History Vintage Kansas stock car racing pics--55 Chevy alert!

Thanks Warren. Sad to hear about ****, I didn't know. That 22 of Max's with the Johnson"s H-D on it, well I had a 69 sportster and a guy by the name of Gary? I believe worked there and re-built the ****** for me. Then I bought a new 70 Kawasaki Mach 111 Bike there from them too. It was a fast sob and only $995. Great guys. Lippy

 

Bud Haehn was a regular at Salina. First time I saw him run he was in a Pink 55 Chevy. # was 11 ,had "Rose Bud" painted on the deck lid. A few years later he showed up in a 66 chevelle with # 131 on it. This cat was Always A Threat To Win !! >>>>.

 

Yep. A cat by the name of Steve Dunsworth owned and built the car **** drove. Car was a 56 chevy red in color, #26 with a Coca-Cola white stripe on the side. Driver sat in the center of the car clear in the back. The exhaust headers were turned upside down and came in the car with an extension on them exiting through the floor board. Car had two rochester carbs off of Pontiacs on it. Dunsworth was a genius with the car and **** Hendershot was a Master At The Wheel !! I was at the track the night **** had the accident. Very sad night for sure !! RIP **** >>>>.

 

The #131 was a Great Bend car owned by George Foster & Bob Moos, and the pit crew included Dave Moos & Kenny Thompson. There is some what of a photo on this link. http://www.racingfromthepast.com/warren/kansaslatemodelslap14.html

The #11 had air bottles mounted right behind the seat. They were for adjusting the air shocks.

Bud Haehn (1935-1993)
I believe this car was owned by Orbin or Jerry Mashaney

 

I can remember the invasion of the Chevelles. This was probably one of the 1st in the west 1/2 of Kansas. I believe this was Ken Aldridge of Chase, KS. His family operated the Chase Speedway for a couple of years.

 

I know a few of those guys, #70 Donny Morris and the Doug Thompson car too. Have any of #76, John "Toot" Cragg? Man these are neat to look at!

 

Those old pictures are great!

 

This was one of the cleanest looking 55 Chevy's in this period. It was driven by the legend Milton Ward of the Great Bend area. Sure wish we had a better or colored photo of this car. It was white over blue. Oh the humanity is right when this 55 hit the track. But it was a fast one. R.I.P. Milton

 

Just took another look at the chevelle pic of Ken Aldridges car. Look to the left of the mens room, LOL !! That's Henry Ellington contemplating his right rear tire choice >>>>.

 

Hey, Flats thanks for sharing these photos. We were running 6 cyl. 58 Ford during this time. We never got down your way, but I remember some of these cars running our circuit during the "fair races" when the purses would be up a little. We raced 2 to 3 nights a week at places like Stockton, WaKeeney, Colby, Norton, Smith Center, Osborne,KS and Franklin,NB. I was just out of high school and thought I was having the time of my life!

 

only in kansas. Lovin em .
thank you.

 

Most of if not all were all 1/2 mile fairgrounds tracks back then. I Remember the open cl*** flat track motorcycles on some of those tracks. They were nuts! Then there was Belleville on a motorcycle. I wonder if they ever timed at Belleville and what were the times on those big Harley's.

 

I guess they're going to reopen the Salina Speedway next spring! Rumors are the people who took over the Mayetta track north of Topeka are "silent partners". I hope that's true because those guys know race tracks and it while be run right!

 

Would be old Long Hair Alan Combs in the 55jr.

 

Brother?.......mizzodirttracker

 

Paul,
We used to go over to Junction City,KS to a track on Sunday night to watch the Jalopy races. Older cars than what is pictured here and as I remember the track was smaller like maybe a 1/4 mile track. We would haul a cooler of beer up into the seating area and watch the drivers fight it out on the dirt. Something that was as interesting as the racing was watching the women raise hell with each other when they thought their man had been done wrong. They all seemed to sit together as a group. Some of those women's language would make a Sailor blush. It was a slice of Americana that has long p***ed I am sad to say. We went to the Salina,KS track some too.This was probably some 45 years ago.

 

Cool Robert.....**** has told me alot about that track too

 

Haven't got any books here at work but the first name that comes to mind with this car is J.B. Becker. What do you think.

 

This is a very cool thread. I'm glad it got brought back up. Her is a link to the local track where I'm from if anyone is interested. My father is Wayne Wilt. He promoted the races and at the end went to the city to get a new wall built for the track. Because it was in a flood plain they were denied and the track is now the main stage for the "Walnut Valley Bluegr*** Festival". Here is the link:
http://winfield.50megs.com/Cowley/start.htm
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Dads car which was raced at Winfield and Caney.

 

The thing I remember about the Junction City track (Plaza Speedway) was it was on top of J-Hill at the Grandview Plaza exit. Yes when I went the interstate was somewhat done. You ran US 40 and then I-70 off and on. It had a dirt wall on the front stretch and a trench between it and the track. Billy Wilson won the very 1st race and the last race. Coming off turn two it was quite the drop off if you went off the track. Lets don't confuse this track with later ones that came along. The track in Salina was also a 1/4 and they called it Jehu Speedway.

 

Great pictures Fellow !!!!!!