1974 - Sanger Boasts Cresco Victory on 'Trickle Night'

 

Cresco, Iowa (August 9, 1974) – The question which floated around area racing circles this past week, “Can Dick Trickle win on dirt?”, remained largely unanswered following the famed asphalt driver’s appearance at the Howard County Fairgrounds on Friday night.

Trickle, who started last in the 17-car super stock field, made many in the crowd of 2,200 believers through the first six laps of the special 35-lap promotional race, advancing quickly to tenth place.

But a collision on the seventh lap on the half-mile dirt forced a halt to the feature while Trickle’s crew right rear wheel that was damaged in the broad slide mishap.

Handling performance was marred from that point on, leaving Trickle in the eighth spot when the checkered flag fell.

Karrl Sanger of Waterloo picked up the $300 first-place money out of the $2,750 total purse. Ron Kester of Austin, Minn., finished second followed by Willie Richardson of Hayfield, Minn., and Dave Bjorge of Austin, Minn.

Trickle, the 32-year-old from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., gaining stock car’s ‘winningest driver” title in 1972, when he won 67 feature races, and has placed among the sport’s biggest names at the Daytona and Charlotte superspeedways.

So, Trickle’s showing didn’t settle well with the veteran short track driver. “Putting a tire on that isn’t specified for a dirt track can make a world of difference in the outcome,” said Trickle, referring to the replacement following the seventh-lap crash.

“I’ve probably raced on dirt seven times in the last 15 years of asphalt racing,” he added, “and the adjustment is major. I felt good acceleration, but the rear end slid too much in the corners.”

After the restart, Trickle was ordered to the rear of the field but regained some ground by the ninth lap, moving up to 12th, but advancement came slowly in the next 23 circuits.

Following a sixth place finish in his heat race, Trickle made weight adjustments to the left front of his ’71 Mustang, and the early feature laps reflected his work.

In the hobby stock feature, Bill Gadbois of Albert, Minn., clung to the lead the entire way with Dutch VanWyngeren of Hollandale, Minn., nipping at his bumper.

Gary VanWyngeren of Hollandale, Minn., captured the street stock main event with Dan Varner taking runner-up honors.


Results –


Super Stock –

1. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
2. Ron Kester, Austin, Minn.
3. Willie Richardson, Hayfield, Minn
4. Dave Bjorge, Austin, Minn.
5. Red Dralle, Evansdale
6. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
7. Em Fretheim, Decorah
8. Bob Shryock, Estherville
9. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
10.Ron Schafenbuel, New Hampton


Hobby Stock –

1. Bill Gadbois, Albert, Minn.
2. Dutch VanWyngeren, Hollandale, Minn.
3. Ron Jones, Cresco


Street Stock –

1. Gary VanWyngeren, Hollandale, Minn.
2. Dan Varner
3. Dan Faber, Austin, Minn.