Bluff’s Native Jack Beckley was a Mechanical Wizard

Jack Beckley (left) with Bill Vukovich at Indianapolis - 1954. 

by Lee Ackerman 

Omaha, Neb. - Jack Beckley was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on August 16, 1918, the middle of seven children. Beckley was a successful high school athlete, but he became hooked on racing when he was 16 years old in 1934 when he and his brother Kenny started helping on the race car of Omaha driver Carl Forberg. Forberg went on to become a great midget driver and finished seventh in the 1951 Indianapolis 500.

During World War II Beckley worked on the flight line of Lockheed Aircraft Company in Burbank, California and it was there that he met and married his wife, Harriett.

After the war be became involved with Southern California midget drivers Danny Oakes, Johnny McDowell, and Eddie Haddad. In 1949, Beckley received his big break when he was asked to prepare an Indy car for Jack McGrath to drive in the Indianapolis 500. The car ran great in time trials as McGrath posted the third fast time on Pole Day good enough to earn and outside front row starting position for the 500. Despite McGrath falling out of the race early, Beckley was hooked and never returned to midget racing.

Beckley stayed with McGrath moving with him to the Jack Hinkle racing team in 1950 and was with him when he finished third in the 1951 Indy 500. In 1954, Beckley was asked to help the great Bill Vukovich in his quest for a second straight Indy 500 win. Vukovich won the race with Beckley on board and then Jack moved to the Lindsey Hopkins team. It turned out to be a 17-year relationship.

Jack Beckley (standing, far left) poses with Jack McGrath and the Hinkle Racing team at Indianapolis - 1951. 

While at Hopkins racing, the Council Bluffs native was the Chief Mechanic for several great drivers including Jim Rathmann, Roger McCluskey, Tony Bettenhausen, Bobby Marshman, George Amick, and for a few races in 1962, the legendary A, J. Foyt.

In 1973, Beckley moved to Patrick Racing and worked with Chief Mechanic George Bignotti to prepare the car that Gordon Johncock drove to victory in the 1973 Indy 500.

In 1976, Beckley turned to and officiating position in racing and assisted Technical Chairman Frank Delroy for two years before Delroy and several other United States Auto Club officials perished in an airplane crash. Beckley assumed Delroy’s position and stayed in that capacity until retiring in July 1991. After retiring, he often returned to help out as a consultant every May with the Indianapolis 500.

Although Beckley was never officially the Chief Mechanic on an Indianapolis 500 winning car, he was Chief Mechanic on cars that won 12 National Championship events between 1950 and 1968. Cars Beckley prepared qualified on the front row at Indy seven times and led segments of a number of Indy 500s.

Jack and his wife Harriett moved to Glendale, Ariz., were Jack passed away in January 2006 at the age of 87. For all who followed the Indianapolis 500 during the 50’s and 60’s, the name Jack Beckley was synonymous with the Indy 500.

Jack Beckley works inside of Lindsey Hopkins' garage at the 1961 Indianapolis 500. 

1963 - Jalopy Racing Trophies Distributed at Banquet

Burlington, Iowa (November 18, 1963) - Presentation of five special trophy awards highlighted the annual post-season banquet of the Mississippi Valley Speedway Club Saturday night at the Municipal Auditorium.

Ron Jackson of Burlington received two of the special awards, as well as a trophy for third place in the driver point standings. Jackson was honored as the most improved driver of the year and his pit crew received the award for being the best dressed crew.

Muscatine’s Jim Lowe, in his second year of jalopy racing, received the “hard-luck” trophy.

He had four different cars wrecked and was on his fifth one when the season ended. Accidents put him in the hospital twice, but he said it was “worth it all” when he received the trophy.

Leroy Stuzman of Lockridge was named “rookie of the year.” The sportsmanship award went to point champion Mark Mosier of Washington. In accepting the honor, he said that although the trophy wasn't as big as his championship award it means as much in many ways.

