About the Wichita Region

The Wichita Region SCCA is dedicated to amateur sportscar competition in and around Wichita, KS.

The general purpose of the Wichita Region is to:

The following is a chronology of the early years of the Wichita Region. It provides some insight as to the where our club has been. This web site is a good indication of where it is now. The future is in YOUR hands!

This information was originally published as a series of articles in the Wail back in the late 70's. Thanks to the author Gordon Gresham and also to George Morrison for providing them for the web site.

1950

The first group of sports car buffs gathered at Bill Houk's Body Shop on East Kellogg. Those in attendance were Elton Rowley, Verne Hudson, Bill Houk, Frank Manley and Marvin Boyce. They called themselves the Wichita Sports Car Club.

1951

The Wichita Sports Car Club members attended a sports car meet put on by the Oklahoma Region SCCA, at Norman, Oklahoma. Interest is expressed in joining the SCCA.

1952

A sports car meet at Norman, Oklahoma became organized racing when three pylons were put out in a gravel lot, marking the course. Bill Houk attended the Norman race with his MG Special and was pictured in Road and Track magazine. Wichita's Wayne Hinthorne and Leo Wilgen went to the race in MG-TD's. Major Sonny Beal went in his XK-120 Jaguar, Colonel Bob Kuhn in a Fiat-Abarth, and Jack Stamp went in his XK-120. Conditions at the race were terrible. A Texan, Carroll Shelby, wins the race on his first attempt at road racing. Elton Rowley is now selling sports cars from his home as a sideline under the name, Import Motors. Jaguar and Porshe are added to the MG franchise. In August, racing moves to the airport at Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Carroll Shelby borrows Jack Stamps XK-120 and wins the first Okmulgee race.

1953

Wichita Sports Car Club is now meeting at Import Motors at 138 S. Laura. Elton Rowley is president. Rowley, Bill Houk, and Verne Hudson assist General Curtis LeMay in organizing a National Race at Offutt Air Force Base. New drivers join the local list: Elton Rowley (Supercharged MG-TD), John Rydjord (Porsche), Jimmy Jones (MG-TC), and Bob Barnes (Jowett Jupiter) Club activities are mostly rallys --- Import Motors sells its first Volkswagen --- Jack Hinkle wins Concourse at Joyland Park with his Cunningham; 40 cars compete --- Marvin Boyce wins small car class with his MG-TD.

1954

Jack Stamp becomes president of WSCC, Marvin Boyce is secretary. By-laws are wrtten and the club is incorporated. Meeting place changes to Fairmount Park Clubhouse --- Racing at Offutt Air Base is biggest show yet in road racing --- 32 WSCC members travel to Okmulgee to watch Rydjord, Jones, Barnes and Major Beal race --- Indy car owner Jack Hinkle spectates, doesn't believe in racing for trophies only --- club dues are $3.00 per year --- WSCC decides not to become affiliated with SCCA at this time.

1955

Fritz Probst is president of WSCC --- Interest in WSCC increases but some members have a need for more activity and join Kansas Region, SCCA --- Kansas City Shrine Club sponsors a race at Fairfax Airport --- Paul Packard joins list of drivers, driving a Thunderbird at Coffeyville --- Races are also held at St. Joseph, Missouri --- Considerable activity, both official and unofficial, is noted at a small airstrip called "South Haven" --- Otis Hadley buys a Porsche and joins WSCC.

1956

Norman Pfeiffer is the Wichita Sports Car Club President. WSCC undertakes its most ambitious project in co-sponsoring a race at Dodge City, Kansas. The race is held at the abandoned air base and is sanctioned through the Kansas Region SCCA. Dodge City draws the strongest field of cars yet. Carroll Shelby arrives fresh from a win at Pebble Beach to win in a Monza Ferrari. Masten Gregory challenges with his Ferrari, Dabney Collins drives a beastly 4.9 Ferrari from Denver on the highway and all over town. Jack Hinkle decides sports car racing is aright after all and has Indy car builder Frank Curtis build a sports car for his 90 cc Offy. Elton Rowley and son John are building a MG special; Hinkle bets Rowley his car will not be ready for the Dodge City race, Hinkle looses and pays $99.50. Bobby Aylward races for the first time, a Triumph TR-2. Hinkle races for the first time in a Curtis and cuts the engine in two; Todd Aikens enters for the first time but turns the car over to Paul Packard. A race at Stillwater, Oklahoma is added to the calendar. Paul Packard and Bob Langley drive at Coffeyville; and Dean Johnson in an Austin Healey joins the list of drivers.

1957

Otis Hadley is the president of the WSCC. Many WSCC members join the SCCA due to improvements in the national organization and high caliber of events. Local members travel to Salina, Lawrence, Topeka, etc. for monthly events and business meetings. Eureka Springs, Arkansas is location for a popular hill climb. Hinkle, Aikens, Aylward, Rudjord, and Gordon Gresham (first event) attend. The racing circuit is well established with races at Coffeyville, La Junta, Stillwater, and Eureka Springs being yearly events. Todd Aikens is elected R.E. of the Kansas Region.

