Automobile Racing on the Half-mile Dirt Racetrack

At the North Central Kansas Fairgrounds in Belleville, Kansas

 1910 - 1918

 

 

 

Glen Breed

W. W. Brown

B. T. Barber

 

 

 

July 4, 1910

            An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 people watched three entries in the automobile races give it all they had for ten laps on the half-mile racetrack at the North Central Kansas Fairgrounds.  White and Stover (probably with Harry White driving) were the prize winners covering the five-mile distance in 7 minutes and 10 seconds.  Their entry was a Model 10 Buick representing their local White and Stover Buick Agency.  Harley Lewis ran a close second until his Ford overheated and he had to drop out.  That left the runner-up position to a White steamer from Deshler, Nebraska.  White and Stover lapped the steamer then pulled ahead another quarter of a lap as they easily coasted to victory.

            Stories circulated that White and Stover were using an engine of “increased power” so they posted a $100 reward to go to anyone who could prove that their engine was not identical to those they sold at their agency.  At least that quieted the rumors.

 

Results

10 Laps in 7 minutes, 10 seconds

 

 

1911

            Automobile racing is said to have returned to Belleville in 1911 and that W. W. Brown of Kansas City, Missouri was declared the over-all winner.

 

 

September 12, 1913

            It is not clear if automobiles raced at Belleville in 1912 but they did return in 1913.  The program that day consisted of a six-lap “Home” race open only to drivers from Republic County, Kansas and a “free-for-all” that open to all entrants.  The latter race was run in three 10-lap segments.

 

Entries in the “Home” Race

 

Entries in the “free-for-all” race:

 

There was a record breaking crowd of 6,000 on the fairgrounds on race day.

 

Results of the “Home” race:

6 Laps in 4 minutes, 5 seconds

           

The “free-for-all” was a hotly contested race.  The cars were stripped down and there were several professionals in the race.  The drivers “doped” the gasoline which made the cars “pick up pretty lively”.  The fastest of the three ten-lap heats was driven in 6 minutes, 11 seconds from a standing start.  The fastest individual mile was driven in 1 minute, 11 seconds from a standing start.

 

Overall finish after three segments of 10 laps each

 

 

August 28, 1914

        

Free-for-All Race Entries

           

All Ford Race

6 Laps – Time:  4 minutes, 37.75 seconds

 

            The “Republic and Adjoining County” race was a best two-out-of-three event consisting of heats of ten laps each.  The best time recorded for one of the ten lap heat races was 7 minutes, 33.75 seconds.  The results were:

 

 

            The fastest of the three 10-lap heat races making up the “professional free-for-all” race was run in 6 minutes, 39.5 seconds.  The overall results of that event were:

 

 

 

August 29, 1916

            No record has been found to date of any auto races run at Belleville in 1915 but they were on the first day program of the North Central Kansas Fair in 1916.  Five races were run on that date but the results of three heats of the “free-for-all” are the only results from that day to be located so far.  As in past years, the “free-for-all” consisted of three heat races of 10 laps each.

 

Free-for-All

First 10-Lap Heat

 

            Breed led the second heat race all the way.  Munger ran second until his carburetor failed to respond properly and he was passed by Young.

 

Free-for-All

Second 10-Lap Heat

 

            Since Breed had already won the first two heats in this best two-out-of-three series, he decided to set the third heat race out.  Young led until the last turn of the race when Munger shot by him to easily take the win.

 

Free-for-All

Third 10-Lap Heat

 

Free-for-All

Overall Results – Prize Money for First and Second Places

 

 

September 4, 1917

            A record breaking crowd from Republic and adjoining counties attended the automobile races on opening day of the fair.  Some of the fastest and most thrilling races ever seen in northern Kansas were pulled off.  The Ford race was considered probably the best race on the program.

 

First Heat of the All Ford Race – 5 cars

 

Second Heat of the All Ford Race – 5 cars

 

Third Heat of the All Ford Race – 5 cars

 

All Ford Race – Overall Finish

 

The “Free-for-All” race consisted of only two heat races and all of the cars entered had trouble of some kind during those two heats.  Rex Kent’s winning Studebaker experienced a stripped bevel gear in the differential.

 

Free-For-All -- First Heat

 

 

Free-For-All -- Second Heat

 

Free-For-All – Overall Finish

 

 

August 23, 1918

             The automobile races in 1918 consisted of three 10-lap heat races with the finishing places in each counting toward the overall standings.  A $500 purse was paid out to the overall winners.  Harold Roller, driving a 16-valve Ford Special, won all three heat races with his best time of 6 minutes, 9 seconds coming in the first.  Rex Kent placed second in the first two heat races.  In the third heat race, Kent skidded on a turn, went over a bank on the inside of the racetrack, and overturned several times striking several people and injuring five, one fatally.  Kent was thrown clear of his car and landed on the racetrack receiving only bruises.

 

Overall Finish

 

 

 

            It is hoped to expand this web page someday to include many more racing results from later years at Belleville.  If you know anything about these races or the men and machines that competed in them, please contact Bob Lawrence.

 

 

To be taken to the web page for the Highbanks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum

To be taken to the web page of the Belleville High Banks