The Goodyear Missouri Nationals

 

Ron Jackson and Mike Niffenegger had reason to smile after each driver won one of the twin 50-lap features at the Goodyear Missouri Nationals. Joining them in the trophy presentation are (l-r) flagman Larry Koch, Jackson, race sponsor Dick Ewer, Niffenegger, and Robin Lowrey, director of competition. – Bill Haglund Photo

By Lee Ackerman

Holts Summit, Mo. - In 1977, Ed Bloom became the owner and operator of Capital Speedway in Holt Summit, Missouri. Previously Bloom had been the promoter at the Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois. During his tenure at Capital Speedway that lasted through 1987, Bloom in addition to a fine weekly show, held several special events. Perhaps the one that stands out the most is the Goodyear Missouri Nationals.

On October 10 and 11, Bloom brought the 1980 season to a conclusion with the Goodyear Missouri Nationals. Over 60 late models were on hand (actually 64 took time with 26 breaking the old track record). When they time trials were completed Viola, Iowa’s Kenny Walton had turned a lap of 20 second flat around the 3/8-mile oval.

A tick off Walton’s lap was St. Louis ace Kevin Gundaker at 20.01 seconds. Waterloo, Iowa’s Dick Schiltz clocked in at 20.17, Eau Claire, Wisconsin’s Leon Plank tripped the clocks at 20.321 with former track record holder Ron Jackson of Burlington, Iowa posted a 20.36.

Four 20-lap heats and a handicap race were held on Friday night with Fenton, Missouri’s Ken Schrader taking heat one followed by Larry Phillips of Springfield, Missouri and John Connolly of Delhi, Iowa. Billy Moyer, Jr. of Des Moines, Iowa took heat two followed by Dick Taylor of Springfield, Missouri and Dan Dickey of Packwood, Iowa.

Steve Keppler of Marion, Iowa led Ed Knaebel of Jefferson City, Missouri and Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa to the line while Morning Sun, Iowa’s Johnny Johnson took the checkers in heat four with Ed Sanger of Waterloo, Iowa and Eddie Gray of Jefferson City, Missouri in pursuit. Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa won the 6-lap handicap event with Kevin Gundaker, Ron Jackson, Ken Walton, Dick Schiltz and Leon Plank the race of the top six qualifiers.

Saturday night saw two 25-lap consolation races followed by twin 50-lap features. Ron Fisher of Centralia, Illinois claimed the first consolation race with Brian Leslie of Hamilton, Illinois and Leland Frank of Fulton, Missouri rounding out the top three. Dalton Walker of Curryville, Missouri won the second consy with Rick Kimberling of Slater, Missouri and Galen Schaefer of Topeka, Kansas following.

In the first 50-lap feature it was Kenny Walton jumping into the lead at the start with Kevin Gundaker right behind. On lap four, Gundaker took the point and held it until lap 15 when Walton retook the position. Gundaker charging hard, got together with Darrell Dake in turns three and four and had to be towed to the pits with front end damage.

Walton continued to lead for the next 25 laps before misfortune befell him as a broken spring caused him to slow down and Mike Niffenegger took over the lead and held to the checkers. Walton held on for second, Billy Moyer, Ron Jackson and Ken Schrader rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth went to Bill Martin of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Leon Plank, Vic Bentlage of Jefferson City, Missouri, Dick Taylor and Johnny Johnson.

The second feature saw the top six cars inverted with the other competitors filling in the field based on their finish in the first feature. When the green dropped in the second 50-lap feature it was Ken Schrader in his beautiful yellow Ford taking the lead with Ron Jackson a close second.

Ron Jackson took over on lap 4, surrendered the lead temporary to Bill Martin and then retook the lead and held it for the duration of the second feature taking home a check for $1,000 and the trophy. Mike Niffenegger posted a third-place finish with Ken Schrader and Larry Phillips rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were Ed Knaebel, Steve Keppler, Galen Schaefer, Billy Moyer and Brian Leslie.

The event was not held in 1981, returning in 1982 despite rain that postponed the event from Friday and Saturday, October 8 and 9, to Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10. Gary Webb of Davenport, Iowa posted fast time with a lap of 21.50 seconds.

Other activity on the first night included a Cam2 Challenge of Champions race, which featured 14 track champions in a race for 14 laps. Dick Schiltz, track champion at the West Liberty Speedway in Iowa took home $300 in the winner-take-all-event. Ronnie Hoover of Fulton, Missouri finished second and Jim Leka of Illiopolis, Illinois third.

The six fast qualifiers ran a six lap trophy dash with Joe Ross of Mechancisburg, Illinois picking up the win trailed by Gary Webb, John Provenzano of Wheaton, Illinois, Rick Wages of Moline, Illinois, Duane Steffe of Colona, Illinois and Rollie Frink of Davenport, Iowa.

In the five heat races, Denny Falkos of Chicago, Illinois bested Dan Dickey and Randy McGraw of Marshall, Missouri in heat one. Jim Leka led Bobby Goulden of Independence, Missouri and Bob Menzie of Springfield, Missouri to the line in heat two. Heat three saw Dick Taylor, Ed Dixon of Washington, Missouri and Rollie Frink.

Heat four was all Iowa with Dick Schiltz posting the win following by Ed Sanger and Tom Bartholomew of Waterloo. John Seets of Brighton, Illinois posting the heat five victory followed by Mike Null of Champ, Missouri and Mark Fleischman of Jefferson City, Missouri.

Consolation action saw Ronnie Hoover take the first consolation followed by Rick Standridge of Divernon, Illinois and Martin Bennett of Des Moines, Iowa. The second consolation went to Bloomfield, Iowa’s Jerry Pilcher with Terry Gallaher of Hannibal, Missouri and Steve Fraise of Montrose, Iowa following.

This set the field for a 100-lap, 32-car field. Gary Webb showed why he was perhaps the fastest car at the Goodyear Missouri Nationals, leading 83 laps to post the win. The other 17 laps were led by Joe Ross who was forced to pit for a flat tire and finished 24th. Following Webb to the stripe were Dan Dickey, Ed Dixon, Rick Standridge and Ronnie Hoover. Sixth through tenth went to Jim Leka, Tom Bartholomew, Rick Wages, John Provenzano and Ed Sanger.

1983 Advertisement

When the Goodyear Missouri Nationals returned to Capital Speedway on September 30 and October 1, 1983, one thing was for certain. Drivers from the Hawkeye State continued to dominate the event. In time trials, Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa set quick time with a lap of 20.81 seconds followed by Dick Schiltz (Iowa) at 21.15, Missourian Ronnie Hoover at 21.32, Ed Sanger (Iowa) 21.37 and Gary Webb (Iowa) 21.38.

Dick Schiltz won the Cam2 Challenge of Champions 8-car, 8-lap race for track champions and pocketed $500. Roger Dolan took the trophy dash over Gary Webb, Ronnie Hoover, Dick Schiltz, Ed Sanger and Jim O’Connor of Kankakee, Illinois.

Iowans swept the heat race wins with Joe Merryfield of Des Moines beating Joe Ross of Illinois and Scott Sells of Waverly, Iowa in heat one. Heat two saw Tom Bartholomew best Mike Wallace of Arnold, Missouri and Ed Knaebel while Steve Fraise took the checkers in heat three ahead of Rick Wages of East Moline, Illinois and Curt Martin of Independence, Iowa.

In Saturday action, Roger Dolan won another trophy dash followed by Gary Webb, Ed Sanger, Jim O’Connor, Dick Schiltz and Ronnie Hoover. The consolation event went to Rick Kimberling of Boonville, Missouri followed by Dick Crane of Palymra and Bob Lekander of Burlington, Iowa.

When the green flag dropped in the 100-lap feature it was Hawkeye drivers at the front as Dick Schiltz took the early lead then surrendered it on lap 16 to fellow Iowan Roger Dolan. Dolan held the lead for a good share of the race although he was continually pressured by Ed Sanger who finally took the lead on lap 68 and started lapping cars on his way to picking up the win.

When the checkered flag had waved, the top five were all from the Hawkeye State. Following Sanger across the finish line were Roger Dolan, Joe Merryfield, Tom Bartholomew and Steve Fraise. Sixth through tenth went to Jim O’Connor, Gary Webb, Denny Osborn of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dick Schiltz and Rick Kimberly.

The race was also part of the NASCAR/Winston Racing Series Central Region. Roger Dolan had already wrapped up the Central Region Championship with 17 wins coming into the Goodyear Missouri Nationals.

Iowa drivers dominated the Missouri Nationals at Capital Speedway in 1984. Pictured, from left, Jeff Aikey (consolation winner), Miss Jefferson City, Curt Martin (feature winner), CAM2 representative, Dan Dickey (third place), and Ed Sanger (runner-up). – Debbie Bohr Photo

In 1984, it became the Cam2 Missouri Nationals and a Missouri driver, Ronnie Hoover set fast time with a lap of 21.33 seconds. A 12-lap trophy dash was held for drivers based on year long performance at Capital Speedway and Sonny Findling of Kirksville took the win. Dick Crane, Ed Knaebel, Terry Gallaher, Rick Kimberling and Bill Vaughn of Hartsburg followed.

In heat race, Ronnie Hoover won the first heat followed by Ron Elbe of Augusta, Illinois and Gene Claxton of Kansas City. Andy Claiborne racing out of Stanley, Kansas claimed the second heat with Tom Frasher of Jefferson City and Dick Crane following. It was all Iowa in heat three with Steve Fraise winning over Ed Sanger and Jeff French of Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Curt Martin took the fourth heat with Kenny Walton and Bart Allen of Kirksville, Missouri in tow.

A 25-lap preliminary feature was held on Friday night and it was all Iowa with Steve Fraise leading, Curt Martin, Ed Sanger, Kenny Walton and Dan Dickey to the line.

Action on Saturday night included a consolation event won by Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, Iowa with Chuck Ludwig of Keokuk, Iowa and Jim Mudd of O’Fallon, Missouri trailing.

The 100-lap feature proved to be a good race with Steve Fraise taking the point at the outset and holding until lap four when Curt Martin took over the lead. Martin led through lap 46 while Ed Sanger took a turn out front and he stayed out front until lap 62 when Martin took the lead back. A lap later it was Sanger back out front until lap 69 when Martin went back to the front and stayed there for the balance of the event.

It was another all Iowa top five with Martin holding off Sanger for the win followed by Dan Dickey, Steve Fraise and Jeff Aikey up from the consolation race. Sixth through tenth were Rick Beebe of Overland Park, Kansas, Tom Frasher, Ed Knaebel, Kenny Walton and Terry Gallaher.

Packwood, Iowa’s Dan Dickey (second from left) won the Missouri Nationals in 1985. Joining him is runner-up Steve Fraise (second from right). – Debbie Bohr Photo

In 1985 the Missouri Nationals became part of the newly created NASCAR Busch All Star Tour. Despite a cold weekend in Missouri 112 race teams in several classes were on hand from Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. In late model action Iowan Dale Fischlein set fast time of 20.80 seconds and ensure himself a front row starting spot in the 50-lap Busch All Star Tour feature.

