Finding something new in a field of all things old

Sorry it has taken me so long to get something fresh on here. With the moniker of “Positively Racing” for this site, I have to make sure that when I write, I am indeed living up to the standards we have set. So far this race season, my racing has been confined to what I have watched on television. I won’t write about that for two reasons: 1) What has been on TV is not local, and 2) What I would say about what I have watched wouldn’t be very positive anyway, therefore, I have been sitting on my hands, chomping at the bit to get something to you that fits the bill. I’m finally able to that as I have been cleaning out my “archives” finding lots of old, unique items that I have had tucked away for a long, long time.
I am a saver, not a thrower-outer. I have items dating back to the time before I even learned to walk. Remember those notes you used to pass in school to your friends? I’ve got a shoebox full of them. I never threw them out and plan on taking them to class reunions in the future to torment, and even possibly shock those I was corresponding with. I’ve got piles of old ticket stubs to things long forgotten, school home work dating back to grade school and so on. A couple of soggy basements have sorted out some of my collection, but not by much – I have a lot of junk. Either at my home, or bless ‘em, my parents’. I have not lived there regularly in over two decades, but they still have boxes of my “stuff” as George Carlin so eloquently put it. Well, I have now reached the point in my life where my parents are getting tired of my “stuff” and now I am gradually bringing it to my house a few boxes at a time. I am finding some amazing things in those boxes, many of them racing related, and it is some of those items I want to share with you.
I started attending races at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in 1968, and along the way have collected several items, among them several autographs, particularly when I was a bit younger. Imagine my surprise when I came across a stash of signed names and numbers from 1971.
Some of those drivers, with their car number at the time, included: Dan Dickey, #40; Don Hoffman, #121; Dick Gustin, #9; Stan Stover, #49; Matt Moro, #2; Dick Oldham, #155; “Injun Joe” Merryfield, #39; Phil Reece #60, John Meyer, #4; Bob Hilmer, #22; Sonny Morgan, #48; Larry Embrey, #39; John Connolly, #75; Stan Stover, #49; Dave Chase, #31; Ken Gerhart, #57; Rodger Bruce, #254; Don Davidson, #222; Cliff Van Zandt, #145; Bill Holder, #20; Gordy Blankenship, #17; Bill Rice, #47; Lloyd Nabb, #78; Darrell Dake, #8; and Bob Helm, #94.
There were a couple of surprises among those names, including Ernie Derr, #2; and, Jim Zabel, then at WHO-TV. How many of you remember that Zabel was the voice of the races at Fairgrounds for a few seasons back in the day? Nice to know I even wanted the announcer’s autograph. I enjoyed every aspect of my nights at the track growing up, so it isn’t any wonder.
It is interesting to note that while many of the drivers signing autographs had the same car number throughout their career, there are some notable exceptions. The #121 for Hoffman stands out the most. That one not as many people remember. He went from the 121 to the 98 and then the Pizza Hut number two, where most people remember him for the greatest part of his career.
It was an awesome find coming across these signatures, and I’m working on getting them matted and framed so I can hang them in my office at home.
I came across a copy of the “Racing Round-Up” from June 25, 1977. This was a great little publication that gave story and point rundowns from Boone, Des Moines, Marshalltown and Oskaloosa . I used to love getting my latest copy of this when I got to the track ,and for only 25 cents it was packed full of information. How about some top fives?
At this point of the 1977 season, the top five street stocks at Boone were Rich Bennett, Boyd Brown, Dave Dresser, Steve Hodges and Mel Odegaard. The top five late models were Don Hoffman, Bill Rice, Dan Nesteby, Tom Bartholomew and Arnie Braland. Hoffman would go on to take the points championship that season.
Your top fives in Des Moines at the time were: late model – Ed Sanger, Curt Hansen, Bill Rice, Stan Stover and Joe Merryfield. The sportsmen top five were Bill Davis, Dave Farren, Rick Merryfield, Denny Rosenberg and Glen Woodard. Up the road at Marshalltown, Mike Fredericks was leading the street stock points, followed by Larry Opperman, Darrel DeFrance, John Ulrey and Steve Hodges. The late model sportsmen were topped by Red Dralle, Bill Davis, Glen Woodard, Leonard Woodard and Rock Merryfield.
The Wednesday night crowd at Osky was watching Jerry Pilcher lead the sportsman points, followed by Dave Farren, Bill Davis, Jim Anderson and Rocky Hodges. Late models that year were paced by Ken Walton, Curt Hansen, Ed Sanger, Joe Merryfield, and Don Hoffman. If that doesn’t bring back memories…
I’ve included a couple of scans from that publication, showing you the front, and a picture inside that featured a future classmate of mine. One of the Plude “dolls”, as the caption would call them, I would eventually get to know in junior and high school. It was surprising to see Shelly show up in this photo and thought it was interesting that I had held on to this program and actually knew someone in it besides the racers. I see Shelly’s parents at the races all summer long, from Knoxville to Iowa Speedway. I’ll have to make sure they get a copy of that page.
And speaking of copies, if any of you have old issues of the Racing Round-Up or any programs from the Iowa State Fairgrounds from the 1970s, I’d love to take them off of your hands and add them to my archives. Unfortunately, many of the items that I have lost in the floods in the past included most of my old programs from the Fairgrounds. They feature great photos from likes of Beetle Bailey and Dean Malone, and hold a lot of memories. Just contact me at news@positivelyracing.com and let me know if you have any leads.
Further down in that same box was a program from the Fairgrounds that was a little newer, 1989, but none-the-less, just as interesting.
At the time, Des Moines ran IMCA sanctioned stock cars, modifieds and sprint cars. The street stocks were not sanctioned, and there were no late models. Robert Lawton was the promoter at that time. The program lists Joe Adkins and Mick Trier as the announcers, and Bill Olson as the flagman.
The point sheet was current through July 7, and I’ll give you the top ten in each class at that point in the season. IMCA mods: Bill Davis, Kelly Shryock, Dave Farren, Danny Wallace, Kent Kaplan, Jack Miles Jr., Wayne Larson, Rick Gustin, Steve Jackson and Kendall Sather. IMCA stocks: Chris Jensen, Dave Dresser, JR Henely, Judy DeFrance, Don Killen, Randy Havlik, Mike Whaley, Jeff Backous, Pat Fagen and Butch Bass. IMCA sprints: Bob Thompson, Mark Wilson, Walt Esch, Archie Ergenbright, Mike Twedt, Ed Perryman, Jeff Jones, Steve Wares, Mike Crawford and Lyle Sylvester. Street stocks: Jim Reynolds, Larry Embrey, Kenny Miller, Dan Banker, Dan Nicholson, Lewis Culp, Kent Knopf, Robert Ewurs, Mark Hubbard and Darren Clausen.
I was struck by two things when I went through the point sheet: One was how stout the modified field was back then; and two, how many of those drivers listed have retired, disappeared, or unfortunately passed away. Pick up any old track program from any race track you have attended and scan the names on the point sheet. When you are in the heat of the moment, racing seems like it is forever, and nothing ever changes; but when you study the names while looking back, a lot of familiar names and faces have faded into the past. You never really think about it, but when you see it in black and white, it is a little surprising.
From time to time I’ll dig through these things and give you some looks at the past. I love looking at the old pictures and stories. I can remember a lot of the races as if they were just last season. The races and drivers from the 60s and 70s were the ones that set me on the course I follow today. Just a kid in the stands, watching and meeting these people instilled in me the need to continue with racing for the rest of my life. I can’t imagine it any other way. As exciting as 2009 looks to be on the track, the 1971 season holds as much excitement for me now as it did then. I can’t imagine it any other way.