1975 – Sessions Set Salem Mark

Sam Sessions

Salem, Ind. (April 27, 1975) – Sam Sessions, driving the Gene Hamilton sprinter, captured the 40-lap USAC sprint car feature at the high-banked Salem Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Sessions started on the outside of the front row and charged into the lead on the first lap’s first turn. He took a commanding lead over Bill Cassella, Joe Saldana and Larry Dickson and stayed in front all the way to the checkered flag. The 40 laps were run caution free and Sessions was able to establish a new track record of 12 minutes and 4 seconds, for a speed of 99.425 mile per hour.

Cassella, Saldana, Dickson and Bill Engelhart were locked into a tight battle the entire distance with Dickson slowly picking off each one to take runner-up honors. Cassella was running fourth on lap 39 but lost an engine with less than half a lap to go. He would coast across the finish line in eighth place.

The win for Sessions was his first since July of 1974 when he copped a feature win at New Bremen, Ohio. The win moved Sessions into fifth place in the point standings.

Dickson, with his second-place finish, catapulted to first place in the point standings with 147 points to Joe Saldana’s 146.

Defending point champion Pancho Carter, who passed up Salem in favor of a race in Trenton, N.J., fell from second to fourth in the standings.


Results –


1. Sam Sessions
2. Larry Dickson
3. Bill Engelhart
4. Joe Saldana
5. Sheldon Kinser
6. Chuck Gurney
7. Bruce Walkup
8. Bill Cassella
9. George Snider
10. Bob Frey

1986 - Fenn, Banks, Spilman Win at Eldon

Denny Banks of Washington is joined by his 5-month-old son Brandon after winning the IMCA modified feature at Eldon Raceway. Ron Potts presents the checkers. – Kathy Root Photo

Eldon, Iowa (April 26, 1986) – Kenny Fenn, Denny Banks, and Mike Spilman opened the 1986 racing season at Eldon Raceway with victories in their respective divisions.

Fenn, of Washington, put his late model out front at the drop of the green flag and held on to capture the feature win. Chasing him hard the entire way was Sonny Findling of Kirksville, Mo. Fenn and Jim Brown of Ottumwa were heat winners.

Denny Banks of Washington continued his winning ways of last year when he scored nine feature wins at the “Super Half-Mile.” Banks survived four red and yellow flags to win the 12-lap feature, Nipping at Banks’ heels was Randy Schroeder of Sigourney. Banks and Schroeder were heat winners.

Mike Spilman of Hedrick, the 1985 street stock champion, opened up a successful defense of his title with a feature win over Aaron Brown of Fremont. Spilman and Allen Reed of Washington were heat winners.


Results –


Late Model –

1. Kenny Fenn, Washington
2. Sonny Findling, Kirksville, Mo.
3. Keith Allen, Eldon
4. Harley Harrelson, Brashear, Mo.
5. Lynn Monroe, Memphis, Mo.
6. Jim Brown, Ottumwa
7. Daryl Hemm, Eldon
8. Jerry Asher, Kirksville, Mo.
9. Ted Pallister, Wapello


IMCA Modified –

1. Denny Banks, Washington
2. Randy Schroeder, Sigourney
3. Dan Jay, Centerville
4. Bill Shipman, Oskaloosa


Street Stock –

1. Mike Spilman, Hedrick
2. Aaron Brown, Fremont
3. Kim Spees, Selma
4. Mike Payne, Sigourney
5. Marion Sherman, Tracy

Veteran Kenny Fenn won the late model season opener at Eldon Raceway. Flagman Ron Potts joins Fenn in victory lane. – Kathy Root Photo

1981 – Dirt Champs Make Debut at Eldora

Steve Kinser

Rossburg, Ohio (April 26, 1981) – A first time ever was recorded with the appearance of the United States Auto Club’s Dirt Championship Cars.

Well known racer Tom Bigelow turned in a fast-qualifying time of 17.113 seconds, which will stand as track record for future races at Eldora Speedway. The 24 entries were broken into two heat races, won by Tom Bigelow and the King of the Outlaw's, Steve Kinser.

A change in rules now makes it possible for drivers who are not sanctioned with USAC to compete on the Dirt Champ circuit.

The 100-lap feature was dominated by Steve Kinser, who took the lead with the drop of the green flag and held it the entire 100 laps.

The red flag was brought out on the 41st lap when Bobby Olivero hit the cement retaining wall in the fourth turn, sending his sprinter end over end, until finally coming to rest back on its wheels at the bottom of the track. Olivero escaped injury.

Larry Rice and Larry Dickson were also taken out of the action by separate accidents.

Sheldon Kinser, who was in the tangle with Rice, managed to escape damage, but was forced to return to the tail of the field, where as he was in second position.

Gary Bettenhausen, the defending Dirt Champ qualified his car, but put Steve Chassey in his place for the feature race, which meant by USAC rules that Steve would also start on the rear.

