When the USAC midgets pull into Rockford, IL for their race on May 18 it will be the first USAC midget show on the historic 1/4 mile in 28 years. On Aug. 29, 1979 Rich Vogler won the 30 lap feature for his 4th Rockford midget triumph, tying him with Henry Pens for the most wins in 20 USAC midget events there. Don Branson and Lee Kunzman each won a pair of Rockford events. Jimmy Davies was the winner of the inaugaral USAC race at Rockford on Aug. 16, 1961. Others with single wins there include Bob Tattersall, Parnelli Jones, Mike McGreevey, Mel Kenyon, Jim Beckley, Johnny Parsons Jr., and Sleepy Tripp. A who's who of USAC's best over the years.

Man I'm old.
I was there helping my dad who tagged wheels with Steve Lotshaw in the heat race. At which point he did a big time header into the wall. His knees swelled-up to the point he could hardly walk, and my mom had to drive us home that night. Never went without knee guards again!
No back-up cars then. Dad ripped what was left of the car apart later in the week, and took it over to Don Vogler for many needed repairs. I think we were out for about 3 weeks..at least??
Ahhh the memories!

Hey Craig, one of my favorite "what the hell were you thinking" memories involves Vogler, the Cornells (particularly Curt), and your father. We will laugh about it next time I see you at a race (or a trade show?)

that sounds like fun i might just wanna go will the sprint cars be with them?

Dwight,

Could I trouble you for who won in which years? I could guess at a few, knowing Jimmy Davies lost his life at Sante Fe in 1966, and Parnelli's would also be in the '60s along with Tat and probably Pens, bit I would like to get it right for our files at the Mazon/Grundy Hall of Fame collection.

Do you know how times USAC ran midgets at Sante Fe and Illiana?

I know, I know ...I gotta buy the book! I would but I can't find one.

Tom Arthur

No problem, Tom. Rockford: 8-16-61 Jimmy Davies, 6-2-62 Bob Tattersall, 8-15-62 Don Branson, 6-12-63 Don Branson, 7-22-64 Parnelli Jones, 8-12-65 Mike McGreevey, 7-20-66 Henry Pens, 7-20-67 Mel Kenyon, 6-28-68 Henry Pens, 8-22-68 Henry Pens, 6-5-69 Henry Pens, 6-2-71 Lee Kunzman, 6-1-72 Lee Kunzman, 6-22-73 Jim Beckley, 6-24-77 Rich Vogler, 8-12-77 Johnny Parsons Jr., 6-2-78 Rich Vogler, 8-11-78 Sleepy Tripp, 6-6-79 Rich Vogler, 8-29-79 Rich Vogler. I'll answer your questions about Sante Fe and Illiana tonight.

Thanks Dwight!

After losing two of our area's best keepers of racing memories in the last couple of months (Tony Saylor and Danny Lockard), I feel an urgency I haven't in the past.

Tom

Tom, did the midgets run on the 1/4 mile at Sante Fe? The midget record book does not name tracks. It simply lists the town or city the track was in. There are a few different tracks listed over the years for Chicago. As for Illiana that was easy. USAC midgets ran there fifteen times over the years. Seven times before it was paved in 1962 and eight times afterwards. First winner, in the only 100 lap race held there, was Tony Bettenhausen on Sep. 4, 1957. USAC midgets ran at Illiana six times in 1959 with Don Branson winning on 6-5, Chuck Weyant on 6-19, Gene Hartley on 7-3, Rodger Ward on 7-17, Bob Wente on 8-15, and Gene Hartley on 9-5. Pavement winners were Jimmy Davies 8-18-62, Bob Wente 9-1-62, Sleepy Tripp 8-3-75, Larry Patton 7-11-76, Jim McClean 6-2-79, Mack McClellan 5-31-80, and Ken Schrader twice, on 7-4-80 & 5-30-81.

Thanks again Dwight,

According to Stan Kalwainski's great website (chicagolandautoracing.com), USAC ran 66 times at the Willow Springs track, including both sprints and midgets. I seem to remember the midgets running on the 1/4 and the sprints on the 1/2, but that might have been the Outlaws.

Here's what Stan has "Records show that USAC sanctioned a total of 66 races between 1964 and 1995. Bob Tattersall of Streator, Ill. won the first midget race on July 10, 1964 with Tony Stewart winning the last sprint car race in July of 1995. A total of 38 different drivers were victorious in the USAC competition in those 66 races with Ron

Dwight,

Good news! Santa brought me the book!

There were also 3 AAA races at Rockford back in the early '50's.

I've come up with 44 midget dates at Sante Fe with 18 drivers winning at least one, and Sleepy Tripp's 6 wins topping all drivers.

Again, thanks for your help!