1989 – Hewitt Hustles to Granite City Gold

 

Jack Hewitt 

Granite City, Ill. (April 12, 1989) – Jack Hewitt of Troy, Ohio, captured the first sprint car checkered of his 1989 campaign Wednesday night at Tri-City Speedway.

Hewitt slipped around early leader Bobby Davis Jr. halfway through the 35-lapper and continued to ride the rim all the way to a $5,000 triumph.

Davis, a runner-up in his last two visits to Tri-City, powered away from Danny Lasoski at the drop of the green. Fourth starting Hewitt soon slid in front of Lasoski and began his pursuit of the lead. When Davis stayed on the cushion, Hewitt could do nothing with him, but when Davis dropped down to lap Terry McCarl, Hewitt seized his opportunity to take command.

Mark Kinser, heading home from a race in Arizona, clocked the fastest time trial before getting flipped in a heat accident. Repaired in plenty of time for the B-main, he drove under Lasoski, then Kinser on two separate entries, to achieve second place.

Joey Allen, a $5,000 All-Star winner here in April, was on the tail of the lead lap but used the final six circuits to advance his stock. Allen caught the bottom of turn two in one quick burst to dispose of Lasoski and Davis and finish third.


Results –


1. Jack Hewitt
2. Mark Kinser
3. Joey Allen
4. Bobby Davis Jr.
5. Danny Lasoski
6. Craig Keel
7. Ronnie Daniels
8. Danny Smith
9. Lee Brewer Jr.
10.Rocky Hodges

1979 – Former Racing Great, Johnny Gerber, Dies

 

By Larry Sullivan

Thomson, Ill. (April 11, 1979) – Auto racing lost one of its greatest all-time dirt track drivers and race car builders Wednesday when John Gerber of Davenport, was called to the “Golden Speedway”.

Born in West Morganville, Kan., in 1896, he moved to Meriden, Kan., at an early age where he lived until moving to Stanwood, Iowa, in 1928. He lived there for several years before moving to Davenport, Iowa, in 1935. Mechanically minded at a young age, while attending college in Texas, and working at garages in Oklahoma and Kansas, Gerber built himself up a Chevy speedster.

Johnny and a “buddy” went to a county fair auto race in the fall of 1921 in Missouri and after viewing the race car field, John commented, “If these are race cars, so is mine.” He found the promoter and was allowed to compete in the races. He finished second in the feature event and collected $500 in his try.

In 1922-23, Johnny, with his 490 Chevy, with reworked heads, campaigned the independent dirt tracks of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and during the winter of 1923-24 reworked a four-port Oldsmobile rocker arm head for his 490 Chevy block which ran up until the mid-season of 1928 when he changed to an Art Chevrolet R.A. head for a 490 Chevy block. This head not being satisfactory, Gerber obtained some obsolete rocker arm patterns from Jack Gallivan and reworked them to Gerber’s specifications cast and machined new heads which were used through 1929 to 1931 with great success on Midwestern dirt tracks.

Gerber next obtained some single overhead cam patterns that were once Jack Gallivan’s, reworked and changed, built and machined new heads and came out with a brand-new Gerber Special in mid-summer of 1932 which now made him two cars. To Johnny Gerber and this writer, the “Golden Years of Auto Racing” were in the 20’s and 30’s when garage mechanics built their own various types of machines with an assortment of different cylinder heads and motor blocks.

Gerber’s new second machine was driven by the legendary Maynard “Hungry” Clark of Milan, Ill., who had driven for Johnny for four years through 1935. In 1932, Johnny and Maynard ran independent with a few IMCA races sprinkled in there throughout the Midwest and gave a great account of themselves, winning numerous feature events, including a few 100-milers.

In 1933, Clark and Gerber invaded the Eastern dirt tracks such as Woodbridge, N.J., Langhorne, Penn., and Flemington, N.J., and the Hankinson Fair circuit running AAA at many county and state fairs with their two Gerber Specials competing against factory-built Millers, Offys, D.O. Cragars, D.O. Hals, and D.O. McDowells.

