Sunday, September 12, 2021

1958 – White Wallops IMCA Opposition at Clay County Fair

 

Spencer, Iowa (September 12, 1958) – International Motor Contest Association point leader Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, walked off with the 100-lap feature race at the Clay County Fair on Friday afternoon.

The decision garnered White the appropriate amount of money, engraved trophy, and even more important, a kiss from Miss Iowa, Joanne McDonald, in her first public appearance since placing second in the Miss America contest recently.

White won going away, lapping everyone in the 16-car field except Ernie Derr, also of Keokuk. White and Derr are brothers-in-law.

Third place went to Johnny Beauchamp of Harlan, Iowa, in his 1957 Chevrolet. Fourth went to Bob Burdick of Omaha and Mert William of Rochester, Minn., came in fifth.

White started his blue ’58 Ford on the pole position and never relinquished his first-place spot. Derr, in a green ’58 Pontiac, managed to stay with White in the early stages but by the time the checkered flag waved, White had nearly a quarter of a lap lead.

The time for the 100-lap race was 51 minutes and 22 seconds. The record for the race was 49 minutes and 2 seconds. A yellow, slowdown for nine laps ruined White’s chances for the record.

The grandstand turnout was the largest of the week. Fair secretary Bill Woods estimated the crowd at 11,000.


Results –


1. Don White
2. Ernie Derr
3. Johnny Beauchamp
4. Bob Burdick
5. Mert Williams
6. Sandy Slack, North Platte, Neb.
7. Mel Krueger, Atlantic, Iowa
8. Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
9. Sonny Helms, Des Moines
10.Newt Bartholomew, Carlisle, Iowa
11.Art Brady, Omaha
12.Jim Norton, Topeka, Kan.

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