Qualifying heat race wins went to Rick Beebe, Steve Fraise, Roger Dolan, Dan Dickey and Steve Kosiski of Omaha, Nebraska. Roger Dolan won the Friday night 25-lap NASCAR feature followed by Jim O’Connor, Dale Fischlein, Donnie Cooper, Steve Fraise and Steve Kosiski.

Saturday night’s consolation event went Kevin Gundaker followed by Donnie Cooper. In the feature event it was Dan Dickey (driving Ken Walton’s car) taking the lead from the outside front row and leading the entire 50 laps to take the checkers and a check for $2,000. Following Dickey were Steve Fraise, Council Bluff, Iowa’s Dave Chase, Jim O’Connor and Steve Kosiski. Sixth through tenth were Curt Martin, Gene Claxton, rollie Frink, Omaha’s Joe Kosiski and Sonny Findling.

Track owners Ed and Donna Bloom did an outstanding job in presenting the Missouri Nationals and a number of Busch All Star Tour events were held in the following years at Capital Speedway although not necessary at the end of the racing season.

One thing stands out about this event, drivers from Iowa dominated the event and won every year that is covered in the story.

Basement Archives

 

July 7-11, 1995

Bob Pierce of Danville, Ill., led the entire 50 laps to win the UMP Summer Nationals event at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway on Friday, July 7. Forty-two late models were on hand, including “The Southern Gentleman” Freddy Smith of Baton Rouge, La., who set a new a new track record during qualifying. Bill Frye of Greenbriar, Ark., earned runner-up honors in the main event, followed by Rick Aukland of Fargo, N.D., Tom Rients of Streator, Ill., and Smith.

Pro stock point leader Rod Smith of Monmouth, Ill., came from the fourth row to score his fourth win of the season at Mercer County Speedway in Aledo, Ill., on Wednesday night. Jeff Morris of McCausland, Iowa, won his second open-wheel modified feature of the season while Jason Bahrs of Rock Island, Ill., was the pride of the bomber class.

Danny Young and Todd Cooney continued dominating their respective divisions at the Iowa State Fair Speedway on Friday night. Young, of Des Moines, raced to his fourth winged sprint car triumph in in six starts, while Cooney, also of Des Moines, won his third consecutive IMCA late model main. Young wheeled around Jerry Crabb of Des Moines on lap 3 and went on to win the 15-lapper with ease while Cooney squirmed past Billy Allen of Des Moines on the final lap to win in a nail-biter. Kendall Sather of Ankeny, Iowa, snared the IMCA modified feature and Glenn Gladson of Des Moines won the IMCA stock car main.

Boone McLaughlin of Mediapolis, Iowa, scored his first IMCA late model win of the season during the mid-season championships at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa, on Saturday, July 8. McLaughlin, the late model point leader at the track, broke a streak of “bridesmaid” finishes at the track, having finished in second-place three weeks in a row. In other action, Jody Wood of Donnellson won the IMCA modified feature, Glen Ridgeway of Eldon, Iowa, was the IMCA stock car winner and Bryan Nevins of Des Moines was victorious in the hobby stock class.

Mike Belling of La Crosse, Wis., staked his claim to the NASCAR late model point’s lead after winning his fourth feature of the season on Saturday night at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Belling, in a tie with five-time track champion Kevin Nuttleman of Bangor, Wis., entering the night’s program, took advantage when Nuttleman got bottled up in traffic, and zoomed to the front of the field on lap 20, as the crowd of 4,212 roared its approval. Belling would go on to score the easy win with Brad Powell of La Crosse taking second and Paul Proksch of Stoddard, Wis., in third.

Splitting his 1995 schedule between NASCAR’s Super Truck Series and the World of Outlaws, Sammy Swindell had competed in only half of the Outlaw’s 48 events. Even so, his flag-to-flag victory at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.D., on Saturday night was Swindell’s fourth straight series win. Swindell had won two World of Outlaw events at Rocky Mounty Speedway in Denver, Colo., on July 3 and 4 and a preliminary event at Red River the night before, July 7. Swindell raced like the Sammy of old, starting the 30-lap main event on the pole and dominating the 24-car field throughout. When the checkers waved, Swindell won by a full straightaway over younger brother Jeff.

Jeff Mitrisin of Oskaloosa and Bobby Greiner Jr., of Norway, Iowa, each won their third features in a row at Greenbelt Speedway in Eldora, Iowa, on Saturday. Mitrisin won a thrilling IMCA modified feature race, racing wheel-to-wheel with Dave Blankenship of Brooklyn, Iowa, throughout the 20-lap affair. Mitrisin finally secured the top spot on the white flag lap, winning by a car length over Blankenship at the checkers. Greiner Jr., the defending track champion, had to work his way through the field from his 10th starting spot but managed to take the lead with only a few laps remaining to post the victory. In other action, J.C. Nehring of Hubbard, Iowa, won the IMCA hobby stock feature, winning handily over J.T. Robinson of De Moines.

Veteran Omaha driver Joe Kosiski continued his dominance of the NASCAR late model division at Park Jefferson (S.D.) Speedway on Saturday, winning his fourth feature race of the 1995 season. The win was especially important, since it was mid-season championship night. Kosiski took the lead on lap 9 and breezed to the easy win over Mike Cooper of North Sioux City, Jim Merchant of Sioux City, Mel Zeitner of Bellevue, Neb., and Bruce Ward of Fort Calhoun, Neb. In other action, Loren Reuter of Allen, Neb., won the modified feature and Greg Golden of Sioux City won the street stock contest.

Bill Frye pulled into the lead exiting the fourth turn on the 38th lap and held the rest of the field at bay to claim the $5,000 first prize in the 50-lap UMP Summer Nationals late model feature at LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway on Sunday, July 9. Frye wrestled the lead away from Rick Aukland, who had led the first 37 laps of the contest. Don Barnhart of North Little Rock, Ark., grabbed third place while Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., took fourth. Jim Curry of Norman, Ind., rounded out the top five. Current UMP national point leader Tony Izzo Jr., of Bridgeview, Ill., struggled to a 14th place finish after starting the evening as the event’s fastest qualifier.

Randy Nygaard, Jack Byers, Randy Green and Kent Larson were winners during the “Firecracker Special” at the Clay County Speedway in Spencer, Iowa, on Sunday evening. The event was originally scheduled for July 4 but rain washed out the program. Nygaard, from Sioux Falls, S.D., led the final four laps of the WISSOTA sprint car feature to collect on the $1,200 first prize. Byers, of Spencer, led from start to finish in winning the modified feature while Green, of Granada, Minn., came from his third-row starting position to win the stock car contest. Larson, from Fairmont, Minn., grabbed the lead on lap 2 and went on to win the 12-lap hobby stock “A” main.

Mike Pearson of California, Mo., left Double X Speedway $1,000 richer after winning the winged sprint car mid-season championship on Sunday night. After winning the trophy dash, Pearson started on the outside on the front row and didn’t waste anytime in using his advantage by leading from start to finish. In the sportsman feature, Jim Kirchoff of California and Jim Turpin of Jefferson City, Mo., treated the crowd to a side-by-side duel for 15 laps with Kirchoff prevailing.

The Miller Genuine Draft Summer Nationals were held at the West Liberty Raceway on Monday, July 10, with 45 of the nation’s top late model drivers in competition. When it was over, Rick Aukland came away with the $5,000 payday. Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill., moved into the lead at the start of the 40-lapper by taking to the high side of the half-mile speedway. Guss’s lead would be short-lived as Bill Frye overtook him on lap 10. Frye went the next 10 circuits until Billy Moyer Jr., of Batesville, Ark., was able to move out front. Aukland was on the move as the leaders encountered lap traffic and on lap 32, Aukland powered by Moyer for the lead and went on to score the victory. Moyer settled for second and Frye hung on to third. Bob Pierce Jr. grabbed fourth and Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa, rounded out the top five.

Troy Swearingen of Thompson, Iowa, made his debut in the MAC Tools Winner Series as the IMCA stock car touring series made its first ever trip to the all-new Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa, on Tuesday, July 11. For Swearingen, it was his first trip to victory lane in the series, as he dominated the event, leading wire to wire in the 24-car feature. The Thompson, Iowa, racer drew the pole position for the main event and after the green fell, that was the last anyone would see of Swearingen. Scott Williams of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, finished a distant second, Donnie Gustof of Scranton, Iowa, was third Rex Bonnett of Pleasanton, Iowa, fourth and Scott Davis of Boone, Iowa, finished fifth.

 

IMCA at the La Crosse Inter-State Fair

By Kyle Ealy

West Salem, Wis. – From 1957 to 1965, the International Motor Contest Association would be an integral part of the La Crosse Inter-State Fair.

The track opened in 1957 as a half-mile dirt track in West Salem as part of the relocation of the La Crosse Inter-State Fairgrounds.

Wanting to dedicate the new track in the biggest way possible, both the “speedway type” big cars and the “new model” stock cars would compete during the annual Inter-State Fair.

On August 7, 1957, the big cars were the first to make the call for a Wednesday doubleheader of racing. Before a crowd of 1,000, Johnnie Pouelson of Gardena, Calif., won the matinee while Emmett “Buzz” Barton of Tampa, Fla., won the night cap before 3,000 racing fans.

Pouelson nosed out Al “Cotton” Farmer of Dallas, Tex., in the 15-lap feature in the time of 3 minutes and 57.24 seconds. Barton won the first heat while Bob Tattersall of Streator, Ill., was the second heat winner. Pouelson grabbed the third heat and Frank McGowan of Portland, Ore., the Pacific Northwest champion, won the consolation.

The La Crosse Tribune reported the track conditions for the afternoon program was “a combination of ruts in the soft track and blinding dust that impeded fast travel.” A thorough soaking between race programs improved things considerably. There was little to no dust for the twilight performance.

Buzz Barton

Barton would take top honors in the evening program, winning the 10-lap feature over Farmer in the time of 4 minutes and 33.15 seconds. Barton also copped the first heat. Harry Kern of St. Paul, Minn., was the second heat winner and Mickey McCormick of Hutchinson, Kan., the third. Pouelson won the three-car trophy dash, and it was Ron McGowan again winning the consolation.

The stock cars would take center stage on Sunday, August 11, and defending IMCA champion Johnny Beauchamp of Harlan, Iowa, would sweep both the afternoon and evening programs during the Inter-State Fair. Beauchamp outdueled Jerry Draper of East Moline, Ill., in the afternoon 25-lapper, performed before a crowd of 4,500. In the 100-lap evening contest, Beauchamp won by a one-lap margin over Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Draper had led the first 39 circuits of the century grind before dropping out with motor issues.

