a new track record for 1lap of 30.8 seconds.

Bray dropped out of the 7lap North American Sweepstakes when a piston went through the side of his engine block.  He went to downtown Hutchinson, retrieved his #4 Bray special Fronty Ford and returned to the racetrack in time to start the 9lap North American Sweepstakes race in which he finished 2nd to Archie Powell of Galesburg, Illinois.

Feature race winner:  Archie Powell of Galesburg, Illinois

 

September 19, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

          Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill and #4 Bray special Fronty Ford owned by Rea Bray

            Finish:  Bray set the 2nd fastest time of the day in time trials running 1lap of 30.4 seconds in the #7 Hill special Fronty Ford.

Bray then set the 3rd fastest time of the day in time trials running 1lap in 30.8 seconds in his #4 Bray special Fronty Ford.  Since he could only run 1 car after qualifying, he chose to race the #7 Hill special Fronty Ford.

Bray finished 2nd in the featured dash which was a 1lap race for the 3 fastest cars in time trials.  Archie Powell won this race followed closely by Bray and Jimmy Trainor of Los Angeles, California.

Bray finished 2nd in the 1st 7car, 7lap heat race behind Archie Powell who led all the way although Bray managed to pull up beside Powell on every straightaway.

Bray won the 2nd 7car, 7lap heat race in 3 minutes, 43.6 seconds.  Curley Young of Denton, Texas finished in a distant 2nd place.

Bray won the 7-lap sweepstakes race by “almost 100-yards” over Gene DeMont of Memphis, Tennessee.

Feature race winner:  Rea Bray of Hutchinson, Kansas

 

September 25, 1930 – ½ mile dirt oval – Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Abilene, Kansas

            Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa

 

October 26, 1930 – 1 mile dirt oval – American Legion Racetrack on the southwest edge of Oakley, Kansas

Car:  Fronty Ford

            Finish:  No results of these races have been located to date.

 

June 7, 1931 – ½ mile dirt oval – Smithville Fairgrounds at Smithville, Missouri

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill

Finish:  Bray finished 2nd in the 10-lap consolation race behind A. D. Hights of Kansas City, Missouri.

Feature race winner:  John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa

 

July 5, 1931 – 1 mile dirt oval – Ar-Sar-Ben at Omaha, Nebraska – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races

Feature race winner:  Sam Hoffman of Sioux City, Iowa

 

August 1, 1931 – ½ mile dirt oval – Cowley County Fairgrounds at Winfield, Kansas

            Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill

            Finish:  Bray set a new 1-lap track record in time trials for one lap with a time of 29.8 seconds, only to have it broken later in the day by Tex West who also set a new 1-lap track record of 28.6 seconds.

                        Bray won the 3-car, 4-lap 3-cornered race in 2 minutes, 10.5 seconds.

Bray finished 2nd to Tex West in the 6-car, 6-lap 1st heat race.

Bray finished 2nd to Tex West in the 9-car, 10-lap Grand sweepstakes race.

            Feature race winner:  Tex West of Dallas, Texas

 

September 1, 1931 – ½ mile dirt oval – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

            Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill

Finish:  Bray ran the 7th fastest in time trials with a lap of 30.25.

              Bray finished 3rd in the 3rd heat race that was won by Fay Gardner.

 Bray finished 4th in the main event that was won by John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa.

Feature race winner:  John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa

 

September 2, 1931 – ½ mile dirt oval – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska

            Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill

Finish:  Bray turned in the 4th fastest in time trials with a lap of 29.83.

Bray finished 3rd in the fourth heat.

Bray finished 9th in the main event that was won by John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa.

Feature race winner:  John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa

 

September 3, 1931 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill and a Pontiac coupe stock car

Finish:  Bray finished in 3rd place in the 10-lap 1st heat race behind Pat Cunningham and Lew Irwin of Iola, Kansas.

Bray won the 10-lap consolation race in 4 minutes, 15.0 seconds.

