Thank you to Kyle Ealy at www.MidwestRacingArchives.com for sharing this story. Lone Rock, Iowa's Butch Householder bested a host of Boone hots shoes and several Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame members to win one of the biggest races of his stellar career.
Householder is a 2008 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame inductee.
Photo caption: Arnie Braland left the familar confines of Boone Speedway and picked up the 1972 Kossuth County Fair race championship, winning over his top rival Denny Hovinga, Dan Rurup and Bob Weber. Braland family collection.
Arnie Braland of Boone was victorious in his Super Stock feature here Tuesday night at the Kossuth Speedway races during the fair. Braland hasn’t appeared regularly at the local track during the season, but was strong during the fair events.
Denny Hovinga of Laurens won both his heat and the trophy dash. Hovinga was regular competitor in Algona early in the season, before doing most of his racing in Boone.
Photo caption: The late Wayne Meyer was a master builder and talented driver. On this night, he won a heat race during Kossuth County Fair race action. Chad Meyer collection.
The B feature went to Russ Trulson of Britt, who is sitting third in points at Kossuth Speedway. The handicap was won by Dan Rurup of Titonka and the other two heats were won by Wayne Meyer of Algona and Bruce Sommerfeld of Ft. Dodge.
Photo caption: Bud Peterson continues to be a fixture at the Kossuth County track in Algona, serving on the fire and rescue crew. He dominated the sportsman division for many years, including earning the fair race trophy in 1972. Bud Peterson collection.
Bud Peterson captured both the heat and sportsman feature to remain in command of that division.
Results
Superstock
Heat 1: 1. Hovinga; 2.Braland; 3. Bob Weber, Burt;
Heat 2: Meyer; 2. Darreld Bunkofske, Algona; 3. Gene Schattschneider, Algona
Heat 3: 1. Sommerfeld 2. Jack Piper, Mason City; 3. Ron Smidt, Britt
Trophy Dash: 1. Hovinga, 2. Meyer, 3. Braland
Handicap: 1. Rurup 2. Jim Bradford, Algona; 3. Ken Peterson, Fairmont
Feature: 1. Braland; 2. Hovinga; 3. Rurup; 4. Weber; 5. Piper
Sportsman
Heat 1: 1. Peterson; 2. Skip Fish, Corwith; 3. Len Pesicka, Burt
Feature: 1. Peterson; 2. Roger Evans, Buffalo Center; 3. Roger Taylor, Ft. Dodge; 4. Pesicka; 5. Duane Greene, Humboldt
Photo caption: Richard Simpson was the Super Stock main event winner on the final night of racing 1971 at Kossuth Speedway in Algona, IA. Chad Meyer Collection
The 1971 racing season at Kossuth Speedway was ‘the most successful on record’ according to a statement released by track promoter Dwight Cook.
The final night of the 1971 season at Kossuth Speedway was a crowd pleaser. Gene Schattschneider of Algona had a clean sweep going with his newly-rebuilt car with fast-time, a win in the trophy dash and a win in the second heat. He had also taken over the top spot in the feature and was pulling away on the fifth lap when he spun out. He finished fourth in the feature.
The Sportsman feature had five cars going into each corner bunched closely. Russ Trulson of Britt held the top spot the whole way, while Larry Miller of Clear Lake held off Gene Pedersen and Skip Fish of Corwith.
The Super Stock consolation was a barn-burner. Roy Peltz of Humboldt finally won it, with Dave Lewerke of Clear Lake in second. Because he won the consolation, Peltz was allowed to race in the feature as well. He finished fifth.
Super Stock Race Results
Time Trials: Gene Schattschneider, 18:34
Trophy Dash: Schattschneider
Heat 1: Richard Simpson, Burt
Heat 2: Schattschneider
Handicap: John Jones, Sioux Rapids
Consolation: Peltz
Main: 1. Richard Simpson; 2. Mike Chapman, Whitting; 3. Gail Holst, Ft. Dodge; 4. Schattschneider; 5. Peltz
Sportsman Race Results
Heat 1: Russ Trulson
Heat 2: Len Pesicka, Algona
Main: Trulson
Photo caption: Ray Lee Goodwin notched his second Clay County Fair IMCA sprint race in a row in 1971. Chad Meyer collection.
September 2, 1971
SPENCER IA - Four big days of auto racing are planned for the 1971 Clay County Fair and fair goers will have a chance to see the top name drivers in three divisions compete for top prize money.
The International Motor Contest Association's late model stock cars open the auto racing schedule with an afternoon program Saturday, September 11 with an expected field of thirty cars, including last year's winner Irv Janey of Cedar Rapids and 11-time IMCA national champion Ernie Derr of Keokuk.
The popular modified stock cars have reserved two days of the fair, competing on Sunday, September 12 and again on Saturday, September 18. Both are afternoon programs. The Tri-State championship is at state with a $10,000 purse guaranteed.
The IMCA sprints take over the track Friday, September 17 with an action-packed show. Over 35 entries are expected, including last year's champ Ray Lee Goodwin of Kansas City, plus defending IMCA national champioin Jerry Blundy of Galesburg, IL; four-time IMCA title holder Jerry Richert of Forest Lake, MN; Dick Sutcliffe, Kansas City; and Chuck Amati, Greefield, TN.
Photo caption: Bob Weber, Burt, IA, stands in victory lane at Fairmont (MN) Speedway. On this night he was the limited late model Martin County Fair race champion. Weber Collection
August 20, 1981: Bob Weber, weekly late model compeitor at Fairmont Speedway, dropped down a class to run as a limited late model in the Martin County Fair race Sunday night special. He swept the show, earning the checkers in his heat, trophy dash and feature.