In the afternoon program, Draper and Beauchamp won heat races and Beauchamp also won a three-car trophy dash. Al Warrender of Harlan, Iowa, won the consolation.

Dick Johnson of St. Paul, Minn., won the novelty race. Four cars started hub-to-hub. After one lap the drivers stop in front of the bleachers, ran around the car; after two laps, they ate a piece of blueberry pie; three laps, drank a soft drink; and finally finished the race. The crowd roared their approval.

Jack Rounds

The IMCA big cars returned again the next year, August 6, 1958. Jack Rounds, a 27-year-old auto mechanic from Los Angeles, Calif., would win both big car features. The afternoon program produced a light turnout, but the nightcap was before a crowd of 3,500.

Rounds, whose was near the top of the point standings prior to, raced his Les Vaughn Offenhauser to victory in the 12-lap afternoon feature and the 15-lap evening contest.

Vern Chamberlain of Minneapolis, the fastest qualifier in time trials, won the first heat while Jim Hurtubise of Inglewood, Calif., was the second heat winner. Mickey McCormick won the trophy dash and Jerry Richert of Forest Lake, Minn., won the Australian Pursuit race.

Hurtubise challenged Rounds in the afternoon feature but dropped out after eight laps. McCormick got by Rounds on lap 10 but Rounds regained the top spot as the starter was waving the white flag.

In the twilight program, Johnnie Pouelson and Bill Hobbs of San Francisco were heat winners, and Rounds won the trophy dash. In the feature, McCormick led the first 10 laps of the main event but experienced car trouble, giving Rounds the lead and eventually the victory.

Don White with his chief mechanic Paul Newkirk.

The stock cars returned on August 10, with Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, winning the afternoon feature and Bob Burdick of Omaha taking the 100-lap grind in the nightcap.

White raced his 1958 Ford to a new record in qualifying, touring the half-mile in 28.50 seconds. He then proceeded to dominate the 25-lap feature, winning handily over Johnny Beauchamp. Burdick finished fourth behind Ernie Derr of Fort Madison, Iowa.

White, Beauchamp and Bob Carpenter of Mechanicsville, Iowa, were afternoon heat winners, Beauchamp won the trophy dash while Burdick, having an unimpressive afternoon, took the victory in the consolation.

The 22-year-old Burdick would get it together for the evening program, and with a crowd of 3,000 looking on, drove to a hard-fought win after a race long battle with Beauchamp.

Don White picked up where he left off from the afternoon and led the first 24 circuits of the long grind. Beauchamp would power by White on lap 25 with Burdick right on his tail. For the next 65 laps, the two would race bumper-to-bumper, never more than a couple of feet apart.

Burdick would get the break he needed, on lap 88, when Beauchamp’s A-frame would snap, giving Burdick the top spot. The up-and-coming IMCA star would lead the final 12 laps to take the win. Chub Liebe of Oelwein, Iowa, would take second followed by Ernie Derr. Beauchamp would limp home in fourth.

The IMCA big cars would make a stop at La Crosse on Tuesday night, August 4, 1959, and a paltry crowd of 700 would watch A.J. Shepherd of Gardena, Calif., win the 12-lap feature over Buzz Barton. For Shepherd, driving the Abajian Offenhauser #33, it was his fourth straight feature victory since getting behind the wheel. His three other wins had come the previous week at Minot, N.D.

Four new Inter-State fair records were set, including Shepherd’s winning time of 5 minutes and 13.85 seconds in the main event. He also set a 6-lap record in the third heat and a 5-lap record in the trophy dash with times of 2 minutes and 48.65 seconds and 2 minutes and 4.90 seconds, respectively. Buzz Barton would set the other record in the 7-lap second heat race, winning in 3 minutes flat.

Bill Horstmeyer of Stoughton won the first heat while Harry Ross of Houston, Tex., won the consolation.

On August 9, 1959, the IMCA stock cars took part in another day/night doubleheader with a 25-lap feature highlighting the afternoon program and a 100-lap main event for the evening program.

A crowd of 3,000 were on hand to watch Ernie Derr, now of Keokuk, Iowa, drive his 1957 Pontiac to victory. Derr won the race when Bob Kosiskie of Omaha, who had been dominating the race, was black-flagged because of a shredded right rear tire with only a couple of laps to go.

Only 10 of the 18 starters finished the race. A couple of other contenders, Ramo Stott and Dick Hutcherson, also of Keokuk, Iowa, didn’t finish after starting strong. Hutcherson, who was running in third, broke a steering gear and was forced to retire after 10 laps. Stott, who took up third after Hutcherson’s exit and was running behind Kosiskie and Derr, went off the west turn, rolled down the bank and hit the outer fence on lap 20.

Darrel Dake, Buzz McCann of Minneapolis, Newt Bartholomew of Carlisle, Iowa, and Sonny Morgan of Beaumont, Tex., finished behind Derr.

Bob Kosiskie

Kosiskie would come back in the century grind but not without a fight from Jerry Draper. Kosiskie would lead the first 86 laps but had constant pressure from Draper throughout. A caution flag waved on lap 82 for Bruce Nystrom of Oshkosh when a rock hit his distributor, bringing his car to a halt on the backstretch.

When the green flew for the restart on lap 87, Draper shot out to the lead, much to Kosiskie’s surprise and to the delight of the 3,400 in attendance. Draper and Kosiskie battled bumper-to-bumper for 12 laps with Dick Hutcherson and afternoon winner Ernie Derr right behind the duo.

As the field was taking the white flag, Kosiskie made his move past Draper in the first turn and Hutcherson followed suit as well. Hutcherson made a last-ditch effort in the final turns to overtake Kosiskie, but the veteran held steady and grabbed the checkered. The top four cars, Kosiskie, Hutcherson, Draper and Derr, were literally nose-to-tail as the crossed the finish line.

La Crosse winner Ramo Stott receives congratulations from IMCA starter Jake Bozony. 

The IMCA stock cars would kick off the 1960 Inter-State Fair on August 9, with Ramo Stott winning every event he entered. The 26-year-old mechanic won the 4-lap trophy dash, 10-lap heat, and the 25-lap feature. He set a new track record in the trophy dash, winning in 2 minutes and 4.25 seconds. This broke the old mark of 2 minutes and 16.38 seconds set by Johnny Beauchamp in 1957, the first year for the IMCA stockers.

Stott took the lead away from fast qualifier and chief rival Ernie Derr on the second lap and was never headed. In fact, from the second lap on, the three Keokuk Kingpins, Stott, Derr, and Hutcherson – ran 1-2-3 for the remainder of the race.

IMCA had advertised a 100-lap feature for the night’s final event, but it was just as well that it only went 25 laps because a light rain fell for the final 20 laps and at the conclusion of the race, a heavy downpour ensued. The threat of rain held the crowd down to an estimated 2,000.

“I had a heckuva time when I came up on slower cars,” Stott said. His windshield wipers didn’t work to his advantage with dirt obstructing his vision. “I had to poke my head out of the window a couple of times just to see where I was going.”

A.J. Shepherd

A big car doubleheader was in store on August 14, 1960. And a couple of familiar names grabbed the headlines as A.J. Shepherd won the 12-lap feature in the afternoon and Buzz Barton copped the 10-lap sunset headliner.

The 34-year-old Shepherd’s victory wouldn’t come easy as he had to battle Bill Hobbs of San Francisco for the entire race. After passing pole-sitter LeRoy Neumeyer of Compton, Calif., on the first lap, Hobbs set a torrid pace of which only Shepherd could keep up. With the racing surface hard, slick, and dusty passing was at a premium and despite several attempts, couldn’t get around Hobbs. Finally, on lap 10, Shepherd took the high side past Hobbs for the lead and made it stick, leading the final two circuits to pick up the victory.

“I didn’t think I was going to catch him for a while,” said Shepherd afterwards. “He had been running low the whole race, so I knew the high side was my only chance, so I took it.”

Barton, driving the Lempelius Offenhauser, set a new record in his 7-lap heat race, winning in the time of 2 minutes and 50.9 seconds. That broke the mark he set last year of 3 minutes and 10 seconds.

Barton, who was also fast qualifier for the day, led all 10 laps and won handily in the nighttime program. Scheduled for 15 laps, the feature was shortened to 10 laps when the arc lights on the back straightaway went out. Hobbs, always the bridesmaid but never the bride (at least on this day), finished second Neumeyer took third.

Barton’s path to victory was made easier when afternoon winner Shepherd, on his way to a slashing victory in his heat race, skidded on the last turn and plowed into the guardrail right in front of the grandstand, incapacitating his Dizz Wilson Offenhauser.

Jerry Richert

Jerry Richert of Forest Lake, Minn., would win top honors when the IMCA big cars returned to La Crosse on August 1, 1961, but it was Bill Hobbs who would “steal the spotlight.”

Richert turned in the fastest time (24.88 seconds), win his 7-lap heat, set a new track record (1 minute and 40.89 seconds) in the 4-lap trophy dash, and capture the feature, scheduled for 15 laps. The latter was stopped after only four laps.

Hobbs would win his 6-lap heat and then crash his Offenhauser into the power plant, located in the infield. All of the lights on the back straightaway went dim. When it was discovered that the damage couldn’t be repaired, starter Jake Bozony decided to end the contest and Richert, who was leading at the time, was declared the winner.

The combination of high humidity and engine heat fogged up the driver’s goggles and it was the cause of Hobbs’ accident in turn two that shortened the feature. Richert’s lead in the abbreviated race didn’t appear likely to change even if the power had been restored. He set a strong pace right away and was way ahead of the rest of the field when the caution dropped.

The stock cars would play host to a day/night doubleheader on August 6, with Dick Hutcherson, driving his 1961 Ford “Yellow Jacket” to wins in both features. The 29-year-old building contractor won the 25-lap feature over Bob Reynolds of Edmonds, Okla., in the afternoon program and then continued his success in the evening program and won the 100-lapper with relative ease.

The afternoon race, before a crowd of 2,500, was the tougher of the two for Hutcherson, as he battled Reynolds, the day’s fast qualifier, back and forth before he was finally able to secure the lead for good on the 21st circuit. Reynolds had led the race for 19 laps.

Dick Hutcherson

The nightcap saw Reynolds take the lead right away until Hutcherson powered past him on lap 6. Reynolds stayed glue to Hutcherson’s bumper for 25 more laps until he lost control of his 1961 Ford and went over the back straightaway on the 31st lap. After that, Hutcherson was never seriously challenged and ran away from the rest of the field.

Some of the other top contenders had issues throughout the race which made Hutcherson’s run even easier. Chub Liebe of Oelwein, Iowa, lost a wheel as he pressed Hutcherson lap 39 while Darrell Dake went off the back straightaway on lap 59. Roland Wilson of Bedford, Iowa, drove off the second turn on lap 88 and Gerry Harrison of Topeka, Kan., collided into the light tower on the second turn, plunging into the darkness and causing the final yellow caution of the race.

