Lake Hill Speedway?

Lake Hill

I've come up with some names of drivers from Lake Hill from the late sixties to the mid 70's.

Rich Lawson Sr.--Warren "Patt" Pattison--Rich Miller--Dale Cahill--Kenny Niere--Elden Lohman--Danny Lohman--Bob Estes--Jeff Delieko--Paul Lawson


Will look forward to a reunion there!
 
Orville Herzog, Wille Gross, Rich Freeman, Harry Bryant, dont't forget Kenny's dad Bill Schrader.He was one of the original latemodel organizers with Bob Mueller back in the early 60's.
 
more old timers names Bob Miner,Bob Mueller ,Whitey Henederson,Butch Cooley,Ray kuhn,Ronnie king,Russ Tucker,John Wolf,Bob (The Fenton Flash) Estes.Jerry Ransome,George Eagen,Eddie Lowery,Elmer Lowery,Art Gross,Willie Gross,Rich Freeman,Orville Herzog,Frank Joller,Gary Wallace (yes uncle to wallce bros)


Bob Mueller was a big part of Auto racing in the ST Louis Area From Racing cars to owning cars (even Kenny Scharder drove one of Bob cars) to One of the original founders of Allied Auto Racing Assoc to Central Racing Assoc and to make Rolla speedway a Success .To helping racers with money and support even Nickname Kenny Wallace " Herman the German". He put his heart and sole into the racing community!!( The sport he so loved)
 
How about you dad....

Hey Mike,
Your dad Don was a good flagman and one heck of a announcer. I have always had alot of respect and admiration for him. I remember Ray and Tom Kuhn, and Roy Schaumburg with his cowboy hat well.
 
Partsman

Roy schaumburg was better know as the Shadow!!!!My dad was one of the announcers last year at I-55 !!!! He will make a few appearances thought the year!!

Even Ray Eby and his son Danny was at I-55 tonight !!!!!!
 
what about open wheel guys? Arnie Kenepper, Danny Frye, Mickey Stroud, Bernie Ford just to mention a few.
 
more names

Can't forget Bud Hoppe, Russel Fox, the Wente's, and Henry Pens in the midgets. In the stock cars, Tom Hannick, Pat Walsh, Dan Calicotte, Rob Jones and Dean Aerne.
 
this was pretty neat to read about, i never started going to the raced until 1993. i am interested in going fishing over there, any idea what kind of fish are in there?
 
Lake Hill Memories

I never have posted anything on here so here goes, bare with me, if you would!!

Thanks to o the new owner of LAKE HILL for giving us all a chance this summer to say good-bye to a dear friend. This should be a fitting send-off. Bring your cameras and camcorders!!!
I started going to Lake Hill around 1959 or 1960, (can’t remember exactly) around the age of 11/12. My 2 best friends as a kid and myself would beg and beg our older siblings, and our respectful Dad’s to take us over there from Arnold, Mo .on Sunday nights in the summer. It was a trip over the old 141 to Fenton, where we would get on Gravois near the Bell Telephone Headquarters and head south on Gravois until we would make the right hand, back onto 141 over to Valley Park at the Feed Mill where we would turn right onto Forest Ave , drive past the houses on the left and then down the hill to Bill’s Auto Service on our right, ( where we always spotted Bill Schrader’s race car being prepared for the nights action ), then past the one lane wood bridge to the pit entrance, then a few yards more where we entered the spectator parking lot and I think the fee for parking was $ .25. . Then it was out of the car, onto the wood foot bridge, into the famous tunnel, where we could get up real close and personal with a “REAL” race car!!!...Then it was onward to the ticket booth, and I think we paid $2.00 for a general admission ticket... We ran to the back stretch and claimed our “TOP ROW “seats (Sound familiar??)
I even remember the phone number of the track. It was VA 5-8869.
We always called the track when it rained, so I guess it just stuck with me for the last 40 or so years!!!!
By that time, we were jazzed and ready for action. We next heard the voice of who I think was the best announcer ever to call the action “BRUCE HUMPHRY” (spl), I say this with all due respect to our current crop of motor mouths. He made you feel like you were in the race car with the driver. I have heard a lot of announcers but I really think he was the best ever. ( Mooney Starr does a nice job, but he is in Batesville, Arkansas, and I don’t believe he is announcing to much anymore) Mr. Bruce was truly gifted.
After the playing of the National Anthem, ( The Greatest Song in The World), I remember the recording device and the P A system for the anthem never did quite work very good for the ANTHEM but everyone stood up,, and the men had there hats in there hands, for sure. The Drivers and the Pit Crews stood at attention, also out of respect for the flag. Not just a few, EVERY ONE OF THEM, (Unlike some of the fans and crews I see now days, but I digress. I don’t remember a Invocation given at Lake Hill, But If I am wrong about this , maybe one of you old timers out there can help me out.
I don’t recall all the driver’s names, numbers or sponsors, of those early years but I do remember a few tid bits of info and I hope you let me share them with you now. I realize some of the cars and stars may have been mentioned in earlier post on this great web-site, but please humor me and let me ramble on, if you would!!!!!!!
Feel free to correct or amend any info I post as I am pushing 60, and you know what is said about the “AGED”

