Preserving the past in and around Kansas since July of 2000 from our WORLD HEADQUARTERS IN MCPHERSON, KANSAS.
Memorial Pages
Lap #5 of the S-Z names in memory
More Memorials in our Racing From The Past Forum by clicking this link http://www.hoseheadforums.com/forum.cfm?threadID=6110&CFID=2217507&CFTOKEN=17010156 You can post your memorials and add photos also.
Other Names In Memory
Lap #1 A-E
Lap #2 F-I
Lap #3 J-M
Lap #4 N-R
"I know a speedway in the sky where brave young drivers thunder by and all who live this racing game must know that fate may call their name"
Contributed by Grace Sheldon.
You ask me why I do this, I can not tell you why. It sends my blood singing thru my veins and shoots my heart like a rocket across the sky. Its like an uncontrollable fire, breathing out love, hate and fear, exalting me to the heights of glory, throwing me to the depths of despair.
You ask me why I do this, put my life out on the line, because I know come what may, I'll not go until its time. I've hung it out on the ragged edge and at times looked into a chasm of fear, I've lost dear friends and fellow drivers, but when the green flag falls, I know I'll be there.
You ask me why I do this, this crazy thing of mine-I only know I can not quit, can not quit until its time. It gets into your blood so bad, its like a fever, and if you step one foot across my line, you won't be able to shake it either.
I've had my highs and lows and many times wanted to throw it all away, but I know come tomorrow, whenever this dream leads me, I'll be on my way.
For more pages at Racing From The Past check the Home Page.
Photo Contributed by Scotty Anderson
Cletuis "Chief" F. Samqua: (1926-2002) Powhattan, KS
Chief Samqua was a mechanic and had owned and operated Reservation Motors. He was an avid race car driver and was listed as a legend in the Kansas Auto Racing Museum in Chapman. He also helped found the Powhattan Fire Department.
Photo #448
Darrell Sarsycki: (1953-1999)
July 24, 1999
Darrell, a railroad inspector from Midwest City, Okla., died when his high-powered kart collided with another, struck a tree and rolled into a lake at the Lake Garnett track in Kansas.
Edward "Ed" H. Schauf: (1933-1996)
Ed's racing came to a hault from paralyzing injuries from a racing accident at Wakeeney Kansas Speedway in the 60's.
Stan "The Man" Schoenberg: (1917-2001) Midwest City OK. Another one of the veterans from the OKC area.
John Schippert: (1915-1992) Owner of the Schippert Mobile Homes Racing Team 04/4 from Junction City.
Photo #224
Gary Scott: (1944-1982) Holts Summit, Mo
Gary was killed in a tragic sprint car accident at the famed Knoxville Raceway on May 2, 1982. Gary was a great racer and was one of only a few owner/drivers to win a World of Outlaws feature event.
Another photo of Gary Scott.
Pius Selenke: (1937-2004) Wichita, KS
Retired owner of Parker Oil Company and Owner of the #43 Sprint Car. Pius' cars carried many to victory in the 50's, 60's and 70's.
Photo courtesy of Jenny Burba.
Jim Sessions: (July 23 1943-July 4 1996)
Jim was from Longdale OK. He raced all over the state of Oklahoma and Kansas. Jim raced late models, street stocks, and factory stocks. Jim was also an active policeman for over 20 years. Jim Sessions passed away doing what he loved best, racing. Jim died in Elk City, OK. Jim's name lives on through his brothers sons, and nephews.
Photo #227 & the car #325
CLICK HERE For the Oklahoma Drivers Page with Jim's car.
Jeff Sikes: (1948-1975)Tulsa, OK (racing accident)
Photo #231
Photo courtesy of Freddy Gaither
Maynard W. Smalberger: (1929-2003)
He made his home in Oberlin, KS and was a serviceman for Kansas-Nebraska Energy.
Maynard Owned the #38 supermodified driven by Lee Martin of Oberlin in the 70's.
Elton "Smitty" Smith: (1929-2001)heart attack
Elton raced mod/supers and what ever had wheels on it from 1959-1972. Enid speedway OKC Speedway 81 Speedway and Taft in OKC. If it had dirt on it he'd race on it. The car was orange and black and #3.
Harold "Sparky" Sparks:
1980 NCRA Yearbook
Lloyd K. Stephens: (September 26, 1914-November 2, 1998)
A former race-car owner and a past President of the Oklahoma Fixture Company. Lloyd above in the center flanked by Jan Opperman (left) and Derrill Brazeal.
Lloyd Owned the famous orange and black OFIXCO Racing Team in several classes in the late 70's to the early 80's in Oklahoma. Not only were they known in Oklahoma but nationwide as drivers campaigned at tracks all over the US.