Bray finished in 2nd place in the 10-lap stock car race behind a Ford roadster driven by Russell Moe of Scandia, Kansas

Feature race winner:  Lew Irwin of Iola, Kansas

 

September 4, 1931 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill and a Pontiac coupe stock car

Finish:  Bray’s name is not listed in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Lew Irwin of Iola, Kansas

 

September 21, 1931½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas

            Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill but these races were canceled due to rain.

 

September 25, 1931½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill and #4 Frontenac owned by Murray Earl

Finish:  Bray had trouble with Hill’s #7 Fronty so he borrowed a #4 Frontenac from Murray Earl for the first 10-car, 7-lap heat race.  He did not finish well in that race and did not enter any of the other races this day.

Feature race winner:  Emory Collins of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

 

September 27, 1931 – ½ mile dirt oval – Andrews County Fairgrounds at Savannah, Missouri – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill

Finish:  Neither Bray’s, nor Hill’s name appears in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Mark Billman of Indianapolis, Indiana

  

May 30, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill of Arkansas City, Kansas

Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

 

June 1, 1932 – 1/3 mile dirt oval – Athletic Field Racetrack in Newton, Kansas

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill of Arkansas City, Kansas

Finish:  Bray won the 3-mile class A heat race in 3:18.6.

             Bray finished 3rd in the 5-mile Sweepstakes race behind Roy Lake of Los Angeles, California and Charles Pauley of Herington, Kansas

Feature race winner:  Roy Lake of Los Angeles, California

Note:  Bray was both the promoter of this event and a participant as well.

  

July 3, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill of Arkansas City, Kansas

Finish:  These races were postponed until July 10, 1932 due to rain.

  

July 10, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  #7 Hill special Fronty Ford owned by Russell D. Hill of Arkansas City, Kansas

Finish:  Bray won the 6-car, 5-mile “Southwest Sweepstakes” race and, thus, was crowned the “Southwest Champion”.

Feature race winner:  Rea Bray of Hutchinson, Kansas

Note:  Roy Gillihan of Purcell, Oklahoma was fatally injured when his car overturned 3-times and then was struck by a car driven by Bill Mathews of Ft. Smith, Arkansas on the 1st lap of the championship race.  Mathews was uninjured.

 

August 7, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Bo Stearns Track north of Wichita, Kansas

Car:  #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  Bray tied for 11th fastest time of the 24 cars that took time trials with his 1 lap of 33.2 seconds which was 1 full second slower than the fastest time of the day.  Those who timed in faster than Bray did were: Ted Davis, Verne Ellis, Pat Cunningham, Lew Irwin, Murray Earl, Harley Wells, Bill Weber, James E. White, Roy Lake, and Jack Kannapel.  H. H. Morris tied Bray for the 11th fastest time.

                        Bray won the 3rd heat race.

 Feature race winner:  Pat Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri

 

August 14, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Mills County Fairgrounds at Malvern, Iowa

Finish:  These races were canceled due to rain.

 

August 16, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa

Car:  Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray won the 1st 8-lap heat race in 4:32.0.

Feature race winner:  Howard “Speed” Adams of Rock Island, Illinois.

 

August 19, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Shelby County Fairgrounds at Harlan, Iowa

Finish:  Bray’s lap of 32.5 seconds was the 7th fastest of the day in time trials behind John Gerber, Sam Hoffman, Fred Dresselhuys, Emory Collins, Clarence Haskell, and Herbert Palmer.

              Bray finished 8th in the feature race behind John Gerber, Sam Hoffman, Fred Dresselhuys, Emory Collins, Clarence Haskell, Lew Irwin and Lloyd Palmer.

