In a
duel between Stott and Ernie Derr described by announcer George Rogerson of Burlington
Most
of the other drivers in the field, faced with the sorry fact that they had as
much chance beating the Keokuk duo as Myrtle French does in getting a downtown
restroom, lagged behind from the start.
Only three competitors (Lenny Funk, Larry
Phillips and Ed Negre) managed to survive being lapped by Derr and Stott. By
finishing the 50 laps, they garnered the next three places.
This
sort of mismatched racing in which Stott and Derr overpower the others with
their Chrysler sponsored hemi-powered cars, could come to an end next year
since Chrysler will drop its stock car interests. Thus, all drivers will be
independent.
According
to Gene Van Winkle, vice-president of the National Speedways and impresario of
Friday's races, this will make for a much better racing card.
”The little men will have a better chance than they do now,” he said. “And we should get more cars and closer races. This year we had fewer factory cars than last, and there have been more cars competing.”
Still,
he says, “Ramo and Ernie are going to be awful tough to beat, even if they are
on an independent basis.”
Asked
if the Ford Company will put any of its autos in IMCA races next season, as is
has suggested it might, Van Winkle said he doubts it; since Ford, too has
pondered discontinuing its manufacturing of souped-up stock cars.
Although
he feels competition would be better if Ford doesn’t expand, Van Winkle said
IMCA rules provide that any manufacturer who has 500 stock cars sold can not be
blackballed from IMCA racing.
Getting
back to the other race; Friday night, there was less of the usual fender
bending than might occur at the kiddy car track in Crapo Park
Derr
set two track records in his first two attempts, winning the time trials with a
27.03 second clocking (breaking Stott’s 1962 mark of 27.11) and the first
10-lap heat race in 4 minutes and 45 seconds (breaking Dick Hutcherson’s 1964
record of 4 minutes and 50 seconds).
Derr
took control of the heat race in the fourth lap, and held off a strong
challenge of John Mickey to take the race by 50 yards. Lenny Funk won the second
heat, wiping out Stott by 25 yards.
The
third 10-lapper went to Lewis Taylor of Shawnee ,
Kan.
Stott
also outran Derr in the 5-lap STP Handicap (with the four car field rounded out
by the autos of Funk and Mickey).
By
spurting away from the slower pair in the straight-aways, but getting
outmaneuvered on the curves, Derr and Stott eased away from Mickey and Funk;
with Stott eventually winning fairly easily.
Results
–
Time Trials: Ernie Derr (27.03)
First
Heat: Ernie Derr
Second
Heat: Lenny Funk
Third
Heat: Lewis Taylor
STP
Handicap: Ramo Stott
Consolation:
Hank Melhorn
Feature:
- Ramo Stott
- Ernie Derr
- Lennie Funk
- Larry Phillips
- Ed Negre
- Lewis Taylor
- Ole Brua
- Bob Janey
- John Mickey
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