Jalopy Stock Car Races
Grant County Fairgrounds
Ulysses, Kansas
Friday – July 10, 1959
Sponsor – Grant County Jaycees
Total Purse – $300
Car #40 was owned by Scott Talbert, Sr. and driven by Leo Siler both of Ulysses. This photo was taken just after the car had been unloaded at the racetrack on this evening. Shown standing near the car is Scott "Scotty" Talbert, Jr. - Cokeley collection
Clarence "Nut" Cokeley of Liberal, Kansas (dressed in white) visiting with Fred Gleason of Ulysses as he worked on his #76 jalopy in the pits before the races on this evening at Ulysses - Cokeley collection
Paul Befort, Jr. of Garden City, Kansas looking over his #73 jalopy in the pits at Ulysses on this evening. That is Clarence "Nut" Cokeley of Liberal, Kansas in the foreground - Cokeley collection
This photo was taken in the pits at Ulysses on this evening. #40 was owned by Scott Talbert, Sr. driven by Leo Siler both of Ulysses. #50 was owned by Floyd Keller and driven by Bob Murphy. both of Ulysses. #73 was owned and driven by Paul Befort, Jr. of Garden City, Kansas - Coffman collection
All three of these cars were owned by Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern of Sublette, Kansas. The drivers were: #7 Clarence "Nut" Cokeley of Liberal, Kansas; #6 Merle "Rabbit" Trahern of Sublette, Kansas; and #21 Gene Coffman of Liberal, Kansas. The photo was taken in the pits at Ulysses before the races on this evening - Cokeley collection
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List of Entries – 14 |
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Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
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2 |
Kenneth Gillette |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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6 |
Merle "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
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7 |
Clarence "Nut" Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
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21 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
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27 |
Archie Smothermon |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Lloyd N. Reccius, Jr. |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
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40 |
Leo Siler* |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr.** |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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48 |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
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50 |
Bob Murphy |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Floyd Keller |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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66 |
Scott Talbert, Sr.** |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr.** |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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73 |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
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76 |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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80 |
Sidney "Sid" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Henry Doerksen |
Sublette, Kansas |
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91 |
Harold Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Max Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
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98 |
Stanley Trahern |
Liberal, Kansas |
Clarice (Mrs. Glen) Palmer |
Tyrone, Oklahoma |
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Gene Coffman Coffman collection
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Rabbit Trahern Coffman collection
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Nut Cokeley Cokeley collection
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Sid Trahern Coffman collection
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Scott Talbert, Sr. Cokeley collection
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Archie Smothermon Cokeley collection
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Bob Murphy Cokeley collection
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"All-Car" Race – 14 Cars – 14 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
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1 |
7 |
Clarence "Nut" Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
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2 |
21 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
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3 |
98 |
Stanley Trahern |
Liberal, Kansas |
Clarice (Mrs. Glen) Palmer |
Tyrone, Oklahoma |
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4 |
6 |
Merle "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
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2 |
Kenneth Gillette |
Dodge City, Kansas |
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27 |
Archie Smothermon |
Liberal, Kansas |
Lloyd N. Reccius, Jr. |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
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40 |
Leo Siler* |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr.** |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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48 |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
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50 |
Bob Murphy |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Floyd Keller |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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66 |
Scott Talbert, Sr.** |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr.** |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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73 |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
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76 |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
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80 |
Sidney "Sid" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Henry Doerksen |
Sublette, Kansas |
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91 |
Harold Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Max Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
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This race has also been called the "Gate Race" because every race car that came in the gate was automatically entered in it. |
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First Heat – 5 Cars – 5 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
Started |
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1 |
27 |
Archie Smothermon |
Hooker, Oklaoma |
Lloyd N. Reccius, Jr. |
3 |
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2 |
76 |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
1 |
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3 |
40 |
Leo Siler* |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr.** |
Ulysses, Kansas |
4 |
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4 |
91 |
Harold Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Max Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
2 |
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5 |
48 |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
5 |
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Second Heat – 4 Cars – 4 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
Started |
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1 |
98 |
Stanley Trahern |
Liberal, Kansas |
Clarice (Mrs. Glen) Palmer |
Tyrone, Oklahoma |
4 |
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2 |
66 |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
1 |
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3 |
50 |
Bob Murphy |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Floyd Keller |
Ulysses, Kansas |
2 |
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4 |
73 |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
3 |
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Third Heat – 4 Cars – 4 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
Started |
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1 |
80 |
Sidney "Sid" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Henry Doerksen |
Sublette, Kansas |
2 |
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2 |
7 |
Clarence "Nut" Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
4 |
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3 |
6 |
Merle "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
1 |
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4 |
21 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
3 |
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Fourth place in this race collected $6 from the purse. |
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Trophy Dash – 6 Cars – 6 Laps Trophy sponsor – Milt's Standard Station, Ulysses, Kansas Trophy queen – Georgine Hampton |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
Started |
