Auto Racing at Oakley, Kansas
1960 – 1963
Oakley Graphic
Thursday - June 30, 1960 – Front Page:
Latest Sport Is Represented Here
A Go-Kart track was recently built in south-east Oakley and has been attracting hordes of children. Go-Kart racing has been the latest sport to sweep the country.
Owner of the track in the back of Spresser Sinclair on Highway 40 is Norman Sporing, a native of Brewster who came here from Salina. Right now he has four carts in use, but hopes to add more of the low-slung-lawnmower-powered machines.
Sporing said the carts have a maximum speed of about 25 miles an hour.
Thursday - July 14, 1960 – Front Page:
Jaycees Sponsor Stock Car Races
Oakley Junior Chamber of Commerce will sponsor stock car races at the grandstand beginning July 24. Plans are to have races here every other Sunday from then on through the summer.
Frank Kaiser, Jaycees president, said expected entries are to come from Western Kansas, Eastern Colorado and Great Bend groups. They get a share of gate receipts for prize money.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday - July 21, 1960 – Front Page:
Baseball, Jalopy Races . . .
BIG SPORTS WEEK END
It’s a big week end for spectator sports in Oakley. There’s a boys’ baseball tournament, and resumption of jalopy races.
Both events will be at the grandstand…
The Oakley Junior Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring Jalopy races here, resumed after a lapse of two years. At the last race, in August, 1958, a driver was fatally injured on the dusty, flat track.
Jaycees members have put many hours hard work on the track, packing dirt and constructing embankments around curves.
Said WaKeeney drivers who inspected it last week, “It’s the nicest track in Western Kansas.”
Frank Kaiser and Gilbert Pracht, members of the Jaycees race committee, said an excellent turnout is expected for the races at 2 p.m., Sunday. Drivers from Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado will compete.
Races will be held every other Sunday, with the next one scheduled for August 7.
Events will include qualifying races, “A” & “B” features, Australian pursuit and the main event.
Two tons of calcium has been put on the track to hold down dust. . .
JALOPY RACES
SUNDAY, JULY 24
2 P.M. at Sportsman’s Park
RACES WILL BE HELD HERE
EVERY OTHER SUNDAY
Next Race
SUNDAY, AUG. 7th
2 Hour Jalopy Program of Thrills
8 RACES
Including Qualifying Races
A & B features,
Australian pursuit,
And Main Event
Sponsored by
The Oakley Junior Chamber of Commerce
ADMISSION: Adults $1.00 Grade School 50 cents
Oakley Graphic
Thursday - July 28, 1960 – Front Page:
Webmaster’s Note: There is a photo of - Nut Cokeley of Liberal, Kansas in his White #07 jalopy - a Model A Ford five-window coupe and an unknown driver in No.77 (1939 or 40 model) coupe, rounding a curve during an Oakley race on July 24, 1960. The caption for the photo reads:
BANG-UP SUCCESS was the resumption of jalopy races, sponsored by Jaycees in Oakley Sunday. Champion driver who won feature and kangaroo races was N. Cokeley, Liberal. There were a couple of spin-outs and one jalopy rolled, but no one was hurt among the 12 cars entered. Jaycees said the event grossed about $600, enough to make it pay. Prize money came from gate receipts, and Automotive Parts Co. chipped in another $10. Here, driver Bill Haviland (background) nonchalantly watches race go by after his vehicle spun out. Haviland drove a car owned by Robert Lorenz, WaKeeney, a son-in-law of the D.E. Haworths.
Front Page:
Jalopy Races Proceed Sunday
Jalopies go at full throttle in the second of a series of races at Sportsman Park at 2 p.m. Sunday (August 7, 1960).
Frank Kaiser, president of the sponsoring Oakley Junior Chamber of Commerce, said more entries from WaKeeney and other points in Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado are expected.
ACTION - THRILLS - SPILLS
JALOPY RACES
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
Grandstand - Sportsman’s Park
2 p.m.
