Johnny Beauchamp
Sioux Falls, S.D. (July 19, 1956) – “That’s the goofiest race I’ve ever driven in,” cracked Johnny Beauchamp, as he unfastened his safety belt from his speedy 1956 Chevrolet.
The Harlan, Iowa, star had just driven to his 10th consecutive International Motor Contest Association stock car victory – and under the most unusual circumstances.
A power failure at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds doused the main straightaway in total darkness and cut off the public address system. No one except the official scorer – with the aid of a flashlight – knew what was going on.
The drivers kept going with the help of a few headlights and a portable lighting system used on the curves and the backstretch. A transformer failure cut off the lights atop the grandstand and left the main stretch looking like someone’s back alley.
It was a muddy alley, too, leaving a quagmire by late afternoon rains. It wasn’t until 9 pm that the time trials got underway after much ironing of the track.
“No lights, no nothing…I didn’t know where I was until the end of the race…I couldn’t tell how far ahead I was…” muttered the IMCA national point leader, after he pulled into the pits.
Trailing Beauchamp’s speedy Chevrolet was Bob Burdick of Omaha, Neb., Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sonny Morgan of Beaumont, Tex., and Tubby Harrison of Topeka, Kan.
Beauchamp’s time for the 100-lapper was 57 minutes and 27.80 seconds. He had the fastest time in qualifying, with a time of 34.28 seconds.
There were 14 cars on hand as many entrants failed to appear, among them former IMCA national champion Don White of Keokuk, Iowa.
The track, while diligently worked on, was in rough shape and kept times slow.
Despite the late start, the light and public address failure, a large crowd stayed on.
But mud, darkness, and silence failed to deter the hard-driving Iowan from victory as he threatens to make a shambles of the IMCA point standings this season.
Beauchamp as now won 16 of 18 features held under IMCA sanction.
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