Feature race winner:  John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa

 

August 26, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Sam Hoffman of Sioux City, Iowa

 

September 1, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  Bray finished 2nd in the 3rd 5-mile heat race behind James E. White of Sharon Springs, Kansas

Feature race winner:  Art Martinson of Denver, Colorado

  

September 2, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  Bray finished 2nd in the 2nd 5-mile heat race behind Tex West

Feature race winner:  Pat Cunningham of St. Joseph, Missouri

  

September 3, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Minnesota State Fairgrounds at Hamline, Minnesota – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  Bray entered these races but his name is not listed in the published race results and it is unlikely that he even made to these races.

Feature race winner:  Maynard “Hungry” Clark of Milan, Illinois

  

September 4, 1932 – 1 mile dirt oval – Ak-Sar-Ben at Omaha, Nebraska

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Ted Hartley of Roanoke, Indiana

  

September 13, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas Free Fairgrounds at Topeka, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

  

September 15, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas Free Fairgrounds at Topeka, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  Bray finished 2nd in the 5-lap invitational race behind Art Martinsen of Denver, Colorado.

              Bray finished 3rd in the 7-lap consolation race behind Art Martinsen of Denver, Colorado and T. E. Larsen.

Feature race winner:  Maynard “Hungry” Clark of Milan, Illinois who was driving a Gerber special #15 owned by John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa.

  

September 17, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas Free Fairgrounds at Topeka, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  Bray finished 10th in the feature behind Maynard “Hungry” Clark, John Gerber, Pat Cunningham, Bill Carroll, Rex Edmonds, Chris Petersen, Wesley Caster, Al Banks and Art Martinson.

Feature race winner:  Maynard “Hungry” Clark of Milan, Illinois who was driving a Gerber special #15 owned by John Gerber of Stanwood, Iowa.

 

September 23, 1932½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas

            Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Rajo Ford

Finish:  8,000 spectators saw Bray finish in 6th place in the 6-car, 10-lap 3rd heat race behind Ted Davis of Junction City, Kansas; Bill Carroll of Lewis, Kansas; Herb Hunter of Hoisington, Kansas; Glen Dunlap of Newton, Kansas and Speck Heminger of Hastings, Nebraska.

Feature race winner:  Maynard “Hungry” Clark of Milan, Illinois

  

September 25, 19325/8 mile dirt oval – Tri-State Fairgrounds in Amarillo, Texas

            Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  These races were canceled due to rain.

  

September 28, 1932 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray won the 5-lap consolation race over Ray LaPlant of Newark, New Jersey.

Feature race winner:  Gus Schrader of Cedar Rapids, Iowa

  

May 28, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Car:  Rajo Ford special

Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

 

July 4, 1933½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas

            Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray finished in 2nd place in the 1st heat race behind Lew Irwin.

                        Bray finished in 2nd place in the 5-lap handicap race behind Lew Irwin.

                        Bray finished in 2nd place in the 15-lap sweepstakes race behind Lew Irwin.

Feature race winner:  Lew Irwin of Iola, Kansas

  

August 15, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa

          Car:  McDowell special

          Finish:  Bray finished 1st in time trials.

                          Bray won the 1st heat race.

                          Bray won the sweepstakes race finishing ahead of Tom Bricker of Decatur, Illinois.

Feature race winner:  Rea Bray of Hutchinson, Kansas

 

August 19, 1933 – 1 mile dirt oval – Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, MissouriSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

          Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

          Finish:  16,000 spectators saw Bray finish in 2nd place in the 6-lap, 5th heat race behind Rex Edmonds of Dallas, Texas.

Feature race winner:  Pat Cunningham of Topeka, Kansas

 

August 21, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Iowa Fairgrounds at Mason City, IowaSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  5,000 spectators saw Bray finished 2nd in the consolation race behind Red Sorenson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Feature race winner:  Gus Schrader of Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

August 25, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IowaSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

          Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

          Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Gus Schrader of Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

August 31, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray finished in 4th place behind Port DeFraties of Springfield, Illinois; Oscar Coleman of Dallas, Texas; and Charles Pauley of Herington, Kansas in the 5-mile consolation race.