Two hour jalopy program of thrills
EIGHT RACES
Including qualifying races, A & B features, Australian pursuit, and main event
Admission: adults $1.00 grade pupils 50 cents
Sponsored by
The Oakley Junior Chamber of Commerce
Thursday – August 18, 1960 – Front Page:
IT’S 4-H FAIR TIME . . . Jalopy Races
Jaycees have put up good hard cash to get a good field of entries for Jalopy races at 2 p.m., Sunday (August 21, 1960) at Sportsman Park. There’s a $500 purse.
In addition to the anticipated good field from Western Kansas, Eastern Colorado and as far away as Wichita, two local jalopies are also expected.
That includes one being fashioned by 12 stockholders at Oakley Motors. Its driver will be Dennis Scheetz. The other jalopy, which has been entered by Harry Schwarz and will probably be driven by Paul Garrett.
Webmaster’s Note: Harry Schwarz’s car was a “rail” rather than a jalopy.
Thursday – September 1, 1960 – Front Page:
Try For More Cars in Races
The official starter, a Great Bend man, is supposed to bring along jalopy entries in races here Sunday (September 4, 1960). He’s promised Junior of Chamber of Commerce members that additional help with fellow Great Benders adding to the field.
Also helping is a $300 purse. Local drivers will be entered in the races with time trials beginning at 1:30 p.m. and races at 2 p.m.
Webmaster’s Note: There is also a photograph of Dennis Scheetz seated in a Model B Ford Jalopy (‘33 or ‘34 five window coupe) surround by several of the car’s owners. The photo caption reads:
STOCKHOLDERS and assembly crew gather around driver Dennis Scheetz at fair jalopy races. Scheetz, after getting over earlier nervousness before the home crowd. At one time his leg was shaking so bad he couldn’t press on the foot speed, won a second in one final. Shown, from left, Maynard White, Marvin Sander, Everett Bedrang (obscured), Scheetz, Johnny Geist, James Robben and Martin Selley. Other stockholders or assembly men included Donald Kisler, Gary Fulton, Merwin Sondburg, Richard Scheetz and others.
Webmaster’s Note: There is also a photo of Paul Garrett, seated in a “rail” with crewman Harry Schwarz standing by the racer’s engine. The caption for that photo reads:
LOCAL TALENT in fair-time jalopy races, and probably to be seen in action here at future races, included Paul Garrett, driver and Harry Schwarz, pitman, who joined in assembling this “rail” job. Garrett drove to a second in (the) fast heat after coming back from racer repair job when smacked in earlier race.
Webmaster’s Note: This rail became known to the Oakley race fans as the “Ruptured Duck” and may have been previously owned by George Parsons of Collyer, Kansas. Parsons was flagman at the WaKeeney Speedway in the early 1960s. He probably built and raced the car in the late 1950s.
ACTION - THRILLS - SPILLS
JALOPY RACES
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Grandstand - Sportsman’s Park
1:30 Time Trials . . . 2 p.m., Races
Two hour jalopy program of thrills
At Least 15 Cars Expected . . . More. Better
$300 GUARANTEED PURSE
EIGHT RACES
Including A & B features, Australian pursuit, the main event
Sponsored by
The Oakley Junior Chamber of Commerce
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – September 8, 1960 – Page 4:
Big Crowd Sees Lots of Action
Sixteen jalopy drivers participated in races here Sunday (September 4, 1960) before an overflow crowd. It was the best turnout of drivers and fans yet, sponsoring Junior Chamber of Commerce said.
Paul Garrett, local driver, placed first in the trophy dash and first in the Class A heat. Garrett was running first in the feature race until he went off the track.
The Oakley driver crashed into the only tree near the track (at the southeast corner) after he crossed the finish line in the dash. Nine stitches were taken in his nose.
Another local driver, Dennis Scheetz, placed 4th in the feature race.
