81 Speedway

 

A Pair of ’55 Chevys

Flagman Al Alexander, left, and race promoter C. Ray Hall look on from atop a makeshift flag stand as #61 Bob Lawrence is about the loose the lead to a hard charging Alan Dodson in his #88 Chevrolet in a race at “81” Speedway north of Wichita, Kansas on a Saturday night in the summer of 1974.  The bright light behind the official’s heads was turned on by scorers in the announcer’s booth as a signal to the flagman to display the white flag to the field on the next lap thus telling the drivers that would be the final lap of the race.  The drivers could see that light too so they knew there were two laps left in the race at this point.

Mike Cornelison photo from the Bob Lawrence collection

 

 

 

 

3-year old Kevin Lawrence

Standing in the semi-late model stock car #61 owned by Jack Shipman, on a Saturday evening in the summer of 1974.  I have no idea what the “007” stood for on the door.

Bob Lawrence photo