Wednesday, July 24, 2024

1955 – Hilmer Sets Record, White Wins Race

 

Don White 



Sioux Falls, S.D. (July 24, 1955) – Don White, who has been beset by mechanical troubles for several weeks in his 1955 Oldsmobile, found the shoe on the other foot Sunday as he won the 100-lap feature of the late model stock car races at the Sioux Empire Fair.

It was the mechanical failure of another 1955 Oldsmobile which enabled White, the little Keokuk, Iowa, driver to take first place.

Bob Hilmer, the Dysart, Iowa, pilot, had established a new national record of 29.70 second in his one-lap qualifying spin and then set another national mark in winning his heat. Hilmer, a comparative newcomer to late model stock car racing, then sailed into the lead of the 100-lap main event and looked like he would stay there.

With only 11 laps to go, Hilmer’s car was forced to drop off the pace with a badly smoking front wheel bearing and White sped by him. On the 93rd circuit, Hilmer limped to the infield, his right front tire blazing from the heat.

It was a bad break for Hilmer, who had burst into national prominence with a 100-mile victory here in June, his first major victory.

Steady-driving Bill Harrison of Topeka, Kan., finished second while Bob Potter of Duluth, Minn., took third.

Hilmer, one of the fastest rising stars on the IMCA circuit, commented after his record-breaking time trial, “I didn’t realize I was going that fast, but the track was in beautiful shape.”


Results –


1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
3. Bob Potter, Duluth, Minn.
4. Paul Newkirk, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
5. Doc Narber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
6. Bob Brown, Springfield, Mo.
7. Roxy Dancey, Shreveport, La.
8. Delmar Donaldson, Burlington, Iowa
9. Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport, La.
10.Tiny Lund, Anita, Iowa

No comments:

Post a Comment