1958

Kansas Region activity shifts to Wichita. SCCA membership increases in Wichita to equal all other areas of the region. Factions within Wichita Sports Car Club desire that the club become The Wichita Region SCCA. Hinkle suggests a split with the Kansas Region and the decision is finally made to form a Wichita Region, and split with the Kansas Region. The WSCC is left as a separate local club. Application to Westport is made for a charter. Current membership is at 97 members. Kansas City holds a race in the small eastern town of Garnett, and finds the results almost magical, which promises a great race site.

1959

The charter is received April 10th and the Wichita Region of the SCCA is a reality. Ritchie Bracshaw is selected as the first R.E., Otis Hadley is Asst., Mutzie Hadley is Secretary-Treasurer, and Verne Hudson is Activities Chairman. There is no Board of Directors at this time. Territory of the Region includes all counties west of Butler, McPherson, Harvey, Cowley Republic, Cloud, Ottawa, And Salina.

1960

Mack Barlow is R.E. Membership grows and Rallys are the number one activity until Boeing Parking lot P is acquired for gymkhanas and slaloms. These activities become popular due in part to the speeds possible. Interest in racing increases, and the Region has over 20 licensed drivers. The Region inaugurates the Witches Ryde Rally as a two day event to be ran according to national rules. The first event was well organized and ran, however few entrants show up. While writing the column I notice we missed our 39th Birthday on April 10th. Happy Birthday Wichita Region!

1961

Dusty Fry is elected R.E. with Bert Persons Assistant R.E.; Illa Schmidt, Secretary; Juanita Thomas, Treasurer; and Tom Hukle, Activities Director. The first Board of Directors are Mack Barlow, Bob Aylward, Charlie Ordwein and Otis Hadley. The Regional publication is founded by Otis Hadley, Mack Barlow and Jack Kindernecht. A contest is held and the publication is named the "Witches Wail". Jack Hinkle is elected Chirman of the SCCA Board of Governors. A new race course at Ponca City , Oklahoma has much promise and is popular with Wichita drivers. Wichitan Jan Gardner is named the Race Queen at the Ponca City race, kisses all Wichita drivers but John Siefkes, she marries him.

1962

Larry Christie is R.E. Gordon Gresham, Asst.; Illa Schmitt, Secretary; Juanita Thomas, Treasurer. Ralley interest is declining and racing interest is on the rise. The Region is searching for a location and sponsor for a race without success. 25% of membership now has a competition license. R.E. Christie leaves on vacation. In his absence a contact is made at Garden City, through member Morris Jones, to talk with several civic groups. The Garden City Shrine listens then says, "lets race!" When Christie returned from vacation he was faced with the prospect of organizing a race in two months, 200 miles from home, on a course that did not even exist. The Shrine built and paved a course and the Wichita Region organized the race. The Shrine Club was very satisfied with the results and contracted for a National Race the next year. The Witches Ryde continues to build an admirable reputation; the Wichita Region is named the Most Improved Racing Region at the National Convention; and the Witches Wail is given honorable mention at the convention.

1963

Bob Barry is the R.E.; Bob Knox is Asst.; Norma Christie, Secretary; Sue Miller, Treasurer; Claude Van Doren, Activities Director. Board of Directors include Gordon Gresham, Otis Hadley, Dick Alley, Bert Persons, and Larry Christie. The Boeing "P" Lot draws large entries, and the Witches' Ryde is the most successful yet. The Garden City race is the last of the Divisional Championship races and competition is keen. The course is improved and the entries are up. Bob Barry wages a year long battle to get Garden City scheduled on Memorial Day if 1964. Colorado Region wants the same date, Wichita Region wins the date. Race organization of the region is becoming very efficient. The riot at Lake Garnett threatens the future of this excellent event. Jack Hinkle is awarded the SCCA's top award, the Wolf Barnatto award, at the National Convention.

1964

Claude Van Doren is R.E.; Dick Alley, Asst.; Norma Christie, Secretary; Sue Miller, Treasurer, Brad Brooker, Activities Director. Board of Directors are Ed Haussermann, Ralph Miller, Bob Barry, Gordon Gresham, and Otis Hadley. The club by-laws are re-written by Bob Barry. The Garden City race is held on the Memorial Day weekend with the Saturday races nearly being drowned out by torrents of rain. Bulldozers are used to pull race cars out of the muddy pits. This is the first year for the Divisional Runoff to be held at Riverside, California. Racing is very intense as drivers bid for a paid trip to these runoffs. Wichita drivers making the trip are Dick Alley, Gordon Gresham, Brad Brooker, John Siefkes, and Tom Hukle.