Photo #434
Chester Stevens: (?-2004) Farminton, AR
Chester was one of the greats from the NW Arkansas area.
Pat Suchy:(-2002) Oklahoma City OK.
Pat was a driver in the 50's and 60's. Pat was probably more famous as a car owner.
Photo #445
D.E. "Gene" Suggs: (1935-2003)
D.E. started racing in 1955 and retired in 1998, 40+ years of racing. D.E. drove his own cars and drove for others including and not limited to Noel Crain, Tommy Sampson, Larry Hill, and John Gilmore. D.E. Suggs was another one of the great legends of OKC.
Martha Sue Squires Suggs: (May 22,1939-August 25, 2004) Mesquite, TX
Martha on the first ladies of Racing. The Wife of Johnny Suggs
You ask me why I do this, I can not tell you why. It sends my blood singing thru my veins and shoots my heart like a rocket across the sky. Its like an uncontrollable fire, breathing out love, hate and fear, exalting me to the heights of glory, throwing me to the depths of despair.
You ask me why I do this, put my life out on the line, because I know come what may, I'll not go until its time. I've hung it out on the ragged edge and at times looked into a chasm of fear, I've lost dear friends and fellow drivers, but when the green flag falls, I know I'll be there.
You ask me why I do this, this crazy thing of mine-I only know I can not quit, can not quit until its time. It gets into your blood so bad, its like a fever, and if you step one foot across my line, you won't be able to shake it either. I've had my highs and lows and many times wanted to throw it all away, but I know come tomorrow, whenever this dream leads me, I'll be on my way.
Martha Suggs
Photo from the 1977 NCRA Yearbook.
Ken Sweet: (1943-2000) Wichita, KS/Lawton, OK
Photo #303
Photo from the 1977 NCRA Yearbook.
Junior Taft: (1933-1981) Owasso OK. Junior was a Tulsa area veteran, with his 1st year in racing being in 1963. Junior owned and drove the super #22 throughout the 70's, and also owned the #21 that Derrill Brazeal drove in the 70's to. (racing accident)
Photo #304
Albert "Buddy" Taylor: (March 25, 1926-September 23, 1978)
Don't remember who sent this photo in, but I would imagine it might be a Leroy Byers photo.
2001 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee, Buddy from the Albuerque, New Mexico area was one of the greats out of the southwest.
Photo #694
Kenneth Richard Taylor:(1929-1966)
Ken Taylor was fatally injured at Sportmans Speedway in Marshall, Missouri. Ken was a 4 time Missouri State Sprint/Modified Champion.
Ken raced 13 years in the CMRA, Placing in 93 per cent of the races of which he started. He finished in the money 802 times with heat races paying four positions and features ten positions. Ken won 144 heat races and was runner-up 87 times. He took 136 features events and placed second 104 times. He won 73 trophy dashes and i the last six years trophies were limited to two to a driver in a one year span. Ken often got his two trophies in the first two dashes of the year. He retired the CMRA traveling trophy by winning it four times, the only driver ever to accomplish this feat-1958, 59, 62, 63, and 66 and he reigned over the Missouri State Fair Super Modified racing four years-1958, 59, 65, 66. In his two years with McCown Brothers, he took first place in 66 features. Ken had the distinction of winning seventeen straight races at the Capital Speedway in Jefferson City-three trophy dashes, seven heats and seven features.
Photo #722
Photo contributed by Richard Rose/Terry Doss.
Tommy Thomas: (1949-1981) Tulsa OK (racing accident)
Bill Tice:
David "Yogi" Thompson: Born August 27, 1951 in Tulsa, Okla. Died: May 09, 2002 age 50 Residence: Tulsa, Oklahoma Occupation: Public Works for the city of Collinsville, Okla.
Of Interset: Former employee of the Town of Skiatook, Okla. A Member of the National Rifle Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Services: May 13, 2002 at True Baptist Church in Sand Springs, Okla. with Rev. Johnny Singleton officiating
Funeral Home: Memorial Funeral Home Riverside Chapel in Sand Springs, Okla.
Survivors: Parents: Ginger and Gib Thompson of Phoenix, Az. Sons: James Paul Thompson of Tulsa, Okla. Jason Kiley and Susan Thompson of Tulsa, Okla. Brother: Guy Thompson of Sand Springs, Okla. Sisters: Lisa Sullivan and Tina Roland, both of Sand Springs, Okla. 4 grandchildren Fiancee: Debbie Wakely of Sperry, Okla.
Jack Willard "Red" Thompson (1934-1982) Fort Scott, KS.
Jack raced and worked on race cars east and west of the Kansas/Missouri line. I'm sure Jack would be proud of his 2 grandsons in the Denver area that are carry on what Jack did while he graced the lives of many!