Recipients of the special trophies were decided on by the vote of club members by mail ballot.

Al Samberg, club president, and Del Ross, track announcer, distributed the awards. They paid tribute to special guests attending, including the fairboards at tracks where races are held.

Trophies were awarded various club officials. A special plaque went to Sgt. Miller, whose reserve group provides radio communication on the track accidents.

Drivers who finished in the top 10 in the point standings received trophies, with owners receiving identical awards. Included in the driver’s group were;


1. Mark Mosier, Washington
2. Johnny Mullink, West Liberty
3. Ron Jackson, Burlington
4. Bob Inglebright, Mount Pleasant
5. Mel Morris, West Liberty
6. Bruce Reilly, Lone Tree
7. Jack Brissey, Burlington
8. Jim Taylor, Mediapolis
9. Bob Smith, Burlington
10. Dale Gegner, Brighton


Reilly, who was seriously injured in a highway mishap near Sioux City, Iowa, attended the banquet in a wheelchair.

Championship jackets were presented to Mosier and his car owner, Warren Stewart of Washington. Stewart said that since he received a similar jacket last season, he wished the club would present it to Johnny Mullink, who finished second in the point standings.

1975 - Young Crowned Chicago Champ

Ray Young at Illiana Motor Speedway - 1975

Chicago, Ill. (November 13, 1975) – Ray Young copped the second Chicagoland Driving Championship title by finishing in the top-three in 37 of 56 features he entered at Grundy County Speedway (Morris), Illiana Motor Speedway (Schererville, Ind.), and Waukegan Speedway in 1975.

Young, a 43-year-old truck driver and a veteran of Chicago area short tracks, replaced Bob Roper as champion.

Roper won 13 features in 1974, however, failed to win a feature in 1975 after 24 starts. Young won 10 features in gaining the title.

Meanwhile, a driver half of Young’s age, Tom Musgrave, 21, won the CDC percentage award in 1975. Musgrave, a second-generation racer, won nine straight features at the Grundy paved oval on the way to his second consecutive title.

The top-six feature finishers at the three participating tracks scored CDC points over the season with 51 drivers receiving points. A total of 68 feature races were run, but due to eight conflicting dates, the most races any one driver could have started was 60.

The scoring system went as follows –

1. 9 points
2. 6 points
3. 4 points
4. 3 points
5. 2 points
6. 1 point

The percentage award was calculated by dividing the total CDC points won by the maximum possible according to the number of features started.

Tom Jones ranked second in the final point standings, mainly on the strength of his championship drive at Waukegan, where he won a record-tying 19 features. Jones added another victory at Grundy to score the most CDC wins in 1975.


CDC final standings –

1. Ray Young – 260
2. Tom Jones – 246
3. Larry Schuler – 187
4. Carl Major – 138
5. Tom Musgrave – 127
6. Ed Hoffman – 100
7. Bob Dotter – 94
8. Lee Schuler – 89
9. Jerry Kemperman – 64
10.Bob Roper – 57
11.George Dukas – 43
12.Dave Weltmeyer – 32
13.Ted Richter – 28
14.Rich Sundling – 26
15.Vern Brown - 25

Davenport’s Tri-State Championships

 

 Advertisement for the 1967 Tri-State Championships

By Kyle Ealy
Davenport, Iowa – One of the biggest season ending stock car events in Iowa was the Tri-State Championships at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport.

Drivers from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin would compete, hence the name.

It all started on September 20, 1963, when popular Jerry Reinhart won the 100-lap feature over Lloyd Caldwell of Kewaunee, Ill., and Bill Starr of Davenport. Reinhart’s victory would be protested by several drivers afterwards and the Moline, Ill., driver would not be rewarded with his check for $500 or his trophy until the following day by promoter Homer Melton.

A name all too familiar to race fans would win the second annual Tri-State Championships on October 2, 1964. Lu Vern “Red” Droste came from behind the field at the halfway mark of the 100-lap grind to take the win. Mert Williams of Rochester, Minn., who led the early part of the race, settled for second place while Darrel Dake of Cedar Rapids placed third.