The end result of the feature was Steve Kinser in victory lane, then came Jack Hewitt, Steve Chassey, Paul Pitzer, and cousin to the winner, all-time favorite Sheldon Kinser.

By securing the second position, Jack Hewitt now leads the Silver Crown Series in points.

At the close of the activities Sunday, promoter Earl Baltes was given an award in appreciation of all he has done for this area's racing and in recognition of the fact that over $1 million dollars has been handed out in prize money since 1965.


Results –

1. Steve Kinser
2. Jack Hewitt
3. Steve Chassey
4. Paul Pitzer
5. Sheldon Kinser
6. Leland McSpadden
7. Steve Cannon
8. Chris Cumberworth
9. Bill Compton
10.Tom Bigelow
11.Larry Dickson
12.Bud Wilmot
13.Bobby Olivero
14.Billy Vukovich
15.Greg Leffler
16.Joe Saldana
17.Larry Rice
18.Lennie Waldo
19.Bill Tyler
20.Bill Engelhart

1970 – Droste is Big Winner at Vinton

LaVern "Red" Droste

Vinton, Iowa (April 26, 1970) – Hard-charging Red Droste of Waterloo, Iowa, made a clean sweep of the racing action to take the Spring Championship at the Benton County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon.

Droste won the third heat and then charged from his tenth starting position in the 25-lap feature to snare the title.

Ed Sanger of Waterloo took the early lead in the main event and held it until Curt Hansen charged by Sanger on lap 10. Sanger would be forced out of the running on lap 16 with mechanical issues.

Droste would methodically work his way through the pack and take over the second spot by lap 13. Droste would power by Hansen on lap 19 and then withstand several challenges from the Dike, Iowa, youngster for the remaining six circuits.

Hansen hung on for second while Glen Martin of Independence, Iowa, took third. Skip Kennedy of Dubuque, Iowa and Bill Barthelmes of Walker, Iowa, rounded out the top-five.

Sanger, Hansen and Droste won heat races while Skip Kennedy was the semi-main winner. Dick Oldham of Des Moines won the consolation.


Results –


Heat #1 – Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
Heat #2 – Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
Heat #3 – Red Droste, Waterloo, Iowa
Semi-main – Skip Kennedy, Dubuque, Iowa
Consolation – Dick Oldham, Des Moines
Feature –
1. Red Droste
2. Curt Hansen
3. Glen Martin, Independence, Iowa
4. Skip Kennedy
5. Bill Barthelmes, Walker, Iowa
6. Ed Brown, Dubuque, Iowa
7. George Barton, Ankeny, Iowa
8. Paul Uhlenberg, Garwin, Iowa
9. A.E. Mayner, Winthrop, Iowa
10.Jim Havill, New Liberty, Iowa

1982 – Sauter and Hanley Star in ARTGO Grundy 50’s

Junior Hanley won the second of two 50-lap features for the ARTGO late models at Grundy County Speedway. - Bob Elman Photo 

By Stan Kalwasinski

Morris, Ill. (April 25, 1982) – Jim Sauter and Junior Hanley each captured a main event as ARTGO Racing presented a twin 50-lap late model special at Grundy County Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Both Sauter and Hanley piloted 1981 Camaros in recording their first ARTGO feature triumphs of the year.

A field of 22 cars started the first 50-lap main, with Steve Burgess grabbing the early lead from his front row starting position.

Pressed hard by Ron Bloomberg, Burgess was still in front on lap 8 when Larry Cooper and Wayne Para tangled in turn four necessitating the event’s first yellow banner.

Before the entire field could taking the ensuing green, the yellow light flashed again as Dave Weltmeyer tagged the frontstretch wall after a shock absorber in his mount gave way.

Burgess paced the restart but another caution came out on lap 10 when Joe Shear, who was running third, blew the engine in his machine, dropping oil all over the track.

With Burgess still in command, the yellow flew as the leaders attempted to complete the 17th circuit when Burt Weitemeyer and Dave Tomczak got together between turns one and two.

At the halfway mark, Burgess was still the leader but then Sauter entered the battle for first place, trailed by Dick Barker, Tom Jones, Jim Weber, and Tom Reffner.

Sauter, the 1981 ARTGO champion, took over first place on lap 30 and was still on top on lap 38 when the final yellow waved for Woody Pool’s Maverick, which had stalled on the frontstretch.

The final 12 laps saw Jones challenge Sauter but the Necedah, Wis., pilot was equal to the test and crossed the finish line a couple of car lengths ahead of Jones. Burgess was third, followed by Reffner and Hanley.

A total of 23 cars started the second 50, with Curt Cheshire pacing the field at the drop of the green.

Only three laps were complete when the race’s first yellow appeared as Burgess spun in turn one while running sixth, sending the rest of the field behind him scattering.

Cheshire led the first seven laps but surrendered the top spot the next time around, as he and second running Frank Gawlinski spun between turns one and two, again scattering the flowing pack.

Inheriting the lead, Hanley quickly built a strong advantage, putting daylight between himself and the runner-up Barker.

