1963 – Leep Wins Minnesota ‘Grand Championship’

Harold Leep accepts his trophy after winning the 50-lap Minnesota State Fair Grand Championship for IMCA sprint cars. 

St. Paul, Minn. (September 1, 1963) – Crew cut Harold Leep of Wichita, Kan., held off a late rally by Sonny Helms of Avon Lake, Iowa, to win the 50-lap Minnesota State Fair Speedway's Grand Championship race before 25,813 onlookers on Sunday afternoon.

It would be the last race on the dirt surface as the track will be paved for the 1964 season.

Leep, piloting the Lempelius Offenhauser, pocketed $1,400 first place money while Helms earned $1,000 for runner-up honors. Carl Williams of Kansas City was third and Bill Horstmeyer of Stoughton, Wis., was fourth.

Leep’s time of 20 minutes and 10.58 seconds was six seconds short of the track and IMCA world record.

The 30-year-old Kansan had been plagued with bad luck during the previous four days of racing at the fair. His Offy blew a clutch last Saturday and also missed last Sunday’s race while the clutch was being repaired.

Leep’s win on Sunday was not without mechanical incident, however. He dropped a cylinder on the 45th lap and decided he had to “give it all or nothing” the final five laps because Helms was inching closer and closer.

Helms and Leep were bumper to bumper on the east turn of the 47th lap, but Leep held off the challenge and finished about five lengths in front.

Results –

1. Harold Leep, Wichita, Kan.
2. Sonny Helms, Avon Lake, Iowa
3. Carl Williams, Kansas City
4. Bill Horstmeyer, Stoughton, Wis.
5. Dean Mast, Sugarcreek, Ohio
6. Dale Reed, Wichita, Kan.
7. Red Amick, Muncie, Ind.
8. Bill Burdick, Omaha
9. Jerry Richert, Forest Lake, Minn.
10.John Leverenz, Hollywood, Calif.
11.Stan McElrath, Hollywood, Calif.
12.Ted Ready, St. Paul, Minn.
13.Buzz Barton, Tampa, Fla.
14.Jerry Daniels, St. Paul, Minn.
15.Don Daniels, St. Paul, Minn.
16.Harvey Shane, Coffeyville, Kan.