When Gerber and Clark first invaded the East, the two drivers had their tents set up in the Woodbridge infield and had as mascots, two pigs and were known as the “Two Iowa Farmers”, a publicity stunt set up by promoter Jack Curley. Johnny himself retired as an active driver at the end of the 1933 racing season.

During 1934 and through the winter of 1934-35, Gerber built up two complete motors of his own design, casting his own block, how own crankshaft, connecting rods, etc. One block as a “220” and the other was a “246”. He also built another complete new car to start the 1935 season.

Gerber, after retiring from driving himself at one time or another had these star drivers as his chauffeurs. The listing looks like a “Who’s Who” in racing – Maynard Clark, Ken Fowler, “Buster” Warke, “Buddy” Rusch, Billy DeVore, Tommie Hinnershitz, Otis Stine, and Cecil Burnaugh. Also, Jimmie Snyder, Bill Winn, Rex Mays, Ronnie Householder, Frankie Bailey, Bob Sall, Floyd Davis, Paul Russo, Dave Randolph, and Freddie Winai.

The Gerber cars were last raced in Davenport, Iowa, in June of 1942, just before the closing of racing due to World War II. The #15 Gerber O.H.C. is still owned by the Gerber household and is one of the few all-original race cars in the country today. The #14 Gerber Special, the “246” was sold to a California sportsman in 1948 and ran West coast tracks for several years and is now owned by Joe Gesma and is one of the most beautifully restored sprint cars in the country.

So, as I write this, I am wondering who has the pole position for the 50-lap feature event on the “Golden Speedway” with the line-up of Gus Schrader, Johnny Gerber, “Dutch” Baumann, Bert Ficken, George Souders, Sam Hoffman, Glenn Heitt, Johnnie Krieger, Vern McCombs, Pat Cunningham, Leonard Krebs, and “Howdy” Wilcox, all driving stars of yesteryear with whom Johnny competed against and who have gone on before.

To his loving wife Rose and two sons, Jim and John Jr., this writer, and all of the racing fraternity offer their condolences.

1982 – Wolfgang Sweeps at I-70

Doug Wolfgang

Odessa, Mo. (April 10, 1982) - Doug Wolfgang of Sioux Falls, S.D., was scheduled to race in Eldora, Ohio, this weekend but the weatherman didn’t realize that sprint cars run on dirt and not snow. With snow at Eldora, Wolfgang and several other top World of Outlaw stars headed for Odessa and the 1-70 National Speedway’s Saturday night sprint car race, much to the delight of the 3,186 race fans.

During the hot laps Wolfgang’s sprinter developed a problem in the rear end, so while the other cars were timing in, Wolfgang and his crew were changing the rear end.

Danny Smith of Memphis, Tenn., driving Kenny Rogers’ Gambler sprinter set fast time with a time of 17.08 seconds…or so he thought. The track officials let Wolfgang qualify after the first heat had been run and he responded with a lap of 16.97 seconds on the half-mile track.

T.J. Giddings of Kansas City, Kan., looked like a sure winner in the 10-lap semi-feature as he jumped out to an early lead and was pulling away from the rest of the cars until his car started slowing down on the seventh lap. This enabled Terry Smith of Kansas City to pass Giddings on lap 9 for the win. Giddings held on to finish second ahead of Pat McKeehan of Windsor, Mo.

The feature saw Ron Shuman of Mesa, Ariz., lead the 24-car field into turn one and the first lap lead followed by Bobby Davis, Jr, of Memphis, Tenn., Randy Smith. Des Moines, and Wolfgang.

The red flag came out twice on the third lap. The first red was for Rick Howard who hooked a rut in turn one causing him to roll end over end. On the restart, former Outlaw champ, Steve Kinser of Bloomington, Ind., completely destroyed his sprinter as he did a series of hard flips in turn three. Both drivers escaped injury in the accidents.

Shuman kept the lead for one more lap after the green reappeared before being passed by Wolfgang. From that point on the only thing that slowed Wolfgang down were two yellow flags that came out as a result of car failure.

