Dirt Racing Blog

Nominations Sought for Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame

ALGONA, IA   The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, established in 2007, seeks to recognize individuals, living or deceased, who distinguished themselves with a record of success or contribution to the betterment of racing in Kossuth County. Honorees must have lived in or raced in Kossuth County, Iowa.

The annual selection of honorees for induction as Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Members begins with the submission of the Nomination Application Form. Anyone is welcome to submit completed applications for consideration.

Nominee applications are available from the following committee members, or Download Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame 2010- APPLICATION (word doc)

Download Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame 2010- APPLICA (PDF Format)

Rick Klein, Kossuth County Fair Board Member, Algona, IA

Dean & Shari Simpson, Simpson Trucking, Algona, IA

Ron Reefer, Algona, IA

Chad Meyer, www.DirtTrackRadio.com, Whittemore, IA

Deadline for applications is December 15, 2009.  Completed applications should be submitted to:

Rick Klein                                                       

1426 E. Commercial St

Algona, IA 505011  

Or

Chad Meyer

PO Box 276

Whittemore, IA 50598

In 2007, eight individuals were honored as the first hall of fame class, represented on the ‘Wall of Fame’, located on the Kossuth County Fairgrounds in Algona, Iowa. The first class included:

Daryl Brayton – Promoter

Leo Christensen – Driver

Dwight Cook – Promoter/Flagman

Jim Edgington – Driver

Leonard Pesicka Sr. – Driver

Gene Schattschneider – Driver

Lamont Wellendorf – Promoter

Les Wildin – Driver

Eight more inductees were recognized during the 150^th Kossuth County Fair in 2008. They included;

B&D Automotive (Bob Arend and Daryl Arend) – Speed Shop, Car Owner

Bobby Grim – Driver

Honsbruch Drug - Sponsor

Butch Householder – Driver

Dennis Hovinga – Driver

Stacy Redmond – Driver

Dick & Dorthy Simpson – Promoters, Track Officials

Don Smith - Media

Inductees recognized in 2009 included;

Larry Cook – Flagman

Don “Shiney” Hilbert – Driver

Wayne Meyer – Builder, Driver, Owner

Orie “Bud” Petersen – Driver

Don Prilipp – Builder, Owner

Richard Simpson – Driver

Jim & Helen Utt – Promoters, Owners

Bob Weber - Driver

 

For more information regarding the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame in Algona, contact any committee member or contact Rick Klein, (rwwheels@netamumail.com) Algona, or Chad Meyer (ChadMeyerMotorsports@yahoo.com) Whittemore.

Bob Weber - 2009 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Inductee

Photo: Bob Weber (left) is shown with his first race car. He and Larry Doocy (right) joined up in 1966 to race a car previously wheeled by Don Doocy.

 

Audio: Bob Weber joins KLGA's Chad Meyer to discuss his racing career and his induction into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.

Bob Weber’s interest in the sport of auto racing was ignited while hanging around the Doocy racing family. Weber’s first stint behind the wheel occurred when he and Larry Doocy joined up in 1966 to run a car that Don Doocy had raced previously. Bob and Larry’s first race together was at the track in Algona. Weber recalls that it was quite a learning experience to have their first races be against the likes of Gene Schattschneider and Butch Householder.

The learning experience continued in the early years as the first car didn’t last long. At a race in Mason City, Weber destroyed the car after barrel rolling 5 times and concluding the wreck by going end-over-end four more. Undeterred, both Weber and Doocy continued their racing relationship through 1970.

In 1971 Weber decided to strike out on his own, moving up to the late model division. The Doocy influence was close at hand though as Larry helped Weber with his first late model. The new Boyce chassis was numbered 12 and carried the “Doocy Repair” lettering on the side.

Weber’s career started at the Algona speed plant, but it was the Fairmont, Minnesota race track that he called home during his late model career. In the 1970’s and early 80’s, Fairmont was the home of some of the most competitive late model racing in the Midwest. While honing his skills against Bob Shryock, Dennis Hovinga, Dave Bjorge and many others, Weber was finding victory lane. In addition to racing in Fairmont, he raced frequently in Mason City and Alta.

