Autographed program cover for the midget races run on this afternoon Bob Lawrence collection
|
Midget Races run at the
Bo Stearns’ Racetrack
Wichita, Kansas
Sunday Afternoon – April 24, 1938
Entry List
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
1 |
Roy Sherman |
St. Louis, Missouri |
Raynor special |
|
White |
Ben Raynor |
|
2 |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
Corbin special |
Chevrolet |
Green |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
2 |
Bud Cooper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
“Snag” Abbott |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
Dumbauld special |
|
|
Jimmy Dumbauld |
Denver, Colorado |
5 |
Jimmie Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
Bussard special |
Hudson |
Aluminum |
Julius Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
6 |
Ben Nelson |
|
Bussard special |
Chevrolet |
Aluminum |
Julius Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
7 |
Paul McNees |
Cañon City, Colorado |
Spook special |
|
White |
Louis Baechler |
Ft. Collins, Colorado |
12 |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Boomer special |
Chevrolet |
Black & White |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
13 |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
Clem special |
Indian |
Aluminum |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
14 |
“Cannonball” Weir |
Denver, Colorado |
Cannonball special |
Harley - Davidson |
|
Vernon “Cannonball” Weir |
Denver, Colorado |
15 |
“Sheik” Welch |
Denver, Colorado |
Welch special |
|
|
“Sheik” Welch |
Denver, Colorado |
15 |
Chuck Vandervort |
|
Geisen special |
Continental |
Yellow |
Louis Geisen |
Minneapolis, Kansas |
17 |
Clarence Rose |
Maplewood, Missouri |
Lucas Garage special |
|
Rust |
Clarence Rose |
Maplewood, Missouri |
23 |
Roy Leslie |
Denver, Colorado |
Jurgens special |
Ford |
Black |
Jimmy Jergens |
Denver, Colorado |
30 |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
Miller Beer special |
|
Blue |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
34 |
“Snag” Abbott |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
|
White |
|
|
38 |
Paul “Pappy” Headrick |
Denver, Colorado |
Popp special |
|
|
Paul “Pappy” Headrick |
Denver, Colorado |
45 |
Louie Geisen |
Minneapolis, Kansas |
Continental special |
Continental |
|
Louis Geisen |
Minneapolis, Kansas |
4-60 |
Carl Nelson |
|
Graves special |
|
Orange |
Harry Graves |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
4-60 |
Wayne Young |
|
Graves special |
|
Orange |
Harry Graves |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
X |
Fred Harris |
Wichita, Kansas |
F.W.D. special |
|
|
|
|
Time Trials – 13 Cars – 1 lap
Car # |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
Time |
7 |
Paul McNees |
Cañon City, Colorado |
Spook special |
|
White |
Louis Baechler |
Ft. Collins, Colorado |
18.1 |
17 |
Clarence Rose |
Maplewood, Missouri |
Lucas Garage special |
|
Rust |
Clarence Rose |
Maplewood, Missouri |
18.3 |
30 |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
Miller Beer special |
|
Blue |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
18.3 |
5 |
Jimmie Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
Bussard special |
Hudson |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
19.0 |
4 – 60 |
Carl Nelson |
|
Graves special |
|
Orange |
Harry Graves |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
19.1 |
1 |
Roy Sherman |
St. Louis, Missouri |
Raynor special |
|
White |
Ben Raynor |
|
19.2 |
13 |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
Clem special |
Indian |
Aluminum |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
19.5 |
12 |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Boomer special |
Chevrolet |
Black & White |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
20.0 |
34 |
“Snag” Abbott |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
|
White |
|
|
20.0 |
2 |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
Corbin special |
Chevrolet |
Green |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
20.2 |
45 |
Louie Geisen |
Minneapolis, Kansas |
Continental special |
Contiental |
|
Louis Geisen |
Minneapolis, Kansas |
22.0 |
6 |
Ben Nelson |
|
Bussard special |
Chevrolet |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
No Time |
15 |
Chuck Vandervort |
|
Geisen special |
Contiental |
Yellow |
Louis Geisen |
Minneapolis, Kansas |
No Time |
Dash - 3 Fastest Cars from Qualifying – 4 Laps
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
5 |
1 |
1 |
Jimmie Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
Bussard special |
Hudson |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
7 |
2 |
2 |
Paul McNees |
Cañon City, Colorado |
Spook special |
|
White |
Louis Baechler |
Ft. Collins, Colorado |
17 |
DNF |
3 |
Clarence Rose |
Maplewood, Missouri |
Lucas Garage special |
|
Rust |
Clarence Rose |
Maplewood, Missouri |
Rose spun his car out on the north curve.
First Elimination Race – 4 Cars – 6 Laps – Time: 1:58.0
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
30 |
1 |
1 |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
Miller Beer special |
|
Blue |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
5 |
2 |
4 |
Jimmie Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
Bussard special |
Hudson |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
7 |
3 |
3 |
Paul McNees |
Cañon |
Spook special |
|
White |
Louis Baechler |
Ft. Collins, Colorado |
17 |
4 |
2 |
Clarence Rose |
Maplewood, Missouri |
Lucas Garage special |
|
Rust |
Clarence Rose |
Maplewood, Missouri |
McNees spun out on the north curve but restarted the race
Rose’s engine was was “cutting out” but he managed to finish the race.