Delmar "Del" Torrance: (11/2/1923-8/24/03)
Del was was one of the greats from the Tulsa area as a driver, builder and car owner.
Photo from the 1964 Hutchinson Nationals Program.
Stanley "Stan" Trahern: (1929-1997)
Stan started racing Jalopies in Dodge City KS. Stan was the winner of the Five State State Championship in Liberal. He was a track champion at Amarillo in 1960 and Dodge City at least once each. Stan died in Bowie TX. The last account of Stan racing was 9/3/73 at the NCRA Amarillo race. Where he won the B main, and finished 13th in the NCRA Main.
Photo #238
Richard "Dick" F. Unger: (?-2004) Wichita, KS
Dick raced in the Wichita area in the 50's and 60's.
Dean Venable: (?-1981) Dean (2nd from left) wreched on many race cars in the 70's.
Dean left us in a very unfortunate racing accident at Marshall Missouri while wrenching for the car Dick Howard was driving. The accident also involved one of Dean's best friends.
Rich Volger: 1950-1990,
Dave Wall: 1936-2000 In memory of Dave Wall of Kansas City, Kansas.
Dave, a local favorite, raced his #22 car at I-70 and Lakeside Speedway in the 60's and 70's.
Milton Ward: (1942-2000) One of greats from the Great Bend area. Milton ran late models all around on the Kansas dirt tracks.
Photo #234
Rodger Ward: (1921-2004) Rodger was born in Beloit, KS
Rodger went on to win the Indianapolis 500 two times in 1959 and 62.
Rodger's family moved to California when Rodger was 14.
Rodger won 26 Champ Car Races and two USAC Titles. Rodger retired as a racer in 1966 after the 66 Indy 500. His last win came that same year at Trenton in April.
Rodger was one of three Indy 500 winners born in Kansas, the others being Johnny Rutherford who was born in Coffeyville, KS and Rick Mears from around the Newton area before the family moved to Bakersfield CA.
Jerry Weld: (1937-1970)
Kenny Weld: (1945-1997)
Photo contributed by Curt Grogan
Taylor "Pappy" Weld: (1898-1983) Pappy Weld father to the famous racers Greg, Kenny, and Jerry Weld. Pappy was equally has famous with his #94's winning with numerous drivers in the 60's and 70's.
Charles Wayne "Charlie" Wells: (-2003)
Charlie raced out of the Tulsa area for more than 25 years.
Quentin L. "Duke" Westerhaus: (1920-2003) Wichita, Kansas.
Mike Peters aboard Duke's midget at OKC.
Photo courtesy of Terry Sanderson at Mid-Del Racing.
Ken Whitehouse and daughter Erin
Ken Whitehouse:(1947-2000)
April 10, 2000
Ken was about to sell his Oklahoma City machine shop to start a race-engine business.
Ken's car crashed during the seasons first sprint car race at Oklahoma State Fair Speedway. He died 17 days later.
Photo from the 1977 Jerry Weld Memorial Program.
Carl Williams: (?-1973)
Photo from the 1977 Jerry Weld Memorial Program.
Ken Williams: (1932-1969)
Chester "Chet" Hugh Wilson: (1917-1977) Wichita Ks. Chet was the owner of Chet Wilson Engine Shop & and owner of the #25 Wilson sprinter, nicknamed the "Offy Killer". Some of the great drivers pictured on this site had seat time in the #25.
Photo #226
William "Willie Wheelchair" Heatwole: (7/2/1938-11/27/2001)
As a DJ at KFDI radio Willie used to talk about the local racing, with his wit and humor. The racing world around Wichita Kansas had a friend in the radio business for 36 years at KFDI 1070AM in Wichita Kansas, and we all will miss Willie be it at the track or on the air. The Orange Blossom Special makes me think of Willie. In th 70's Willie used to play this song, and added the names of a lot of the drivers to the song. Such as "I will drive anything Dale Reed" "Sometimes Wyland Cattrell" Were just a couple of the tidbits he would say during the song.
Photo #449
Photo from the 1978 NCRA Yearbook.
Photo #419
Jerry Wise: 1938-1993, Amarillo TX.
Jerry was one of the strong factors behind the #6 that Randy Willingham drove. Jerry and Randy were partners and good friends, and traveled thousands of miles, and hours of work to entertain us the fans.
Photo #432
Dale Wofford: (1938-1999)
Dale Wofford was one of the outstanding drivers from Fort Smith Arkansas driving throughout area in the 60's and 70's.
Photo #957
Other Names In Memory
Lap #1 A-E
Lap #2 F-I
Lap #3 J-M
Lap #4 N-R
For more pages check the Home Page.