Photo: Bob Weber is shown in victory lane after posting the biggest win of his late model career. He swept the Fall Invitational Special in Hartford, South Dakota in 1978.

1978 was a big year for Weber in the late models. After starting the year in his own car, Bob Harris put Weber in the seat of his #2 late model. They proved to be a potent combination as they won multiple times at the fast half mile track in Fairmont. Weber concluded the season with the biggest win of his late model career, winning the ‘Fall Invitational’ special at the track in Hartford, South Dakota.

At the end of nearly every summer he and many of the Fairmont regulars would head to the fall specials at the Clay County Fair, and the South Dakota State Fair in Sioux Falls. During the annual Labor Day special in Rapid City, South Dakota, he finished second to Bob Shryock. He posted strong finishes in other late model special events in Fargo, North Dakota and Alexandria, Minnesota.

It was not uncommon to find Weber behind the wheel of other race cars during his late model career. He was asked to fill in for a suspended Dennis Hovinga at Fairmont Raceway, helping Hovinga maintain his points lead. Weber also drove for track promoter Jim Edgington when Fairmont hosted a midget special, posting a solid finish in his first and only attempt in open wheel cars.

Photo: Bob Weber at speed on the high-banked I-70 Speedway located in Odessa, MO in 1983. In addition to setting a new limited late model track record at I-70, he was the point champion at Fairmont (MN) Raceway and posted a top five finish in the Gopher 50 that year. 

In 1983, Weber drove Rick Oskerson’s limited late model to the Fairmont Raceway track championship and multiple feature wins. In August of that year, they raced on the dirt at the high banked I-70 Speedway in Odessa, MO where Weber blistered the field, posting a new track record. His run in the A-feature was short lived as motor problems sidelined the car. Also in 1983, Weber ran Oskerson’s car against some of the best Midwest late model racers in the Gopher 50 in Owatonna, Minnesota, earning a top five finish.

The late model scene at Fairmont Raceway and in this part of the Midwest vanished in the mid 1980’s and forced Weber to the sidelines until local race engine builder Ron Barton called. 1986 had Weber behind the wheel of the Barton Engines #12 and on his way to a stellar IMCA modified career.

The combination of Barton’s car, and Weber’s driving was a strong one and the highlights were numerous. They won multiple times in Fairmont and Mason City, including a stretch of four wins in a row at Mason City. At the fall NASCAR 50 modified race at Webster City, after starting at the rear of the B-feature and transferring to the main, Weber lined up deep in the field for the A-feature. He quickly moved to front, passing Wayne Larson for the win.

  Photo: 1986 was a big year for Weber in the IMCA modifieds. He was the winner of the NASCAR 50 feature event at the track in Webster City. A feat he did after starting last in the B-main and racing up from the tail of the main event for the win.

In August of 1986 Weber competed in the first ever IMCA modified race in Algona during the Kossuth County Fair. The first modified event in Algona belonged to Weber as he won his heat, trophy dash and lapped everyone but the second place finisher in the A-feature for the win. He rounded out the season qualifying for the IMCA Supernationals held at Knoxville Raceway.

For the next several years, Weber found considerable success in the modified division racing his own cars. In 1989, Weber started the season with a top five finish at the Azalea Nationals in Muskogee, Oklahoma. A multiple feature winner at Webster City and Alta that year, Weber also was the winner of the two-day IMCA Modified Nationals race at Fairmont Raceway and won the annual Fall Futurity at the Webster City track. A testament to his success that year, the race car brought in more prize money than was spent in expenses to keep it on the track.

1990 through 1992 had Weber winning modified races in Webster City, Fairmont, and Jackson, Minnesota.

It was a slow start for Weber in 1993 as challenging weather kept the farmer from Burt on the racing sidelines until the week before the Jackson Nationals. After running well in the warm up to the Nationals, Weber’s confidence was high heading into the special event. Weber jumped out to the lead early and went on to post his first Jackson Nationals victory.

Photo: Bob Weber became only the second driver to win the Jackson Nationals back-to-back when won the IMCA modified event in 1994.

