+This one, a bit more recent than my usual offerings. Exciting racing (Twin 50's) but a tragic day.
Time Trials - 33 cars - Track Record 17.81 by Don Branson
24 Gary Bettenhausen..............18.34 Willie Davis
55 Tom Bigelow.......................18.40 Walter Knepper
-1 Sammy Sessions..................18.36 Mauri Amerling
14 Joe Saldana........................18.40 Lloyd Weaver
33 Rich Leavell.........................18.80 Bob Jones
-4 Ralph Liguori.......................19.39
60 Bruce Walkup.....................18.83 Don Siebert
-7 Don Nordhorn.....................19.06 Sid Van Winkle
52 Johnny Parsons, Jr..............18.41 Paul Leffler
98 Mel Cornett........................18.75 Leader Cards
-2 Rollie Beale.........................18.00 Ron Kilman
96 John Toth..........................19.39 John Toth
25 Bill Puterbaugh...................19.68 Bill Easton
21 Chuck Booth......................19.51 Chuck Booth
95 Karl Busson.......................18.78 Bernie Cedoz
77 Pancho Carter..
Quick Time..17.93 Steve Stapp
-3 Lee Kunzman.....................18.10 R.B. Racing Assoc.
29 Billy Cassella.....................18.74 Louis Seymour
32 Duke Cook.........................18.66 Ron Kilman
16 Jerry Nemire.......................18.86 Paul Roberts
-5 Larry Cannon......................18.53 Dick Hoffman
20 Sheldon Kinser...................18.13 Grant King
27 Gordy Lee..........................18.85
85 Butch Wilkerson.................18.64
-8 Bob Evans.........................19.05 Smith Speed Shop
91 Jerry Miller.........................18.63
49 Jerry Poland.......................19.33
11 George Snider....................18.56 A.J. Foyt
39 Roger Rager.......................19.50
44 Billy Engelhart.....................DNQ Steve Stapp
93 Benny Rapp.........................DNQ Iddings Bros.
45 Rick Davidson......................DNQ
-2 Carl Bergkvist......................DNQ
First Heat 10 Laps - 3:08.40
-4 Ralph Liguori.....................7
-8 Bob Evans.........................4
60 Bruce Walkup....................3
98 Mel Cornett.......................2
85 Butch Wilkerson................1
-5 Larry Cannon.....................6
55 Tom Bigelow.....................5
Second Heat - 10 Laps - 3:09.01
96 John Toth.........................6
-7 Don Nordhorn....................1
27 Gordy Lee.........................5
95 Karl Busson......................2
32 Duke Cook........................4
11 George Snider...................7
14 Joe Saldana......................3
Third Heat 10 Laps - No Time
39 Roger Rager.....................2
49 Jerry Poland.....................6
16 Jerry Nemire....................5
33 Rich Leavell.....................3
29 Billy Cassella...................4
91 Jerry Miller......................7
52 Johnny Parsons, Jr............1
Semi-Feature - 12 Laps - No Time
55 Tom Bigelow....................3
-5 Larry Cannon....................1
11 George Snider..................7
91 Jerry Miller......................5
32 Duke Cook......................6
29 Billy Cassella...................2
16 Jerry Nemire...................11
-8 Bob Evans......................12
-4 Ralph Liguori...................10
21 Chuck Booth....................9
25 Bill Puterbaugh................8
27 Steve Schultz..................4 (Schultz in for Lee)
First Feature - 50 Laps - No Time
55 Tom Bigelow...................6
-1 Sammy Sessions..............5
24 Gary Bettenhausen..........4
20 Sheldon Kinser................2
-3 Lee Kunzman.............
WINNER
77 Pancho Carter.................3
14 Joe Saldana...................10
52 Johnny Parsons, Jr..........18
-5 Larry Cannon..................19
91 Jerry Miller.....................20
85 Butch Wilkerson..............15
29 Billy Cassella.................11
98 Mel Cornett....................16
95 Karl Busson....................9
33 Ralph Liguori..................14 (Ralphie the Racer in for Leavell)
60 Bruce Walkup..................8
27 Steve Schultz.................12
-7 Don Nordhorn..................17
39 Roger Rager...................13
32 Rollie Beale....................7 (Rollie in for Duke)
Second Feature - 50 Laps - No Time
60 Bruce Walkup.................13
55 Tom Bigelow..................20
24 Gary Bettenhausen...........4
77 Pancho Carter..........
WINNER
20 Sheldon Kinser.................3
-3 Lee Kunzman....................2
95 Karl Busson.....................5
14 Joe Saldana.....................7
29 Billy Cassella..................10
27 Steve Schultz...................9
33 Rich Leavell....................15 (Leavell back in Jonesy's car)
85 Butch Wilkerson..............11
98 Mel Cornett....................19
-7 Don Nordhorn...................8
-1 Rollie Beale.......................6 (Rollie in for Sammy)
52 Sammy Sessions.............16 (Sammy in for J.P., Jr.)
11 George Snider.................18
25 Bill Puterbaugh...............12
21 Chuck Booth...................17
16 Jerry Nemire...................14
+This day got off to a terrible start when Carl Bergkvist, driving a Wergland car (I think) crashed into the front stretch wall just past the starter's stand, killing him. Only 22 years old.
+Rollie Beale and Lee Kunzman were in a dog fight for the Sprint Car Championship. Rollie led going in and won by 24 points, but had to drive 3 different cars to get the job done. Got on his head in practice. Got in the Kilman team car (Duke's ride that day) and finished 7th in the first 50 but puked an engine at the checkers. Sammy Sessions let him drive his Amerling ride in the second 50 and he got a 6th to win the crown. Kunzman went down fighting with a win and a second but came up short.
+The racing was great on this day and I was pleased with the 2nd and 3rd place feature finishes by my boy, Sheldon Kinser. BUT, on the other hand, I couldn't wait to get on the road home because......
+A local 'Burg guy, not really a friend, but joined our bunch a few times for beers and lies. He invited himself along on this day and proceeded to get roaring drunk, making a loud fool of himself and us by association. Had to stop a few times on Rt. 127 to let him barf. Don't know if he ever attended another race. I DO know he never went with us.
+Gotta finish by saying that this was the only time in all the years and with all the folks that I introduced to racing that I had a bad experience.
+That's all I got...........