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1 |
98 |
Stanley Trahern |
Liberal, Kansas |
Clarice (Mrs. Glen) Palmer |
Tyrone, Oklahoma |
4 |
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2 |
7 |
Clarence "Nut" Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
5 |
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3 |
76 |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
1 |
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DNF |
27 |
Archie Smothermon |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Lloyd N. Reccius, Jr. |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
2 |
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DNF |
66 |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
3 |
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DNF |
80 |
Sidney "Sid" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Henry Doerksen |
Sublette, Kansas |
6 |
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Australian Pursuit – 13 Cars This race was run until only four cars remained and then for two additional laps. |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
Started |
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1 |
21 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
12 |
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2 |
6 |
Merle "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
10 |
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3 |
80 |
Sidney "Sid" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Henry Doerksen |
Sublette, Kansas |
11 |
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4 |
91 |
Harold Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Max Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
2 |
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DNF |
76 |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
1 |
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DNF |
27 |
Archie Smothermon |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Lloyd N. Reccius, Jr. |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
3 |
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DNF |
40 |
Leo Siler |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
4 |
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DNF |
48 |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
5 |
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DNF |
66 |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
6 |
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DNF |
50 |
Bob Murphy |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Floyd Keller |
Ulysses, Kansas |
7 |
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DNF |
73 |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
8 |
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DNF |
7 |
Clarence "Nut" Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
13 |
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DQ |
98 |
Stanley Trahern |
Liberal, Kansas |
Clarice (Mrs. Glen) Palmer |
Tyrone, Kansas |
9 |
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Stanley Trahern was disqualified for bumping #91 who was using his brakes. Rabbit and Sid Trahern both spun out in the #2 corner but both were able to restart the race. First place in this race collected $8 from the purse. |
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Semi-Final – 7 Cars – 8 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
Started |
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1 |
98 |
Stanley Trahern |
Liberal, Kansas |
Clarice (Mrs. Glen) Palmer |
Tyrone, Oklahoma |
3 |
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2 |
7 |
Clarence "Nut" Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
7 |
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3 |
80 |
Sidney "Sid" Trahern |
Liberal, Kansas |
Henry Doerksen |
Sublette, Kansas |
5 |
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4 |
50 |
Bob Murphy |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Floyd Keller |
Ulysses, Kansas |
1 |
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5 |
73 |
Paul Bufort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
2 |
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DNF |
6 |
Merle "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
4 |
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DNF |
21 |
Gene Coffman |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
6 |
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Murphy hit Rabbit Trahern on the seventh lap and spun him into the posts that protect the starter's stand. |
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B Feature – 9 Cars – 10 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
Started |
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1 |
2 |
Kenneth Gillette |
Dodge City, Kansas |
9 |
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2 |
27 |
Archie Smothermon |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Lloyd N. Reccius, Jr. |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
3 |
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3 |
91 |
Harold Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Max Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
2 |
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4 |
73 |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
7 |
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5 |
6 |
Merle "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
6 |
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6 |
40 |
Leo Siler |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
4 |
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7 |
48 |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
5 |
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8 |
76 |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Fred Gleason |
Ulysses, Kansas |
1 |
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DNF |
50 |
Bob Murphy |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Floyd Keller |
Ulysses, Kansas |
8 |
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Murphy and Gleason tangled putting Murphy out of the race. |
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A Feature – 12 Cars – 15 Laps |
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Place |
Car # |
Driver |
Driver From |
Car Owner |
Car Owner From |
Started |
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1 |
7 |
Clarence "Nut" Cokeley |
Liberal, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
12 |
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2 |
98 |
Stanley Trahern |
Liberal, Kansas |
Clarice (Mrs. Glen) Palmer |
Tyrone, Oklahoma |
9 |
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3 |
80 |
Sidney "Sid" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Henry Doerksen |
Sublette, Kansas |
11 |
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4 |
91 |
Harold Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Max Libich |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
1 |
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5 |
73 |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
Paul Befort, Jr. |
Garden City, Kansas |
7 |
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6 |
6 |
Merle "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
Merle E. "Rabbit" Trahern |
Sublette, Kansas |
10 |
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7 |
50 |
Bob Murphy |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Floyd Keller |
Ulysses, Kansas |
6 |
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8 |
27 |
Archie Smothermon |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
Lloyd N. Reccius, Jr. |
Hooker, Oklahoma |
2 |
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9 |
48 |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
Doug Tackett |
Deerfield, Kansas |
4 |
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DNF |
2 |
Kenneth Gillette |
Dodge City, Kansas |
8 |
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DNF |
40 |
Leo Siler |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
3 |
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DNF |
66 |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
Scott Talbert, Sr. |
Ulysses, Kansas |
5 |
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The car driven by Sid Trahern got squeezed between the cars driven by Murphy and Siler in the fourth turn causing Trahern's car to raise up and ride on top of the other two cars for a short time before coming back down on all four wheels. None of the three cars involved was able to continue in the race. |
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A boy named Duane Davis broke his wrist while competing in a bicycle race on the racetrack between car races on this evening. This was the only incident ever that involved a broken bone on this racetrack.
Admission ticket good for the jalopy races on this night at Ulysses
Coffman collection
* Leo R. Siler (1931-2008) was paid $8 from the purse for finishing third in the first heat race.
** Walter Scott Talbert, Sr. (1915-1988) was paid $10 from the purse for finishing second in the second heat race.
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