1975 – Hilmer Wins Mason City Invitational

 

Late Model Invitational winner Bob Hilmer and runner-up Karl Sanger hold their trophies in victory lane. – Earl Schwartz Photo

Mason City, Iowa (August 13, 1975) – Bob Hilmer won the Late Model Invitational at the North Iowa Fairgrounds by default Wednesday.

There were 22 cars qualified for the 35-lap feature but only nine finished. Among the 13 dropping out were three cars that actually led the race at one time or another. As a matter of fact, no driver did anything more to gain the lead than wait his turn in line.

It was a $4,500 purse for the special event and 42 cars of the top cars from Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota turned out to battle for the $670 top prize. Among the big names to compete were Darrell Dake and Verlin Eaker, both of Cedar Rapids, Bill Zwanziger of Waterloo, and Bill Rice of Des Moines.

Another driver, Larry Pipes, who drove all the way from Kirksville, Mo., was another driver shooting for the top prize.

None were around when Hilmer took the checkered flag…

· Dake didn’t qualify for the feature when his car slid off the track during the fourth heat.

· Eaker didn’t even finish a lap in the main event.

· Zwanziger dropped out after only five laps while Rice only completed seven laps.

Pipes was one of three leaders before Hilmer. He won the first heat and earned the pole position for the main event. He battled Bob Shryock of Estherville for the top spot and appeared to have won the duel. However, Bob Bonzer and Verlin Eaker collided coming out of turn two forcing a restart. On the restart, Pipes’ car started smoking and he dropped out after a couple of laps.

That left Shryock as the mouse with Lynn Idler and Hilmer playing the role of the cat. It was outstanding driving from Hilmer who took over second place from Idler, then losing it again while trying to get by Hilmer.

Then, on the 17th lap, Shryock came up lame, tip-toeing it through the cornfield after failing to negotiate the third turn. He pulled up in front of the grandstands with a half-dozen stalks wedged into his car. That wasn’t the problem, but a lack of oil pressure was, and Shryock rolled into the pit area.

So, Ilder took over the lead. That lasted for only two laps as the Ionia driver lost his wheel two laps later, leaving Hilmer all by his lonesome at the front. No one was able to get close to Hilmer after that. The only duel was for second place between Karl Sanger and Red Dralle, who battled it out for 10 laps. Sanger won the battle on the 29th lap to take the $500 second place money. Darrell Sells of Waverly would get by Dralle in the last few laps to take third place.

Pipes, Shryock, Idler, Hilmer, and Sells were heat winners. Bob Helm won the semi-feature in a breeze and his $125 prize was some consolation.


Results –

1. Bob Hilmer, Dysart
2. Karl Sanger, Waterloo
3. Darrell Sells, Waverly
4. Red Dralle, Evansdale
5. Jerry Holtkamp, Williams
6. Ted Zieman, Mason City
7. Denny Osborn, Cedar Falls
8. Ken Walton, Cedar Rapids
9. Dick Schiltz, Waterloo
10.Lynn Idler, Ionia