Don White receives the checkered flag and congratulations from starter
Jake Bozony after White won the 100-lap IMCA stock car feature at the Minnesota
State Fair. – Barb Barnes Collection
St. Paul, Minn. (August 28, 1954) – Don White of Keokuk, Iowa, showed his tailpipe to the field Saturday as he set five national records and captured the 100-lap stock car feature before 22,212 opening day fans at the Minnesota State Fair.
White, currently second in the International Motor Contest Association point standings, held the lead all the way. Not even a spectacular pileup on the 96th circuit unnerved him.
The “Keokuk Komet” broke the 2.5-mile, 7.5-mile, 10-mile, 12.5-mile, and 25-mile records and was clocked in 53 minutes and 34.76 seconds despite the interruption.
Riding in his blue-and-white ’54 Oldsmobile, White was enjoying a half-lap lead over his nearest competitor, Bill Harrison of Topeka, Kan., when Mike Gleeman of St. Paul spun out on the 96th lap. Gleeman rolled over and Harrison smashed into him, sending his ’50 Olds into the air and over again. Gleeman crawled out with minor lacerations on his left arm.
Harrison continued on when the race resumed and maintained his second place showing. Herschel Buchanan of Shreveport, La., who finished third, protested after the race, claiming that a car involved in an accident must restart at the end of the field according to IMCA rules. His protest was upheld, and in the re-shuffle, Buchanan was awarded second place money ($400) while Harrison was moved back and credited with third-place money ($300). White collected $500 for the victory.
White, a 28-year-old garageman during the offseason, said he, “had no idea he was breaking records but had the gas pedal punched to the floorboard all the way.”
White and Harrison both won 10-lap heats while Gleeman, “The Wildman from St. Paul,” won the 12-lap consolation.
Results –
1. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Herschel Buchanan, Shreveport, La.
3. Bill Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
4. Shorty Perlick, Minneapolis
5. Russ Gross, McComb, Ill.
6. Charles Magnison, Minneapolis
7. Ray Springer, Freeport, Ill.
8. Bob Potter, Duluth
9. Tubby Harrison, Topeka, Kan.
10.Wally Dahl, Wayzata
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