Feature race winner:  Clyde Gilbert of Brighton, Colorado

 

September 1, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  #7 Fronty Ford special

Finish:  Bray finished in 3rd place behind Red Campbell and W. A. Tasker in the 4th 10-lap heat race.

Feature race winner:  Clyde Gilbert of Brighton, Colorado

 

September 2-3, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – Andrew County Fairgrounds at Savannah, Missouri

Car:  #7 Fronty Ford special

Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

 

September 18, 1933½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas

Car:  #7 Fronty Ford special

Finish:  Bray finished in 6th place in the 10-lap consolation race behind Lew Irwin; Pete Alberts of Chicago, Illinois; Charles Pauley; Bob Wilson of Kansas City, Missouri; and Art Challender of Rock Island, Illinois.

Feature race winner:  Clarence Haskell of Lincoln, Nebraska

 

September 24, 1933 – 5/8 mile dirt oval – Industrial Speedway at Dallas, TexasSanctioned by S. R. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Pat Cunningham of Topeka, Kansas

 

September 27, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – Love Field at Dallas, Texas Sanctioned by S. R. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Jim Branch of Dallas, Texas

  

September 30, 1933 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, OklahomaSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Emory Collins of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

 

December 24, 1933 – 5/8 mile dirt oval – Industrial Speedway at Dallas, TexasSanctioned by S. R. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish: Results of these races have yet to be located.

 

         Rea Bray had moved to Wichita, Kansas by 1934.

 

August 31, 1934 – ½ mile dirt oval – Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IowaSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

            Car:  Bray drove a car owned by J. A. Sloan of De Moines, Iowa

          Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Gus Schrader of Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

September 22, 1934 – 1 mile dirt oval – Cumberland Park at Nashville, TennesseeSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

          Car:  Bray drove a #E1 Puegeot owned by J. A. Sloan of De Moines, Iowa

          Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.

Feature race winner:  Sig Haugdahl of Jacksonville, Florida

   

September 28, 1934 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, OklahomaSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

   

September 28, 1934 – ½ mile dirt oval – Fair Park Track at the Old Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, OklahomaSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #7 Bray special Fronty Ford

Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

 

November 11, 1934 – 5/8 mile dirt oval – Lubbock Motorcycle Polo Field south of Lubbock, Texas

Finish:  No results of these races have been located to date.

 

         Rea Bray had moved to Topeka, Kansas by 1936.

 

August 25, 1936 – ½ mile dirt oval – Valley County Fairgrounds at Ord, Nebraska

            Car:  #44 owned by the Mulfinger Brothers of Sioux City, Iowa

Finish:  Bray qualified 9th fastest in time trials with a lap of 26.04 which was slower than the times turned in by Duke Dinsmore, Lloyd Axel, Clyde Gilbert, Red Campbell, Everett Saylor, Morris Musick, Ben Musick, and George “Joie” Chitwood..

            Feature race winner:  Duke Dinsmore of Dayton, Ohio

  

September 3, 1936½ mile dirt oval North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

Car:  The Bray & Coulter #700 supercharged Fronty Ford special

Finish:  Bray finished in 4th position in the 5-mile consolation race behind George “Joie” Chitwood of Topeka, Kansas; Gene Frederick of Dallas, Texas and Dan McCloskey of Kansas City, Missouri.

 Bray was awarded the 14th place finishing position in the 20-lap feature race behind Howard “Howdy” Cox, Everett Saylor, Morris Musick, Lloyd Axel, Mike Salaly, Ted Davis, Clyde Gilbert, Gordon Chard, Cecil “Dutch” Dorris, Lyn Musick, George “Joie” Chitwood, Gene Frederick and Dan McClosky.

Feature race winner:  Howard “Howdy” Cox of Royal Oak, Michigan

  

September 5, 1936 – ½ mile dirt oval – Minnesota State Fairgrounds at Hamline, Minnesota – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

Finish:  Bray entered these races but his name is not listed in the published race results that have been located to date.