Hutcherson won in the time of 54 minutes and 41.98 seconds – creditable considering 33 laps were run under yellow.

The other two “Keokuk Komets,” Ramo Stott and Ernie Derr, were no shows for the race. Stott had wrecked his car at Donnellson, Iowa, on Friday night and Derr had engine trouble and chose to stay at home.

The IMCA sprint cars would return to the 1962 La Crosse Inter-State Fair but instead of the usual day/night doubleheader, the open wheelers would have a back-to-back Tuesday/Wednesday tilt.

On Tuesday, July 31, Bill Horstmeyer, of Stoughton, Wis., would win the 15-lap feature in record-shattering time. Horstmeyer, driving the Ernie Johnson Offenhauser, won the race in 6 minutes and 22.32 seconds, breaking the old mark by more than a minute and a half (Jack Rounds, 7:58.34 in 1958).

When asked about breaking the record, the 31-year-old maintenance man for Oscar Mayer in Madison replied, “It helps when you have two guys hot on your tail.” Those two guys he was referring to were Jerry Daniels of St. Paul, Minn., and defending IMCA national champion Pete Folse of Tampa, Fla.

Horstmeyer’s new record would last less than 24 hours when the sprint cars returned the next night, August 1. A face very familiar to area race fans, Jerry Richert, would cut another .17 seconds off Horstmeyer’s mark en route to winning the 15-lap feature on Wednesday night.

The 29-year-old Minnesota state champion was the only driver to qualify below the 25-second mark on the hard, slick track, thus earning himself the pole position. He bolted away from the field at the start of the main event and never looked back. Jerry Daniels, Harold Leep of Wichita, Kan., and Roger Lane of Blue Springs, Mo., followed Richert across the finish line, but well behind the leader.

The stock cars would be the main headliner of August 5 with Jules “Chub” Liebe and Dick Hutcherson sharing the spotlight. Liebe, of Oelwein, Iowa, won the afternoon 25-lapper while Hutcherson drove his ’62 Ford to victory in the 100-lap nightcap.

Liebe, the 26-year-old operator of a car dealership, won the matinee fairly easily over Hutcherson, winning in 11 minutes and 40.99 seconds. “I didn’t have to push it, especially the last half of the race,” he remarked of his 1962 Ford.

Ernie Derr, the defending IMCA national champion in the stock car division, was fast qualifier during afternoon time trials, but blew a piston in his heat race and was finished for the day.

Hutcherson would turn the tables in the evening program, winning the 50-mile (100-lap) feature but not without a struggle. Lenny Funk of Otis, Kan., driving a ’62 Ford, would take the initial lead until turning over the top spot to John Mickey of Columbus Junction, Iowa, on lap 5. Funk would regain the top position on lap 17 but then relinquished it to Hutcherson on lap 21.

Following “Hutch” past Funk was Bob Reynolds and the Edmonds, Okla., driver would stay glued to Hutcherson’s bumper for the next 21 circuits until mechanical failure caught up with him and his ’62 Ford. Liebe, still running robust from his afternoon win, picked up where Reynolds left off and began hounding Hutcherson numerous times for the lead, but Hutcherson was able to fend him off every time. A car length never separated the two drivers for the remaining distance and Hutcherson was only half a car length in front of Liebe when the checkers waved.

IMCA sprint cars would stage a one-day show for the 1963 Inter-State Fair, with 21 cars entered on Wednesday, July 31. It was actually scheduled for two days but rain canceled the Tuesday night program.

Gordon Woolley of Waco, Tex., broke Jerry Richert’s one-year-old mark in the 15-lap feature. The 40-year-old mechanic won the 7.5-mile event in 6 minutes and 11.24 seconds, knocking off a little over 11 seconds off the record. Woolley, driving the Goodrich Chevrolet, also broke the 7-lap heat record in 2 minutes and 49.92 seconds, shattering Buzz Barton’s 1960 standard of 2 minutes and 50.90 seconds.

Jerry Daniels would also set two new records, winning the 6-lap heat in 2 minutes and 24.62 seconds to wipe out Jim Wegscheider’s mark of 2 minutes and 37.19 seconds set in 1960. Daniels also set a new track record in time trials, racing around the half-mile in 23.39 seconds, breaking Harold Leep’s 1962 record of 24.03 seconds.

In the main event, Woolley showed why he would eventually win the 1963 IMCA sprint car championship with a brilliant display of driving. While Daniels took the lead from his pole position, Woolley, who started eighth, had to work his way through the field to get up on Daniel’s bumper by lap 8. Two laps later, Woolley got by Daniels for the lead and at the end, was a comfortable six car lengths ahead.

Competing at La Crosse for the first time, Woolley was asked afterwards if he expected to win. In his finest Texas drawl, he replied, “Always do.”

Dick Hutcherson had come to like the La Crosse half-mile, so it was no surprise when he made a complete sweep of things on August 5. The defending IMCA stock car champion repeated his performance of 1961, winning both the afternoon and evening features. It was also his third 100-lap feature win in a row dating back to the same year.

Hutcherson drove his 1963 Ford to three record-shattering feats in time trials, 10-lap heat, and 100-lap feature. He set a new one-lap record in qualifying, touring the half-mile in 26.50 seconds, bettering Bob Reynold’s 1961 mark of 26.87 seconds. He also won the 6-lap heat race and 5-lap trophy dash before copping the 25-lap feature in 11 minutes and 31.50 seconds.

Not completely satisfied, Hutcherson came back for the twilight program and set a new record of 4 minutes and 26.80 seconds in his heat race. He easily won the 100-lapper in 49 minutes and 48.30 seconds to eclipse the old mark of 51 minutes and 10.55 seconds set by Johnny Beauchamp in 1957. The 31-year-old star took the lead on lap 5 and proceeded to lap everyone except the second-place finisher, Chub Liebe.

Ramo Stott, the current IMCA point leader, was overshadowed by Hutcherson’s dominant performance and Ernie Derr had demolished his car in Donnellson, Iowa, that weekend and was a no-show.

"Scratch" Daniels with Hector Honore.

The IMCA sprint cars would make it a two-day show at the Inter-State Fair on August 4 and 5, 1964, with two Jerry’s, Daniels and Richert, splitting the prize money.

A power failure would delay the six-event program on Tuesday, with festivities ending near midnight, but that didn’t dim the performance of Daniels, the 25-year-old mechanic, who broke his own qualifying record, won his 5-lap heat, and capped it off with a victory in the 12-lap feature.

Richert actually tied Daniels’ 1963 mark of 23.39 seconds in qualifying, but “Scratch” was next up in timing and promptly reset the standard with a clocking of 23.25 seconds. He won his heat race by catching Gordon Woolley on the final turn and winning in the time of 2 minutes and 7.78 seconds.

In the main event, Daniels, driving Hector Honore’s Black Deuce, fought off a trio of former Inter-State Fair winners that included Richert, Woolley and Bill Horstmeyer, who trailed him by a car length at the finish. His time for the 6-miler was 4 minutes and 59.85 seconds.

“The track was in real good shape,” Daniels said. “And the car ran really well.”

Just as Daniels had dominated Tuesday’s program, Richert made Wednesday night’s show his own.

Richert was the “hot” driver in more than one aspect. Besides setting fast time, winning his heat, and then taking the championship feature, a cracked header pipe was throwing flames and the 31-year-old Whirlpool repairman suffered minor burns to his legs.

Richert led all the way in the 15-lap feature, accepting the checkered flag ahead of Horstmeyer, Woolley, Jim Moughan of Springfield, Ill., and Buzz Barton of Tampa, Fla. His winning time for 7.5-miles was 6 minutes and 52.25 seconds.

Horstmeyer was runner-up to Richert for the first nine laps, but Daniels moved ahead of Horstmeyer on lap 10 for second place but a blown engine forced him out of competition on lap 13.

One record fell on Wednesday’s program as Buzz Barton, who already held the La Crosse records for 5 laps (2:01.11) and 10 laps (4:33.15), put the 7-lap mark in his own personal memoirs when he won the third heat in the time of 2 minutes and 40.38 seconds.

Weather would play its part for the IMCA stock cars as the scheduled day/night doubleheader on August 9 was affected by showers all day. The rain fell during the final two events of the matinee performance, making the track slick with mud and all but forcing cancellation of the two 10-lap heats and 100-lap feature scheduled for that evening.

Ramo Stott

The soggy track conditions didn’t slow Ramo Stott, as the 31-year-old driver from Keokuk, Iowa, piloted his 1964 Plymouth to one track record and victory in every event he entered, including the 25-lap championship feature.

Stott broke the qualifying record with a timed lap of 26.40 seconds. That broke Dick Hutcherson’s one-year-old mark of 26.50 seconds. He also won the 10-lap first heat.

Despite a muddy track, Stott almost broke the oldest stock car record their was for the Inter-State Fair in the 25-lap finale. That record of 11 minutes and 26.21 seconds was set by Johnny Beauchamp during the first appearance for the stock cars in 1957.

As it was, his winning time of 11 minutes and 29.50 seconds was only three seconds short, very impressive considering the conditions. “I eased off,” Stott said afterwards. “I thought I might break an axle.”

“The track was wavy – like a washboard,” he added. “It was really hard on the axles.”

Stott led all the way with Ole Brua of Albert Lea, Minn., driving a ’64 Ford convertible, finishing second. Gil Haugen of Sioux Falls, S.D., was third in a 1963 Plymouth and Bob Jusola of Mound, Minn., in a ’63 Ford, was fourth.

Dick Hutcherson, the defending IMCA stock car champion, Ernie Derr, the five-time IMCA champion, Bob Reynolds of Edmonds, Okla., and Ralph Wilhelm of Milwaukee were unable to appear because of car troubles at other races earlier in the week.

Dick Fries

Dick Fries of San Diego, Calif., was the upset winner when the IMCA sprint cars kicked off the 1965 Inter-State Fair on August 3. A relative newcomer to the circuit, Fries held off a pair of former IMCA national champions, Jerry Richert and Gordon Wooley, to win the 15-lap feature. Fries led the first two laps before giving way to Richert. He regained the top spot on lap 9 and held strong the remaining six laps to score the victory. A rain shower fell about a half hour before the program, making the track conditions rough going for the field.

The racing surface was in far better shape the next night, August 4, and Jerry Richert took full advantage. Utilizing his rim-riding style in which he was famous for, the 32-year-old veteran sailed to an easy win in the 15-lap feature. Richert won the race in the time 6 minutes and 12.96 seconds, not far off of Gordon Woolley’s 6 minutes and 11.64 second record set two years before.

Tuesday night’s upset winner, Dick Fries, would grab the lead at the onset but that would last only two laps as Richert, using his patented high-groove racing style, powered past Fries, and never looked back. Gordon Woolley would get by Fries a few laps later and that’s how they finished.

