Old Racing Farts

24/12/2023

I know it has been a while since I posted about the race tracks in the areas. Right now dialysis is kicking my butt. On Monday when I get home, and it’s right to my bed for 3 to 5 hours; on Wednesday’s it a little better but the best days are Friday’s, but then I have other things to do. This past season, I only got to watch my Grandson race 3 times at the tracks.
I posted a photo of my face after falling. It is getting better, but they do not know why I fell. It has to with my heart, I am sure, but being fat for 78 years does not help.
I will try to work a track or two when I get to the mood.
Have a safe new year.

24/12/2023

Since I need to be at dialysis at 5:15 ready to be hooked up for 3 hours, I thought I had better get out family and Facebook friends.
What want day is, let’s all have a safe time over the next week and everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼

03/09/2023

In my talk with Garett this morning, I asked him how the car worked. He said that they have been working the on the car to make more power and still get it to the track. He did not tell me what they did. But it was fast and and was stuck to the track. Said that was what they have been looking for the last for in the last couple months.

03/09/2023

At Webster City 9/2/2023 3rd in heat and 4 in A main🏁🏁🏁3w

09/02/2023

06/09/2022

I know it has been awhile since I posted on tis page, but hope do more in upcoming months. In the last post I covered 3 of the 4 tracks in and around Mason City. In the next post I will cover the 4th track, that is the North Iowa Fairground Speedway. I noted the track came into being in 1956. Since I am 79, this will be the track being the one I have first hand knowledge of. I am going to break this track information into sections. First section will be the historical information. The second section will cover the past promotors and other people involved in the operation of the track. The third section will cover types of races and notable racers. The final section will be devoted to the racers that raced here. I know that will need help on this section, if anyone wants to share notes and or photos of past drivers, post them on this page. I hope to do a page a month during the next few months. In the future I hope post other track as I circle outward from Mason City.

04/07/2022

The last couple of weeks treatment have not been the best. I have been collecting info on the race track at the new fairgrounds. This track is right in Mason City but not a lot of info. I will post his in several section when I do finish getting the info. Stand by I will get on it. 3w🏁🏁🏁Grandpa Jon.

12/06/2022

Chicken breasts, covered in cream of chicken soup, sprinkle a package of onion soup mix, top with a box of stove top stuffing (already prepared). Cover with foil and bake at 375
📌Full Recipe: http://meta-food.elkoukii.com/search?q=Chicken+breasts

07/06/2022

I know it has been a while since I posted anything. I am working on the 4th track in the Mason City area, North Iowa Speedway. This tack has been inexistence since 1956 so it takes time to dig up info. if anyone has any think they would tp post about the old fairground track send it to me.

08/05/2022

Today I am going to talk about 2 tracks in or near Mason City. I started this talking about which track existed in time. Today, I do not know which is next in time.
On or about 1953, a group of midget car drivers and owners got together make a short track between Mason City and Clear Lake. The track was located in the North West corner of the Airport entrance and then U. S. 18. They named the track "Mohawk Speed Drome". Not sure if it was 1/4 mile or less. I do know that they ran races on Sunday afternoons, no lights. The attached flyer says they ran midgets and stock cars. Back in those days there must have been 15 to 20+ midgets in Mason City Clear Lake. Seemed like there was a midget at every other gas station.
A midget race car is a short light weight car with mostly 4 cylinder engines. I have attached a couple photos of the cars, these cars may or my not have raced here.
I do know the track had lots of rocks on it, spent Sunday morning picking them off the track. I do think it ran more than 4 to 6 years. Anyone have any comments concerning Mohawk Speed Drome, feel free to jump in.
The next track, I even know less about, other than I was at the track. This was a private track located about 2 or 3 miles North of Mason City on the East side of U. S. 65. Not sure of the track size or what was run there. One person they were there and they ran midget race cars, another person told it was a go cart track. That all I could find about this track.
The next post will be abut the North Iowa Speedway, now know as the Mason City Speedway.