1994 had Weber back at the Jackson Speedway with a hot hand. He won multiple features leading up to the Nationals event, including a stretch that posted three wins in five races. During the Jackson Nationals he continued his mastery of the track, winning the event for the second consecutive year, a feat only Jack McCorkell (sprint cars) had done prior. The season concluded with Weber driving Dennis Hahn’s #31 car at the IMCA Supernationals in Boone, Iowa and at specials in Texas.

Weber’s continued his winning ways at Jackson in 1995, winning weekly shows and the July 4th special. 1996 had Weber racing and winning at the Fairmont and Jackson ovals.

Photo: 1997 and 1998 found Weber behind the wheel of the 'Wetherell Manufacturing #33'. Here he is shown in victory lane at the BVR speedway in Alta, Iowa.

1997 found Weber winning races in the Ron Wetherell owned ‘Wetherell Manufacturing #33’ at the Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa. They also raced at the speed plant in Denison, Iowa and at the Clay County Fair in Spencer.

While Weber’s accomplishments are many in the modified division, his favorite memory is winning the Jackson Nationals back-to-back, with two different cars. The first in a Harris modified, and the win in 1994 using a Pro Chassis.

Weber’s driving career slowed down after racing for Wetherell, however, his influence in the sport continues today. IMCA Supernationals champion Rich Lewerke started his career with some guidance and cars formerly owned by Weber. Local driver’s Jake Simpson and Tad Reutzel both looked to Weber for advice early in their careers.

Weber is grateful for the many people who supported and helped him during his lengthy racing career. Whether it was the Doocy family for helping him start racing or the many people since, he offered his sincere thanks. He states that if it weren’t for his family, Edgar & Esther Meyer, Brian & Dee Lium, Dave Lynch, Donavon & Karla Beenken, Clint Meyer & Chad Meyer and others, he may not have raced as long as he did.

Today, Weber and his wife Joanita reside on their family farm in rural Burt. When he’s not farming, he enjoys spending time with his family and is currently helping rookie driver Joey Lium of Bancroft with his B-modified program. 

Bob Weber joined seven others as 2009 inductees into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place August 8th during the Kossuth County Fair races at Algona Raceway.

Don "Shiney" Hilbert - 2009 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Inductee

Don “Shiney” Hilbert was seemingly someone who was destined to go fast. Hilbert developed a passion for speed in the 1960’s and having a brother-in-law named Gene Schattschneider also didn’t hurt in fostering his interest in motorsports.

Hilbert started racing in the mid 1960’s, running a 1950 Chevy at the track in Algona. During his racing career, Hilbert raced at tracks in Algona, Denison, Webster City, Cresco, Mason City, Alta and Jackson, MN.

His relationship to Kossuth County Racing Hall of Famer’s run deep. Both Schattschneider and Wayne Meyer helped build his cars and it was Meyer’s expertise that helped jumped start Shiney’s career.

Hilbert was a consistent top five finisher in his career, winning races in Algona, Alta and Webster City. He also had a knack for setting a lot of fast time awards and took many trophy dash wins.

There are many stories that surround a racer’s career and Hilbert’s was no different. Sometimes just getting the car to the speedway was a challenge. On more than one occasion, Hilbert’s car was seen in the back his dump truck, heading to the track.

Photo: 'Shiney' Hilbert enjoys the spoils of victory lane. His biggest win came at the track in Webster City in 1967 when he swept the fair races.

Another interesting story of the ingenuity used by racers of that era centers around some race tracks allowed engines to run on alcohol and others did not. One night, Hilbert was at a ‘non-alcohol’ track and forgot to bring his gasoline carburetor. The problem was quickly solved when he borrowed the carb off his sister’s 1967 Chevrolet Impala.

Some of his career highlights include racing on the Dayton, IA horse track and competing against many racers that used the 3 two barrel carburetor configuration, while Hilbert used one 2 barrel carburetor running on alcohol. Hilbert finished up in the money that day.

Possibly his biggest win was when he set fast time, won the trophy dash and completed the clean sweep by winning the feature event during the 1967 Hamilton County Fair afternoon race in Webster City, beating the likes of George Barton and Del Stokke.