Richert, Tom Bigelow of Whitewater, Wis., and Roger Lane of Blue Springs, Mo., were heat winners while Ron Larson of Milltown won the consolation.

It would be a few years before the IMCA sprint cars would return…

An all-day rain on Sunday slammed the brakes on the stock car portion of the ’65 Inter-State Fair on August 8. The rain was so persistent and so heavy in the afternoon, even the fair’s midway was shut down. After the cancellation of the afternoon program, Frank Winkley and Nick Nachicas of IMCA thought that they might get the evening program in if it stopped raining early enough in the afternoon, but it never did.

Ramo Stott and Ernie Derr

The 1966 La Crosse Inter-State Fair would have the stock cars on their schedule for a one-day only, day/night doubleheader on Sunday, August 7. Ramo Stott would win the 25-lap afternoon feature while it was all Ernie Derr in the 100-lap nightcap.

Stott’s winning time in the matinee was 11 minutes and 54.10 seconds. Lenny Funk led the first lap of the feature and then Derr took over on the second go-round. Coming past the start/finish line on lap 3, Stott got past Derr and never relinquished it.

Bob Jusola of Mound, Minn., and Blaine Morrow of Mt. Joy, Ill., were upset heat winners in the afternoon.

The evening feature event saw Stott take his 1966 Plymouth into the lead at the start with Derr and his 1966 Dodge right behind. Derr would pull the same maneuver on Stott as Ramo did on Ernie in the afternoon race, powering by him on the frontstretch of lap 3 to take the lead.

The 43-year-old driver would take full command by the halfway point of the race and put it in “cruise control” from there. In the process, he would race to a record clocking of 48 minutes and 55.10 seconds, breaking Dick Hutcherson’s 1963 record of 49 minutes and 48.30 seconds. Pretty impressive considering the track conditions.

Saturday’s rain soaked the track but left the surface dry and dusty on Sunday despite efforts to keep it in good shape. Ruts made driving difficult at times. “There’s no point in running the car hard when you don’t have to,” Derr said. The track was “really hard on the suspension”” he added. There were only seven cars running at the finish.

It would be the last appearance for the IMCA stock cars at the Inter-State Fair.

The IMCA sprint cars would make one more appearance at La Crosse, now a paved track, on July 25, 1971. It would be ironic that the driver who had more IMCA sprint cars wins at La Crosse would be the last winner there as well.

Jerry Richert would win make it a clean sweep, setting fast time, winning his heat and the 25-lapper. Casey Jones of South Bend, Ind., would win his heat as well and then push Richert all the way to the finish line in the main event before settling for second place.

Ray Wright of Elkhart, Ind., would win the third heat while Bob Kinser of Bloomington, Ind., won the trophy dash. Earl Wagner of Pleasantville, Iowa, would win the consolation.

It would be the last appearance for the IMCA sprint cars at La Crosse and the last appearance ever for the International Motor Contest Association.

1979 – Mack Wins Florida Sprint Opener

Don Mack 

Lake City, Fla. (January 28, 1979) – Don Mack of East Grand Forks, Minn., a two-time Florida 500 winner, took the lead on the third lap and held the top spot the remaining 47 circuits to win Sunday’s opening race of the third annual Florida Sprint Nationals.

The victory was Mack’s first on a half-mile dirt track in two years of competing in the series.

Rick Ferkel of Findlay, Ohio, who set fast time (19.214) during time trials finished second. Johnny Beaber of Gibsonburg, Ohio was third, followed by Johnny Anderson of Sacramento, Calif., and Ralph Parkinson Jr., of Gladstone, Mo.

Robert Smith of Gibsonton, Fla., qualified for the feature by winning the consolation and while Zephyr Hill’s Wayne Reutimann did the same with a third-place finish in the semifinal race.

Results –


1. Don Mack, East Grand Forks, Minn.
2. Rick Ferkel, Findlay, Ohio
3. Johnny Beaber, Gibsonburg, Ohio
4. Johnny Anderson, Sacramento, Calif.
5. Ralph Parkinson Jr., Gladstone, Mo.
6. Bill Roynon, Tampa
7. Roger Rager, Mound, Minn.
8. Allen Barr, Columbus, Ind.
9. Greg Leffler, St. Paul, Ind.
10.Cliff Cockrum, Benton, Ill.

Remembering Corning’s Gold Cup

Don Hoffman (2) and Joe Kosiski (53) battle during the Gold Cup Invitational. Kosiski would win the inaugural race in 1980, while Hoffman would be victorious in 1982. - Jerry Adams Photo

by Lee Ackerman

Corning, Iowa - On April 19, 1980, the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa staged the first of what would be four annual season openers called the Gold Cup Invitational. The event was for Dirt Late Models and Limited Sportsman. That first event drew more than 40 late models in a shootout that featured more than $5,000 in prize money.

The four heat races were won by Don Hoffman of Des Moines, Rex Nun of Lincoln, Nebraska, Bob Shryock of Estherville, Iowa and Joe Kosiski of Omaha, Nebraska. How about the C Feature! The drivers that finished first and second in the C Feature are both inductees in the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame. Billy Moyer, Jr. then living in Des Moines won the event and Steve Kosiski of Omaha finished second.

In the B feature, Moyer would drive through the entire feature to win that event as well. Following Moyer to the line were Phil Bivins of Nebraska City, Ray Lipsey of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Larry Hiatt of New Market.

In the 40-lap feature, Don Hoffman jumped into the lead at the start and appeared headed to a convincing win, when at about the midway point of the race he stalled in turn two. “I hit a hole in the track between one and two and when I hit the throttle the motor just died.” said Hoffman after the race.

Joe Kosiski picked up the lead with Hoffman’s misfortune and led the rest of the way to pick up the victory. Shryock finished second Denny Hovinga of Pocahontas was third and Nun fourth. Despite his bad luck, Hoffman refired and raced his way up to a fifth-place finish.

Al Urhammer won the 1981 Gold Cup Invitational. - Jerry Adams Photo

Mother Nature came close to claiming the victory in the Second Annual Gold Cup. First, on Saturday night she brought a halt to activities after the third heat race and then on Sunday she postponed the starting time from 2 pm until 5:45. Heat races went to Al Druesedow of Omaha, Martin Bennett of Des Moines, Billy Moyer and Dwaine Hansen of Lakefield, Minnesota.

Jerry Wancewicz of Omaha won the Position race with Al Urhammer of Radcliffe finishing second and Bill Martin of Council Bluffs third. Denny Hovinga won the B feature followed by Joe Merryfield of Des Moines, Randy Rosenboom of Rock Rapids, Gary Hopp of Harlan, and Al Humphrey of Giltner, Nebraska.

When they waved the green flag to start the race, outside polesitter Al Urhammer jumped into the lead and from thereon was never seriously challenged for the win despite some real battles for position behind him. Defending race winner Joe Kosiski made a late charge to take second from Jerry Wancewicz with Bill Martin fourth and Al Druesedow fifth.

While it was a mild, sunny day for the Third Annual Gold Cup held on April 17, 1982, nevertheless the weather did play a factor in the night’s events. The track became increasingly greasy during the night and that combined with it being the first time out for many of the drivers accounted for quite a number of wrecks and mishaps that eliminated a number of contenders.

Heat race action saw Ken Walton of Viola take heat one over Jerry Holtkamp and Al Druesedow. Don Hoffman won the second heat with Bill Martin and Joe Kosiski in tow and Billy Moyer, Jr. laid claim to heat three with Steve Kosiski and Don Weyhrich of Norfolk, Nebraska trailing. Bob Hill of Randall won the B feature followed by Randy Rosenboom and Frank Ince.

The late model feature turned out to be quite a race with Walton and Hoffman on the front row and Moyer, Jr right behind. When the race went green, Hoffman grabbed the lead with Walton following all the way back to fifth, but immediately Walton started working his way back through the field to challenge Hoffman.

Around lap 15, Walton took the lead and held it for some time thru several restarts. Late in the race Walton made one mistake and Hoffman capitalized on it and charged to the lead and held on to the checkered flags. Walton was able to hold off a serious challenge from Moyer for second with Bill Martin and Joe Kosiski rounding out the top five.

Sam Jacobs was an upset winner of the Gold Cup Invitational in 1983. - Jerry Adams Photo

Sam Jacobs of Columbus, Nebraska was the surprising winner of the fourth and what would be the last Corning Gold Cup Invitational. The April 23, 1983, event saw a good field of cars compete in four heat races.

Jim Jenkins of Council Bluffs won heat one over Pat Wancewicz of Omaha and Jeff French of Mt. Ayr. Don Weyhrich won heat two over Bob Hill and Greg Larsen of Lincoln, Nebraska. Karl Ritterbush of Omaha took the third heat over Bruce Mark of Williams and Rich Germar of Red Oak with Jacobs taking heat four over Glenn Robey of Omaha and Steve Borts of Ames.

Mike Smith of Ellsworth bested Bill Wrich of Kennard, Nebraska, and Corning’s Jack Viner to take the B feature.

Weyhrich took the lead at the start of the event, but the fourth starting Jacobs took the lead early in the event and despite getting into a lapped car later in the event, he was able to hold off the challenges of Weyhrich and take home the win. Weyhrich came home a comfortable second with Robey, Hill and Mark rounding out the top five.

In 1984, the Adams County Speedway became a NASCAR-sanctioned track, and the Gold Cup Invitational was replaced by the Spring Invitational as the season opening event at the Adams County Speedway.

The 'Lisbon Leadfoot'

Bill Beckman at Hawkeye Downs - 1978

Late driver's career spanned 30 years, many titles. 

by Pete Temple

Monticello Express Sports Editor

Monticello, Iowa - Bill Beckman didn’t know how much he would love driving a dirt track racecar until he climbed into one. 

 It was 1967. Beckman’s neighbor in Lisbon, renowned Eastern Iowa driver Roger Dolan, was testing a car during a practice session the day before the opening night of racing at Hawkeye Downs.

In a detailed, fascinating memoir penned by Beckman himself, just weeks before his Dec. 5 death at the age of 80, he describes what happened next.

“Roger got out of the car and handed his helmet to me and said, ‘Get in the car. I want to watch it. And don’t run into anyone!’” Beckman wrote.

“I was nervous. I started slow for a couple of laps (and) got the feel of it. Then I nailed it. I had lots of fast street cars, but this was a thrill. It was so much fun the flagman had to run out on the track with a red flag to stop me.

“Somebody said, ‘How long were you going to stay out there?’ I said, ‘Until I ran out of gas.”

Beckman, who lived in Monticello for much of his life, was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School in 1960.

Bill Beckman holds his trophy after winning the Novice championship at Cedar Rapids in 1968.

His racing career lasted 30 years. During that time, Beckman won the Dubuque season championship, was Tri-State champion in Davenport, and was fast qualifier for Davenport’s National Dirt Track Championship.

