1966 - Midget Win to Ritchie at Downs

Dick Ritchie - Leroy Byers Photo

 

 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (August 13, 1966) - Cedar Rapids' Dick Ritchie, current national IMCA midget racing champion, charged to another victory at Hawkeye Downs Saturday afternoon as he won the 25-lap feature event.

The 20-year veteran drove his Mensing-Offenhauser to victory before 3,400 after taking the lead in the third lap and carrying the lead for the remainder of the race.

Second place finisher Lee Kunzman of Guttenberg, Iowa fought off the threat of Joe Waller of Kansas City throughout the race. Kunzman nosed out Waller by a scant three inches to take the runner-up spot.

Willard Yates of Cedar Rapids won the 15-lap semi-main event. Yates also finished second in the fast car dash behind Walter.

Results –

 

First heat (10 laps) -

1. Gene Weyant, Springfield, Ill.

2. Howard House, Kansas City, Mo.

3. Joe Waller, Kansas City

 

Second heat (10 laps) -

1. Bob Parker, Omaha, Neb.  

2. Dick Ritchie, C.R.

3. Harvey Schane, Lawrence, Neb.

 

Third heat (10 laps) - 

1. Jim Gartlin, Omaha, Neb.

2. Dale McCarty, Kansas City

3. Jim Williams, Cedar Rapids

Semi-main (15 laps) -

l. Willard Yates, C.R.

2. Dwayne Telley, St. Paul, Minn.

3. Joe Lane, St. Louis, Mo.

4. Red Droste, Waterloo

5. Deputy Dog, St. Louis, Mo.

Fast-Car Dash (6 laps) - 

1. Joe Waller

2. Willard Yates

3. John Stewart, Fremont, Neb.

Feature (25 laps) -

1 Dick Ritchie

2. Lee Kunzman, Guttenberg

3. Joe Waller

4. Howard House

5. Gene Weyant

6. John Stewart

7. Willard Yates