1961 – Folse Wins Big Car Race at Knoxville

Pete Folse

Knoxville, Ill. (May 30, 1961) – Pete Folse of Tampa, Fla., defending national IMCA big car champion, piloted his powerful Offenhauser to victory here Tuesday night in the 20-lap feature before a capacity crowd of 3,500 at the annual Memorial Day race.

The two-time national champion and currently the pacesetter in national standings this year also turned in the best time trial, touring the half-mile, dirt track in 25.90 seconds.

Folse, however, had to settle for third in a heat race and was fourth in the handicap. Jerry Blundy, of nearby Galesburg, finished second in the feature in his hot Chevrolet-powered racer while third place went to Herschel Wagner of Kansas City in an Offenhauser. Blundy is in third place in national standings.

Folse, starting on the pole position in the feature, took over the lead at the green flag and was never headed. Blundy and Wagner staged a sensational duel for second place with the Galesburg chauffer getting by Wagner on the fourteenth lap, Wagner finished third.

Blundy, although he closed the gap between, he and Folse, was unable to catch the Florida speedster.

The race was marred by one minor mishap when Buzz Rose of La Puente, Calif., went through the fence after his steering mechanism failed. The Californian, however, was uninjured and the car was returned to action in a later race.


Results –


Heat #1 – Jerry Blundy, Galesburg, Ill.
Heat #2 – Gordon Woolley, Waco, Tex.
Heat #3 – Duke Hindahl, Pekin, Ill.
Handicap – Herschel Wagner, Hickman Hills, Mo.
Australian Pursuit – Joe Noeske Freeport, Ill.
Feature -
1. Pete Folse, Tampa, Fla.
2. Jerry Blundy
3. Herschel Wagner
4. Hal Schroeder, Bettendorf, Iowa
5. Herb Shannon, Peoria, Ill.
6. Duke Hindahl
7. Duane Stoneking, Burlington, Iowa
8. Del Hindahl, Sherrard, Ill.
9. Eddie Frese, Quincy, Ill.
10.Joe Noeske