Next races here will be September 18th
Thursday – September 15, 1960 – Front Page:
Final Jalopy Races in Oakley Sunday
Final jalopy races of the season will be held at Sportsman’s Park Sunday (September 18, 1960). Time trials are at 1:30 p.m., with races beginning at 2 p.m.
The Junior Chamber of Commerce sponsors the races.
There was an excellent turnout of entries, as well as attendance, at races here two weeks ago.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – September 22, 1960 – Front Page:
Oaleyan Winner in Final Races
Oakley driver Dennis Scheetz Sunday won two firsts in the final jalopy races of the season here. Scheetz won the slow heat preliminaries and the feature race in that category.
Sunday night at WaKeeney he placed 2nd and 4th in the same two events.
There was an excellent turnout of cars, some 15, at the races Sunday sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, but there was only a fair sized crowd.
Thursday – June 15, 1961 – Front Page:
Stock and Kart Races Here Sunday
Big cars, or little kars, racing fans can see either type here Sunday.
The Jaycees are sponsoring stock car races at the fairgrounds with time trials starting at 1:30 p.m. James Robben, a member, said a big field of fresh machinery is expected.
Kart races will be held at the track on U.S. 40 east under sponsorship of the Oakley Kart club. There will be all classes starting at 2 p.m.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – June 15, 1961 – Page 9:
STOCK CAR RACES
Sunday, June 18
Oakley Fair Grounds
Time Trials at 1:30 p.m.
Expecting good field of top, new fast entries
Admissions: $1.00 - Children Under 12 Free
Sponsored by Oakley
Junior Chamber of Commerce
Thursday – June 29, 1961 – Front Page:
NO STOCK RACES
Contrary to an ad in this issue, there will be no stock car races this Sunday (July 2, 1961). After that section of the Graphic was printed, Jaycees decided to postpone races because of harvest.
Thursday – July 13, 1961 – Front Page:
Kart, Stock Races
In Oakley Sunday
There’s more racing action in Oakley Sunday (July 16, 1961).
Free-to-the-public Go Kart races will be held at the track in back of Spresser Sinclair station near Highway 40 east.
There’s an entry fee for drivers to cover cost of trophies to be given in various classes. “We’re looking for a better turnout of karts,” one of the organizers said.
Stock car and jalopy races under sponsorship of the Jaycees will be held at the ball park. Time trials start at 1:30 p.m. With $300 guaranteed prize money, the Jaycees are hoping to have a big field of entries here.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – July 13, 1961 – Page 7:
STOCK CAR RACES
Sunday, July 16
Oakley Fair Grounds
Time Trials at 1:30 p.m.
Expecting good field of top, new fast entries
GUARANTEED $300 PURSE
Admissions: $1.00 - Children Under 12 Free
Sponsored by Oakley
Junior Chamber of Commerce
Thursday – July 20, 1961 – Front Page:
Jaycees Sponsor
Jalopy Races Here
Jalopy races will be held again Sunday (July 23, 1961) at the Oakley race track, the Jaycees announced this week. Action in last’s week’s races was termed fast and exciting by spectators.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – August 3, 1961 – Front Page:
Jalopy Damaged
In Wreck
A stock-owned jalopy which provides the Jaycees Oakley entry in races here was wrecked Monday night (July 31, 1961) in a practice run.
Driver Richard Scheetz was treated at Logan County hospital for a cut on his head and remained there until the next day for observation. Car went out of control at about 50 miles an hour on the heavy fairgrounds track and rolled two or three times. Scheetz was buckled in. Engine of the Jalopy was heavily damaged.
Webmaster’s Note: Richard Scheetz was the regular flagman for the auto races run at Sportsman Park in Oakley but seldom, if ever, drove the cars. It is possible this newspaper article is in error with the car driven instead by Richard’s brother, Dennis Scheetz who was a regular competitor in the races at Oakley. Another theory is that the car was one owned by the S & S Body Shop of Oakley and driven by Ron Reed. If you know the true facts of this incident, please contact Bob Lawrence.
