Bill Lipkey
Kokomo, Ind. (May 4, 1979) - Bill Lipkey was just in his teens in
his native Fort Wayne when he first became interested in auto racing. Since
that time, it's always been a part of his life and when he throws open the
gates of the Kokomo Speedway May 13; he will mark his 28th season of promoting
speed events here.
Bill took time
out from preparing the Kokomo Speedway earlier this week to reminisce of those
years in racing. Flashing his usual broad smile, he sat back at his desk and
described how his hometown pleasure car club eventually turned into a racing
organization.
Bill recalls he
watched his first race back in the 1920s at Centlivre Driving
Park in Fort Wayne. Later, he regularly attended races
at Fort Wayne’s
“big track,” billed as the highest banked 5/8-mile dirt in the world. The track
was operated in its early years by promoter Frank Funk.
In 1946, when
the Mutual Roadster Association was running races in Indiana, Bill and several of his friends in Fort Wayne formed a
“pleasure car club.” They began with the idea of driving to races together.
One night a
promoter asked them if they wanted to stage a stock car race. They leaped at
the chance; took the glass from their autos and ran their first show.
Out of that race
grew the Fort Wayne Racing Association and in 1947, the new racing group ran 76
races. They raced at Warsaw,
Alexandria,
Winamac, Converse, Ind.
and Defiance, Ohio among other tracks.
From its
construction in 1946 until 1952, John Rose operated Kokomo Speedway, owned by
the late Bert Miller. The track's two hottest drivers during the early 50s were
locals Fenton Gingerich and Leon Meadows. So Bill and his friends brought some
of the top drivers from the Fort Wayne
club to Kokomo
to challenge the two aces.
Bill was working
for Polar Ice and Fuel Company's Marion Plant when Rose decided not to manage
the track for another year. He approached Miller of the position but Miller
said he would rather lease the track. Bill did just that and it’s been a
28-year relationship during which Bill and the track have both prospered.
Through the
years, Bill has staged everything from camel races to foot races, USAC midgets
to spectator spectaculars, circuses to thrill shows.
In 1954, he
tried to promote a bloodless bull fight but gave up the idea after protests
from local animal lovers. He gained more notoriety in 1961 when he petitioned
the Interstate Commerce Commission for permission to build a spur track from
the then Pennsylvania Railroad to the speedway and collide two steam engines
head on in the infield.
When the big
circuses were still playing under canvas, he brought them, to the parking lot
south of the speedway. Even Barnum and Bailey Ringling Brothers appeared there
until it gave up road shows for indoor performances.
He found that
rodeos were not popular here but he has done well with sprints, hobby stock,
midget, sportsman and figure eight competition, as well as thrill shows.
In his early
years of promoting stackers, Bill built up eight cars and he and his eldest
son, Vic, raced regularly. Bill says he regrets that he never became a
professional driver.
Vic assists his
father in the operation of the local track, flags the Kokomo races and recently flagged one of the
United States Auto Club's stock shows at Texas World Speedway. Bill’s younger
son, Jimmy, who operates a local sign shop, has been driving sprint cars for
the five years.
Over the years,
there were light moments mixed with the serious racing. Bill remembers a
particular night when the speedway was having a thrill show. Crash Brown had
strapped himself to a high tower along with six sticks of dynamite.
His pet vulture
sat near by as he readied himself for the death-defying act. As the crowd moved
to the edges of their bleacher seats in anticipation, a man; just arriving at
the track and somewhat under the influence staggered to the top of the
grandstand entry ramp.
As he reached
the top, the explosion resounded to climax the act. Bill, who was standing
nearby heard him mumble, “That’s a hell of a way to run ah auto race!” The man,
still mumbling, staggered back down the ramp and was never seen again.
Last year, Bill
promoted 19 regular Sunday night sprint and hobby stock programs in addition to
three midget shows.
When the snow
flies in winter, Bill moves back to Fort
Wayne where he promotes racing and auto shows in Allen
County Memorial Coliseum. The coliseum was constructed the same year (1952)
that Bill took over the Kokomo
track. He asked coliseum manager Don Myers for a stab at promoting auto racing
there and since that time has run every kind of racing event imaginable in the
giant arena.
One year, he
staged a racing jamboree, featuring every type of vehicle from motorcycles to
sports cars. His USAC midget shows each January pack in a racing-hungry crowd
looking forward to a new season.
Bill recently
purchased Baer Field Speedway at Fort
Wayne, which he leases to promoter Rocky Fisher.
When Bill isn’t
staging his own shows, he usually out watching other racing programs....whether
its midgets at Indiana Fairgrounds or sprints on the high banks at Winchester, he always
enjoys the sport of speed.