Second Elimination Race – 4 Cars – 6 Laps
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
1 |
1 |
3 |
Roy Sherman |
St. Louis, Missouri |
Raynor special |
|
White |
Ben Raynor |
|
4 – 60 |
2 |
1 |
Carl Nelson |
Graves special |
|
Orange |
Harry Graves |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
|
7 |
3 |
4 |
Paul McNees |
Cañon City, Colorado |
Spook special |
|
White |
Louis Baechler |
Ft. Collins, Colorado |
6 |
DNF |
2 |
Ben Nelson |
|
Bussard special |
Chevrolet |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
Nelson spun out.
Sherman spun out but was able to continue in the race.
Third Elimination Race – 4 Cars – 6 Laps – Time: 2:04.0
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
7 |
1 |
4 |
Paul McNees |
Cañon City, Colorado |
Spook special |
|
White |
Louis Baechler |
Ft. Collins, Colorado |
6 |
2 |
3 |
Ben Nelson |
Bussard special |
Chevrolet |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
|
13 |
3 |
2 |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
Clem special |
Indian |
Aluminum |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
12 |
4 |
1 |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Boomer special |
Chevrolet |
Black & White |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Fourth Elimination Race – 4 Cars – 6 Laps – Time: 2:04.0
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
Corbin special |
Chevrolet |
Green |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
13 |
2 |
3 |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
Clem special |
Indian |
Aluminum |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
34 |
DNF |
2 |
“Snag” Abbott |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
White |
|||
12 |
DNF |
4 |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Boomer special |
Chevrolet |
Black & White |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Clem lost a wheel but finished on the remaining three wheels.
Abbott dropped out.
Boomer spun out.
Fifth Elimination Race – 4 Cars – 6 Laps
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
6 |
1 |
2 |
Ben Nelson |
Bussard special |
Chevrolet |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
|
12 |
2 |
1 |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Boomer special |
Chevrolet |
Black & White |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
2 |
3 |
3 |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
Corbin special |
Chevrolet |
Green |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
15 |
4 |
4 |
Chuck Vandervort |
|
Geisen special |
Contiental |
Yellow |
Louis Geisen |
Minneapolis, Kansas |
Grandstand Choice Race – 4 Cars – 6 Laps – Time: 3:01.0
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Roy Sherman |
St. Louis, Missouri |
Raynor special |
|
White |
Ben Raynor |
|
30 |
2 |
3 |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
Miller Beer special |
|
Blue |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
5 |
3 |
4 |
Jimmie Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
Bussard special |
Hudson |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
13 |
4 |
1 |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
Clem special |
Indian |
Aluminum |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
Simi-Final Race – 7 Cars
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
34 |
1 |
2 |
“Snag” Abbott |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
White |
|||
6 |
2 |
6 |
Ben Nelson |
Bussard special |
Chevrolet |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
|
12 |
3 |
3 |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Boomer special |
Chevrolet |
Black & White |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
4 – 60 |
4 |
4 |
Carl Nelson |
|
Graves special |
|
Orange |
Harry Graves |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
15 |
DNF |
1 |
Chuck Vandervort |
|
Geisen special |
Contiental |
Yellow |
Louis Geisen |
Minneapolis, Kansas |
13 |
DNF |
7 |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
Clem special |
Indian |
Aluminum |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
2 |
DNF |
5 |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
Corbin special |
Chevrolet |
Green |
Lyle Corbin |
Denver, Colorado |
Vandervort dropped out of this race with engine trouble.
Clem went out of the race on the north curve.
Corbin went out of the race on the race on the southeast curve.
Feature Race – 10 Cars – 25 Laps – Time: 7:17.0
Car # |
Finished |
Started |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Engine |
Car Color |
Car Owner |
Owner From |
5 |
1 |
1 |
Jimmie Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
Bussard special |
Hudson |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Roy Sherman |
St. Louis, Missouri |
Raynor special |
|
White |
Ben Raynor |
|
7 |
3 |
2 |
Paul McNees |
Cañon City, Colorado |
Spook special |
|
White |
Louis Baechler |
Ft. Collins, Colorado |
13 |
4 |
9 |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
Clem special |
Indian |
Aluminum |
D. A. Clem |
Wichita, Kansas |
12 |
5 |
8 |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
Boomer special |
Chevrolet |
Black & White |
Johnny Boomer |
Denver, Colorado |
30 |
DNF |
3 |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
Miller Beer special |
|
Blue |
Walt Killinger |
Denver, Colorado |
4 – 60 |
DNF |
6 |
Carl Nelson |
|
Graves special |
|
Orange |
Harry Graves |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
6 |
DNF |
7 |
Ben Nelson |
|
Bussard special |
Chevrolet |
Aluminum |
Julius “Buzz” Bussard |
Littleton, Colorado |
34 |
DNF |
10 |
“Snag” Abbott |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
|
White |
|
|
|
DNF |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 cars were scheduled to start this race but only 10 of those were still in running condition.
Race Officials
Tom Holden |
– |
General Manager |
Tom Holden |
– |
Starter / Flagman |
V. Luther |
– |
Assistant Manager |
Gilbert Garnell |
– |
Tape Referee |
Jack Copeland |
– |
Judge |
Larry Fitch |
– |
Timer |
J. O. Strain |
– |
Announcer |
Jimmy Dumbauld |
– |
Track Manager |
James M. “Jimmie” Bussard
1911 - 1996
Jimmie Bussard of Littleton, Colorado in the midget that he won the feature race in at Bo Stearns’ Track north of Wichita, Kansas on April 24, 1938. The Hudson powered midget was owned by Jimmie’s father, Julius “Buzz” Bussard.
Photograph from the book One Tough Circuit, Midget Racing in America’s Heartland by Bill Hill