Feature race winner:  Emory Collins of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

  

September 21, 1936½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas – Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

            Car:  #K-1 Keys special owned by Jack Keys of Dallas, Texas

Finish:  Bray was 8th fastest in time trials behind Ben Musick a.k.a. “Bill Morris” of Denver, Colorado; Oscar Coleman of Dallas, Texas; Morris Musick of Lincoln, Nebraska; Lou Brown of Champaign, Illinois; Chyde Gilbert of Longmont, Colorado; George “Joie” Chitwood of Topeka, Kansas and Waldo Barnett of Hutchinson, Kansas.

            Bray finished in 5th place in the 2nd 6-car, 5-lap heat race behind Clyde Gilbert; Morris Musick; George “Joie” Chitwood and Waldo Barnett.

            Bray finished 2nd in the 8-car, 5-lap consolation race behind Tex West.

            Bray finished last in the 8-car, 10-lap State Fair Sweepstakes race behind Ben Musick a.k.a. “Bill Morris”; Oscar Coleman; Morris Musick; Lou Brown; Clyde Gilbert; George “Joie” Chitwood and Tex West.

Feature race winner:  Ben Musick a.k.a. “Bill Morris”

 

July 17, 1937 – ½ mile dirt oval – Anthony Downs in Anthony, Kansas – Sanctioned by S. R. A.

            Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

  

August 15, 1937 – ½ mile dirt oval – Mississippi Valley State Fairgrounds at Davenport, IowaSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

          Finish:  Results of these races have yet to be located.

 

August 28, 1937 – 1 mile dirt oval Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, MissouriSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

            Car:  Bray drove a car equipped with a Miller-Schofield head

Finish:  Bray timed in somewhere between 6th and 8th fastest in time trials.

Bray finished in 4th place behind Buddy Callaway; Shorty Drexler of Columbus, Ohio and Tom Slattery of Chicago, Illinois in the 1st 8-car, 5-mile heat race.

Bray finished in 3rd place behind Clay Corbitt of Atlanta, Georgia and Cecil Burnaugh of Columbus, Ohio in the 2nd 7-car, 5-mile heat race.

Feature race winner:  Buddy Callaway of Miami, Florida

 

September 3, 1937 – ½ mile dirt oval – Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IowaSanctioned by I. M. C. A.

            Car:  Bray drove a car equipped with a Miller-Schofield head

          Finish:  These races were canceled due to rain.

 

September 17, 1937 – ½ mile dirt oval – South Dakota State Fairgrounds at Huron, South Dakota Sanctioned by I. M. C. A.

            Finish:  Bray finished 1st in the 3rd heat race.

Feature race winner:  Gus Schrader of Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

Rea Bray had moved to Los Angeles, California by 1939 and opened his own auto repair garage.

 

April 2, 1939 – 1 mile high banked paved oval Oakland Speedway at San Leandro, California Sanctioned by A. R. A.

            Car:  Bray’s own #35 Hisso that he purchased from Vic Felt of Denver, Colorado

Finish:  Bray finished in 2nd place behind Ray Gardner in the 44-lap Spring Sweepstakes race.

Feature race winner:  Ray Gardner in his own #19 Miller-Offenhauser

  

April 30, 1939 – 1 mile high banked paved oval Oakland Speedway at San Leandro, California Sanctioned by A. R. A.

            Car:  Bray’s own #35 Hisso

Finish:  Bray finished 4th in a 100-mile Classic race behind Wally Schock, Rajo Jack and Lloyd Logan.

Feature race winner:  Wally Schock in the #1 Stair special D. O. Hal

 

September 24, 1939 – 1 mile high banked paved oval Oakland Speedway at San Leandro, California Sanctioned by A. R. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #35 Hisso

Finish:  Bray led the 1st lap of the 2nd annual 33-car, 500-mile Classic race before dropping back to finish in 5th place.

Feature race winner:  Tex Peterson with Rajo Jack in relief in the #18 Gil Pearson Miller

 

            Bray finished 2nd in A.R.A. points in 1939 behind champion Wally Schock.

