This message was edited on
January 12, 2011 at
04:20:54 PM by Racing From The Past
I was a youngster at the time and saw this happen. I was told that Gene had to swerve right to miss a car that slowed down. I remember my dad (Vernon Schrater - previous owner) and John Kunzelman rebuilding the car in preperation for the next race at Dodge City to maintain our points advantage. Gene Potts was able to drive the car with a cast on his arm and was able to keep our point advantage. Anyone out there remember this? Steven Schrater - The photos were taken by myself.
Oakley Graphic
Thursday – August 24, 1961 – Front Page:
IN FRONT OF GRANDSTAND
SPECTACULAR CRASH IN CAR RACES
Tragedy was narrowly averted in a rail wreck at races before a big crowd at the grandstand Sunday (August 20, 1961). The driver, Gene Potts, Great Bend, suffered a broken left arm and was knocked unconscious after his car went out of control.
Incident occurred before the race as drivers were churning the track to dry it out. Thrills continued through events. Another driver in the field of 27 cars sustained two broken ribs. Jerry Collins, Hutchinson, suffered the injuries in a race when his car rolled on the south turn of the track.
Potts piled up in full view of the grandstand crowd and there was a moment of intense apprehension for them.
The wreck occurred after he came out of the north turn and down the straight-a-way. He had swung wide on the curve and because of
another car and was unable to avoid missing guard rails and cables protecting the grandstand. His jalopy sheered off a couple of rails, veered in and scraped the cement in front of the grandstand before it hurdled into the air. It appeared Potts' vehicle was tossed high enough by the impact that another car passed underneath it. Potts was probably knocked unconscious when he hit the posts.
James Robben, one of the Jaycees in charge of arranging the races was in the grandstand near the wreck area. When he saw the car coming, he said, "I couldn't move. I couldn't move for a while afterwards," he added.
Potts, considered one of the better drivers on the circuit, couldn't slow down after he came out of the curve. To do so would have caused him to lose control of his rail. His speed was estimated at between 60 and 70 miles an hour. After the wreck, persons sitting in the north area of the grandstand moved to other areas.
The rail was demolished. The owner, Howard Pedigo, Great Bend, was seated in the stands. He suffered a fainting spell watching the potentially tragic crash.
It was one of three wrecks before and during the races that involved four cars.
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