Tuesday, September 17, 2013

1963 - Wade Leads Jalopy Field

Hutchinson, Kan. (September 17, 1963) - Spinning along at the head of the field, almost unchallenged, Grady Wade of Wichita grabbed every first place finish within his reach to take top honors in Tuesday's program of jalopy races at the Kansas State Fair.
Wade outran a field that included several former national jalopy champions to win his heat in the best 10-lap time of the day, 4 minutes and 40 seconds. He won the five-lap trophy dash in a speedy two minutes and 13 seconds and came back to win the A-feature.
But it was the ill-starred B-feature that kept fans at the edge of their seats, brought the greatest applause, the longest period of silence and the wail of the ambulance siren.
On the first lap of the race, a car driven by Dick Doran, Wichita, skidded sidewise at the north turn, rolled over twice and came to rest against the fence. Doran received a gash across his head and was taken to St. Elizabeth's Hospital where he was treated and released.
The race was re-started. Buddy Leibrand, Parkville, Mo., spun out on the number two corners, near the infield. He abandoned the car. Jerry Reed, Hutchinson, flipped over on his top near the third corner. He crawled out and jumped to the infield. Duane was throwing steam. He parked it high on the track at the south curve. Milton Ward, Great Bend spun into the fence on t he backstretch near the number three corner. Gene McClellan's engine threw a rod and seemed to explode near turn one. Bits of block, cylinder, and other hunks of metal were scattered along the track.
There were several other spins, and near crack-ups, but the race continued with John Riead, Hutchinson, emerging as the winner. Dick Unger, Wichita, was second.
Several spinouts also spiced the A-feature, but the most spectacular accident came at the number four corners.
Earl Hughes, Buffalo, Okla., seemed to have everything under control as he neared the third corner on the 18th lap of the race. Then, it appeared a hose or radiator burst, throwing a cloud of steam. Hughes hurtled on into the fence — and through it.
Former national champions competing in the A feature were Forrest Coleman, Wichita, who finished second and Frankie Lies, who finished fourth. Roy Bryant, third and Bill Nelson, fifth, have won other major race events here.

Results –

  1. Grady Wade, Wichita, Kan.
  2. Forrest Coleman Wichita, Kan.
  3. Roy Bryant, Wichita, Kan.
  4. Frankie Lies, Wichita, Kan.
  5. Bill Nelson, Wichita, Kan.
  6. Ray Riner, Wichita, Kan.
  7. Virgil Chapman, Kansas City, Kan.
  8. Dale Reed, Wichita, Kan.
  9. Jay Woodside, Wichita, Kan.
  10. Leland Salmans, Larned, Kan.
  11. Ben Steadman, Sharon, Okla.
  12. Bill Curless, Wichita, Kan.
  13. Jack Petty, Wichita, Kan.
  14. Earl Hughes, Buffalo, Okla.

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