Thursday – August 10, 1961 – Page 5:
STOCK CAR RACES
Sunday, August 13
Oakley Fair Grounds
Time Trials at 1:30 p.m.
Expecting good field of top, new fast entries
GUARANTEED $300 PURSE
Admission: $1.00 Adults - Children Under 12 Free
Sponsored by Oakley
Junior Chamber of Commerce
Thursday – August 10, 1961 – Front Page:
Kick Up Your Heels at Birthday Celebration
Event-packed Fair Is
Next Week End-To-Do
Oakley next week will kick up its heels in observance of its 75th birthday, and the state’s 100th, and everyone in the territory is invited to help celebrate the occasion. . . .
SPEED AND THRILLS
Jaycees are lugging around a $500 jackpot to the grandstand track to entice a big, top field of stock cars to the races. That is the most money they’ve ever paid in prizes here and amount tops offers of many races elsewhere.
Time trials are at 1:30 p.m., followed by races at 2:00 p.m. . . .
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – August 24, 1961 – Front Page:
IN FRONT OF GRANDSTAND
SPECTACULAR CRASH IN CAR RACES
Tragedy was narrowly averted in a rail wreck at races before a big crowd at the grandstand Sunday (August 20, 1961). The driver, Gene Potts, Great Bend, suffered a broken left arm and was knocked unconscious after his car went out of control.
|
Jerry Collins |
Incident occurred before the race as drivers were churning the track to dry it out. Thrills continued through events. Another driver in the field of 27 cars sustained two broken ribs. Jerry Collins, Hutchinson, suffered the injuries in a race when his car rolled on the south turn of the track.
Potts piled up in full view of the grandstand crowd and there was a moment of intense apprehension for them.
|
Gene Pott’s Rail after the Crash at Oakley, KS in 1961 |
The wreck occurred after he came out of the north turn and down the straight-a-way. He had swung wide on the curve and because of another car and was unable to avoid missing guard rails and cables protecting the grandstand. His jalopy sheered off a couple of rails, veered in and scraped the cement in front of the grandstand before it hurdled into the air. It appeared Potts’ vehicle was tossed high enough by the impact that another car passed underneath it. Potts was probably knocked unconscious when he hit the posts.
James Robben, one of the Jaycees in charge of arranging the races was in the grandstand near the wreck area. When he saw the car coming, he said, “I couldn’t move. I couldn’t move for a while afterwards,” he added.
Potts, considered one of the better drivers on the circuit, couldn’t slow down after he came out of the curve. To do so would have caused him to lose control of his rail. His speed was estimated at between 60 and 70 miles an hour. After the wreck, persons sitting in the north area of the grandstand moved to other areas.
The rail was demolished. The owner, Howard Pettigo, Great Bend, was seated in the stands. He suffered a fainting spell watching the potentially tragic crash.
It was one of three wrecks before and during the races which involved four cars.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – August 24, 1961 – Page 10:
Winners in Competition Fair Events
|
Nut Cokeley
|
|
Henry Ellington |
|
Charlie Hiner
|
|
Larry Torson |
In competition, you must have a winner and there were lots of winners in events at Fair time here over the weekend.
The activity-full fair featured jalopy races, kids races, a rodeo, cutting horse contest, quarter horse show, and horse shoes. Among the tops in various events:
Jaycees Jalopy Races Sunday (August 20, 1961) at Grandstand
“Nut” Cokeley, Liberal, perennial winner who drives jalopies all over and makes a living out of it, had the fastest jalopy lap, 28.45 seconds in (car) No. 7. Second was an Oakley entry, Red 1, driven by Dennis Scheetz, who toured the oval in 28.97.
Rails turned in all-time fast speed for the Oakley track. Henry Ellington’s No. 36 from Hutchinson made it in 26.75, with Charlie Hiner, Wichita, in No. 43, second in 26.80.
