Remembering Two Days at the 1974 Iowa State Fair

 

Des Moines' Don Hoffman won the super stock feature on opening night of the 1974 Iowa State Fair. - Beetle Bailey Photo

By Lee Ackerman

Des Moines, Iowa - Finally!

While Don Hoffman had been enjoying a pretty successful 1974 racing season, that had not been the case at the Iowa State Fair Speedway until Friday, August 17. But on that night Hoffman opened racing at the 1974 Iowa State Fair in stellar fashion as he wheeled Bill Moyer, Sr’s. ‘72 Nova #98 to victory lane.

Omaha’s Bob Kosiski grabbed the initial lead in his ‘72 Chevelle in the 25-lap feature event with Ankeny’s George Barton second and Hoffman third. But it wasn’t long, and Hoffman was on the move taking second from Barton on lap two and then on lap six getting by Kosiski and staying out front the rest of the way.

It wasn’t long and Hoffman was opening up a commanding lead but then a combination of a dry slick racetrack and the fact that Hoffman’s car started pushing slowed his pace. For some time, runner-up Kosiski was more concerned with holding off Barton than trying to reel in Hoffman but after Barton retired from the event with a blown tire, Kosiski threw caution to the wind and started to run down Hoffman. As the race closed into its final laps the pair had the fans on their feet and as the checkers fell it was Hoffman by inches.

Following the pair to the line were Cal Swanson of Iowa City, Bill Rice of Des Moines, Bill Rice of Des Moines, and Ken Davidson of Des Moines rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Joe Schaefer, Bob Bonzer, Don Davidson, Randy Sterner and Bland Robinson.

In preliminary action Kosiski did get the best of Hoffman in the first heat with Ken Davidson finishing third and Bill Moyer (returning to action after a year lay-off) fourth. George Barton bested Cal Swanson, Dick Oldham, and Joe Schaefer in heat two with Bland Robinson taking the consolation event over Joe Merryfield, Randy Sterner and Don Davidson.

In Sportsman action, Cedar Rapids driver Ron Lint brought his ‘66 Chevelle to the Iowa State Fair for the first time and it was only the sixth time the car had been in action all year, but when the checkers waved on the feature it was all Lint.

Initial race leader Leonard Woodard of Des Moines led until overtaken by Lint on lap 13. On lap 14 the race was stopped when Larry Embrey and Phil Reece collided on the frontstretch, and the race was called complete. When the race was declared official it was Lint, Woodard, Jerry Cleghorn, Glenn Woodard and Dave Farren.

In Sportsman heat race action Leonard Woodard took heat one with Lint and Glenn Woodard in tow. Bill Geil (who was a front runner in the feature before dropping from the event) took heat two followed by Jack Davis and Bill Lundington. Heat three went to Jim Welhons followed by Randy Perkins and Dave Farren. Larry Embrey won the consolation event over Duane Franz and Bob Thompson.

Joe Merryfield won the IMCA late model feature at the 1974 Iowa State Fair. He's joined in victory lane by Iowa State Fair secretary Lyle Krebs (right) and flagman Larry Shipley. - Beetle Bailey Photo

As was the tradition for many years at the Iowa State Fair the stock cars/late models of the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) made their appearance at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. They were on hand on Sunday, August 18, 1974, and for most of the afternoon it looked like things were going to be very similar to the results of the previous evening, but 50 laps is 50 laps, and sometimes funny things happen on the way to the checkered flag.

In heat race action, it was Bill Rice of Des Moines taking heat one in his ‘70 Camaro with Ankeny’s George Barton second in a ‘74 Camaro, Des Moines’ Joe Merryfield third in a ‘72 Monte Carlo and Indianola’s Ken Davidson fourth in a ‘73 Nova.

Billy Myers of Grand Island, Neb., took heat two in a ‘72 Nova followed by Gary Lindgren of Ogden in a ‘74 Laguna, Jim Anderson of Kansas City, Mo., third in a ‘72 Chevelle and Gerry Harrison of Topeka, Kan., fourth in a ‘69 Chevelle.

Defending IMCA national champion Gordon Blankenship of Keokuk took the trophy dash in his ’70 Charger over Omaha’s Bob Kosiski in a ’72 Chevelle, Randy Sterner of Blair, Neb., in a ’74 Laguna and Don Hoffman of Des Moines in a ’72 Nova.

Hoffman then came back and won the consolation event over Kosiski with Bob Hilmer of Dysart in a ’72 Chevy running third and Stan Stover of Reinbeck fourth in a ’73 Chevelle.

Thirty-one cars took the green flag in the 50-lap feature with current IMCA late model point leader Bill Schwader of Pleasant Valley in a ’71 Torino taking the initial lead of the event before giving way to Randy Sterner on lap two.

On lap 14, hard charging Don Hoffman went to the front with Sterner in pursuit until lap 23 when “Injun Joe” Merryfield of Des Moines got by Sterner for second. From that point on until the end of the event it was a race between the two hometown drivers, Hoffman and Merryfield.

Merryfield tried every trick in the book to get by Hoffman but could not make the pass. Merryfield then decided to change his strategy to a pressured waiting game and that strategy paid off as going into turn one on the white flag race, Hoffman spun his machine and in effect handed the race to Merryfield.

Merryfield held on for the win, his first in IMCA late model competition and was greeted in victory lane by a jubilant crew. Bill Rice finished second, Ferris Lampe of Lampe, Mo., finished third in his ’69 Chevelle, Bob Hilmer fourth with Hoffman rounding out the top five.

Sixth through tenth were Gary Lindgren, Billy Myers, Dick Oldham of Des Moines in a ’72 Roadrunner, Randy Sterner and Dave Farren of Des Moines in a ’68 Camaro.