Waterloo’s
Bill Zwanziger (center) receives the trophy for winning the Falstaff 100 at
Hawkeye Downs. Making the presentation is Marie Olish, Ms. Falstaff 100 and Keith
Fleck, local Falstaff distributor.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 16, 1974) – The case of “Who won the Falstaff 100?” was finally settled late Tuesday night – 30 minutes after the late model stock car classic at Hawkeye Downs was completed.
Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, Iowa, was declared the winner of the 50-lap feature after a major controversy halted the second annual event with five laps to go and confusion ran rampant.The controversy involved Curt Hansen of Dike, Iowa and Verlin Eaker of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who were running one-two and practically bumper-to-bumper through the first 45 laps on the half-mile dirt.
When all the shouting was done, Hansen was awarded fourth-place and Eaker was out of the money.
Hansen appeared to have the $1,000 first prize sewn up when he sent his 1974 Laguna into the 46th lap. But the Downs’ point leader spun in the third turn and Eaker, who was pressing spun as well.
However, as the yellow caution light flashed, Hansen continued to race, although he lost three positions. Eaker required a push truck to re-fire his car.
On the restart, as irate race fans peppered the front straightaway with beer cans and angry pit crews flooded the same area in an attempt to prevent the race from continuing, Hansen was back in the lead and Eaker went to the pit area after being informed by officials that he would have to restart from the rear of the field.
Hansen took up where he left off and was the apparent winner until a post-race meeting followed involving Hansen, race organizer Dale Gegner, Eaker’s car owner Al Frieden, Zwanziger and Darrell Dake of Cedar Rapids, who finished second after all the hullabaloo.
“The restart rule at the track is that any car that the race is STOPPED for goes to the rear of the field,” Gegner explained. “The flagman’s ruling was the race was stopped for car #5 (Eaker).”
Gegner then admitted that officials had erred in allowing Hansen the lead position on the restart. “Hansen should have been placed in the fourth position,” Gegner added.
Hansen, who collected $900 in lap money, readily accepted he was not the winner, but added, “I figured I should be fourth.”
Hansen acknowledged he spun by his lonesome and Eaker explained, “Hansen was about three car lengths ahead of me when he looped it. I spun trying to avoid him.”
“I had kept the pressure on throughout the race just waiting for Curt to make a mistake. When he finally did, I was too close.”
Finishing behind Zwanziger and Dake were Bob Kosiski of Omaha, Hansen and Roger Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa.
Official attendance figures weren’t available, but the crowd was estimated at 6,000. The net proceeds went to American Heart Association.
Results –
Time trials – Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Trophy dash – Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa
Heat #1 – Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Heat #2 – Ramo Stott, Keokuk, Iowa
Heat #3 – Bill Zwanziger, Waterloo, Iowa
Heat #4 – Ron Weedon, Pleasant Valley, Iowa
Consolation – Bill Beckman, Lisbon, Iowa
Feature –
1. Bill Zwanziger
2. Darrell Dake
3. Bob Kosiski, Omaha
4. Curt Hansen, Dike, Iowa
5. Roger Dolan, Iowa
6. Bill McDonough, Cedar Rapids
7. Don Bohlander, Glasford, Ill.
8. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
9. John Connolly, Delhi
10.Ramo Stott
11.Steve Keppler, Marion
12.Dave Chase, Council Bluffs
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