At the end of the 30-lap feature Wolfgang had a half-lap lead over Davis and Mike Pinckney, Des Moines, who finished third as Shuman dropped out on lap 25 with a blown engine.

Wolfgang said that his car vibrated the whole race from a bent axle housing but that “the car was solid as a rock, and I just avoided the lapped cars.”

The heat races were won by Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio; Kinser, Wolfgang and Pinckney.


Results –


1. Doug Wolfgang
2. Bobby Davis Jr.
3. Mike Pinckney
4. Terry Smith
5. Bobby Layne
6. Glen Hughes Jr.
7. Cliff Woodward
8. T.J. Giddings
9. Ron Shuman
10. Terry Doss
11. Tim Gee
12. Gary Scott

1989 - Shear Rules Rockford in Chilly ARTGO Bow

 

Joe Shear won the ARTGO Spring Classic at Rockford Speedway. – Don Thies Photo

Rockford, Ill. (April 9, 1989) – Veteran Joe Shear drove to victory in the ARTGO Challenge Series season-opening 89-lap "Spring Classic" feature, which was contested in bitterly cold conditions Sunday afternoon at Rockford Speedway.

An undistinguished time trial landed Shear, a six-time Rockford champion, a front row starting berth in the 22-car field, for which the fastest 11 qualifiers were gridded at the front of the pack in inverted order.

It was like old times at the high-banked quarter mile oval when the green flag dropped as two-time Rockford champion Don Leach and Shear led the field into the first turn with Leach gaining the advantage. Leach remained on top until lap 7 when Shear took over.

An early charge carried fast qualifier Scott Hansen past rookie Tim Fedewa for third on lap 15. However, by the time Hansen took over second from Leach on the 26th circuit, Shear was already enjoying a half-lap lead.

A minor collision on lap 56 involving Fedewa and Steve Carlson was Shear’s closest call all day long, but the incident failed to slow Shear and the caution flag, which Hansen needed to close in on the frontrunner, never appeared.

Leach took third in the non-stop battle followed by Steve Holzhausen and Conrad Morgan.

“The new car is the best I’ve ever driven,” said Shear after his 21st career ARTGO victory.

The Rockford event, which was squeezed in between snow showers, was the first ever to require ATGO competitors to use mufflers.


Results –


1. Joe Shear, Clinton, Wis.
2. Scott Hansen, Green Bay, Wis.
3. Don Leach, Beloit, Wis.
4. Steve Holzhausen, Bangor, Wis.
5. Conrad Morgan, Dousman, Wis.
6. Kevin Cywinski, Mosinee, Wis.
7. Steve Carlson, La Crosse, Wis.
8. Tim Fedewa, Holt, Mich.
9. Terry Baldry, Omro, Wis.
10.Dennis Lampman, Racine, Wis.
11.Jeff Finley, Lansing, Mich.
12.Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
13.George Prizborowski, Apple Valley, Minn.
14.Randy Merriam, Rockton
15.Jerry Wood, Sun Prairie, Wis.

1979 - Oklahomans Take Frostbuster Wins at Sedalia

 

Tom Laster won the stock car portion of the Frostbuster at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. – Ivan Jackson Photo

Sedalia, Mo. (April 7-8, 1979) – Auto racing made its initial appearance in the Midwest with Tom Laster of Muskogee, Okla., winning the stock car headliner on Saturday and Shane Carson of Oklahoma City, Okla., winning the sprint car feature on Sunday. Both programs were sanctioned by National Speedways Contest Association.

Temperatures were in the 70’s on Saturday afternoon but a cold front swept through overnight making Sunday’s program miserable.

Carson, the defending NSCA sprint car champion, took the lead on the 15th lap of the 30-lap feature over the half-mile dirt and led the remainder of the way. Tom Corbin of Carrollton was second. Gene Gennetten of Parkville started 21st and finished third and Ralph Blackett of Des Moines, Iowa, finished fourth. Carson wheeled the Bill Smith 4X out of Lincoln, Neb.

In the stock car program, Iowans showed they knew the quickest way around even though an Oklahoman won the feature race. It was the first time that Tom Laster had ever run at the track and the first time he had competed against this level of competition. He took the lead on the 18th lap and never relinquished it.

