77 Speedway

Arkansas City, Kansas

Page 1

 

 

77 Speedway was a flat ⅓ mile dirt oval racetrack located on a 32-acre tract of land about one mile south of the Arkansas River on the south edge of Arkansas City, Kansas in an unincorporated community known as “I.X.L.”  The speedway was opened early in 1955 by Ted and Joyce Allen.  The following year, Gene and Clara Bullard joined the Allens as partners in the venture.  The high cost of insurance and worry about the possibility of injury to the spectators sitting in cars parked along the road just outside the racetrack prompted the Allens and Bullards to lease the speedway to Paul Borror in 1957.  Borror operated the racetrack for about two years before closing it down and returning the facility to the Allens.

In all, 77 Speedway operated for about five seasons racing jalopies on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons during the summer months.  Micro midgets were added to the program to fill time between the jalopy races when Borror took over the operation.  The cars that raced at 77 Speedway were not fancy and the purses were often small but some of the top drivers in the area competed there anyway.

Track photographer Gary Virden took each of the photographs below.

 

 

The #24, shown here leading, was owned by Bob Thackery and driven by Forrest Coleman, both of Wichita, KS.  The “8 ball” car in second place was owned by Lawrence Brooks of Arkansas City, KS.  Max Naden of Ponca City, OK was driving the #6 Ford sedan shown here in third place – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

#2 Jim McAmis of Wichita, KS driving a car owned by Elmer Ortin of Arkansas City, KS.  The #51 was owned and driven by Bob Newman of Wichita, KS – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

This photograph was taken from the infield.  The #4 car at right was owned by Joe Collins of Winfield, KS – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

“They’re Off” to a Sunday afternoon at the races – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

The #6 Ford sedan was driven by Max Naden of Ponca City, OK.  Note the flagpole at right – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

The #2 Ford coupe was owned by Elmer Ortin, of Arkansas City, KS and driven by Jim McAmis of Wichita, KS.  The “8 Ball” Ford coupe at left was owned by Lawrence Brooks of Arkansas City, KS – Larry Brooks collection

 

 

#00 Keith Jackson is shown here tangling with another competitor while #11 Buddy Quick slipped by on the inside during some tight racing action – Gary Virden collection

 

 

Racing through turns one and two on a Sunday afternoon – Gary Virden collection

 

 

Flagman Lyle Baker, of Wichita, KS, introduces Ken Jackson to the crowd before a race begins.  Ken, from Ponca City, OK, drove the #72.  That is Allen Carter’s #35 Ford coupe at left – Gary Virden collection

 

 

An unidentified group of jalopies races through turns one and two on a Sunday afternoon.  If you can indentify any of these cars, please contact Bob Lawrence – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#39 Cliff Durr leads an unidentified sedan while a car driven by Milford Martin can be seen just entereing the picture – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#4A was owned by Ernie McCoy while the “8-Ball” was owned by Lawrence Brooks.  It is unknown who the drivers of these two ford coupes were on this particular Friday night – Gary Virden collection

 

 

Do you recognize either of these cars racing through the first turn?  If you do, please contact Bob Lawrence – Gary Virden collection

 

 

#40 Leon Bowman in a coupe owned by K. O. Christian.  If you know who was driving the other car, please contact Bob Lawrence – Gary Virden collection

 

 

This Website is Dedicated to the Memory of

Gary Joe Virden

1937 – 2001

Without whose camera, foresight, and valuable assistance, another chapter of auto racing history would have been lost forever and this website would not have been possible.

 

 

 

To Go On To Page 2 Of

77 Speedway, Arkansas City, Kansas