My first exposure to a LAKE HILL race car was a local Arnold stock car #171. It was a 39 or 40 Ford, and had a flathead engine. I believe the first driver was a fellow named RICH KOHLER, then the owner DAN REICH drove the car, then I believe BUTCH COOLEY took his turn at the keyboard. It was sponsored by Arnold Skelly Service, on the main drag named Jeffco Blvd. The station is no longer there.

The Lake Hill track exposed this young fan to all the rest of his childhood hero’s. I will attempt to list them now, and as much info about them as I remember.

#91 RAY EBY
Hilltop Auto Sales, “Mighty Danny” a picture of a rocket and a young boy on the rear deck “Connie/Debbie” on the car, also “Longwood Auto Parts”.

# 66/99 KENNY SCHRUM / # 289
Karsten Plumbing Company; drove the race with a cigar in his mouth, one year drove a small coupe with 289 for a number and it had a small block Ford power plant. This machine had the rear deck and trunk cut almost completely off, providing for easy in and out for the driver. It was quit unique at the time.

#27 BOBBY NEUSCHE
The owner was a car salesman name Joe “BLACKIE” Valeck. “The Bright Star” was always on Bobby’s car, lettered on the roof, across the top of the windshield. May Bobby Rest In Peace, as I remember he was killed in a non race related auto accident ( hit by a car, crossing the highway) He was a fan favorite, one of mine, too.

#14 and 427 CARL SPRINGER
One year drove for Karsten Plumbing Co. (Ronnie Karsten) and had the coupe with a Ford power. It was red# 427. Other wise had #14 ( or was it 41 ?? )
As we all know, Carl is the Father of Allied legend STU SPRINGER , (affectionately called STUIE by some of his fellow racers and other nice names that I cannot mention here!! Just kidding , Stu!!!!

#88 JAKE HASSLER

# 19 I. J. STUBBLEFEILD
STARLIGHT APARTMENTS, High Ridge, Mo. I think this is right

LEO ZINN or SINN (spl)
Leo was a PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER in his real life and weighed in at a hefty 300 lbs. so said BRUCE HUMPHRY . I remember, he turned his coupe over one night and they thought they would never get him out of the race car.They may have called in for the National Guard to help him out

#23 GARVASE BASLER
A farmer in the day hours and he raised pigs in STE. Gen. County... He provided the pigs for the pig races that Allied held at Lake Hill .His pal , DONNY KLEIN, was the only one who could catch the pigs , so I think there might have been some back yard dealings going on here!!!!!. I think Donny was undefeated in the pig race sweepstakes.

#28 DON KLEIN
Need I say more???? Raced a FORD powered car and made the Chevies like it. Still going strong, FRED ISENMAN FORD , LIN COUNTS FORD, PRINCE FORD, BERRY AUTO PARTS, BALANCED BY BEAZELY, MEMPHIS, TN, MARSH RACING TIRES, SILIOM SPRINGS ARKANSAS, MECHS; EARL , GLEN, RICH , JIM. STAN JOHNSTON on the crew later on. These early Ford motors where balanced in TN, but assembled By Glen Berry in Desoto, Mo. Glen has been doing the balance work for many years and I believe he has built all of Donny’s powerful , race winning FORD engines for all of Don’ s Championship’s. We should all be thankful for having this fine, devoted racer still competing at the local level, thank you Donny, for all these memories.
Just a side note, I was watching Don Klein win Features while most of you where still making stinky in your panties, Believe me, he just could not be beat, night after night after night and year after year after year, You get my drift. A truly gifted racer. not soon matched,. I once traveled to the old ROLLA, MO. Speedway , to watch Donny drive a pavement car, the guy who won that day was none other then DICK TRICKLE, in a Ford Mustang with sponsor from A and W Root Beer.