He won season championships in Tipton and Cedar Rapids, and won races at Hawkeye Downs, Maquoketa, Vinton, Tri-State and Farley.

Beckman lived in Lisbon for most of his racing career and earned the nickname “Lisbon Leadfoot.”

He competed in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin and Missouri.

It all culminated in his induction into the Iowa Dirt Track Racing Hall of Fame this past Nov. 12, less than four weeks before his passing.

Getting started

The morning after the 1967 practice session, Dolan pulled into Beckman’s driveway, saw a 1954 Ford sitting there, and told him, “That’s your racecar.”

Despite financial concerns, Beckman wrote that “The next Friday night I was at the racetrack with a 1954 Ford with a 239, two-barrel carb. We got second.”

On two occasions that season, Beckman recalled, other drivers protested that he was driving an illegal car. The first time, he wrote, “the other drivers were saying the car was illegal because the rulebook said cars had to be 1955 or newer. Well, Roger talked to the promoter. He looked at the car and said, ‘It’s a nice car and he can race it.”

The second time, Beckman had to comply and make it a ’55.

“We went back home and cut the body off and made it into a convertible with a 55¼ (-inch) panel, which was the only difference between a ’54 and ’55.”

The memoir, which served as Beckman’s nomination form for the Hall of Fame, details several instances of winning races, working on vehicles, buying and selling auto bodies, motors and parts, and winning more races.

“In 1968, my good friend Bill Jilovec wanted to help me,” Beckman wrote. “I built a ’56 Chevy that we owned 50-50. He owned the motor, transmission, rear tires and wheels.

“It was bad fast!”

After winning an early-season feature race at Hawkeye Downs, the car went on to win championships in Cedar Rapids and Tipton, as well as fair features in Tipton, Cedar Rapids, Maquoketa and Vinton.

Help from Petty

Beckman’s 1969 season was derailed by a ruptured appendix. He got back on track, literally, in 1970, largely due to a career-changing conversation with NASCAR hall-of-famer Richard Petty.

“In 1970 my friend Ben Jamieson and I teamed up and built a ’69 Camaro convertible,” Beckman wrote. “The first six races I spun out a lot. We didn’t know what to do with the 108-inch wheelbase.

“On a Saturday morning while sitting around the garage, Bill (Jilovec) said, “Why don’t you call Petty? When I did, Richard answered the phone.”

Petty suggested a new set of Chrysler springs, which Beckman agreed to purchase.

“Richard said, ‘Bill, those springs will put that little Camaro right on the program.’ He told me what I had to do, and I had the torch and welder to complete the job,” Beckman wrote.

“What a man he was then and continues to be today. This car went on to win many races. It beat (Eastern Iowa legend) Ernie Derr twice, at both the Cedar Rapids and Tristate (tracks).

“At the end of the season, I won three races at Erv Valentine’s new Farley Speedway: $970 the first night, $810 the second night, and $760 the third night. Those were big purses back then.”

A movie car

Beckman took a detour from his racing career, so to speak, when he was hired to build a car for a Steve McQueen movie that was being filmed in Florida. Part of the process involved building a roll cage off to the side of the car, so that a cameraman could ride along outside the vehicle.

“I was there for a month,” he wrote. “I had a great time doing what I love, being around cars, and meeting tons of great people.

“I got paid $15,000 in $500 bills. I wish I still had them!”

Beckman wrote that after a divorce in 1973, he sold his racecar and went to work at Star Engineering, while helping other drivers maintain their cars on the side.

More success

He and Ben Jamieson then bought a car from Larry Moore and put a Horn motor in it.

“This car was a rocket. Driving the car was a win-win-win for us!” Beckman wrote. “We won seven times at Freeport (Ill.). At one point we won nine in a row at West Liberty, Freeport, Eldon and Davenport.”

Along with his success, Beckman also displayed sportsmanship in defeat.

“On the 10th night Johnny Johnson beat me by two feet at Elton in the 50-lap midseason championship,” he wrote. “I started on the pole and Johnny was outside pole. He got the jump on me at the start, and he never made a mistake. Great job Johnny!”

He and Jamieson lost two motors that year, causing Beckman to sell the car.

“I decided to change my focus from racing to my grain bin business (Beckman Grain Systems, Monticello),” Beckman wrote. “I did drive Terry Jamieson’s modified car off and on for a while, but by this time I was in my late 50s. I was getting tired.

“It seems like you just can’t quit. It was difficult because it is not easy to give up something that I loved so much.”

‘A great run’

In his memoir, Beckman also thanked those who helped him, and in particular, “my brother Paul for the endless hours he spent being the best working crew chief and for being with me every step of the way.

“My racing accomplishments would not have happened without great sponsors, and all the great friends who supported me through the years.

“My racing career has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Fun, fun, fun! I had a great run.”

Bill Beckman takes a victory lap at Davenport in 1970.

The Motor City 250

 

1951 Motor City 250 program

By Kyle Ealy

Detroit, Mich. – The Motor City 250 stock car race was held annually on the one-mile dirt oval at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.

The first race was held on August 12, 1951, in conjunction with Detroit’s 250th birthday. Bill France, the leader of NASCAR, staged the event right under the noses of the automotive brass, so they could see what their cars could do. The event brought together all makes and models from 1950 and ’51; American made-products competing in one of the most grueling contests that stock car racing had ever seen.

France staged the program with all of the pomp and circumstance that rivaled the Indianapolis 500. Pre-race entertainment included a feigned dogfight between two miniature model airplanes, fireworks, and a releasing of balloons at the start of the race.

A field of 58 cars started the first 250-miler led by Karl Greiner, vice-president of Packard Motor Car Co., in a brilliant yellow convertible used as the pace car before a cheering throng of 16,352.

Four hours, 21 minutes and 58 seconds later, Howard “Tommy” Thompson of Louisville, Ky., emerged from the scrap to take the checkered flag behind the wheel of his 1951 Chrysler V8.

Tommy Thompson accepts his trophy after winning the inaugural Motor City 250.

During the entire race the lead changed 12 times with five different leaders holding the top spot at one time or another. Marshall Teague of Daytona Beach, Fla., driving the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, took off from his pole position to lead the field in the early going until he was squeezed out by Fonty Flock of Hapeville, Ga., in an Oldsmobile 88.

Fonty held on to the 26th circuit when Thompson took over. Those two swapped the lead four times in the next 36 laps until the 62nd lap when Thompson stopped to replace a tire. Flock moved into the top spot at that point while Teague also pitted to have his radiator cleaned.

At the 94th mark, seven cars got snarled in an accident which resulted in much ripping and bending of metal. Among those involved were noted racers Hershel McGriff in a Olds 88, Bill Holland in a Cadillac, Frank Mundy in a Studebaker, and Lee Petty in a Plymouth.

During this period, most of the field pitted. When the race resumed, Gober Sosebee of Dawsonville, Ga., pulled his Cadillac into the lead. He held that position until a broken tie-rod sent him to the infield on lap 130. Fonty Flock once again moved into the top spot. But that lead would be short-lived…

On the next lap, Bob Greer hit a pothole in his Olds and Fonty, right on his tail, plowed into him and went end over end. Johnny Mantz, in an Ambassador, and Jack Smith in a Plymouth joined the pile.

The crash would put the Olds 88 of Curtis Turner of Roanoke, Va., into the top spot with Thompson right on his rear bumper. Turner would fend Thompson off until lap 212 when Thompson’s Chrysler wouldn’t be denied. On the 216th lap, however, Turner moved back into first place in what would develop as a see-saw battle between the two drivers with Tommy moving into first place on lap 225.

The next lap around saw Turner try to get by Thompson on the outside while wallowing through the beat-up southeast turn. The cars lock hard, broad-slided and stalled. Thompson got his car started first and continued the race. Turner got restarted but his radiator had been badly damaged, and his car was soon boiling over.

Thompson sped the final 20 laps to victory and the $5,000 first prize plus the Packard convertible.

Second place when to Joe Eubanks of Spartanburg, S.C., in his Oldsmobile 88 while Johnny Mantz limped his wreck-battered Ambassador to a third-place finish. NASCAR veteran Red Byron of Atlanta, Ga., would bring his Ford 6 home in fourth place and Paul Newkirk of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, rounded out the top five in his Nash.

1952 Motor City 250 program

Twenty-eight-year-old Tim Flock, the youngest of the famous racing family, beat 46 other challengers to win the second annual Motor City 250 on June 29, 1952. The slim, Hapeville, Ga., pilot came down the frontstretch to get the checkered flag a half-lap ahead of second-place finisher Buddy Shuman of Charlotte, N.C.

He not only beat a classy field of drivers but also beat the stifling heat, winning the race in the record time of 4 hours, 10 minutes, and 23 seconds. The time bested the mark set by Tommy Thompson in the inaugural race by 10 minutes and 5 seconds. More than 23,000 speed hungry race fans that paid a gate of more than $70,000 witnessed the action.

Overheating was a major issue and only 21 cars were there at the finish. Finishing behind Flock and Shuman were Hern Thomas of Oliva, N.C., Bill Blair of High Point, N.C., and Pat Kirkwood of Fort Worth, Tex.

Dick Rathmann of Los Angeles, who started on the pole, led the first 40 laps of the long-endurance contest. He would quickly develop engine trouble, and four pit stops later, would drop far back into the field.

Lee Petty of Randleman, N.C., would take over the top spot and hold it until the 80-lap mark where trouble ensued. Nearly two laps in front of the field, Petty would lose his left front tire in the northwest turn and retire from the race.

Flock would eventually take over on lap 97 and hold the top spot the rest of the way with the exception of the 211th lap when he was forced to stop for gas. Shuman would take over the lead but only for that one lap, with Flock taking back the lead and never relinquishing it.

Fonty Flock, Tim’s brother, and bitter rival was out of the race after only 13 laps and then assumed command as Tim’s crew chief. He was credited by his brother for helping win the race. His performance was remarkable considering that he had to stop three times in the pits.

In addition to his first-place prize of $7,000, Flock would also take home the Ambassador pace car, making it his biggest payday in seven years of stock car racing. The victory also put in him first in the NASCAR point standings, taking over the top spot from Lee Petty.

A 28-year-old Detroit mechanic who raced as a hobby, won the third annual Motor City 250 on September 13, 1953. Felix Brooks outlasted and outdrove 52 competitors, to score the biggest victory in his seven-year career. The husky, black-haired pilot wheeled his 1953 Oldsmobile around the rough Fairgrounds track in 4 hours, 6 minutes, and 44 seconds.

Another Detroit driver, Paul Goldsmith, took second place in a 1951 Ford. Goldsmith, a national champion motorcycle racer, was 17 miles behind at the finish.

Third place went to Don Oldenberg of Highland, Ind., in a 1951 Mercury. Jack Connelly of Detroit, piloting a 1953 Lincoln, took fourth and Art Binkley of Louisville, Ky., rounded out the top five finishers in a 1951 Ford.