Top money winners in an announced $500 purse in which $620 was actually given away, were: Rails - Hiner $60; Larry Torson, Dodge City, $67; Jalopies - Cokeley $56; Phil Simmons, Beaver City, Nebr., No. 4, $42.
Local entries included Paul Garrett who placed 3rd in the B rails feature, and Scheetz, 4th in the main jalopy feature.
The large pot attracted the biggest field of entries. 27 cars from Oberlin, Norton, Beaver City, Nebr., Hill City, Sublette, Liberal, Dodge City, Great Bend, Hutchinson, Wichita and WaKeeney tore into the track, each other, and at one time, one soared over it. . .
Webmaster’s Note: The rail driving this day by Henry Ellington had a Hudson engine. The rail that Charlie Hiner drove was owned by Pius Selenke of Wichita, Kansas and was powered by a V8Ford flathead engine. The rails of Ellington and Hiner made up the front row of the feature race on this day. After several false starts, flagman Richard Scheetz started the race from a standing start. In doing so, Ellington’s rail twisted an axel.
Thursday – August 31, 1961 – Page 6:
STOCK CAR RACES
Sunday, September 3
Oakley Fair Grounds
Attracting A Fast Field of
Top Entries
With A $500 Purse
Admission: $1.00 Adults - Children Under 12 Free
Sponsored by Oakley
Junior Chamber of Commerce
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – September 7, 1961 – Front Page:
Skull Injury in Wreck at Races
Gene Angel, in his mid-20’s suffered a fractured skull when the left wheel broke off his jalopy and the car rolled in races at the grandstand Sunday (September 3, 1961). Accident occurred in a race on the north (third) turn of the track.
The fracture, about 5 inches long, is at the back of his head in about the area of the edge of his crash helmet. Angel is showing enough improvement to make it likely he will be taken to the hospital in his home town, Hutchinson, this weekend for further treatment there. He is a patient in the Logan County hospital now.
A wheel also sheared off another jalopy Sunday but the driver wasn’t hurt.
A fast field of 18 cars entered the races, sponsored here by the Jaycees. Crowd was good considering the cold weather, but not good enough to cover the $500 purse put up by the Jaycees.
Webmaster’s Note: Harold “Gene” Angel (1933-1966)
Thursday – May 3, 1962 – Front Page:
Stock Car Racing Season To Start
Jaycees open the annual stock car racing season May 13 - Mothers Day and they’re interested in getting all mothers to attend. Race will be a Mothers Day event. Time trials will be at 1:30 and races at 2 p.m.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – May 10, 1962 – Front Page:
There’s Men’s Golf, Stock Races . . .
Mothers Day Sunday
Mothers here have their day Sunday. At the same time, there is a men’s golf tournament here, as well as stock car races. Some 100 golfers are expected for the Oakley Open tournament, all, no doubt, feeling more or less guilty. But, men attending the stock car races opening the season can feel like they’re doing something for mom. They can bring her to the races. And, they’re all for mom at the Jaycee sponsored event, with about $150 in merchandise prizes going to mothers. In all, approximately 30 merchandise prizes of $5 each will be drawn for, said James Robben, chairman of the Jaycee races. Prizes are given by Oakley Merchants. Honored with Mothers day gifts will be the oldest mother, the youngest mother, and mother with the largest family present. Too, general drawings will be made giving all mothers a chance.
A field of 20 cars is expected for the races with time trials starting at 1:30 p.m.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – May 10, 1962 – Page 5:
MOM . . . Bring Dad to the Races
(Or, Dad Bring Mom)
SPECIAL MOTHERS DAY
Stock Car Races
Sunday, May 13
Time Trials - 1:30 p.m.
Admission $1.00 - Adults; 50 cents - Children 12 and over
- $150.00 IN PRIZES TO MOTHERS -
(Prizes Donated by Oakley Merchants)
First Jaycees Stock Car Races of the Season . . .