He is a member of the Kossuth County (Algona, IA) Racing and Jackson (MN) Speedway halls of fame.
This vintage photograph was literally found blowing in the late fall breeze in Kossuth County, Iowa. Its owner disposing of this long since forgotten pic, only to be found on the ground.
Do you know who the driver is?
What track is it?
Any idea who the car owner was?
Do they have ties to Kossuth County, Iowa?
If you have some answers...send them my way at chadmeyermotorsports@yahoo.com.
Once again Kyle Ealy, editor at www.MidwestRacingArchives.com delivers a gem. Below is the car owner's at Kossuth Speedway in Algona, IA....from 1966 as advertised in the Algona newspaper.
Enjoy!
Photo from Coastal181.com
2008 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame inductee Daryl Arend of Algona was recently featured on the Coastal181.com website.
Head to www.Coastal181.com and select "Tearoffs" to read the article about a man who has dedicated his entire 70 some years to racing and picking winning drivers.
Hear from former drivers Buzz Rose, Jim Edgington, and a driver who got his shot at sprint car racing courtesy of Daryl...a 19 year old at the time Terry McCarl.
Thank you to Lew Boyd at 181 for highlighting a timeless treasure!
By Chad Meyer
Photo caption: Don Hiscocks takes a victory lap at Algona Raceway in 1969. Hiscocks and five other drivers were inducted August 6th to the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame. (Don Hiscocks collection)
The suggestion sounded innocent enough. When Don Hiscocks uttered the phrase, “Let’s go to the races”, little did he or anyone else know that the racing bug would latch on and not let go of him or the community of Britt.
After taking in that night at the races, Hiscocks purchased a 1952 Ford with a flat-head engine from local drag racing fanatics Roger Denney and Roger Pringnitz. With the car ready to race, Hiscocks loaded up and headed to Algona Raceway for his first event.
That first season in 1967 had some rough spots, blowing two motors and getting the car upside down. Hiscocks learned enough that year though to become competitive and pick up his first win in a consolation race.
The next year saw Hiscocks paint his familiar “02” on the side of 1934 Ford coupe that had a Mercury engine between the frame rails. Racing mostly at the local track on the Kossuth County fairgrounds, Hiscocks and his brother John, who started racing in ’68, often headed out to tracks a Mason City, Boone, Webster City and Fairmont, Minnesota.
While they emphasized fun at the track, the Hiscocks’ team earned a reputation for not taking flack from anyone. Locals still talk about the legendary scuffle between Don and rival “Shiney” Hilbert. Hilbert apparently didn’t appreciate an incident on the speedway and went to Hiscocks’ pit to discuss it.
The ‘discussion’ didn’t last long, as Hilbert commenced to pounding on the driver of the “02”. Once Hiscocks got himself free of the car, the sparks started to fly. Race officials got the fracas calmed down, and the race night resumed. The festivities on the track proved to be a precursor to action afterwards however, as Hilbert and Hiscocks ultimately settled their difference’s at the Algona establishment, Tall Paul’s.
Hiscocks notched a few heat race wins, several B-main wins and a couple of special handicap races. In 1972 though, driving his black colored car with an engine that featured three carburetors, Hiscocks scored the biggest win of his career. Holding off a very determined Gene Schattschneider, Hiscocks claimed the first place prize at Algona.
This victory was especially sweet for Hiscocks. During that time period, it seemed like Schattschneider was taking the trophy every week. Throw in other stars of the era like Butch Householder, Richard Simpson, Roy Jo Peltz, Del Stokke and many others; earning any victory at Algona was a milestone.
After the 1972 season, Hiscocks retired, at least for the first time. Flying airplanes and attending to his farming operation consumed most of his time.
In 1985, Hiscocks tried his hand at the racing game at the controls of an IMCA modified. Borrowing fellow Britt driver John Pletcher’s car, Hiscocks finished second in his heat race. The momentum of the good finish was short lived as he retired early from the feature. After racing the mod a time or two more, Hiscocks was back on the sidelines.
Photo Caption: Don Hiscocks in Algona's victory lane in 1969. (Don Hiscocks collection)
Ten years later, the enthusiasm for racing in the small community Britt was at a fever pitch. Once again Hiscocks was helping lead the effort to get more people involved in the sport. The Hiscocks family spent many days hauling dirt and helping prepare the new Britt track for its first race in 1995.
The track wasn’t the only thing being prepared in ’95, as Hiscocks and his brother John began building an IMCA stock car. With the car finished, Hiscocks took back to the track, competing at Britt in 1996.
After sitting out of the sport for the equivalent of 24 years, Hiscocks quickly found his racing groove. He was competitive coming out of retirement, nearly pulling of a stock car feature win late in the season.
Hiscocks decided he had enough racing excitement, retiring from racing for the final time at the conclusion of the 1996 season. He was 65 years old when he hung up the helmet.
Photo caption: Hiscocks before the races. A young John Pletcher, in the Budweiser shirt, lends a hand. (Hiscocks Collection)
He is remembered as a hard charger, who found victory lane at Algona Raceway. Perhaps more important, he helped cultivate an interest in racing that brought both drivers and race fans from Britt to the Kossuth County speedway.
Today Hiscocks is still actively farming and resides on the family farm near Britt, Iowa with his wife Gloria.
Don Hiscocks joined five other inductees into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place during the Kossuth County Fair Races, held Saturday, August 6, 2011.