Photo: 'Shiney' Hilbert is shown is victory lane after posting the trophy dash win. Hilbert was a stand on the gas racer, posting numerous fast time awards in his career.

Hilbert retired from racing in 1972 to focus on his show cattle business. While Hilbert stepped away from driving, he continued to play an instrumental role and a driving force in his son Greg’s racing career and was very much involved behind the scenes.

He returned to the sport in 1986 when his son Greg started racing. He and Greg shared seat time, alternating weekends racing at the Algona track until mid 1988. A testament to his love of the sport, Hilbert was just as passionate about his son’s racing career, as he was his own.

While Hilbert passed away in 2002, his spirit and passion for racing very much remains alive. His son Greg recently completed a recreation of Shiney’s 1957 Chevrolet convertible race car that is frequently seen in car shows and periodically competes in vintage racing events.

Hilbert plus seven others were inducted into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame during the Kossuth County Fair on August 8th.

Wayne Meyer - 2009 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Inductee

There wasn’t much Wayne Meyer did not do in racing around Kossuth County and in the state of Iowa. A first for the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, one individual will be inducted for excelling at nearly every role possible in local racing.

Meyer is remembered as possibly one the best race car fabricators and tuners in the area. Cars either built or worked on by Meyer were more times than not found in victory lane and certainly on the cutting edge of innovation during that era. Meyer was also a car owner who achieved tremendous success in racing. Legendary drivers Jim Edgington and Butch Householder amassed many feature wins and track championships in Meyer’s cars. Meyer was also a winning race car driver. Along the way, he helped many local racers make their cars faster, sponsored drivers with their fledgling careers and above all was remembered by most as a great man.

Growing up as a tough Algona farm kid, Meyer’s competiveness shown early as he earned a starting role on the Algona High School football team as a freshman. During those high school years, he formed a friendship that lasted a life time with Gene Schattschneider.

It was in the early 1960’s when both Meyer and Schattschneider left go carts and began their careers in car racing. With Schattschneider behind the wheel of Dutch Honsbruch’s car, Meyer began by lending a hand with fabrication and engine work. Over time, this proved to be a match made in heaven as Meyer provided the mechanical ingenuity and personality that helped make the team almost unbeatable.

Honsbruch provided the race team with the resources needed to compete, including a shop that housed the Honsbruch #56 in the rear and Meyer’s Algona Auto Repair in the front. Meyer and Schattschneider were almost inseparable for several years as they built race cars and for a time operated Algona Auto Repair together.

It is hard to imagine just how ingrained Meyer’s life was with racing. While being a key component in Schattschneider’s career, the Algona Auto Repair shop was a central figure in Kossuth County racing. Meyer is credited with helping drivers on their cars, including Don ‘Shiney’ Hilbert and many others. After the races, the Meyer shop also served as a place to congregate as drivers and crews would stop by.

Photo: Car owner Wayne Meyer (left) confers with his driver Butch Householder before racing action at the track in Denision, Iowa. Meyer and Householder were a potent combination, dominating the racing scene at Denison and across Iowa.

During the mid 1960’s, in addition to helping Schattschneider, he also began building and owning race cars with Jim Edginginton as the driver. Edgington had plenty of success in the car, winning races at the Algona track. When local hot shoe Butch Householder wrecked his car at mid-season, Meyer came to the rescue offering his car for Householder to drive. Householder went on to win the track championship that year in Algona with Meyer’s car.

This owner-driver combination reached near legendary status over the next few years. At the time, track promoter Lamont Wellendorf operated racing facilities in Algona, Cresco, Mason City and Denison and Householder and Meyer won many races and point championships. With Householder as the driver, they are remembered for their domination of the Denison track as they won countless weekly races, and multiple special events and point titles.

Meyer had also had a knack for securing sponsorship to keep his race cars on the track. The team’s success in Denison and his outgoing personality landed the #65 the Jo-Mart Motel & Steakhouse sponsorship and later when Meyer was driving his own cars, sponsorship from Speed & Sport plus Levien Chevrolet in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Photo: In addition to being a ace fabricator, car builder, and car owner, Wayne Meyer was also a sucessful driver. Here he on track at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa.