A Fast Field of 20
And Mothers in the Stand Are Queens
Merchandise Prizes For:
Oldest mother, youngest mother, mother with the largest family present.
GENERAL DRAWINGS WHERE ALL MOTHERS HAVE A CHANCE
(SAVE YOUR TICKET STUBS)
Each of more than 30 winners gets about $5 in merchandise.
Prizes Donated By Oakley Merchants
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – May 17, 1962 – Front Page:
Good Turnout for Stock Car Races
A $450 gate and a good crowd of mothers attended Jaycees opening stock races here Sunday (May 13, 1962) billed as a Mother’s Day event. Jaycees were well pleased with the turnout.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – May 31, 1962 – Front Page:
Kart Races Sunday at Sporing Track
Go-Kart races will be held at the Sporing track east of town near Highway 40 at 2 p.m., Sunday (June 3, 1962). There is no admission charge.
Thursday – June 7, 1962 – Front Page:
Stock Car Races at Fairgrounds Sunday
The Jaycees sponsor the second in the summer series of stock car races at the fairgrounds Sunday (June 10, 1962). Time trials start at 1:30 p.m.
|
Charlie Hiner |
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – June 14, 1962 – Front Page:
Good Turnout for Stock Car Races
A good crowd watched Jaycees stock car races here Sunday (June 10, 1962). There were 14 entries and a couple of noisy, but minor, wrecks. One stock car went off the track and got stuck in mud.
Top money winners in jalopies were Doyle Mitchell, Osborne, car 54; and Phil Simmons, Norton, 4; and in rails, Charlie Hiner, Wichita, 43; and Dave Ross, Jetmore, 54.
Webmaster’s Note: Charlie Hiner’s car was owned by Pius Selenke of Wichita, Kansas and was powered by a V8 Ford flathead engine. The car Dave Ross was the owner of the car he was driving.
Thursday – July 12, 1962:
STOCK CAR RACES
Sunday, July 15
Oakley Fair Grounds
Time Trials at 1:30 p.m.
Expecting good field of top, new fast entries
GUARANTEED PURSE $300
Sponsored by Oakley
Junior Chamber of Commerce
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – July 19, 1962 – Front Page:
Local Driver in Car Race Thrill
One of the biggest crowds saw Oakley racers give with the major thrill at Jaycees stock car races Sunday (July 15, 1962).
In an extra feature, four Oakley drivers competed for fun and the car driven by Pat Weigel went out of control and flipped some three times. Weigel, securely strapped in by a safety harness, was uninjured.
Other local racers included Harold Wadsworth, the winner, Dennis Scheetz and Ron Reed.
Top money winners were Phil Simmons, Norton, Jalopies; and Gene Coffman, Liberal, Rails. Simmons was driving black No. 4, and Coffman No. 23.
Webmaster’s Note: The race ad for this race guaranteed a purse of $300 and the top money winners for the Jalopies and Rails are all that were mentioned for results of the regular races.
This race included an extra “fun” race that featured the four Oakley drivers, who all drove Jalopies.
Harold Wadsworth won this “fun” race. It is currently unknown who owned his car or what type engine it had -- but he was working as a mechanic at the Oakley Chevrolet dealership at the time and it would have been very likely that Bob Hooker, new owner of the former Blankenburg Chevrolet-Oldsmobile Dealership, would have sponsored him but, perhaps, Harold owned the car himself. Harold only had one arm but was a very capable mechanic and race driver in spite of this handicap.
Dennis Scheetz’s jalopy was sponsored by Oakley Motors and is believed to have had several owners. It is believed to have been powered by a flathead Ford V8 as it appears to be a 1933 or 34 Ford in the newspaper photos. Dennis’ brother Richard Scheetz, was the flagman for the races at Oakley from 1961 through 1963.
