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I raced this 1955 Chevrolet in a few programs during the 1975 racing seasons at “81” Speedway north of Wichita, Kansas. It was co-owned by Daniel Hauserman and Gary Hyde both also from Wichita.
This car was equipped with a 5-gallon can of water anchored in the trunk with a hose that ran under the car and up to the radiator. I could flip a switch on an electric fuel pump in that water line and spray the radiator down with water while the race was under way. I was initially skeptical of the system but it actually worked pretty well.
One of the more memorable races of my career was while driving this car on Saturday night, July 5, 1975. I had started third in a field of 24 cars in the second 50-lap A feature of the night at “81” Speedway and had run as high as second place before fading to fourth place by the 34th lap. I was still close enough to the front that I could see race leader Alan Dodson though. The right rear tire on the #91 Chevy blew out on that 34th lap sending me to the pits for a fresh tire. It took my pit crew ten laps to change the tire so I rejoined the race on the 44th lap only about 100 yards in front of the leader and, thus only that far from being eleven laps behind. I was able to maintain that 100-yard or so distance for the last six laps of the race finishing in a disappointing thirteenth place – Mike Cornelison photo
This photo was taken right after the car had been completed - Gary Hyde collection
The #91 car even sported a little art work on the hood that had been painted there by artist Bob Corby - Gary Hyde collection
Preparing to load the car on the trailer for the first time. The #110 car in the background was owned by Ed Ramey and driven by Dean Gourley - Gary Hyde collection
Edward Wayne "Ed" Ramey
1945 - 2002
Ronald Dean Gourley
1934 - 2013
Return to A Pictorial Tour of the Race Cars that I have Driven