 Meyer also took his turn behind the wheel of his race cars, proving that he could get the job done as a driver as well. In 1972, he earned the ‘Most Improved Driver’ award at Boone Speedway. He was also a winner of races in Webster City, Harlan, Denison, Alta and Mason City during the North Iowa Fair.

As Meyer’s own career was winding down, he stayed involved in the sport by continuing to help others with their race cars and providing sponsorships to drivers starting their racing careers.

Wayne Meyer and seven others were inducted into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame on August 8th during the fair races in Algona.

Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Induction August 8th

Photo: Bob Weber races his late model out of turn four at the Buena Vista Raceway in Alta during early 1970's action. Weber and seven others will be inducted into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame during the fair races Saturday, August 8th.

The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame will be honoring its 2009 class of inductees during the annual Kossuth County Fair.

The third annual induction ceremony will take place during this year’s Kossuth County Fair races, held Saturday August 8th at Algona Raceway.

The 2009 inductees into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame include:

Larry Cook – Flagman
Don ‘Shiney’ Hilbert – Driver
Wayne Meyer – Driver, Builder, Car Owner,
Orie ‘Bud’ Petersen – Driver
Don Prilipp – Car Owner, Builder
Richard Simpson – Driver
Jim & Helen Utt – Promoters, Car Owners
Bob Weber – Driver

Prior to the fair races at 5:00 p.m., the hall of fame inductees will have their ‘class photograph’ taken in front of the Wall of Fame that is constructed at the main entrance to the grandstand.

At 5:45 p.m., representatives from the 2009 inductees will be featured on the Monson Salvage Trackside Live show from Algona Raceway. The radio show will be broadcast live on KLGA 92.7 FM and on www.AlgonaRadio.com.

The 2009 inductees into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame will be introduced at the pit meeting prior to the races and the official induction ceremony will be held during intermission at the fair races.

This year’s class features four race drivers that achieved great success behind the wheel. Don ‘Shiney’ Hilbert, Orie ‘Bud’ Petersen, Richard Simpson and Bob Weber will all be recognized for their legendary racing careers.

Wayne Meyer will be remembered for his contribution to the sport as a builder, car owner and driver.

The team of Jim & Helen Utt will be honored for their many years as car owners and as promoters of the Algona track. 

Larry Cook will be recognized for his many years as a flagman at Algona and several Midwestern racing facilities.

During the induction ceremony, Don Prilipp will be honored as a car builder and a car owner who helped launch the careers of sprint car racing’s best.

Input from the public and the committee garnered nearly 80 candidates for consideration this year. The committee, with the help of the living members of the Kossuth Racing Hall of Fame, selected the eight inductees for 2009. Candidates not selected in 2009 will be considered for future inductions.

This event will also serve as a reunion for both past current inductees. The inductees in the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, their families, and friends are invited to attend the night’s activities.

The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame committee, Kossuth County Fair Board, and Algona Raceway are excited to honor the racers, promoters, and track officials that have made racing great at Algona Raceway.

All race fans are invited to attend the Kossuth County Fair Races and the Hall of Fame ceremony held at the Algona Raceway August 8th.

Jim and Helen Utt – 2009 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Inductees

By Chad Meyer

During the 1960’s, the racing scene was in full swing at the Algona track and local business owners Jim and Helen Utt became interested in the sport of racing. Jim’s first involvement in the sport of racing was a pit crew member of the “Flying Dutchman” team that had Gene Schattschneider as the driver.

 Local modified drivers such as Jim Edgington and Les Wildin helped keep the local racing enthusiasm lit and it wasn’t long before the Utt’s jumped in as car owners.

Around 1962 the Utt’s started fielding a modified with St. Peter, Minnesota hot shoe Bobby Geldner behind the wheel. The Utt Electric #30 raced regularly at the half mile ovals in Fairmont and Jackson, MN until 1970. While Geldner went on to become a successful sprint car driver, it was behind the wheel of Utt’s modified that he honed his skills and helped build his legend at southern Minnesota speed plants. As a testament to their success, Utt earned the Top Mechanic award during the 1966 season at VFW Speedway in Jackson, Minnesota,

The Utt’s bought their first sprint car in 1970 from Humboldt, Iowa’s Wayne Funk. Sprint car ace Dick Forbrook of Morgan, MN spent nearly four years behind the wheel of the car. During that first year of sprint cars, it was not uncommon for them to race both the modified and sprint car, especially at the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa.