 

March 10, 1940 – ½ mile dirt oval – Madera Speedway at Madera, California Sanctioned by C. O. D. A.

            Car:  Bray entered his own #35 Hisso

          Finish:  The results of these races have yet to be located.

 

May 12, 1940 – 1 mile high banked paved oval Oakland Speedway at San Leandro, California Sanctioned by A. R. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #35 Hisso

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in published results of the 100-mile race run on this day.

Feature race winner:  Wally Schock in the #14 Pintarelli Hal

 

September 2, 1940 – 1 mile high banked paved oval Oakland Speedway at San Leandro, California – Sanctioned by A. R. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #35 Hispano-Suiza

Finish:  Bray’s name does not appear in published results of these races.

Feature Race Winner:  Hal Cole of South Gate, California in the #18 Gil Pearson Miller

  

July 4, 1941 – 1 mile high banked paved oval Oakland Speedway at San Leandro, California – Sanctioned by A. R. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #35 Hisso

Finish:  Bray finished in 5th place in the 200-mile race behind Hal Cole of South Gate, California; Wally Schock of Santa Rosa, California; Rajo Jack of Los Angeles, California and Tex Sanders who was also from Los Angeles, California.

Feature Race Winner:  Hal Cole of South Gate, California in the #18 Gil Pearson Miller

 

September 1, 1941 – 1 mile high banked paved oval Oakland Speedway at San Leandro, California – Sanctioned by A. R. A.

Car:  Bray’s own #35 Hispano-Suiza

Finish:  While running in 7th place on the 356th lap of a 33-car, 500-mile race, the crowd, estimated to be 15,000 saw Bray sail over the south fence.  He suffered a broken neck when he was thrown from the car and, thus, he became the 10th fatality in the history of this racetrack.

Feature Race Winner:  Last place starter Ed Barnett of South Gate, California who was driving the #75 Hood Riley

 

Rea Bray is buried beside his maternal grandparents in the Foster Cemetery at Topeka, Kansas.

 

 

 

ABOVE:  Rea Bray raced at the Kansas State Fair on September 25, 1936.  He is shown here in the Bray & Coulter Special #700 blown Fronty he drove that day to a time of 31.3 seconds in qualifying time trials.  The car was originally built by Leonard E. Kerbs of Otis, Kansas – Don Radbruch collection

 

 

 

Rea Bray’s #35 Hisso is shown here after it had overheated on the Oakland Speedway on May 12, 1940 – Don Radbruch collection

                                                                                                                            

 

 

 

 

JUST ABOVE:  Rea Bray competed in at least six races at Oakland Speedway, Oakland, California between 1939 and 1941.  He finished second to Ray Gardner in a 50-mile race there in 1939 and then came in fifth in the Oakland “500” that fall.  His consistent finishes earned him second place in the A.R.A. points in 1939 behind champion Wally Schock.  Bray is shown here at Oakland Speedway in a car he drove there c1940 – Ted Wilson photo

 

 

 

RIGHT:  Rea Bray, standing at left, had purchased the #35 big car at right, complete with a 358-cubic-inch four-cylinder Hisso engine, from Vic Felt of Denver, Colorado.  For some reason, Bray replaced that engine with a heavier 272 cubic inch overhead valve six-cylinder Hispano-Suiza passenger car engine.  Click your mouse on the photo at right to see a better photograph of this engine in the car - Chalmers Davies photos from the Don Radbruch collection

 

 

BELOW:  Rea Bray is pictured below sailing over the south fence at the Oakland Speedway, Oakland, California on the 356th lap of a 500-mile race there on Labor Day, 1941.  The heavier engine is believed to have led to shock absorber failure making the car difficult to drive and the poor handling was probably a major contributor to this accident.  Bray received fatal injuries after being thrown from the car during the crash.  Click your mouse on the photo below to see more photos taken after the accidentChalmers Davies photos from the Don Radbruch collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you:

Richard Salamon