08/05/2022

Tomorrow I will be posting about 2 tracks near Mason City. Does anyone know where the Mohawk Speed Drome was located❓❓❓

07/05/2022

lost a good friend, sprint car driver and owner Brian Madsen. RIP🏁🏁

30/04/2022

This will be the first post on the history of auto racing in the North Iowa / Southern Minnesota area. I far as I know There were only 4 race in the Mason City area. The oldest was the North Iowa Fairgrounds race track. Prior to 1940 several business people approached the Cerro Gordo County about starting the North Iowa Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds was along the West side of Federal Ave and between 15th SW and 19th SW, now that would be the Sear's shopping center. In 1940, the North Iowa Fair group became the North Iowa Fair Association, which is still the current operator of the fair property.
The race track was on the North side of the property and ran from East to West. It was a big wide half mile dirt track with a board fence all the way around it. From turn 2 to almost turn 3 there were big trees between the track and 15th SW, on race days the trees would be full of kids watching for free. The track had a very big wooden grandstand and would be packed on race days, no lights.
The big events on the track would be when the IMCA big Cars an IMCA Late Models came to town. The Big Cars were like an Indy cars back then. The drivers came from all over the Midwest to race, Leon DeRock from Mason City raced with them. They mostly ran 50 to 100 lap races. In those days the cars needed to be pulled with a rope to start the engines. As a kid my brother and I got to sit in the back of the Buick Garage's pickup to pull the ropes in. Car driver would tie rope around the front axel and hang on to the rope, when the engine fired he would let go of the rope and we would pull it it.
When the late models came to town, they were also mostly IMCA sanctioned. They were mostly stock cars like to days Nascar with safety items. In the early 60's they also ran the longer races. Some of the drivers then Erinie Derr; Ramo Stott and Dick Hutcherson all were from the Keokuk Iowa area and at one time or another were involved with Nascar. Two Iowa drivers I know that raced with them were Tiny Lund of Lemars and Ted Zieman from Mason City.
Biggest events at the fairgrounds were the yearly week long fair and the yearly circus. The fair had daily events at the track beside the races. People from all over North Iowa Southern Minnesota flock to the grounds.
In 1956 that all changed. Prior to 1956 Cerro Gordo County was looking to sell the fairground property and buy farm land for the new fairgrounds. In April 1956 that came about, they sold the old property and bought the new fairground property. The new site was at the North East corner of US18 and Eisenhower Ave. For us older people, that would be across from the old Drive In and the now next to Target.
The first race at the new track was in 1956! 🏁🏁🏁3w

23/04/2022

💥Here is your official 2022 schedule for The Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, IA💥

❗️Everyone who shares this post will be entered into a drawing for 5 FREE Grandstand Passes or 2 FREE Pit Passes❗️

🏁Monday, May 9th, we will open our season up with:
🔹305 SPRINT CARS
🔹IMCA Modifieds
🔹IMCA Stock Cars
🔹IMCA Sport Mods
🔹IMCA Hobby Stocks
🔹IMCA Sport Compacts

Every race will pay at least $1,000 to win and $100 to start in the IMCA Modifieds and Stock Cars this season.

IMCA Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks will be racing for at least $1,000 to win and $75 to start in every feature event this year.

IMCA Sport Compacts will race for $500 to win all season IF there are 16 or more cars each night. If less than 16 cars, the following race will only pay $200 to win.

❗️All shows will be Draw/Redraw❗️

🏁We can't wait to get the 2022 season kicked off and hope to see you all at The Clay County Fair Speedway this season!🏁

23/04/2022

I decided to talk about my getting into racing with Dennis Roberts of Mason City, Iowa. It was about 1963 when I was buying gas at the station Dennis was working at. He was working on his modified race car and we started talking, the next thing I was at his garage and helping him. That started a friend ship that is still there today. I will go into building each car later in another post.

21/04/2022

I found some old photos to photos, more to follow and also stories. J. Tisor

16/04/2022

I have a face book page started will be changing the photos soon. If you have any comments let me know. 🏁🏁🏁 3w