On October 9, 1965, Darrel Dake made shambles of the third annual Tri-State Championships, not only winning the 75-lap event but dominating it, lapping the entire field in the process. Finishing a very distant second was Benny Hofer of Rock Island, Ill., with fast qualifier, Mert Williams, taking third. Dake took home $500 for his efforts.

Lu Vern "Red" Droste would win the Tri-State Championships a record five times, including four straight. 

 

Red Droste would become the first two-time winner of the Tri-State Championships, when he won the fourth annual event on September 23, 1966. Recently crowned the season champion at the quarter-mile dirt track, Droste would beat Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids and Jim Gerber of Davenport to score the victory.

Red Droste would successfully defend his Tri-State Championship title, winning for the third time on September 22, 1967. Droste would outduel former IMCA national champion Johnny Beauchamp of Atlantic for the $600 top prize. An impressive 49 entries entertained the crowd of 3,500.

When big money was on the line, Red Droste was sure to be there, and when the sixth annual Tri-State Championships took place on September 21, 1968, it was the “Ol Redhead” taking the first-place money, $600, back to Waterloo with him. Before a crowd of 3,000, Droste made no doubt who was the winner in the 50-lap main event, lapping the entire field. Don Bohlander of Glasford, Ill., finished a distant second followed by Len Blankenship of Keokuk.

Droste would be back again when the seventh annual Tri-State Championship took place on September 19, 1969. And it was Droste once again, winning his fourth straight and fifth overall Tri-State title. While not as dominant as last year, Droste still looked impressive, fending off both Don Bohlander and previous winner Darrel Dake in the 75-lapper. Ed Sanger and Roger Dolan rounded out the top five finishers.

Bill Beckman takes a victory lap after winning the 1970 Tri-State Championship. 

 

Droste’s streak would come to an end when the Tri-State Championships took place on October 2, 1970. In fact, Droste, nearing the end of his stellar career, didn’t even enter the event, leaving it wide open for a new winner. With an impressive field of veteran drivers gathered together for the eighth annual event, it was a rookie who came out on top when the dust settled. Bill Beckman of Lisbon would take the lead on lap 30 of the 75-lapper and roar to victory, collecting $700 for his efforts. Ron Weedon of Pleasant Valley and Ed Sanger of Waterloo chased Beckman home.

A familiar face to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds was the victor in the ninth annual Tri-State Championships on September 10, 1971. Ron Weedon, having a dominating season there already, would lap the entire 24-car field in winning the $600 top prize. Weedon, who also set fast time in qualifying, led every one of the 75 laps.

The winner of the tenth annual event, Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, demonstrated to the field and the 2,500 in attendance, why he was highly considered on the national racing scene. Eaker, a regular competitor on the United States Auto Club stock car circuit, roared to the lead at the start and led all 35 laps to take the victory on September 14, 1972. Weaving his Chevy Nova through traffic with relative ease, Eaker won by 40 yards over runner-up Fred Horn of Marion. John Connolly, Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids and Roger Dolan of Lisbon rounded out the top five.

 

Davenport promoter Homer Melton presents the 1972 Tri-State Championship trophy to Verlin Eaker. Eaker would win the 1973 title as well. 

Eaker would successfully defend his title the next year, September 14, 1973. Eaker would have to work for this victory this time, coming from behind to nip Waterloo’s Bill Zwanziger in the last few laps to take the $800 top prize. Roger Dolan would finish second with Ed Sanger coming home in third. Five-time Tri-State winner, Red Droste, now near retirement, made an appearance and finished an impressive fourth. A field of 51 late models, from five states entered the event.

Already having won the mid-season and season championships as well as the point title at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, Ron Weedon just added to his laurels for the 1974 season, by winning his second Tri-State Championships on September 13. The popular driver from Pleasant Valley would grab the win in the 35-lapper over Ray Guss off Milan, Ill., and Curt Hansen of Dike.

