1952 - No Gas at End, But Harrison Wins

 

Tubby Harrison carries the checkered flag, emblematic of victory, after winning the 125-miler at Des Moines. – Ken Scarpino Photo

By Tony Cardano

Des Moines, Iowa (June 29,1952) – The lesser-known member of the Harrison racing family, Tubby, finished first in the fourth annual 125-miler stock car classic of the International Motor Contest Association Sunday afternoon at the State Fairgrounds.

An estimated 12,000 spectators witnessed the event.

Tubby, driving his brother’s 1949 Plymouth, barely sputtered across the pay-off line, five laps ahead of Ernie Derr of Fort Madison, the 1951 winner.

Tubby’s machine sputtered and coughed the last half mile of the contest and upon investigation afterwards, the Topeka, Kan., pilot discovered his gas tank was bone-dry. Harrison had driven the entire distance without a pit stop.

The more publicized Harrison, Bill, finished third in a field of 20 cars.

The Harrison’s collected $950 total. Bill, however, will bank the bigger share of the purse. Tubby was driving on a percentage basis. First prize was $650 while third place earned $350.

Actually Tubby, who won a stock car race for the first time in his career, was ready to turn in his chauffeur’s card after his brother’s Plymouth broke down twice in races earlier this season.

For 107 of the 125 miles, Shorty Perlick of Minneapolis, driving a 1950 Oldsmobile, set the pace with steady hands a purring engine. However, on the 218th lap, Perlick was being towed to the infield with a broke rear axle.

The Harrisons both performed like track athletes. First Bill, piloting a 1952 DeSoto, shadowed Perlick for 173 laps before having to make a pit stop.

The brother Tubby took pursuit of Perlick, picking up ground through the turns, but his car didn’t have the horsepower in the straightaways to keep pace.

With 40 laps remaining, Perlick pulled into the pits for gas and oil with a three-lap advantage over Tubby. Perlick returned to the track in approximately 50 seconds and still held better than a lap advantage over the ultimate winner.

Then, as mentioned before, the rear axle on Perlick’s car broke and he lost 14 laps before he was able to return to action.

Perhaps, but for an unfortunate accident early in the race, Ernie Derr might have pocketed the first-place money for the second straight year.

Derr was running third at the completion of 25 laps before his car had a brush with Bill Harrison’s car, forcing the Iowan to pit.

Two other former 125-mile winners, Eddie Anderson of Grinnell and Don White of Keokuk, did not fare so well. Anderson, winner of the race in 1949, withdrew from the race on lap 67 with engine trouble while White experienced handling issues all afternoon and finished 12th.

Herschel Buchanan of Shreveport, La., the 1950 and ’51 IMCA national stock car champion, went out of the race on lap 11 with a broken right front hub.

Harrison completed the 125 miles in 2 hours, 30 minutes, and 55 seconds. That means he averaged 50 miles per hour around the half-mile oval.

The fastest time trial was turned in by Derr, who spun his 1952 Oldsmobile around the track in 33.37 seconds.


Results –


1. Tubby Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk
3. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
4. Gene Harmon, Lincoln, Neb.
5. Delmar Donaldson, Burlington
6. Shorty Perlick, Minneapolis, Minn.
7. Tilman Huset, Brandon, S.D.
8. Eddie Martin, Birmingham, Ala.
9. Ray Shy, Topeka, Kan.
10.Floyd Hauersperger, Kellogg
11.Sonny Gross, Quincy, Ill.
12.Don White, Keokuk

Matt “Shorty” Perlick (5) leads Tubby Harrison (9) during the 125-miler at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. A few laps later, Perlick was in the pits and Harrison would go on to score the victory. – Ken Scarpino Photo