#100 BILL SCHRADER
Drove a white coupe with just the number 100 on each side. I distinctly remember Mr. Schrader wearing Jesus type sandals with socks and I think he drove the race car with them on!!! Maybe wrong on this one!!! HELP?? Of course, every driver wore a tee shirt or button down short sleeved shirt, What Fire Suit??? Later when Kenny got close to 16, Bill ran the late model for a while (don’t know how long) and shook it down for Ken’s first night. I witnessed Ken’s first late model feature and it was it his first night in the car!!!!!
I can’t remember what Kenny did in the preliminary events that night, but I know he did not run the ‘HOLLIGAN’ race. I know for sure he won his first feature on a night I was there. It was quite a thrill for this young fan. I am quite sure Bill is smiling up in heaven at his son’s very successful career.

# 101 JR. RENNA

# 2 EDDIE LOWERY

# 4 ELMER LOWERY
# 7 DAVE GRAMM
Drove an orange coupe with white “7 “on the doors.

#8 DON WORKMAN
WEBER CHEVROLET on Lindel

# 11 HAROLD WORKMAN
“SUNSET INN’ Immaculate red and white race car, never saw a dent in this car, Mech: JACK KARD .beautiful race car trailer, chrome wheels, trailer matched the tow rig, I believe he had a Ford pickup moving his Chevy powered race car around. Spotless car and crew All had white uniforms and every thing was very neat around his stuff’. When the pavement came, Harold fielded a red camaro that looked like he just picked it up from the neighborhood Chevy Dealer. It also was #11

# 12 BUTCH COOLEY
Heavy Equipment operator (Large Crane) The WORKMAN brothers were equipment operators also.

# 13 CLYDE HARRISION
I believe Clyde was the original owner of the speed plant we call I-55 Raceway!! You old timer’s can correct me on this if I am wrong. Clyde worked for Sears, in sales.
He turned a dream into a place many of us call our home track. I ran around with Clyde a little before he bought the property; Clyde is a bit older then I, but we liked race cars together. I have lost contact with him for over 40 years


#97 BOB MINER
Ran a coupe, also a late model when the black stuff got put on the track. A lot of us are familiar with his famous son, MARK “MAD DOG” MINER. Yes, Mark gets like a rabid Dog when he straps in, but out side the race car, you find a very humble and approachable guy. Not MAD at too awful much stuff except------- well, I am gonna leave it at that!!!!! (DISCLOSURE, Mark is a pal of mine) BOB MINER never took any gruff from the other drivers. If you made him mad on the track, you may have gotten a visit after the race was over!!!

# 81 DWIGHT “CYCLONE “ BARBEAU
Always the trademark “FIN” in the rear deck lid of his race cars.

# 40 “MOVIN” MARV PRUETT
# ? LOU PRUETT BROTHER OF MARVIN

# 83 DON “FEATHER FOOT “HEILIGTAG
Don started with a Don Klein campaigned 58 Ford. The car was owned by JERRY, DICK, and MARION KOHLER. Sponsors were BEIERS AUTO PARTS, MURPHY, MO. MACHINE SHOP SERVICE on door. Also drove in the “A “modified class with a black coupe, same number and sponsor

# ? BUD GEASHAEA OR BOB GAESHEA ???

# ? BUD PURSLEY

# ? PAUL GRIMM

#45 CHARLIE CLASS

# 47 GARLAND WALKER

# 66/99 “ CRUNCH’ real name “ GRANT BENEFELD”

# 8 ED BARRETT
Sappington Auto Parts and Salvage. It was a 57 Chevy, blue and white

# 88 JAKE HASSLER
This was Jakes Hobby car. It was a team car to the # 8 mentioned above. Also Sappington Auto Parts and Salvage sponsored 57 Chevy. Blue and white, too.

JERRY RANSOM

CHARLIE STUABB

# 53 “WILD” BILL SCHERRER
Fast 57 or 58 Ford

# 98 FRED BROOKS

# 500 BOB LONGSDON
It was BOB LONGSDON AND HIS SCREAMING HUDSON yelled Bruce Humphries/. Yes my friends, a HUDSON race car. (Heck, who it the world would think we would ever have a TOYOTO in NASCAR???? ) , I don’t remember it doing to good, he broke a lot.