“We wanted to come up and at least give it a try,” Laster said. “It took 7.5 hours and two cases of beer to get here but it was worth it,” he laughed. Laster, who operates a livestock auction in Muskogee, had won the feature at his hometrack the night before.

Laster said he has raced for five years but those five years have been spread out because of the economics involved with racing. He indicated he would probably race more with the organization.

Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa, Mike Niffenegger of Kalona, Iowa, Bill Rice of Des Moines, Iowa, and Ferris Collier of Lampe were heat winners. Red Dralle of Evansdale, Iowa, won the B-main and Steve Keppler of Marion, Iowa, finished second.


Results –


Sprint Cars –


Time trials – Jerry Potter, Kansas City
Heat #1 – Cliff Woodward, Kearney
Heat #2 – Gene Gennetten, Parkville
Heat #3 – Randy Smith, Norwalk
Heat #4 – Tom Corbin, Carrollton
B-main – Gene Gennetten
Feature –
1. Shane Carson, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2. Tom Corbin
3. Gene Gennetten
4. Ralph Blackett, Des Moines, Iowa
5. Bill Mellenberndt, Sioux Falls, S.D.
6. Jerry Blundy, Dahinda, Ill.
7. Bobby Layne, Kansas City
8. Dave Engebretson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
9. Darryl Dawley, Sioux Falls, S.D.
10.Rick Weld, Kansas City


Stock Cars –


Time trials – Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa
Heat #1 – Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
Heat #2 – Mike Niffenegger, Kalona, Iowa
Heat #3 – Ferris Collier, Lampe
Heat #4 – Bill Rice, Des Moines, Iowa
B-main – Red Dralle, Evansdale, Iowa
Feature –
1. Tom Laster, Muskogee, Okla.
2. Steve Keppler, Marion, Iowa
3. Ferris Collier
4. Joe Merryfield, Des Moines, Iowa
5. Bill Rice
6. Bill Early, Dana
7. Red Dralle
8. Bill Meyers, Alton, Ill.
9. Roger Chism, Springfield
10.Vic Bentlege, Jefferson City
11.Curt Hansen
12.C.C. Corbin, East Alton, Ill.

1986 – Webb, Guss Sr., Davis Tops at East Moline

Gary Webb won the first of two 35-lap Illinois Stockcar Association (ISA) features at East Moline. Doug Haack presents the checkered flag. – Jesse Magee Photo

East Moline, Ill. (April 5, 1986) – Gary Webb, the veteran chauffeur from Davenport, Iowa, took the lead from Bob Helm on lap 20, and went on to win the first ISA national race Saturday at East Moline Speedway.

The two-time UMP national champion and six-time East Moline track champion dominated the race from the 20th lap on.

Rick Standridge, who set fast time, jumped into the lead in the early going. Ray Guss Sr., in hot pursuit, passed Standridge for the lead on lap 9. The Milan, Ill., speedster’s spot at the top would be short-lived as he collided with Bob Pohlman on lap 12, sending both cars to the rear of the field.

The result put Helm and Webb on the front row for the restart. Helm jumped into the lead on the restart with Webb and Standridge in hot pursuit. On lap 20, Webb got around Helm on the high side of the track to take over the lead for good. Standridge would also get by Helm on lap 25 to take over second.

At the finish it was Webb, Standridge, Helm, Herschel Roberts, and Ray Guss Jr., rounding out the top five.

Ray Guss Sr. is joined by his crew after winning the second ISA feature at East Moline. Flagman Doug Haack joins in the celebration. – Jesse Magee Photo

In the second 35-lapper, Wapello, Iowa’s Johnny Johnson grabbed the lead from his pole position.

By lap 10, Johnson had built a huge lead over Eddie Shickel, Guss Sr., Jake Willert, and Webb.

A red flag waved on lap 13 as John Provenzano broke a driveshaft and stalled in turn four. Johnson remained in the lead on the restart, but the red flag waved again on lap 19 when Willert stalled on the backstretch.

