R.G. "Shorty" Eberts
Sedalia, Mo. (August 26, 1956) – The heart breaks or bad breaks of stock car racing were seen Sunday afternoon at the 100-mile Missouri International before one of the largest crowds ever to witness auto racing at the Missouri State Fair.
It came with victory in sight when Don White, Keokuk, Iowa, developed a broken oil line in his car on the 97th lap and R.G. “Shorty” Eberts, who had been dogging White all afternoon long, inherited the top spot, then led the last few laps to score the win, the biggest of his career.
Eberts not only won the race but smashed the world’s record for the 100-mile stock car racing on a 1-mile dirt track.
A roaring crowd of over 18,000 watched the long endurance contest under the most favorable weather conditions. Both the grandstand and bleachers were jammed and left standing room only, with another exceptionally large crowd packed into the infield.
White’s day was not in vain. He established a new world record for the mile in time trials with an electronically clocked time of 47.33 seconds. This beat the previous best time of 49.12 seconds set by Bill Harrison of Topeka, Kan., in 1955. White received the Sinclair Power-X trophy for establishing the new record.
White was driving a D-500 Dodge and up to the 95th mile when he suddenly turned into the pits to get a supply of oil, his time was much faster; then in turning the 96th lap, he came back into the pits on the 97th with a broken oil line. He was credited with seventh place.
Eberts, driving a 1956 Ford, kept a steady pace all afternoon and was approximately half-a-lap behind White when he made his first pit stop, then moved ahead and was never passed. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa, also driving a D-500 Dodge, came in close behind Eberts to take the runner-up spot.
Derr, incidentally, was making only his second start of the season on the International Motor Contest Association circuit, after completing a suspension by IMCA for competing in an unsanctioned race in 1955. He also paid a $500 fine for the incident.
It was an interesting race from start to finish with no drivers injured but several cars getting banged up.
Results –
1. Shorty Eberts, Avondale
2. Ernie Derr, Keokuk, Iowa
3. Lenny Funk, Otis, Kan.
4. Dave Allen, Kansas City
5. Chris Skadal, Des Moines, Iowa
6. Fred South, Great Bend, Kan.
7. Don White, Keokuk, Iowa
8. Chuck Moses, Milwaukee, Wis.
9. Jim Martin, Richmond
10.Mel Reitz, Lenzburg, Ill.
11.Les Dykes, Davenport, Iowa
12.George Klug, Jefferson City
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