Kansas hot rod/race history exhibit?

Looking form help from some Kansans.

We had a brainstorming session on what exhibits to include in the coming years and our ***istant museum Director brought up hotrod/race car history (with no prompt from me ).

So we are looking for ideas of what we could include. We were talking about racing from dirt track to nascar.. but I also want to make sure we include the gr***roots hotrodding and make it really personal. Does anyone have any ideas or stories that might make a good exhibit? We figure we can probably get 3 cars in the gallery


Nate

 

I know Don Cain and a couple of other 'old time' racers that were in the KCTA.
Maybe you could get some history/stories about racing in the early days.
I know a friend of mine that has a bunch of pics from a big race he was in at Great Bend back in '58 or '59...
r

 

yeah, we'll definately want to talk to old racers.. and photos are great too.

 

Wasn't the first NHRA Nats held in great bend?
I think recycler probably knows a little about it he's into the whole Nostalgia Nitro thing.

 

Have you been to http://www.racingfromthepast.com/ ? The site has hundreds of photos from Kansas dirt tracks in Wichita and Winfield.

Opps. While that is a very good site this is the one that I was thinking of. http://winfield.50megs.com/

 

Yeah, the dragstrip is on the register of historic places..

Steve, thanks for the link!

 

Don't know if this is far enough back for you, but here is a little historical info about Wichita International Raceway (or M&N Raceway as it was originally named.)

http://flatheaddrag.com/wir60s.html

I'll second the Winfield site.

 

Also, I have a video I bought at Great Bend that shows a bunch of very early racing at SRCA dragstrip. I'm sure you could dig that up from somewhere.

Another resource is Steve DeTar, son of Ted DeTar who put Wichita on the Super Stock and Funny Car map until he moved to Florida and died in a Funny Car testing accident. Steve's web site is barely the tip of the iceberg of his memorabilia of early Funny Car racing in the area. Steve's web site is at:

http://kansasbadman.com/index.html

 

The Kansas Auto Racing Museum in Chapman, Kansas has a good size exhibit about drag racing at Great Bend, Kansas. It covers the first NHRA Nats and subsequent AHRA races held there in the Fifties.
Can't find a website for the museum, but there are several references listed via Google.
While most of the museum focuses on dirt track ovals in Kansas, any gearhead would enjoy an afternoon browsing through its displays of news clippings, photos, trophies, videos, and old racecars.

 

http://winfield.50megs.com/Cowley/Roadsters.html

 

Nate, I can talk with Tom Hanna (FED legend) if you need, he may be willing to lend a piece for the exhibit. Just let me know, pm is probably best.

By the way he is working on something really cool right now. I'll see if I can get some pictures.

 

Kerry.. those are great photos, thanks!

soda, that would be cool, let us know what he's working on.

 

I think I found my car in there......I'll post the pics in a minute

 

here is the side by side. my car is in grey primer (obviously) they both have the same cut off top, pipe inserted around the interior, doors welded shut but the holes for the handles were never filled, bottom door hinge left on but the upper hinge was never repositioned

 

It looks like this is going to happen, we're working on early planning now.. pretty exciting!

 

http://winfield.50megs.com/Oakley/oakleyracing.htm
Found these searching for bxov2 strombergs

The Les Suter page is interesting to me personally.Lee Suter is a long tlme friend and Les is his father.I have tattooed a portrait of Les riding a Harley Davidson Knuckle head on his son.Cool beans.

 

great stuff ****!

 

I'd get in touch with Sodbuster too. He's interview some local living legends and has quite a collection of kansan "we didnt call 'em hot rods then" knowlege. Plus the guy finds vintage photos like no one else can.

C.

 

The Winfeild site is amazing. Don't forget about MO-KAN.

 

call Rex Rains 316-263-8123 actually raced at Great Bend in the 50's great guy lots of race history.He's in Wichita.

 

cool.. thanks for all the leads guys, it really helps.

 

Speaking of Kansas racing...what ever happend to John Weibe? He used to run fuel dragsters and was very compe***ive on the Natl. scene. I think he was from Newton, Ks. if I remember correctly.

 

hey revkev, dont hijack his post or anything, looks like somebody needed a 5 window coupe roof, and stole yours

 

I have a messload of resoure/guys that you can chat with in the KC area.........and Jr. Hower is still around fixing "CB's" for guys from across the USA. PM me and I can p*** some numbers along to you.

Chris Nelson

 

I know you are working on hot rod/auto racing history, but I have to chime in on the fact that there was a grand and glorious motorcycle racing history in KS as well. Of course, that might not fit what you are up to, which is OK.

BobW

 

Nate, my buddy Jack Petty from Salina is a dirt track legend from the Wichita and Hutch tracks. Almost burned alive about 30 years ago. Has a ton of photos and trophies too. He's the one that has the restored Hudson Nascar replica that is on display at alot of big races. He might be able to help. I know where there are a couple of restored midget and sprint cars you might be able to borrow too. Where is the exhibit going to be? Topeka?

 

I think Wiebe is in the tire bussiness in Newton KS.

The AHRA home office was in Olathe KS, I think.

Bobby Sulavan was from KCKS

The AHRA held one race at the old Olathe Naval Air Station, New Century KS

 

Have you contacted the Kansas racing history museum in Chapman KS.??

 

Was he burned in that giant fire at the Hutch Fairgrounds years ago?