Bill Zwanziger won the Iowa State Junior Jalopy Championship at the Iowa State Fair. - Jim Volgarino Collection.
Des Moines, Iowa (August 18, 1962) – Waterloo’s Bill Zwanziger led all the way to win the Junior Jalopy crown before an estimated 5,000 fans at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday afternoon.
Last year’s champion, Charlie Moffitt of Stanwood, finished third behind Bob Hilmer of Dysart.
Zwanziger, who had the pole position, wasn’t even threatened. After the first lap, he maintained a 10 to 50-yard lead the rest of the way. The race was a duel for second place.
It was a hectic day for the 6-foot, 7-inch Moffitt. He was the leader in the first heat when a tire blew. In the fifth heat, Moffitt was vying for the lead again when Bill Starr’s car swerved and struck John Babb of Ottumwa. Moffitt struck the entanglement, sidelining him for the rest of the race.
But Moffitt came back in flying fashion to capture the consolation and qualify for the championship feature.
He started in the tenth row but by the second lap he was in ninth place. On the 20th lap, he had moved into third.
Moffitt couldn’t overcome the lead established by Zwanziger and Hilmer, driving one of Ernie Derr’s old Pontiacs.
Zwanziger earned $450 for the win in addition to collecting $50 for winning the first heat. Hilmer’s take for finishing second was $350 while Moffitt went home with $200. Starr finished fourth and “Big” Tom Hughes of Monticello, who won the fifth heat, was fifth.
Results –
Heat #1 – Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo
Heat #2 – Jimmy Johns, Dubuque
Heat #3 – Cal Swanson, Reinbeck
Heat #4 – Norman Weimers, Manson
Heat #5 – Tom Hughes, Monticello
Consolation – Charlie Moffitt, Stanwood
Feature –
1. Bill Zwanziger
2. Bob Hilmer, Reinbeck
3. Charlie Moffitt
4. Bill Starr, Davenport
5. Tom Hughes
6. Arnie Spore, Waterloo
7. Hilbert Schramm, Manson
8. Bill Knapp, Kellogg
9. Pete Lillie, Grinnell
10.Norm Baker, Clarion
11.Gale Morrow, Newton
12.John Moss, Iowa City
13.John Connolly, Delhi
14.Slim Doonan, Brooklyn
15.Orlo Alexander, Ackworth
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