Johnson was still leading at the 25-lap mark with Guss Sr., Webb, Guss Jr., and Standridge rounding out the top five.

With Johnson running the low groove and Guss Sr., getting bite on the high side of the track, both drivers were soon running neck and neck. The veteran from Coal Valley would get around Johnson on lap 30 and take over the lead.

Standridge would come from the rear of the pack and get by Johnson as well on lap 33 to take over second. But he wouldn’t have anything for the leader and Guss Sr. would score the victory.

Webb would get by Johnson on the final lap to take third while Johnson would settle for fourth. Ray Guss Jr. would round out the top five.

Shane Davis holds a bottle of champagne and his trophy after winning the IMCA Modified National Series 35-lapper at East Moline Speedway. IMCA executive secretary Bill Haglund and flagman Doug Haack join Davis in the winner’s circle. – Jesse Magee Photo

In IMCA modified action, 1985 track champion Shane Davis picked up where he left off as he grabbed the lead with six laps remaining to win the IMCA National Series contest. Davis would collect $1,000 for the win, his biggest to date. Rick Wages, the 1985 IMCA national champion in the modified division, came from his tenth starting position to take second over Bob Dominacki.


Results –


ISA Late Models -

Feature #1 –

1. Gary Webb, Davenport, Iowa
2. Rick Standridge, Divernon
3. Bob Helm, Milan
4. Herschel Roberts, East Moline
5. Ray Guss Jr., Milan
6. Ray Guss Sr., Coal Valley
7. Bill Knippenberg, Minooka
8. Jerry Conners, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
9. Bob Pohlman, Evergreen Park
10.Jim Rarick, Moweaqua


Feature #2 –

1. Ray Guss Sr.
2. Rick Standridge
3. Gary Webb
4. Johnny Johnson, Wapello, Iowa
5. Ray Guss Jr.
6. Ron Schreiner, Eleva, Wis.
7. Bill Knippenberg
8. Bob Helm
9. Jim Rarick
10.Eddie Shickel, Bloomington


IMCA Modified –

1. Shane Davis, Rock Island
2. Rick Wages, Davenport, Iowa
3. Bob Dominacki, Bettendorf, Iowa
4. Rich Smith, Davenport, Iowa
5. Glenn Woodard, Des Moines, Iowa
6. Mike Cothron, Moline
7. John Durbin, Silvis
8. Sam Davis, Rock Island
9. Steve Boley, LeClaire, Iowa
10.Rob Conners, Davenport, Iowa

1984 - All Haudenschild in Eldora Sprints

Jac Haudenschild (2V) passes Sheldon Kinser (3) for the lead and the win in the opening USAC sprint car program of the 1984 season at Eldora Speedway. – Jack Gladback Photo

Rossburg, Ohio (April 1, 1984) – Jac Haudenschild timed in fastest, won his heat, and the 30-lap feature to score the clean sweep in the season-opening USAC sprint car show at Eldora Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Former three-time division driving king Sheldon Kinser paced the opening stages of the headliner, while Haudenschild quickly advanced to second place from his sixth starting berth in the 20-car field.

An outside move enabled Haudenschild to wrest the lead from Kinser on lap 8 and then Ricky hood climbed into the runner-up slot moments later.

After dropping a half lap behind the frontrunner, Hood got a break when a Jack Hewitt spin brought out the yellow flag with five laps remaining. Although the field was allowed to bunch up behind the leader for the restart, lapped traffic prevented Hood from seriously challenging Haudenschild in the closing circuits.

Mike Johnson overtook Kinser in the closing laps and trailed Haudenschild and Hood across the finish line to nail down third-place money. Kinser settled for fourth while Mark Alderson took fifth.

Johnny Parsons was the lone flip victim, tumbling his mount end-over-end on the third lap of the first heat. Parsons was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated and released.


Results –

1. Jac Haudenschild
2. Ricky Hood
3. Mike Johnson
4. Sheldon Kinser
5. Mark Alderson
6. Gary Gray
7. Jack Hewitt
8. Tom Bigelow
9. Danny Milburn
10.Tom Bipes