1953 – McHenry Wins Big Car Race in Valley Tilt

Mack McHenry, driving the Tom Randol Offy, won the IMCA big car feature at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. – Don Radbruch Collection

Davenport, Iowa (August 21, 1953) – Mack McHenry, well-known Wichita, Kan., chauffer, dominated the IMCA big car field on Saturday afternoon at the Mississippi Valley Fair.

McHenry pushed the Tom Randol Offenhauser to cop fast time in qualifying, in addition to winning the first heat and 15-lap feature race. McHenry’s time on the big half-mile was 25.06 seconds.

A newcomer to the IMCA ranks, Dick Ferguson of Burbank, Calif., ran off with the second heat while Paul Kamm of San Francisco, Calif., won the third heat.

Don Branson of Champaign, Ill., won the International Handicap and Wade Cred took top honors in the Australian Pursuit race.

A broken engine block kept Bobby Grim, the young Indianapolis speedster, from the program.


Results –


Time trials – Mack McHenry, Wichita, Kan. (25.06)
Heat #1 – Mack McHenry
Heat #2 – Dick Ferguson, Burbank, Calif.
Heat #3 – Paul Kamm, San Francisco, Calif.
Int’l Handicap – Don Branson, Champaign, Ill.
Australian Pursuit – Wade Crew
Feature –
1. Mack McHenry
2. Jerry Kemp, St. Louis
3. Dick Ferguson
4. Don Branson
5. Clyde Sullivan, Kansas City
6. Roy Blinstrup, Mendota, Ill.
7. Kenny Higginson, Des Moines
8. Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.