Miles “Mouse” Melius accepts the Midwest Speedways trophy from promoter
John Kashian for his record win. – Henry Vieth Photo
Cedarburg, Wis. (August 30, 1961) – Before the season’s largest crowd, Miles Melius, “The Flying Ace” from Slinger, captured the 75-lap modified feature, setting a new track record in the process. Melius’ speed of 50.22 miles per hour erased the former record, one he had set on September 9, 1959, when he had averaged 47.29 miles per hour in winning the first 75-lap race on record.
The top three finishers were a repeat of last week’s race, the 50-lap modified stock car championship, as two other Slinger aces, Billy Johnson and Fuzzy Fassbender, finished second and third.
The night’s action gave Melius his first clean sweep of the season at Cedarburg with 400 points to move him with 135 points of Billy Johnson, who still leads the standings with 3,060 to Melius’ 2,925.
The event was a real thriller from the drop of the green flag. Ron Luedtke of Lomira hopped into the lead, holding it for the first five laps. Pedro Roehl of Lake Mills, then took over for two laps before John Reimer of Caledonia took charge on the seventh circuit.
Reimer drove a steady race, fending off Fassbender’s challenges until the 35th. On the 39th, Melius jumped into the lead and by the 45th round, the top five positions were Melius, Johnson, Fassbender, Reimer, and Bill Goeden of West Bend were running in the same order as they would finish.
Johnson, “The Cat”, stayed on Melius in a torrid bumper-to-bumper battle. On the 58th lap, Johnson took the lead but could hold it for only three laps, as Melius regained it for good on lap 61 and finished with a half-straightaway advantage at the checkers. It was Melius’ sixth feature win of the season.
Results –
1. Miles Melius, Slinger
2. Billy Johnson, Slinger
3. Fuzzy Fassbender, Slinger
4. John Reimer, Caledonia
5. Bill Goeden, West Bend
6. Etchie Biertzer, West Bend
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