 

Davenport point champion Ron Weedon capped off a stellar '74 season by winning the Tri-State Championship. Weedon also won the 1971 Tri-State title. 

A new face would grace victory lane for the thirteenth annual Tri-State Championships on September 19, 1975. Don Hoffman of Des Moines, battling Roger Dolan the entire race, would win the 35-lap feature and $750 prize that went with it. A crowd of 3,000 looked on as Dolan, the polesitter, and Hoffman battled side-by-side for much of the race with Curt Hansen and Ed Sanger also getting their noses in there for good measure.

The money and the trophy would go back to Des Moines the following year as well as Joe Merryfield won the 35-lap Tri-State Championship on September 24, 1976. Merryfield took the lead on lap 29 from Jim Strube of Peoria, Ill., and never looked back in collecting the $800 first-place money. Following Merryfield and Strube to the finish line was Ron Weedon, Duane Steffe of East Moline, Ill., and Bob Helm of Andalusia.

Tom Hearst, already having a successful 1977 season at both Davenport and West Liberty as the top point guy, added to his resume by winning the fifteenth annual Tri-State Championship on September 9. Hearst was in command the entire 35 laps and was never in any serious danger. Former winner Don Hoffman finished second with Steve Keppler of Burlington taking third. Two-time winner Ron Weedon was fourth and John Connolly grabbed fifth.

A newcomer to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds walked away with the big prize as Darrell Sells of Waverly won the sixteenth annual (and final) Tri-State Championships on September 30, 1978. Sells outmuscled Tom Hearst midway through the 40-lap main event to take the lead away and never relinquish it, taking home the $700 payday. Later in the race, Hearst was black-flagged on lap 25 for his roof was falling off. He came in for repairs, got back on the track, only to have his roof fall completely off on lap 31. He would finish ninth.

1964 – Unser Wins Ascot USAC Feature

Bobby Unser

Gardena, Calif. (November 7, 1964) – Bobby Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., captured the 30-lap United States Auto Club sprint car main event Saturday night at Ascot Park before 8,269 fans when favored A.J. Foyt of Houston, Tex., spun out early on.

Foyt, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time USAC national champion, was running second behind Unser when his car spun out in the north turn.

Bobby Hogle of Buena Park, Calif., and Jud Larson of Speedway, Ind., were following close behind Foyt at the time and were knocked out of contention when the latter went into a spin.

Foyt, who had earlier won the trophy dash and first heat, declared afterwards that this was to be his final sprint car appearance.


Results –


1. Bobby Unser
2. Parnelli Jones
3. Buddy Lee
4. Don Branson
5. Billy Cantrell
6. Benton Burns
7. Ned Spath
8. Mario Andretti
9. George Snider
10.A.J. Foyt

1981 – Eddy Captures Florida 200

Mike Eddy led from start to finish in winning the Florida 200. 

Tampa, Fla. (November 6, 1981) – There was not a single lead change in Mike Eddy’s Florida 200 victory on Friday night at Golden Gate Speedway.

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t moments of excitement for the estimated 6,000 race fans looking on – or for Eddy.

How about avoiding a wildly spinning car during the early part of the 200-lap race? That’s what Eddy did, escaping disaster to remain on the track.

The Midland, Mich., driver, who was fast qualifier with a time of 16.339 seconds around the third-mile oval, was also fortunate to spin out just as a caution period began, meaning he stayed at the front of the pack instead of being sent to the rear.

“There was no room for error out there,” Eddy said afterwards. And he wasn’t kidding.

There were numerous yellow-flag periods, and three times the race was halted temporarily so wrecked cars could be towed to the pit area.

The unofficial standings placed Eddy first, comfortably ahead of runner-up Ed Howe, and third-place finisher Dick Trickle. LeRoy Porter, the track champion, finished fourth and Dave Scarborough took fifth.

Howe, a four-time Florida 200 winner, wasn’t too upset, since he owns the car that Eddy drove.

