Starter Jake Bozony offers the checkered flag and his congratulations to
Bill Harrison after the Topeka, Kan., driver took top honors in the IMCA stock
car race at the All-Iowa Fair. – Carl Franks Photo
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (August 15, 1954) – Veteran Bill Harrison of Topeka, Kan., went 200 laps without a pit stop Sunday on the half-mile oval at the All-Iowa Fair to cart home top money in the Fair’s annual late model test.
A crowd estimated at 8,000 saw Harrison go the route in 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 24.30 seconds, leading home Gene Brown of Fort Worth, Tex., who also finished without a single pit stop.
The non-stop performances are unusual, since most of the field of 18 found the hot day and the hard track too much of a test for the autos.
Possibly more remarkable, however, was the fact that not one lap was run under the yellow caution flag even though most of the cars were in the pits at least once with a series of minor mishaps that included blowouts, thrown wheels, and an assortment of engine problems.
Most of Iowa’s highly -rated chauffeurs were victims of the outbreak of minor defects. First Don White and then Ernie Derr, the Keokuk speedsters that rank high in the International Motor Contest Association point standings, were both forced out while leading the race.
Of the Iowans who entered, only Robert “Doc” Narber of Cedar Rapids came home among the leaders. Narber, driving a 1954 Ford with less than 400 miles on the speedometer, piloted his ride to a seventh place finish.
After White and Derr were forced out of competition, Harrison took charge and was never challenged.
Second place Brown, however, had a steady challenge from veteran Herschel Buchanan of Shreveport, La. Buchanan’s bid to overtake Brown would be the highlight of the day.
After blowing a right front tire, Buchanan fell behind Brown, but was nearly back in second again when the same tire blew out again. Some expert driving kept Buchanan’s Hudson right side up, but he lost more than four laps in the process.
Back on track, he set a torrid pace and was only a lap-a-and-a-half out of second when the race finished.
Results –
1. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
2. Gene Brown, Fort Worth, Tex.
3. Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport, La.
4. Pete Peterson, Chicago
5. Jim Schaeffer, St. Paul, Minn.
6. Russ Gross, Quincy, Ill.
7. Robert Narber, Cedar Rapids
8. Art Schmidt, Somerset, Wis.
9. Dick Jepsen, Hoxie, Kan.
10.Dick Weitz, Cedar Rapids
11.Whitey Traeder, Green Bay, Wis.
12.Ernie Derr, Keokuk
13.Dick Pellow, Minneapolis
14.Ray Springer, Freeport, Ill.
15.Don White, Keokuk
16.Don Porter, Duluth, Minn.
17.Darrell Dake, Cedar Rapids
18.Paul Newkirk, Cedar Rapids
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