Midwest Racing Archives

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Looking Back.....

Track announcer Roger Bear interviews Bobby Allison (right) as winner Ramo Stott (left) looks on after the 100-lap "Invitational" in Davenport, Iowa, on Friday, September 15, 1972. — Bernie Tappa Photo

Bill Horstmeyer of Madison, Wisconsin, would compete in numerous IMCA Sprint Car races driving this car during the 1964 campaign. He had one win that season; at Mason City, IA, on August 15.

Bill McDonough of Cedar Rapids, IA, takes a victory lap @ Farley, IA in 1969.

Bill Mellenberndt of Sioux Falls, S.D., accepts the checkers after scoring another Sprint Car feature win at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Spencer, IA, in 1981.

Piloting a 1970 Dodge Charger, Bill Moyer of Des Moines, IA, hot laps his USAC Stock Car at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI, on August 8, 1971. Moyer would not even get the opportunity to qualify due to mechanical failure.

Blackie Lyons of Cascade, Iowa....1970

Bob Hilmer of Dysart, Iowa, won the feature at Airview Speedway in Monticello, Iowa, on September 12, 1964.

Cal Swanson of Reinbeck, Iowa....

Shane Carson and Bob Trostle were an unbeatable pair in 1979. Carson, driving the Vise-Grip Chevy, competed in 91 events at 44 speedways covering 16 states. — Larry Sullivan Photo

Dan Boorse of Whitefish Bay, WI., is a 7-time Badger Midget Series champion as well as being crowned Chili Bowl Midget Nationals king twice in his career. He's shown here in 1987.

Minnesota National Speedway track champion Dan Prziborowski of Savage, Minn., accepts his trophy from track vice-president Tom Doherty (left) and starter Tom Stine after capturing the title on September 22, 1973.

Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, IA, takes another victory lap....1968

Dean Montgomery of Milan, Illinois....1963

A rare photo of two of the greatest short-track drivers in Midwest racing history at I-70 Speedway in Odessa, MO. Ernie Derr of Keokuk, IA (#1) and Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. (#99) are neck and neck at what I believe was a MASCAR-sanctioned race there in 1970. - Ivan Jackson Photo

Ronnie Duman (19) finds a seam between Jim McElreath (2) and Carl Williams (52) during USAC champ car action at the Springfield Mile - 1967.

Eddie Leavitt of Kearney, MO, won the Elder - Forester Invitational at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, on July 28, 1976, before a crowd of 5,000. Leavitt, piloting the Fred Aden-owned #4J led all 25 laps and set a new track record, winning in the time of 9 minutes and 56 seconds.

A great field of late models head into turn one at the start of their 30-lap feature at Elko Speedway on April 16, 1972. Pole sitter Bill Oas of Bloomington, Minn., (driving the convertible) was the eventual winner.

Gary Webb won the sportsman feature at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa, on Friday, June 23, 1978.

George "Ziggy" Snider prepares to do battle in the Jack Rhoades #20 USAC dirt car......1977

Jim O'Conner at Santa Fe Speedway....1965

John Mullink of West Liberty, IA, races on the quarter mile at Hawkeye Downs Speedway....1963

Johnny Babb of Ottumwa, Iowa, drove this Dave Van Patten-owned sprint car during the 1969 campaign. He would score one victory in IMCA competition: winning at Eldon, IA, on August 10.

Victory struck the following drivers during the Knoxville Super Modified Nationals on August 11, 1973. Left to right; Doc Dawson of Lima, Ohio (B-main), Jan Opperman of Beaver Springs, Neb. (A-main runner-up), Kenny Weld of York, Penn. (champion), Bobby Allen of McSherrytown, Penn. (third in A-main) and Bob Moore of Phoenix, Ariz. (consolation). — Morris "Beetle" Bailey Photo

Steve Kosiski #52 and Willy Kraft #83 race side by side during the Gopher 50 at the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna, MN, in 1987. - Phil Dullinger Photo

Jules "Chub" Liebe of Oelwein, IA (#0) and Curt Hansen of Dike, IA (#9) both trying to get the upper hand at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds in Independence, IA.....1969

Mark Liebfried of Rickardsville, IA, was one of the top Sportsman drivers in eastern Iowa in the 70's and early 80's. He's shown here at the at now defunct Midway Downs Speedway in Charles City, IA.

Roger Larson of Solomon, Kan., looks to be reaching for a refreshing drink...he's actually cooling his burnt hand after his engine let go and flames entered the cockpit while leading the super modified feature at Knoxville Raceway on August 4, 1973. — Morris "Beetle" Bailey Photo

Roger Rager acknowledges the crowd after winning a sprint car special at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds in Oskaloosa, IA in 1975. Rager, piloting the Chuck Richardson Racing Special, would go on to capture the point's title at Knoxville Raceway. —Morris "Beetle" Bailey Photo

Ron Perkins of Wood River, IL, hard on the throttle....1973

Iowa City, Iowa's Ron Prymek accepts the checkers after winning a Mississippi Valley Speed Club feature at the Louisa County Fairgrounds in Columbus Junction, IA, on August 10, 1974.

