DeSoto Speedway

I also have a 1969 Desoto Speedway Drivers Book. It has Gordon Mallery,Everett Forshee, John J Wilks, Tom Amsden, Frank Forshee,James Ketcherside, Oscar O'Harver, My Dad Shorty Couch, H Casteel,James Crossland, Gerald Crossland, Eugene "Red" McKeen, Marty Christopher, Rick Harlon, Jack Adams, Willard Gowen, Sonny Burten, Jim Hall, Gary Wright, James Courtois, Michael Spangler,Charley Crossland, Ron Welch, Dave Ketcherside, John A Huber, Jack and Bob Anderson, Robert Miers, Dewayne E Thompson, Gene Pratt,Terry Johnston, Glen E O'Harver, and David E Adams. Wayne Kite put it together. If anyone wants a pic of any of these drivers let me know. Here is what a page looks like.
shorty.jpg
 
Someone should put together a website full of old pictures and stories of tracks that arent around anymore. This is the first I heard about tracks in DeSoto and St Mary's, but I have heard of ones in Elsberry, Pittsfield and Springfield.
 
Here is another clipping. Notice one of those names.
"fast qualifier of the night, Don Klein" that's toward the bottom.

desotosw1.jpg
 
Would Love To Get This From You. My Dad Was The Start/finish Flagman. My Uncle, The Late Dale Goodwin, Was Co Owner Of Red's 2+2. Grew Up With Glen O'harvers 3 Sons. Bob.
 
Desoto

Didnt they race a few years on Sunday Nites? I remember a family named the Lavalls owned the track? Maybe speed Lavall? when it first closed they had one of the first indoor Hot Houses there to grow tomatoes year round I believe.. A lot of our family is from Desoto and we used to stop on the way back to STL on weekends to watch. A nice track back in the day. and yes I remember Don Klein as a top contender..

Steffens
 
I believe Wayne Kite used to be the track photographer there for the last few seasons. I'm not sure if Wayne is still in the area or not. If he is he may also be a good source for information about the track.

John Barr
The Trashdog
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If I'm not mistaken, there use to be a Wayne Kite living on Lembeck Lake Road in DeSoto. There is one now at 1585 Hillcrest Drive, in DeSoto. Don't know if this is the same person. "Wheelman" ( Bill N. ) use to live on Lembeck Lake too, maybe, he just might know of this person, or his father might. Won't hurt to ask........;)
 
I happen to have on LOAN Wayne Kites negatives. There are tons of pictures of not only DeSoto but Springfeild,DuQuoin,St Charles,Potosi,Lake Hill, and more that we can't identify. If someone would like to look they could come to my shop and look at them but they cannot be loaned out. I will take what you want printed to FoJo and have prints made. There is some really good stuff here.
 
mustang fan said:
If I'm not mistaken, there use to be a Wayne Kite living on Lembeck Lake Road in DeSoto. There is one now at 1585 Hillcrest Drive, in DeSoto. Don't know if this is the same person. "Wheelman" ( Bill N. ) use to live on Lembeck Lake too, maybe, he just might know of this person, or his father might. Won't hurt to ask........;)
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The Kite on Lembeck Rd lived across the street from me, but his name was David Kite and his dad was Butch. I do know of a Wayne Kite from DeSoto but he died about 5 years ago. I'll give his wife a call and ask if it was him that was the photographer.

Just read Intake's post. They may know more than me. I don't even know if it's the same Wayne.
 
geislerfan said:
Would Love To Get This From You. My Dad Was The Start/finish Flagman. My Uncle, The Late Dale Goodwin, Was Co Owner Of Red's 2+2. Grew Up With Glen O'harvers 3 Sons. Bob.
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Hmmm since I am one of Glen O'Harvers son I'd like to know who you are. I also remember being at De Soto Speedway when I was a kid. And somewhere I have photos of my dads #65 from De Soto speedway I'll see if I can find them.


Lugnut.
 
Intake said:
I happen to have on LOAN Wayne Kites negatives. There are tons of pictures of not only DeSoto but Springfeild,DuQuoin,St Charles,Potosi,Lake Hill, and more that we can't identify. If someone would like to look they could come to my shop and look at them but they cannot be loaned out. I will take what you want printed to FoJo and have prints made. There is some really good stuff here.
Click to expand...


Hey Jim, I'd take any photos you have of my dads Cars he had several but they were always #65 some were sponsored by Purcell tire, one was blue and another was orange that I can remember. I was pretty small when he raced there.