Only 12 cars out of the bulky field were still running at the finish.

The race drew a crowd of 13,278. The Chicago promoter who staged the event, guaranteed a purse of $10,000. Brooks cashed in $1,875.

Starting from the 38th position in the big field, Brooks drove a careful and calculated race through the early stages. The Detroiter didn’t crack the top-five for the first 175 circuits. But, as the big-name national circuit drivers started to drop out, Brooks slowly moved up.

Felix took the lead on lap 207 and steadily increased it as he held the top spot for the final 43 laps around the big one-mile dirt oval.

Minor crashes caused starter Clem Van Rossne to throw the yellow flag five times during the race. All drivers were able to walk away unharmed.

Herschel White, the 37-year-old from Indianapolis, would win the fourth annual Motor City 250 on September 12, 1954, before a crowd of 19,251. White, a father of five, won in the record time of 4 hours and 4 minutes in a 1953 Oldsmobile.

A field of 86 cars competed for a $7,500 with White collecting $2,000 for his victory. The Flock brothers, Fonty and Bob, of Atlanta, Ga., combined talents to take second and collect $1,500. Fonty drove for the first 200 miles in their 1953 Hudson before turning over the chores to Bob for the final 50.

Third place went to Mason Bright of Detroit, in a 1953 Dodge. He cashed in $1,000.

Pat Kirkwood was the unfortunate victim of the Sunday afternoon matinee, taking the lead on the 6th lap and was ahead by five after 210 miles, only to develop steering problems and being waved to the pits by his crew. He would get back on the track but not finish the race.

White took over after that and lead the final 40 miles to take the checkered. White also set fast time in qualifying, clocking in at 49.02 seconds.

1955 Motor City 250 program

Mason Bright would win the Motor City 250 on September 11, 1955, parlaying some luck with smart driving. The race would go down as the slowest to date, but it was a wonder it was held at all. The race took 4 hours and 27 minutes to complete.

Of the 55 starters, 21 drivers took the checkered flag just before darkness halted the event. This was a race with “half” a straightaway and slick turns which sent a dozen or more cars either into the fence or over it. Dick Jeanette of Whitmore Lake was taken to a local hospital with serious cuts, abrasions, and a concussion.

An hour before the 2:30 pm start, ankle deep mud from the middle of the track to the inside guardrail stretched for 100 yards on the main straightaway, making for a dangerous mess. Saturday night rains also left the always hazardous south turn even more difficult.

The south turn took its toll on the first lap when both Roy Atkinson and Charlie Jackson flipped. That’s where Jeanette’s car spun on lap 49. It flipped four times throwing the driver from his car and forcing the race to temporarily stop.

Bright played it smart all the way. He started 12th and gradually moved up to take the lead on lap 207 after misfortune caught up with a half dozen other front runners.

At various stages in the race, Hershel White, the ’54 winner, Darel Dieringer, who won the pole, Bill Lutz, Bill Brown, and Jack Shanklin were the leaders. White and Shanklin, however, undoubtedly incurred the worse luck.

White led for the first 12 laps, regained the lead after 117 miles to hold on until his ’55 Oldsmobile stalled on the backstretch on the 187th lap. White held a three-lap margin when he was forced to drop out.

Shanklin took over in his ’55 Ford, took a pit stop during a caution period around the 200-mile mark, came back out, spun on the north turn, avoided a pileup and then finally hit a fence in the south turn a few moments later when a front wheel collapsed.

Bright, who had been running second at the time, took over to win by nearly two laps over Red Swanberg of Detroit. For Bright, who had competed in stock cars for six years, it was the biggest win of his career.

Of the top 20 finishers, 16 of them were from the Detroit area.

Fans would join the drivers in defying death during the Motor City 250 on September 9, 1956.

The race was halted at the 227-mile mark when many of the 4,000 fans standing in the infield, started dashing across the dusty and darkened one-mile oval after becoming tired of trying to follow the race from their poor vantage points.

After the speeding racers narrowly missed several of the pedestrians, MARC officials decided to halt the race and award the trophy and $2,000 check to Troy Ruttman, a 26-year-old driver from Lynwood, Calif.

Ruttman, driving a ’56 Ford, was the leader of Iggy Katona, the veteran local favorite, when the race was terminated after 3 hours and 33 minutes of action. Ruttman had led the most laps, dominating the action, and most experts said that he would have probably won the race anyway.

As things would turn out, Lady Luck was generous in her rewards. No fans were hit by speeding cars. Despite a dozen flips, skids, and assorted fence crashes, no one was hurt.

Even promoter Pete Spencer of Saginaw, Mich., found lick riding with him. The overflow crowd of 16,470 contributed to a gate of $49,027, $10,000 of which went into the driver’s pool. Spencer had experienced two previous promotional failures in sprint car racing at the State Fairgrounds, but Sunday’s success wiped out his losses.

Ruttman, the 1952 Indianapolis 500 champion, made only two pit stops in beating Katona by less than 100 yards. He averaged 69.71 miles per hour over the long haul. Ruttman started third behind Russ Hepler and Les Snow, moved into second place on the seventh lap and took the lead on lap 21.

Katona, far back in the early going, moved into second place after 80 miles and from there on it was primarily a two-man race.

When Roy Atkinson flipped on lap 101, both Ruttman and Katona came into the pits for gas. Katona, driving a ’56 Ford, beat Troy out of the pits and when the race resumed on lap 109, Katona took the lead with Ruttman and 31 other challengers in hot pursuit.

Jack Farris of Sulphur Springs, Ind., driving a ’56 Chevrolet, moved into third place but rammed the outside wall on the backstretch on the 136th mile, causing another slowdown.

When the green flag waved again on lap 142, Katona was still in front, but Ruttman overtook him four laps later. The two rivals swapped positions several more times before Ruttman got out front to stay after 188 miles.

With 200 miles gone, 26 of the 50 starters were still running. When Katona was forced into the pits after 216 miles, it was all over. Approaching darkness and the unruly infield crowd brought the decision to stop the race a few minutes later.

The 1957 Motor City 250 was a two-race/two-day affair starting with a 100-mile strictly convertible race on Saturday, September 8, and the 150-mile sedan/convertible contest on Sunday, September 9.

Bob James of Montrose, Ohio, drove his 1956 Chevrolet averaged 51 miles per hour to take the win on Saturday afternoon. James led for the last 48 miles, four of them under caution, to finish two seconds ahead of Johnnie Parsons of Van Nuys, Calif., the 1950 Indianapolis 500 champion, who also drove a ’56 Chevrolet.

James took the lead on lap 52 when Bill Granger of Clinton, Ind., lost control of his 1957 Ford and crashed into the retaining wall. Granger suffered facial lacerations and released from a local hospital.

Nelson Stacy was admitted to the same local hospital with three fractured ribs after his ’57 Chevrolet flipped on the backstretch after blowing a tire while leading the race on lap 22. As 3,200 fans waited breathlessly, the Cincinnati driver climbed unaided from the wreckage.

James, who was timed in 1 hour, 26 minutes and 10.54 seconds, collected $1,000 of the $6,000 total purse. Parsons collected $650 and George Henderson of Mason, Ohio, took home $500 for his third-place finish in a 1956 Ford.

Parsons would end his profitable weekend in Detroit, with a victory – worth $1,500 – in the 150-mile hard-top/convertible race on Sunday afternoon.

Parsons used the same car he had ran on Saturday, a 1956 Chevrolet convertible. He grabbed the lead on lap 98 and led the remainder of the distance to finish in front of Don Schisler of Detroit before an estimated 8,200. Schisler, driving a 1957 Chevrolet sedan, collected $1,100 for his runner-up finish.

Coupled with his $600 second place finish the day before; Parson’s two-day take was $2,100. The 1950 Indy champion also collected $1,300 for his victory in the previous Sunday’s 100-mile midget race.

On Sunday afternoon, Parsons played it cozy. He started in the fifth position and waited until pole winner Tom Horner faded with mechanical trouble after holding the lead in his 1955 Ford.

Parsons moved to third as Saturday’s winner, Bob James, led the pack of 34 starters for the next 88 miles. When James made the first of three pit stops, Parsons roared into the lead and was the first of 13 finishers to receive the checkered flag.

Parsons averaged 79 miles per hour and won the race in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 19 seconds. Another Detroiter, Mason Bright, drove his ’56 Chevrolet to a third-place finish and collected $800. James settled for fourth place and Dick Bailey of Rose City, Penn., was fifth in a 1956 Dodge.

Jack Farris

Jack Farris of New Paris, Ohio, nursed an ailing 1957 Chevrolet to victory in the Motor City 250 on September 7, 1958. Farris, making his first start since a near-fatal crash only three months before, averaged 71.69 miles per hour in the long wreck-strewn grind. He led only the last six laps.

Darel Dieringer of Indianapolis finished second, slightly more than a mile back. He had the race all but won when tire trouble forced his 1957 Ford into the pits for two stops, on the 243rd and 244th laps.

Tom Hirschfeld of Chicago, Jerry Unser of Albuquerque, N.M., Clyde Parker of Detroit and Johnny Roberts of Wheeler, Mich., finished behind Farris and Dieringer.

The fast pace cut the field of 44 cars to 20 when the checkers waved. So did crashes which required four caution flags for a total of 21 laps. The most serious was a spectacular flip which sent Bob Wallace of Madison Heights over the fence in the northwest corner. He walked away unhurt.

Farris, who suffered five broke ribs, a punctured lung, and a brain concussion in a crash in Dayton, Ohio, last June, earned $2,000 of a total purse of over $7,000 for the victory before an estimated 12,000 spectators.

With heavy rains wiping out time trials, Farris started third in the pre-race draw. He was never worse than fourth while the lead changed six times in the first 244 miles.

Les Snow of Bloomington, Ill., was the leader for the first 41 miles, losing the top spot due to Unser, due to a pit stop. Then it was Dieringer’s turn. He replaced Unser on the 95th mile and Unser replaced him on lap 111. Pit stops provided opportunities for both drivers to move up.

Snow took over on lap 128 but mechanical issues forced him out of action. Unser, driving a 1957 Ford, resumed the lead and held it until the 201st mile.

Dieringer, also driving a Ford, sprang back into first place, and after fending off a threat from Farris, appeared to have the race won with 7 miles to go. But he had to stop for 15 seconds on the 243rd lap, and then he stopped again a lap later for a lengthier stop. That’s when Farris took over for the final 6 miles.

Farris drove a convertible owned by Bob Buesener of Cincinnati, was not without mechanical trouble himself. His clutch began slipping after 150 miles and his tires were well worn towards the end of the race.

“I was running fourth and didn’t figure to improve,” he said. “but they started dropping out. “

“I just about didn’t make it either,” he added. “The innertube was showing right through my right tire the last few miles. My crew kept trying to wave me in, but I kept going, I didn’t want to take a chance.”