At that time, many sprint car teams started their racing season in Tampa during the Florida State Fair and Utt’s team was no different. One notable memory occurred in 1972 when Dick Forbrook’s plane was delayed to Florida for two nights, causing the team to look for a substitute driver. They were fortunate to have one of the best ever sprint car drivers in Jan Opperman fill until Forbrook could make it to the track.

Kossuth County Racing Hall of Famer Jim Edgington piloted the Utt Electric sprint car at the Algona speedway in 1975.

It was also in 1975 when Jim and Helen did double duty by becoming the track promoters for the track in Algona along with fielding their sprinter for Edgington. This marked the return of sprint cars to the racing program at Algona. The Utt’s were supported well by the sprint car teams as the track fielded good car counts. That year proved to be Jim and Helen’s only year as promoters, however, as it was tough to support sprint cars in a community that had not raced that class of cars regularly.

After Edgington, Des Moines, Iowa driver Ralph Blackett drove for Jim & Helen Utt from 1976 through 1977. Larry Kirkpatrick of Wood River, Illinois also drove their sprinter.

In 1978 the Utt’s bought a four-bar Trostle sprinter and had Gary Johnson as their driver. Johnson remained the driver for two years until he took the opportunity to become the flagman at Knoxville Raceway.

While running sprint cars, the race team traveled all of the United States to chase races. In the early 1970’s they ran Friday’s at Stuart, Saturday’s at Knoxville, Iowa and Sunday’s at the North Star Speedway in St. Paul, Minnesota. When the county and state fairs began in the summer, these events were added to their schedule as well.

They hit the county fair in Knoxville, Illinois and then traveled to county fairs in Chippewa Falls and Wausau, Wisconsin in the same weekend. Along with state fairs in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, they raced at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia on both the half-mile and mile tracks. They also raced at the DuQuoin, Illinois mile track plus Shreveport, Louisiana and at Manzanita, Arizona for the Western National Sprint Car Championships

Some of the racing highlights for the Utt family include finishing third in the IMCA national point standings in 1976 with Larry Kirkpatrick at the wheel. With Dick Forbrook as their driver they were multiple feature winners of the Clay County Fair races in Spencer in the modified. Larry Kirkpatrick was the winner of the county fair race in Knoxville, Illinois. They also posted several top finishes at Knoxville Raceway. The Utt’s race team is certainly remembered for winning races, almost always finishing up front and having a lot of fun.

Jim & Helen Utt retired from racing in 1980 when they sold out their sprint cars and equipment to a racer in Knoxville, Iowa.

While Jim and Helen Utt have passed away, they are remembered as caring people and for their generosity. Members of their crew appreciated that the Utt’s truly took care of them, especially when they were on the road. They also remember that after each year’s Clay County Fair, the Utt’s would host a barbeque and invited many racers, crew and teams to Algona. 

That level of respect also came from competitors and fans who watched races while the Utt’s operated the Algona racing facility.

They are also remembered for running a successful business. Utt Electric helped start the careers of many electricians in the Algona and Kossuth County area. Former employees remember being treated like family, especially around the holiday’s when the Utt’s would host their annual dinner.

Jim and Helen Utt will join seven others as 2009 inductees into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place August 8th during the Kossuth County Fair races at Algona Raceway.

Decorah Deery Winner - Jay Johnson

I know its a week late and few dollars short (finally getting caught up, sorry), however, I posted below an audio link to Decorah, IA Deery Bros. Late Model winner Jay Johnson from victory lane.

I ALWAYS enjoy my trip to the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah. Last week was the only time that I've seen that track rubber up into only one lane. Usually that little track hosts some lights out racing.

But don't take just my word for it....I greatly enjoyed the chance to meet up with Kyle Ealy and Ed Reichert at the show.

