Ernie Derr of Fort Madison won the 125-mile IMCA-sanctioned stock car
race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds before 16,000 fans. – Ken Scarpino Photo
By Brad Wilson
Des Moines, Iowa (July 1, 1951) – Taking the lead with 25 laps to go, Ernie Derr, the 29-year-old parts manager from Keokuk, Iowa, grabbed the 125-mile International Motor Contest Association stock car contest at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Sunday before 16,000 spectators.
The dapper Derr, who commutes between his home in Fort Madison and his work in Keokuk, was clocked in 2 hours, 28 minutes, and 58.11 seconds, driving a 1950 Mercury he has owned for only 6 months.
The World War II veteran who finished third in the July 4 race here a year ago, beat Don White by a full lap and in addition to the $500 for the win, hauled down another $50 in lap money.
White, the Keokuk army corporal who drove a 1949 Ford on a weekend pass from Camp McCoy, Wis., won the 100-mile feature here last July.
Chris Skadal, who has been a consistent winner this summer at area tracks such as Kessell Speedway, finished third, three laps behind the winner.
Skadal, driving a 1950 Oldsmobile owned by professional driver Frank Luptow, lost too much time in the pits on a tire change and was never able to get back into contention.
The Des Moines pilot turned in the fastest time during qualifying with a time of 32.28 seconds.
Derr, who acquired the racing bug only two years ago at a race in Davenport, didn’t make a stop along the way, taking the lead from “Wild” Bill Harrison of Topeka, Kan., a recent winner at Mason City, on the 207th lap.
Earlier, Harrison pushed his 1950 Plymouth into the lead when Skadal, the fan favorite, was forced to pit for a tire change and gasoline after leading by nearly a full lap.
Skadal earned $150 in lap money in addition to the $300 for his third-place finish, making him one of the big cash winners of the National Speedways-promoted event. The top 14 positions in the race paid money.
Results –
1. Ernie Derr, Fort Madison
2. Don White, Keokuk
3. Chris Skadal, Des Moines
4. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
5. Rodney Carter, Emporia, Kan.
6. Bob McKim, Abilene, Kan.
7. Bill Runnells, Kirksville, Mo.
8. Harold Hobbs, Grinnell
9. Jim Wegschneider, St. Joseph, Mo.
10.Don Smith, Topeka, Kan.
11.Lefty Robinson, Des Moines
12.Dean Farmer, Des Moines
13.Duane Knapp, Rockwell City
14.Tilman Huset, Brandon, S.D.
15.Cleo Burmeister, Anita
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