Ed Elisian and Dick Rathmann, the two Indianapolis veterans who were special entrants, developed trouble early. Elisian broke a connecting rod during warmups and didn’t even start. Rathmann dropped out on lap 72 when a wheel fell off and severed a gas line.

Motor City 250 winner Don White is joined by promoter John Marcum. 

Don White, the diminutive, little race driver from Keokuk, Iowa, was perhaps the saddest person in victory lane on September 13, 1959. White was unhappy because there wouldn’t be anymore races at the State Fairgrounds that year.

After blowing three engines in the last three races, White came “home” on Sunday to the one-mile dirt oval and drove off with the top money after winning the Motor City 250.

Just as he did in the 100-miler last June, White had the right combination, the right driving ability, and some expert help from his pit crew to win the 250-miler.

He left little doubt about his “home” track performance. He was the first car to qualify and broke the track record with a lap of 43.98 seconds for a speed of 81.95 miles per hour. The old mark of 44.91 seconds, set in 1957, was bettered by 12 other drivers on Sunday.

Then White, in a 1959 Ford, went from his pole position, led one lap, then dropped back to second place for 15 laps. That would be his worse position for the rest of the race.

Dueling for the most part with Bob James of Akron, driving a 1957 Chevrolet convertible, White took the lead on the 16th lap and paced the field until he pitted on lap 106.

James took over again and led until he made a stop for gas on lap 130. White would take command for good and even though he would stop one more time on lap 199, he held the lead the rest of the way.

James would be eliminated when he lost a wheel in the north turn on the 233rd lap. He wound up out of the big money, finishing ninth.

Norman Nelson of Racine, Wis., driving a 1958 Mercury, finished second and Don Oldenberg of Chicago, piloting a 1957 Pontiac, took third.

White’s winning time of 3 hours, 8 minutes and 18 seconds was also a record for the distance. His average speed was 79.97 miles per hour.

A crowd of over 12,000 watched the action run over a track that held up surprisingly well despite a huge field of 41 starters. Only 18 cars were still running at the finish.

Bill Cheesbourg of Tucson, Ariz., with dispensation from the United States Auto Club, won the Motor City 250 late model stock car race on September 11, 1960. Cheesbourg was in complete command of the race after the first 75 miles, leading the final 175 in his 1961 Ford.

Cheesbourg averaged 62.03 miles per hour and finished the race in the record time of 3 hours and 53 minutes. Bob Duell of Frewsburg, Penn., was second in a 1960 Ford and Jack Shanklin, driving a ’59 Ford from Indianapolis, finished third.

The race was marred by several wrecks, particularly in the south turn. The caution light blinked 13 times for a total of 38 laps. The most spectacular crash was by Ed Stillman of Milwaukee who went through the guardrail and fence and into the parking lot beyond the first turn. He was not injured.

Three drivers paced the field during the long grind. Les Snow of Bloomington, Ill., was the original leader, pacing the 41-car field for the first 68 miles.

Paul Goldsmith, who established a new qualifying record when he turned in a one-mile dash in 43.91 seconds for an average sped of 81.99 miles per hour, led from the 69th to the 76th lap when he ran into mechanical trouble. He would eventually drop out after 93 circuits.

Iggy Katona of Lambertville, finished fourth in a 1960 Ford, and Paul Wensink of Deshler, Ohio, was fifth in a 1958 Plymouth.

The drivers cut up a purse estimated at $11,000 with Cheesbourg earning $2,600. Officials estimated that approximately 14,000 watched the action.

After seven years of frustration, Iggy Katona of Willis, Mich., would finally win the big one on September 11, 1961. Although he had won virtually every other race honor, the Motor City 250 had always eluded him. The fact that the race was in his backyard, gnawed at him.

The veteran of motorcycle, hardtop, midget, and sprint car racing roared home ahead of 15 other competitors still running at the end of the 250-mile stock car race before 10,654 fans. Katona, driving a 1961 Ford, covered the long-distance affair in 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 6 seconds for an average of 78.58 miles per hour.

In fact, the first five places were swept by Ford’s. Keith Plough of Indianapolis, Paul Parks of Columbus, Ohio, Jack Shanklin of Indianapolis, and Virgil Barbe of Detroit all followed Katona to the finish line.

It seemed that this race would be another also-ran race for Katona when his brakes went out midway through the contest. Harold Smith of Dayton, Ohio, and Darrell Dake of Cedar rapids, Iowa, had waged a fierce duel for first place for the first 75 miles.

Katona was barging along steadily but well back in the field. He blew a tire on lap 16 and had to come into the pits. He made two more stops for fuel and oil but somehow managed to stay close enough with the leaders to move in when mechanical failure and crashed eliminated the front-runners.

Smith, who had won 14 of his 18 starts, eliminated himself on the 163rd lap when he went over the outside retaining wall on the third turn. Smith had led from the start through the 76th mile, and then again from 103rd to the 163rd when he crashed.

Dake then led until the 180th lap when Katona powered by him. Dake’s brakes had failed and then he developed engine troubles that dropped him far back into the field.

From there to the finish, Katona drove a speedy, yet cautious race. He had to watch closely every driver in front of him because he couldn’t stop his car quick enough in the event of a car cutting him off.

The best previous finish for Katona was a second place in 156 behind winner Troy Ruttman. He had finished in the top 10 every year since the event had become MARC-sanctioned in 1956.

Smith had established a one-lap record in qualifying, when he circled the one-mile dirt oval in 43.59 seconds, a speed of 82.5 miles per hour. That broke Paul Goldsmith’s one-year-old mark of 43.91 seconds or 81.91 miles per hour.

Katona would make history the next year when he became the first driver to win the Motor City 250 twice. The rotund driver broke a couple of records in completely outclassing a field of 35 starters on September 2, 1962.

The crowd of 12,078 fans paid $45,000 to watch Katona’s performance. They had little doubt about the ultimate outcome once Katona rolled his 1962 Ford onto the track. He broke the qualifying mark by turning the one-mile oval in 43.22 seconds.

Then, despite a badly cut hand suffered that Sunday morning, Katona broke his own record he had set last year for the 250 miles when he completed the race in 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 26 seconds, averaging 79.5 miles per hour.

It was strictly an “All Iggy” show. He led essentially all of the race except for two brief periods when he stopped for fuel. Even a one-lap penalty because he re-fueled during a caution light couldn’t stop the Willis, Mich., speedster.

For the first 15 miles, Homer Newland of Detroit battled Katona unsuccessfully for the top spot. Then, Jim Cushman of Columbus, Ohio, took a crack at Katona and failed, as did Joy Fair, another Detroiter.

Cushman finally moved out front at about the 130-mile mark when Katona stopped for gas. Iggy trailed by 30 seconds at that point but went back in front at the 143-mile mark when Cushman was forced to stop.

On the 158th go-round, Katona was forced to stop again, and Cushman was back in front. Then Katona staged a show for the capacity crowd. He started his move on Cushman, who now held a 37-second lead.

Picking up a couple of seconds on every lap, Katona moved back in front on lap 186 when he passed Cushman on the south turn. From there, it was Katona by as much as three laps, and he finished with a comfortable two-lap margin over runner-up Jack Bowsher of Springfield, Ohio, driving a 1962 Ford.

Cushman finished third in his 1961 Plymouth with Johnny Roberts of Detroit, driving a 1962 Ford, finishing fourth and Bob Parks of Columbus, Ohio, in a ’60 Ford, rounding out the top-five.

The victory clinched the MARC national championship for Katona, his fourth title, also a record (he had been tied with Nelson Stacy with three apiece). Harold Smith, who had come into the race second in points, eliminated himself when crashed into the north wall during qualifying.

Bowsher would turn the tables when the Motor City 250 returned on September 1, 1963. Bowsher would out-last a tire-troubled Katona to reverse the one-two finish of the year before. The victory clinched the MARC driving title for the Springfield, Ohio, pilot.

This time Bowsher, after assorted stretches in and out of the lead position, got ahead to stay when Katona blew a tire while running in the top spot on the 233rd mile of the 250-tour race. Katona came out of the pits to draw within five seconds of Bowsher when he blew another tire only four laps from the finish.

Katona limped the rest of the way without a tire change to hold off third-place finisher Les Snow by another lap. Katona, Bowsher and Snow had led the race for all but 18 early laps. All three drivers piloted Fords.

Bowsher’s winning time of 3 hours, 24 minutes, and 18 seconds was six minutes slower than last years’ time, but the field was under the caution light for a total of 30 laps.

They were slowed considerably after Jack Shanklin plowed through the fence on the fourth turn during the 133rd lap. He went to a local hospital for observation and stitching of head lacerations.

Minor mishaps or mechanical issues eliminated a good percentage of the field as only nine of the 38 starters were still on the track when the checkered flag waved.

Johnny Roberts of Saginaw, Mich., would push his 1964 Ford to victory in record time on Sunday, September 6, 1964, in the 14th annual new model stock car classic at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.

Roberts completed the 250 miles in 3 hours, 7 minutes, and 46 seconds. He took the lead on lap 212, when early leader Les Snow blew his engine.

Roberts piloted a car owned by defending champion Jack Bowsher. Bowsher, the defending champion, would finish second, also driving a ’64 Ford. Taking third was Danny Byrd of Taylor, Mich., driving a 1963 Ford.

Charlie Glotzbach of Edwardsville, Ind., was fourth in a ’62 Chevrolet while Don Arnold of Mentor, Ohio, finished fifth in a ’62 Chevrolet.

The new record bested Iggy Katona’s 1962 mark. Katona, beset by oil line troubles, dropped out of the race on lap 10.

Eighteen cars finished the long-distance race out of a starting field of 37.

The 1965 Motor City 250 would be the last, so it would be fitting that Michigan’s own, Iggy Katona, would win his third title on Sunday, September 5. Katona, the ARCA point leader, averaged 80 miles per hour in his 1965 Plymouth, winning the race in 3 hours and 13 minutes. Katona’s winning time was impressive considering the track conditions.

Brief showers that morning delayed the start of the race. The racing surface was a quagmire forcing ARCA officials to skip qualifying and start the field based on points.

Katona and Bowsher were the lucky ones – starting on the front row – having a much better chance of keeping their engines free of the mud.

The race eventually started almost an hour late with some question as to whether the 250 miles would be completed before dark because of the horrendous track conditions.

There were 38 cars on the track when the green flag waved the start with only nine cars seeing the checkered flag.

Clyde Parker of Detroit, driving a 1965 Chevrolet, placed second, but a distant five miles behind the winner. Jack Bowsher was third, in a 1965 Ford.

The Motor City 250 would not return to the Michigan State Fairgrounds in 1966, in fact there would be no more major races at the one-mile dirt oval. In 1971, the grandstand was deemed unsafe, and the track was closed for good.

It would be demolished in 2001.