You can read Kyle's recap at Kyle Ealy's Pit Pass. (and I sincerely appreciate his kind words).

Also, be sure to check out my new fave website: Midwest Racing Archives

Ballad of Ol' JP - Jim Edgington Tribute Video

This video has been circulating the web for a bit, but thought I would pass it along to this site's loyal viewers.

You can see the video here...

The video, created and performed by one of Jim Edgington's main men from back in the day, Roger Hendrickson. JP is in the middle of the photo, with Hendrickson on the right. The other key component of this formidable team was engine builder and car owner Ron Barton, shown on the left in the photo.

The ties to the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame run deep in this photo. Edgington was inducted in 2007. In the first few frames of the video, you can see fellow first year Hall of Famer, Leo Christensen's famous 8 ball race car.

When the video pans right, you can see 2009 Hall of Fame inductee Jim & Helen Utt's modified pulling into their pit stall. My guess is that Bobby Geldner was Utt's driver on that day.

 And the ties to the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame don't end there. While Ron Barton acheived much success with the Edgington as his driver, it was not the last time a Hall of Fame driver was in the seat of his car.

Bob Weber (shown above, red #12), who drove Barton's IMCA modified in 1986. They won a bunch of races thatyear, including the first ever IMCA mod race at the track in Algona during the Kossuth County Fair.

Larry Cook - 2009 KCRHoF Inductee

Photo: Alta track promoter Dick Simpson (left) shakes hands with race winner Dennis Hovinga while flagman Larry Cook presents the checkers.

Larry Cook was born into a racing family and seemingly was ordained from the start to become involved in the sport. Cook’s father Chet was a racer and car owner in his day. His uncle Dwight Cook was also heavily involved in the sport as a flagman and track promoter of the Kossuth County track.

Larry’s first involvement in the sport of racing was behind the wheel. In the early 1960’s his wife Kay worked for Dutch Honsbruch at Honsbruch Drug. One day she mentioned to Honsbruch that Larry liked racing. Soon after, Honsbruch, Cook and Gene Schattschneider collaborated on building a race car. Honsbruch helped provide the funding, Schattschneider used his mechanical ability to help build the car and Cook was slated to be the driver.

The trio’s first race was in 1961 on the half mile track in Algona. Cook’s first time behind the wheel, would prove to be his only time, however.  In that first race, competitor Larry Cordes crashed in the fourth turn sending his car over the wall. When Cordes’ car came to a rest it burst into flames with the driver trapped inside. Cook and others rushed to aid Cordes; however, since the car landed outside the track, it was difficult to get the driver extracted in time.

The experience caused Cook to take a step back and decide that driving the race car was not worth the potential risks involved. Sometime later, Algona track promoter Lamont Wellendorf asked Cook to be the flagman. This began a long career as a track official that lasted until 1982.

Photo: Flagman Larry Cook (left) joins race winner Arnie Braaland in victory lane at Alta. Promoter Dick Simpson is also shown in the winners circle.

It turned out to be a true family affair as Cook would flag the races, his wife worked in the concession stand and his children sold the National Hawkeye Racing News in the grandstand. Cook’s career as a flagman grew as was soon flagging events four to five nights a week. During his career he flagged at tracks in Algona, Alta, Harlan, Denison, Rock Rapids and Fairmont.

He counts his favorite memories as all the friends he made in the sport and having the opportunity to work for great promoters like Wellendorf and Dick Simpson. Other favorite memories included flagging events in the Midwest that drivers like A.J. Foyt and Johnny Rutherford competed in. He also considered Gene Schattschneider and Les Wildin as friends.

Being a flagman at a short track can also pose some challenges at times. He recalls a night at Algona in which Bruce Sommerfeld was so mad at Cook for black flagging him; the driver brought a five gallon pail of water to the front stretch to douse Cook.

The hardest night for Cook as a flagman occurred in 1976 when he was run over on the track by a driver and was thrown nearly 150 feet. Cook recovered; however, he says he was quite grateful that shortly after that tracks started putting the flag stand in the grandstands.