# 76 ( or #56) HARRY CHEATAM
F ather of Bert Cheatam and granddad of “DRAPPER’ DANNY EMS. I may have Harry and Bert’s Last name spelled wrong, Sorry. Guys 

# 21 MARSHAL YOST
57 Ford race cars. “ TUXEDO SHELL SERVICE, WEBSTER GROVES MO.

Some other names 16 MIKE HAMMERLE; 43 BILL BADE; 333 DAVE STUMPF; 17 ; 17 CLYDE LINNDAMIN; 19 A. J. KOHLER, 29 TOM KOHLER. 96 JERRY HOLLERBACH; TOM VOGT; Of course the pavement late model drivers came along : JERRY SIFFORD, RUSS WALLACE; BOB MUELLER, ( Bob had a 1965 Ford late model, sponsored by his auto sales lot in Lemay Mo.) PAUL LAWSON, 89 ELDON LOHMAN, ( Eldon had a Pontiac GTO race car ) DAVE NOLAN and DON HEILIGTAG ( Dave and Don were sponsored by NEITER EXCAVATING COMPANY,. and THE RAYMOND COMPANY,UNDERGROUND TANK CONSTRUCTION .This company was owned by Ray Heiligtag, Don Heilitag’s father. Dave’s brother ,Wayne, owned the car’s They were Dodge),DEAN ROPER, HAROLD NOSER, (Harold was sportsman track champion the same year Ken Schrader won his first championship at Lake Hill . Harold now resides in Galveston, TX.) Who can forget those LARRY PHILLIPS butt WHIPPINS that he gave our local drivers!!!!, PAUL McKINNEY, Paul had a 1960 Ford ,, I think I have one program from the late 60s or early 70s around here, but I just can’ t locate it yet, I believe it has a few more late model driver names in it .If you gave me a name from the early years, I probably could give you a number and maybe a sponsor from the car. I was just that in touch with details like that as a young man.

About 3 or 4 years ago, I handed over to Ken Schrader. ( In a autograph line, no I don’t know Kenny personally,) a dozen or so LAKE HILL SPEEDWAY programs, from the early 60s and at another autograph session at FOX school in Arnold, , I gave him either a 1955 or a 1957 LAKE HILL SPEEDWAY PROGRAM. that I had found while cleaning up at my father house shortly after his passing. I gave them to Ken because I had heard that he liked old stuff like this from the past. After I die, my daughter would have pitched the stuff to the trash. In those programs, where the names of the drivers I have forgotten and the time‘s they set that night of the date of the program. . If any of you cats out there know Kenny, maybe you can get him to open one of those old programs and get a few more names to add to the list of the stars of the past.. You just gotta love this guy!!!! He’s never gonna stop!!!!! With all the success he has had racing cars; he has never forgotten his roots, never forgotten the people who loved him when he had nothing and never forgotten his loyal fans back in St. Louis. Does he need to race that late model at I 55?? Does he really need the headache of being a track owner ?? Na, not really, but I truly believe what he states in his book , GOTTA RACE that, when he is old, his friends will have to put him in the car and take him out of the car when the race is over (. I think that is what going to happen with DONNY KLEIN>) what a racer and I am very proud that I got to witness his first Checkered Flag, at LAKE HILL.

After Allied left, it was Central Auto Racing ***. And then , the NATIONAL ALL STAR RACING LEAGUE, headed up by Glen Jacoby. Danny Frye was involved with the promotions with the pavement crowd.

I did a few laps myself at Lake Hill in a Ford dirt car and a few in a pavement late model, also a Ford, but the career was so uneventful and short lived that my name does not warrant discussion in this venue. I have never claimed to have been a long duration or knowledgeable driver at this track or St.Charles or Bellville, although I did a few laps at all three. I was short on funds and had discovered WOMEN. I should have stuck with the race cars.

Many thanks to stl racing for letting me rant
See you all at the FINAL DAY


Dave-----------------the no1drtcrfn---------------that is ‘” THE NUMBER ONE DIRT CAR FAN”
 
Long Live The Coupes And The Local Legends!
 

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COUPE FAN said:
Long Live The Coupes And The Local Legends!
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If'n ya ever need a driver for either one of them old coupes,specially that #7 at
any of the local vintage races, I'm available (LOL):D:D:D:) I even got an open face helmet,googles, and a red bandana for the times my buddy lets me drive his antique midgets.:):):):) Yeah I know,I know,"leave your number we'll call if any thing opens up"....:D:D
 
Why Not Ask To Drive The Gray One Howard? You Have Been Around Racing Since They Had To Fred Flintstone Them Around The Track Haven't You? :D J/k
 
PITDRIFTER said:
Why Not Ask To Drive The Gray One Howard? You Have Been Around Racing Since They Had To Fred Flintstone Them Around The Track Haven't You? :D J/k
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Yeah but that black & yeller one is way KEWLLL But then again I'd probally.drive the gray one for him too !!!!!!!:eek::D:)
 
Thanks No1DrtCrfn for rattling up more of the memories I have of Lake Hill. I grew up at Lake Hill from 1966-1976, there wasn't many nights we weren't there but I had forgotten some of the names you mentioned.. That was truely a wonderful post and if you remember any more please don't hesitate to post.
 
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