Another yellow slowed the battle on lap 16when Gawlinski backed hard into the third turn wall.

The green flag remained out the rest of the way, with Hanley on top at the 25-lap mark trailed by Barker, Reffner, Sauter, Jones, and Tracy Schuler.

A real battle ensued for third place between Reffner, Sauter, Jones, and Al Schill, winner of the 1982 ARTGO season opener at Rockford, diced lap after lap.

Sauter then began to make his move, slipping by Reffner on lap 36 and then snaring second place from Barker on lap 44.

Moving up on Hanley for the final six circuits, Sauter saw his time run out before he could complete a charge from the outside groove.

Hanley took the checkered only a few car lengths ahead Sauter, who was followed by Jones, Schill, and Reffner.


Results –


Feature #1 –

1. Jim Sauter, Necedah, Wis.
2. Ton Jones, Northbrook
3. Steve Burgess, Eau Claire, Wis.
4. Tom Reffner, Rudolph, Wis.
5. Junior Hanley, Oakville, Ont.
6. Jim Weber, Roseville, Minn.
7. Dick Barker, Detroit, Mich.
8. Frank Gawlinski, Lynwood
9. Kevin Stepan, Mosinee, Wis.
10.Curt Cheshire, Hickory Hills


Feature #2 –

1. Junior Hanley
2. Jim Sauter
3. Tom Jones
4. Al Schill, Franklin, Wis.
5. Tom Reffner
6. Dick Barker
7. Tracy Schuler, Lockport
8. Dave Weltmeyer, Harvey
9. Rich Bickle Jr., Edgerton, Wis.
10.Burt Weitemeyer, Lansing

1975 - Hansen Wins Columbus Junction Opener

Curt Hansen 

Columbus Junction, Iowa (April 25, 1975) – Curt Hansen of Dike started on the outside pole position and ran away with the late model feature at the season opener at Columbus Junction.

Hansen took the lead at the start of the 20-lapper with Mel Morris of West Liberty breathing down his neck the whole way. Despite constant pressure from Morris, Hansen was able to take the checkers. Bill Rice of Des Moines took third, Steve Keppler of Marion was fourth and Ron Prymek of Iowa City took fifth.

Rice set fast time in time trials, touring the half-mile in 25.83 seconds.

Three heats were run on the cold and windy night, with Tom Hearst of Muscatine walking away with honors in a bumper-to-bumper finish with Prymek in the first heat. John Moss of Iowa City, back in the saddle after a couple of years layoff from racing, easily won the second heat. Mel Morris won the third heat over Larry “Poo” Rummelhart of Riverside.

Dave Birkhofer of Muscatine won the semi-main after earlier going over the berm on the first lap of the first heat. Ron Hemsted of Lone Tree and Bud Darting of Wilton Junction followed.


Results –


Time trials – Bill Rice, Des Moines (25.83)
Heat #1 – Tom Hearst, Muscatine
Heat #2 – John Moss, Iowa City
Heat #3 – Mel Morris, West Liberty
Semi-main – Dave Birkhofer, Muscatine
Feature –
1. Curt Hansen, Dike
2. Mel Morris
3. Bill Rice
4. Steve Keppler, Marion
5. Ron Prymek, Iowa City
6. Tom Hearst
7. Stan Stover, Reinbeck
8. Ed Mellecker, Iowa City
9. John Moss
10.Larry Rummelhart, Riverside

1985 - Judd Tunis, 88, Funeral Held in Waterloo

 

Waterloo, Iowa (April 24, 1985) – Funeral services were held for Judd L. Tunis, 88, Waterloo, Iowa, at Memorial Park Chapel with burial at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mr. Tunis, who was born on May 2, 1896, died April 24 at Schoitze Hospice Unit. He was born in Independence, Iowa, the son of august and Charlotte Tunis. He married Marie Fish in 1917.

At the age of 10, he was employed by Wittick Meats. In 1923, he and his wife opened up a butcher shop in the location presently occupied by Conway Civic Center in downtown Waterloo. In 1942, he opened a wholesale meat outlet in the family home on University Avenue.

He constructed a half-mile horse track at the family home and in the late 1940’s began construction of a smaller dirt track inside the horse track for automobile racing. The first races held in the late 1940’s were midget races, and the track began operating on a weekly basis in 1950, running the popular post-war “jalopies”.

Tunis Speedway operated continuously through the 1979 season when it was closed to weekly events because of several reasons – foremost, the development of the area around the track with new homes, and the Waterloo Noise Control ordinance.

In addition to horse and auto racing, Mr. Tunis supported numerous entertainment events, including car stunt shows, circuses, and parades.

He was an expert horseman and spent hours training his horses on the large track.

Mr. Tunis was active in the Waterloo Masonic Lodge No. 105, served as an officer in the White Lodge Shrine of Jerusalem No. 9 of Cedar Falls, and was a long-time member of the High 12 Club.