Cook left the flag stand for the final time in 1982. Cook then moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1985 to manage a location there for VanderHaag’s.

Today, Cook is retired and he and his wife Kay split their time between homes in Arnolds Park, Iowa and in Arizona. They will be celebrating 50 years together in February 2010.

Larry Cook plus seven others will be inducted into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame on August 8^th during the Kossuth County Fair.

Richard Simpson - 2009 KCRHoF Inductee

Audio interview with Richard Simpson

Richard Simpson, originally of Irvington, IA, got his racing start in 1961. Simpson plus Boyd Shipler, Duane Larson and Duane Price pooled their resources to build their first race car, a 1950 Plymouth with a well-pipe roll cage. With Simpson driving in their first race, which was at the Algona track, a lug nut came loose and the car rolled in the fourth turn.

Simpson, Shipler and Larson each took a turn driving that first car, with Price opting to stay out of the seat to concentrate on fabrication. After each had a chance to drive the car in a race, Larson and Shipler decided to turn the helmet over to Simpson, who raced the car the rest of the year. In addition to racing in Algona, the group tried their hand at Figure 8 racing in Belmond. At the conclusion of the first year, the four car owners had paid a total of $33 each to build the car and race it in 1961.

When the 1963 racing season started, Simpson was found behind the wheel of Irvin Hildman’s race car. Hildman, who purchased Les Wildin’s #00 modified for Simpson to drive, utilized a six cylinder engine in the car when most teams had switched to the new overhead valve V8 Chevy motor. This combination proved competitive on the shorter tracks; however, the new V8 motors had a horsepower advantage on the larger half mile’s. The combination netted a third place finish in the final point standings in Algona.

In 1964 Simpson raced a 1955 Chevy in the stock car class at the tracks in Algona, Mason City and Belmond. 1965 found Simpson behind the wheel of Gary Zwiefel’s Chrysler with a motor whose previous home was in a farmer’s corn sheller. During the late 1960’s he raced Bob Lewerke’s stock car. In a testament to Simpson’s skill in the driver’s seat, the only time he drove his own race car was the first year he raced.

Simpson recalls that racing in the 1960’s had some of the stiffest competition anywhere. He counts Gene Schattschneider as one of the toughest racers he competed against. One of Simpson’s fondest memories was racing against Schattschneider at Alta during that time. Simpson was running second to his rival when Gene suddenly spun to the infield, coming to rest in a pond of water. With Simpson now the leader, he came by the next lap to see Schattschneider standing on top of his car acting like he was fishing. Simpson went on to win the race.

After the 1968 racing season, Simpson quit racing cars for nearly seventeen years. He kept busy during this break by racing go carts and snowmobiles for Howard Funnemark.

 Like so many other Kossuth County racers, when the Algona track reopened in the mid 1980’s, Simpson found himself behind the wheel once again. In 1985, car owner Joe Ringsdorf purchased Norm Baker’s hobby stock and put Simpson in the seat.

His years driving Ringsdorf’s cars were his best as a race car driver. Simpson picked up numerous wins at tracks in Algona, Mason City, Webster City and others. A favorite memory of Simpson was racing Ringsdorf’s old Chevy Nova to a win at Mason City over the Chevy Camaro’s of Al and Mike Hejna in 1986.

Another memory for Simpson was filling in for his uncle Bob Lewerke at Algona Raceway in the mid 1980’s. Lewerke had to be gone on race night so they put Simpson in the stock car. Simpson, never having driven the car, adapted quickly and went on to win the feature that night.

 After starting in hobby stocks for Ringsdorf, they progressed to stock cars and then to pro stocks (limited late models). In his last season behind the wheel of a race car, Simpson won the 1994 Kossuth County Fair race at Algona, one of his biggest wins.

Today, Simpson, who is 70 years old, still spends his time around plenty of horsepower. He and his wife Jeanetta farm in the Irvington and Algona area with their son Barry. In his free time, he spends many weekends (and some week days) going to car shows, participating in area antique tractor rides and riding his bicycle in RAGBRAI.

Richard Simpson will join seven others as 2009 inductees into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place August 8th during the Kossuth County Fair races at Algona Raceway.