Four of the best drivers ever to race at Santa Fe Speedway tug at the checkers prior to racing action. They were as competitive on the track as they were off. From left to right; Arnie Gardner, Tony Izzo, John Provenzano and Jim O' Conner. — Mayer and Storm Photo

Sonny Smyser @ Race Way Park, Burlington, IA.....1972 - Dick Nash Photo

In 1968, Thad Dosher purchased the former Bill Hoback Chevy, painted it purple and white with the number 74, and competed on both the IMCA and BCRA circuits.

Tiny Wainwright of Kansas City behind the wheel of a Curtis Craft car built by Lloyd Van Winkle out of Lincoln, NE. This photo was probably taken around 1948. Wainwright, who tipped the scales at more than 300 lbs., competed in the old Midwest Midget Auto Racing Association that sanctioned races in Iowa and Illinois.

Tom Hearst won the Mid-Season Championship at the Cedar County Fairgrounds in Tipton, Iowa, on July 14, 1973. Joining Hearst in victory lane is flagman Cy Bohr and trophy girl Doris Douglas.

Vernie Covert of Topeka, Kan., cools his hot feet after a grueling IMCA stock car feature at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday afternoon, August 19, 1973. — Beetle Bailey Photo

Wilber "Wib" Spaulding of Granite City, IL....1967

Saturday, October 31, 2015

The Big Cars come to the Shelby County Speedway

Jimmy Campbell, shown here at the Florida State Fairgrounds in 1953, won the IMCA Big Car feature in Harlan, Iowa, on August 22, 1952. - Bob Mays Collection

by Lee Ackerman
Omaha, NE - In 1952 and 1953 the Big Cars of the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) visited the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, during the county fair. Back in those days the IMCA Big Cars would run 85 to 90 races a year mostly at State and County Fairs from Canada to Florida. The races would be sanctioned by the IMCA and use their rules. The races at the Shelby County Fair were under the direction of National Speedways Inc.

On August 22, 1952 they made their first appearance at the Shelby County Speedway and a farmer from Bates City, Missouri, Jimmy Campbell, a relative newcomer to racing was the star of the day. First, Campbell set the fastest lap in qualifying aboard his own #25 Offenhauser with a lap around the half mile at 25.45 seconds. Second in qualifying was 1949 Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Holland in his Blue Crown Special #29. Holland clipped off a lap of 25.45 seconds.

The first 5-lap heat would be won by Bob Slater of Kansas City, Missouri would late go on to become the 1954 IMCA Champion with Campbell running second. The time of the event was 2 minutes and 14.20 seconds. Holland would take the second 5-lap heat race defeating former Harlan resident Wayne Selzer, who was currently living in Kansas City. Holland’s time was 2 minutes and 21.35 seconds.

Bobby Grim of Indianapolis, Indiana and one of the nation’s finest drivers would drop out of the second heat on the third lap with mechanical gremlins and would not compete in the remainder of the program. Grim would later driver Hector Honore’s legendary Bardahl Special #2 to four straight IMCA championships before leaving for the United States Auto Club and the Indy 500.

The third heat, also 5 laps, were for cars that had not been in the money in the first 2 heats. That heat went to Phil Mocca of St. Louis in a car specially built for the series by his brother Peter. Mocca’s Bardahl Circle Deuce clocked in at 2 minutes and 39.35 seconds.

The Australian Pursuit, a race where cars start single file and drop out after being lapped was scheduled for 7 laps but only lasted a couple of laps before Jimmy Wegescheider had lapped the other cars. The days only accident happened in that race as a driver from Omaha, O’Dell Young hit the wall after getting caught up in the tow rope from the wrecker.

The 10-lap featured turned out to be quite a race with Campbell coming home barely more than a car length ahead of a closing Holland. Slater, Mocca and Wegescheider rounded out the top 5.

Jimmy Campbell would finish the 1952 season as the National Speedways, Inc. Big Car Champion. National Speedways was one of two promoting groups in IMCA and had their own champion for a number of years.

The Big Cars would return to the Shelby County Speedway on August 26, 1953 and the man of the day was Dick Ferguson of Glendale, California aboard the Les King owned K2 Offenhauser. 15 drivers were on hand to compete for a $1,500 purse. Ferguson started things off by setting fast time of 26.22 seconds with defending race winner Campbell right behind at 26.27 seconds.

Keith Saylor in an Offenhauser got the best of Ferguson in heat one taking the heat in 2 minutes and 35.61 seconds. Paul Kamm was third in an Offy. Benny Lighbarger would take heat two in his Studebaker power big car with Clyde Palmer second in his Offy and Andy Anderson third in a time of 1 minutes and 33.09 seconds.

Billy Jimm guided his Offy to the win in heat three followed by Herschel Wagner and Campbell. In a match race Wagner would defeat Anderson in 1 minute 31.9 seconds. The semi went to Kenny Gottsschalk followed by Chick Edwards and Ken Higginson. I

It was Ferguson winning the 10-lap main event in 4 minutes and 2.81 seconds with Campbell second and Wagner third. A crowd of 1,700 fans was on hand, the biggest crowd of the fair. The only thing keeping the race from being perfect according to some of the drivers was the dusty conditions of the track.

The IMCA Big Cars would not return to the Shelby County Fairgrounds but in the two years they raced there they provided fans with some fast and exciting racing.