Bill Lutz (center) is joined
by (from left to right) starter Art Kelly, Joe Koziol of Grand Car Wash, speed
shop owner and trophy presenter Bill Von Esser and O’Hare Stadium official
Frank “Ham” Lobaza. - Bob Brown Photo
Chicago, Ill. (August 1, 1964) – Bill Lutz of Melrose Park and his 1963 Grand Car Wash-sponsored Chevrolet scored a record-breaking victory in the third annual O’Hare American 500 for late model convertible stocks at O’Hare Stadium before a capacity crowd.
Although the race was slowed twice to clear accidents from the highly banked quarter-mile, Lutz was timed in a record 2 hours, 24 minutes and 17.88 seconds to knock nearly two minutes off Whitey Gerken’s old mark of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 00.61 seconds.
Forty-one cars took part in time trials with the fastest 33 lining up three abreast for the start of the classic. On the pole position was Bill Shoulders of North Chicago who proceeded to bore out to a good lead at the drop of starter Art Kelly’s green flag.
Lutz, who started in the middle of the front row, finally got by the tiring Shoulders on lap 96. Shoulders later called for a relief driver in the person of Bob Urban of Highland Park who figured to be a strong contender in this year’s race until his car blew an engine in warmups.
Close on the heels of Lutz was O’Hare’s defending champion, Gene Marmor of River Grove, who finally nudged his 1964 Chevrolet into the lead on lap 240. On lap 250 – the hallway point – it was Marmor, Lutz, Roy Martinelli of Prairie View, and Elmer Musgrave of Niles in that order.
The yellow came out for the first time on lap 277 when Don Koelling of Wheeling went into a wicked snap triple roll on the backstretch and was struck by Dick Drewws of Chicago.
A few laps later, the green flag was back out and Marmor and Lutz resumed their battle. On several occasions, Lutz would close within a few feet but then Marmor would move back into a comfortable position. This on-again, off-again battle would continue for 200 more laps until the yellow was displayed again.
This was on lap 464 when Jim Vandermeir of Melrose Park broke a rear axle and spun in the west turn. About the same time, Martinelli retired and Musgrave moved up to the third spot with his 1959 Ford. On the restart, it took Lutz only a few laps to finally work his way around Marmor and regain the lead.
At the finish, it was a tired but happy Lutz who crossed the finish line as a popular victor in front of Marmor, and Musgrave who finished third. Rob Chauncey of Elk Grove was fourth and Leroy Roberts of Elmwood Park rounded out the top-five finishers.
The well deserved win was worth $1,000 for Lutz, who also won the first O’Hare American 500 in 1962, and he also netted another $571 in lap money. He also received a TV console, $135 wristwatch, and motel weekend with meals.
Marmor netted $757 in prize money with a total cash payout of $1,462. The only other leader in the event, Bill Shoulders, collected $292.
Despite a total of 13 cautions, Lutz averaged 51.96 miles per hour, nearly three miles an hour faster than his victory rate of 49.15 miles per hour in 1962.
Results –
1. Bill Lutz
2. Gene Marmor
3. Elmer Musgrave
4. Rob Chauncey
5. Leroy Roberts
6. Bill Shoulders
7. Dan Lewand
8. Butch Linden
9. Frank Freda
10.Rich Davis
11.Roy Martinelli
12.Phil Lehman
13.Bob Dotter
14.Bill Finley
15.Jim Vandermeir
16.Barrie Fritsch
17.Eddie Jast
18.Terry Gayne
19.Bob Schultz
20.Dick Triphahn
21.Hal Lehman
22.Don Berggren
23.Whitey Gerken
24.Roy Czach
25.Don Koelling
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