Lugnut
 
racerwife3d said:
I also have a 1969 Desoto Speedway Drivers Book. It has Gordon Mallery,Everett Forshee, John J Wilks, Tom Amsden, Frank Forshee,James Ketcherside, Oscar O'Harver, My Dad Shorty Couch, H Casteel,James Crossland, Gerald Crossland, Eugene "Red" McKeen, Marty Christopher, Rick Harlon, Jack Adams, Willard Gowen, Sonny Burten, Jim Hall, Gary Wright, James Courtois, Michael Spangler,Charley Crossland, Ron Welch, Dave Ketcherside, John A Huber, Jack and Bob Anderson, Robert Miers, Dewayne E Thompson, Gene Pratt,Terry Johnston, Glen E O'Harver, and David E Adams. Wayne Kite put it together. If anyone wants a pic of any of these drivers let me know. Here is what a page looks like.
View attachment 17674
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Wow, you have alot of my family on there. Oscar O'Harver is my uncle, Glen O'Harver is my dad, Michael Spangler is my uncle(my moms brother) And several of the other names I remember my dad hanging out with when I was a kid. What a memory flashback this thread is!


Lugnut
 
Desoto reopening

9Catsz said:
It's off of hwy 110 in southern Jefferson County. There's a house built almost on top of it. I'm gonna talk to the owner this fall, when I'll be able to see more, and see if he or she will let me walk around and take pics.

I did snap this pic. Compare my pic with this one taken in about 1972. the lights and fence and wall down the front straightaway are still there and there is at least one building off of turn 1 still there. There were too many trees & weeds to see much else.
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There was a reopening scheduled in the 90's. Dean Motsinger and I made the trek to the track one afternoon to see a freshly bladed, and packed track. All the grounds cleaned, and looking functional. There was an old sportsman chassis down the hill aways by a tree. The plan was to open the following year, but they ran into trouble with the local residents if I remember correctly. Shame it was a good looking track.
 
i raced there several times in the 70s with my 57 chevy,not to bad a track,bud pursley raced there and if i am not mistaken allied ran the joint for a year or two as one of the tracks up here (st louis) thought they could do a better job than allied so they tried and failed only to come beggin for carl,kenny, donnie,gene and the rest of AARA to return as at that time allied was probly the top local racing association in the world,,i belive it was rustys mom that tried to get the joint up and running in 90
 
Where on Hwy 110 was the facility located? I'm from Festus so I'm well acquainted with the area. Just never knew there was a track hidden in the bushes.
 
Q, it's off of the old 110, Fountain city road I believe. I do remember them trying to get it reopened in the early 90's, but I think the county or someone said no, but they could have opened it as a kart track and decided not too. This track was before my time so I don't know anything about it. Just knew where it was and that it used to be a racetrack.
 
DeSoto

I never got to see a race there, but I did get to know Speed Levall. If anyone is interested, the track measured EXACTLY 1/6 of a mile on the pole. (according to my 1987 escort odometer, 6 laps was one mile to a tee) Pam Cernik (Griffaw) tried to get it opened, but several neighbors put a stop to it. Jeff. Co. ruled it was suitable for go-carts and/or horse shows, but no stock cars. I do know that Speed was interested in a fee per person if the track had reopened, don't know how that would have worked out or if it was even brought up to Pam. That hill sure would've been something with todays cars & speeds!
 
racerwife3d said:
I also have a 1969 Desoto Speedway Drivers Book. It has Gordon Mallery,Everett Forshee, John J Wilks, Tom Amsden, Frank Forshee,James Ketcherside, Oscar O'Harver, My Dad Shorty Couch, H Casteel,James Crossland, Gerald Crossland, Eugene "Red" McKeen, Marty Christopher, Rick Harlon, Jack Adams, Willard Gowen, Sonny Burten, Jim Hall, Gary Wright, James Courtois, Michael Spangler,Charley Crossland, Ron Welch, Dave Ketcherside, John A Huber, Jack and Bob Anderson, Robert Miers, Dewayne E Thompson, Gene Pratt,Terry Johnston, Glen E O'Harver, and David E Adams. Wayne Kite put it together. If anyone wants a pic of any of these drivers let me know. Here is what a page looks like.
View attachment 17674
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Hello there,
I watched your Dad and remember most of the others you mentioned. Spilled gas, either on your Dad or on the trailer of his stock car one night, he was filling up at the gas station I worked at. He just looked at me and said "Thanks kid, now I'll have to smell that the rest of the night" Then smiled and left. I've been building models of those early coupes that raced at Desoto. I've done Dandy Don's #28 1932 coupe Gordon's #25 and a few others. Your Dad's #3 and I thought he had 188 also is one on my list to still do and will probably do the falcon that he drove since I started that model. I want to do Forshee's, but I can't remember his Number, could you help me with that? I think it was 80 something. And I need the name of man that drove #50 in the A class, it was powder blue with white trim and he lived in Victoria. I didn't miss very many race nights at the Desoto track from the time I was 12 thru my late teens. I remember Tommy Amsden's car was owned and sponsored by Dugan Auto Parts but I can't remember it's number either. If you could help me; I'd appreciate it and send you a picture of your Dad's model when I get it completed.
Thanks, Mike
 
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