But just everyone else who competed in this grueling contest would have preferred a higher finish.


Results –


1. Mike Eddy
2. Ed Howe
3. Dick Trickle
4. LeRoy Porter
5. Dave Scarborough
6. Butch Lindley
7. Jim Childers
8. Bob Dotter
9. Ernie Bass
10.Jim Tuning
11.Scott Stovall
12.Mike Duvall
13.Red Farmer
14.Ed Hage
15.Greg Guzzo
16.Wayne Heckle
17.Dave Yow
18.Don Burkhalter
19.Don Biederman
20.Danny Glover

1978 – Fast-Learner Trickle Captures ‘200’

Dick Trickle accepts the Florida Governor's Cup after winning the 200-lap stock car classic. 

Tampa, Fla. (November 5, 1978) – Dick Trickle didn’t even have 24 hours to contemplate is Saturday night lesson in auto racing. Still, it was enough time to learn how to win Sunday’s Florida 200 at Golden Gate Speedway.

Trickle, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., securely tucked his Pontiac Trans-Am behind the leaders for 129 laps of the 200-lap race before making a move to the front, then, once he got the advantage, held off Dick Anderson for a one-second victory.

It was Anderson, of Hialeah, Fla., who Saturday night at Sunshine Speedway’s Gulf Coast Classic, kept his Camaro just far enough ahead of Trickle to win that 100-lap event.

“But I made my move too soon then,” Trickle said Sunday. “I got shut out and I wasn’t about to let that happen again.”

Trickle’s maneuver wasn’t accomplished quickly, however. From the time he slipped to the outside to take on Anderson, who was trailing Rick Knotts of Wayland, Mich., by a few feet, until he nosed into the lead, 15 laps had clicked off.

“I figured I’d make it in eight laps, but it’s a one-groove track,” said Trickle. “You can’t do much passing, so I just stayed in line until I could inch up a little. When I did get outside on Anderson, the front end started pulling.”

Trickle did that by popping out of an eight-car train, coming down on Anderson and back to the inside, holding position and then sending Knotts a message, via the front bumper of his car.

“I gave him a few taps just to let him know I was back there.”

When Trickle finally did gain the advantage, there was no question – at least in his mind – he’d hold on for the remaining 56 laps.

“Sure, I believe I had the fastest car out there,” he said. “At the end I was driving nice, easy laps. I could have run like that until I ran out of gas.”

Five other drivers finished on the same lap as Trickle, although Anderson was the only one within striking distance the final 10 laps around the third-mile paved oval.

LeRoy Porter of Orlando, driving a Camaro, was third followed by Dave Pletcher of New Port Richey, Tim Miller of Sarasota and Al Kuhn of Hollywood.

Three-time winner Ed Howe of Beaverton, Mich., finished 16th while defending champion Robert Hamke of Hialeah, was left sitting at the post when his Camaro refused to fire.

It was an exciting, smoothly run race watched in the bright sunshine by approximately 5,000. There were no serious accidents or delays, a fitting program and possibly the last promoted by Frank Derry, owner of the track for the last 16 years.


Results –


1. Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
2. Dick Anderson, Miami
3. LeRoy Porter, Orlando
4. Dave Pletcher, New Port Richey
5. Tim Miller, Sarasota
6. Al Kuhn, Hollywood
7. Gary Balough, Hialeah
8. Rick Knotts, Wayland, Mich.
9. John Anderson, Massillon, Ohio
10. Bob Eggert, Fort Pierce
11. Mike Miller, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
12. Dave Scarborough, Largo
13. Dennis Langston, Tampa
14. Ray Bontrager, Sarasota
15. Mark Malcuit, Strasburg, Ohio
16. Ed Howe, Beaverton, Mich.
17. Wayne Reutimann, Zephyr Hills
18. Gene Tharpe, Sarasota
19. Larry Rogero, Hialeah
20. Tommy Duckworth, Hialeah