Ron Reed was from Monument, Kansas, and drove a yellow jalopy owned by Don and Stan Smith of S & S Body Shop of Oakley. This car is believed to have been powered by a Chevrolet six-cylinder truck engine. Ron also had driven Fritz Glassman’s car at other races. S & S Body Shop was sponsoring two cars and Harold Wadsworth was driving one of them so they may have been sponsoring Harold’s car in this race also.
Bob Weigel was originally from Monument, Kansas but at this time of this race, he resided in Oakley. Fritz Glassman, of Oakley, built and owned this Jalopy, and did most of the mechanic work on it. It is believed to have been powered by a Ford flathead engine.
Thursday – August 16, 1962 – Front Page:
FAIRTIME HERE THIS WEEK-END
SUNDAY (August 19th) - Final event of a big fair week-end is stock car races at 2 p.m., and Jaycee sponsors said it is known some of the state top drivers will be here. A good field is expected as well because of fair pull. Five tons of salt are being put on the track to keep dust down.
Jaycees said drivers of 23 cars who gave a crowd-pleasing performance at the Thomas County Fair (Wednesday night, August 8, 1962) indicated they will be here.
|
Nut Cokeley |
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – August 23, 1962 – Front Page:
Name Stock Car Race Winners
Don Schumard, Dodge City, won jalopy races and Nut Cokeley, Liberal, a regular champion, the rails in Jaycees stock car races at the fair Sunday (August 19, 1962).
Some 600 persons attended. Sportsmanship award was won by David Ross, Jetmore.
Webmaster’s Note: Not much is currently know about the races run at Oakley on Sunday afternoon, May 5, 1963. David Ross of Jetmore, Kansas won a rail heat and then placed second in the rail trophy dash and the rail feature race.
Thursday – June 13, 1963 – Front Page:
Stock Car Races in Oakley Sunday
Some 15 entries are expected here for stock car races sponsored by the Jaycees Sunday (June 16, 1963). Field includes four local cars.
Time trials are at 1:30 p.m., followed by races at 2 p.m.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – June 13, 1962 – Page 14:
STOCK
CAR RACES
Sunday, June 16
Time Trials - 1:30 p.m.
Races 2:00 p.m.
FAIRGROUNDS GRANDSTAND
Track’s in fine shape. No dust problems.
Fast field of well known drivers
Four Local Drivers
Sponsored by Oakley Jaycees
Admission: $1.25 Adults. 50 cents Children. Pre-school free
Webmaster’s note: Not much is currently known about the races that were run at Oakley on Sunday afternoon, June 16, 1963.
Rail Time Trials (only the top three are known):
|
Place: |
Car #: |
Driver: |
From: |
Car Owner: |
From: |
Time: |
|
1 |
5 |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
Clarence “Nut” Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
25.40 |
|
2 |
43 |
Ray Riner |
Wichita, Kansas |
Pius Selenke |
Wichita, Kansas |
25.50 |
|
3 |
54 |
David Ross |
Jetmore, Kansas |
David Ross |
Jetmore, Kansas |
25.55 |
It rained the night before and the racetrack was in great shape for these races. David Ross of Jetmore, Kansas won a rail heat, placed second in the rail trophy dash, and fourth in the rail feature race.
Webmaster’s note: Not much is currently know about the races that were run at Oakley on Sunday afternoon, July 14, 1963. It was a hot, dusty day The racetrack developed deep ruts with the worst being in turn one.
Ray Riner of Wichita, Kansas driving Pius Selenke’s #43 rail set quick time in time trials with David Ross of Jetmore second quickest in his own #54 rail. Ross finished third in a rail heat, spun out while running second in the rail trophy dash, but came back to finish second in the rail feature race.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – August 5, 1965 – Last Page:
GO-KART RACES AT TRACK HERE SUNDAY
Interest in Go-Kart racing is on increase here again and races are scheduled at the Oakley track, Highway 40 east, at 2 p.m., Sunday (August 1, 1965).
Men, women, and youth will compete in separate classes and racers are expected from Hays, WaKeeney, and Oakley. The public is invited.