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Topic: Tulsa Speedway mystery death in the 60s/70s
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Page 3 of 5 of 87 replies
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December 03, 2008 at
09:00:49 PM
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December 03, 2008 at
09:12:13 PM
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Ron Lux was a resident of Buffalo, New York. He also drove under the psuedonym of Bucky Buckholtz, and also drove using a borrowed USAC license from Bob Hodgson. He was trying to avoid sanctions from USAC, which at the time did not permit their drivers to run in non-sanctioned events.
Ron Lux was the Supermodified driver points champion of New York's Oswego Speedway in 1965, driving the famous Purdy Duece winning 5 features in a row during one stretch and 12 overall for the the season. He won the Orange County Eastern States 200 in 1965. He also set fast time for the first asphalt Langhorne National Open ( Race Of Champions) event in 1965. He died in a USAC sprinter at Tulsa, Ok.
He was employed by Casey Trucking.
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December 03, 2008 at
09:13:07 PM
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Langehorne, 1965
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December 03, 2008 at
09:14:05 PM
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December 03, 2008 at
09:19:35 PM
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From another site-
Car number -63
Track-3/8
REAL NAME- Charles Lux
Age- 26
http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=4291
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December 03, 2008 at
09:40:51 PM
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This message was edited on
December 03, 2008 at
09:44:23 PM by leo4502003
According to a report by Gene Heeter in National Speed Sport News:
"The 14 starters had completed two laps when Lux touched the guard rail near the starting line. He had started 12th and had just nosed by Arnie Knepper for sixth position. He corrected from his brush with the rail and entering the first turn hit Knepper's right front wheel, bounced off the guard rail and up over the front of Knepper's car doing one and a half forward flips and then several sideways roll-overs ending up on his wheels. He apparently died from internal bleeding in the right chest area." Lee Booth
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December 03, 2008 at
10:34:36 PM
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Knepper was probably not in a spot where he could make a sudden move and continue a chain reaction. If moves like that had been going on for some time by Lux, it wasn't a question of "if", but more like a question of "when and who".
Pushing the envelope has it's price.
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December 04, 2008 at
06:08:26 PM
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I'm not for sure but wasn't Jim Vanbeaver Killed in 1968 at Tulsa ? If i remember his supermodified was similar to the 55 of Frankie Lies . He went over the guard rail in turn 1 or 2 but i don't recall him being faster than everyone ?
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December 13, 2008 at
09:16:47 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: mule88 on December 04 2008 at 06:08:26 PM
I'm not for sure but wasn't Jim Vanbeaver Killed in 1968 at Tulsa ? If i remember his supermodified was similar to the 55 of Frankie Lies . He went over the guard rail in turn 1 or 2 but i don't recall him being faster than everyone ?
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I think it was Karl VanBeber.SSDI show s 1968.Vanbeber's car was similar the Lies.He was racing with Gene Wardlow #39 coming out of turn 3. Warlow clipped him and sent him flying.I remember VanBeber car flying aprt as it went bounding out turn 3 to turn 4 going over the turn 4 guardrail.I do remember people (including my mom) say that Wardlow was a rough driver and probably did it on purpose.Seems like VanBeber had only just started driving and was in or just out of the Navy...Also I think their was a James VanBeber that raced some after that.BUT 40 years is a long time ago!
Charles Crawford
"Back to the Drive"
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December 14, 2008 at
12:23:07 PM
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James Vanbeber was killed in the summer of 1969 - I remember to talking to him the previous week before he died in a flip at Tulsa Speedway. His brother Karl raced modifieds in 1974 & 1975 that I remember in Tulsa.
Ray
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December 14, 2008 at
01:27:35 PM
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What does SSDI stand for? I know when I hear what it stands for it will sound like a stupid question, but I'm drawing a blank.
Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes
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December 15, 2008 at
12:42:10 AM
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Sorry David I meant to put Social Security death index.The reason I remember this wreck was my dad was helping Jerry Hunter in the # 18 Super.
Charles
"Back to the Drive"
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December 15, 2008 at
08:45:12 PM
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Thanks, I thought it was some racing series I hadn't heard about. I guess if I would learn to read. I didn't see the s on show. I thought it read ssdi show. I knew it was a stupid question. thanks.
I've heard where all the different statin drugs will slowly eat away at your brain. Maybe it's just getting older though.
Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes
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December 16, 2008 at
08:34:21 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Bkcr on December 14 2008 at 12:23:07 PM
James Vanbeber was killed in the summer of 1969 - I remember to talking to him the previous week before he died in a flip at Tulsa Speedway. His brother Karl raced modifieds in 1974 & 1975 that I remember in Tulsa.
Ray
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Thanks for clearing the names up.Like I said 40 years is a long time.
Charles Crawford
"Back to the Drive"
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December 16, 2008 at
08:43:02 PM
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It sounds like this must be the incident the poster was talking about. It fits in all respects. Thanks for all the info, but please feel free to post more if you have it. I'm subscribed to this question.
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December 17, 2008 at
11:33:33 AM
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My freind Bobby Joe and I were just a couple of 17 year old car nuts, walking though the pits after the races We were looking over James Vanbeber's car, he started talking to us. He was just a poor boy racer and did not have a quick change rear end. It shocked us when he told us that he could change the center section between the heat races and feature if needed. The next week When he had his accident we were stunned.
Warren, I still have an extra glass from the 1975 Tulsa awards banquet and would like for you to have it. Let me know when you are in the Tulsa area and I will meet you.
Ray
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April 14, 2009 at
03:44:05 AM
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This message was edited on
April 14, 2009 at
03:52:29 AM by redbandana
Reply to:
Posted By: TulsaTV on December 16 2008 at 08:43:02 PM
It sounds like this must be the incident the poster was talking about. It fits in all respects. Thanks for all the info, but please feel free to post more if you have it. I'm subscribed to this question.
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Vanbeber was killed in turn 3 and ended up close to turn 4,,,he was driving a little Sedan kinda looked like Frankis Lies blue #55,it was blue #66 i think.I have a pic of it setting there after the wreak. He was running toward the back when somehow he lost it in turn 3 got in the Marbels and fliped through the fence into the space area they had behind the fence.I dont think anyone was ganging up on him.If there was another car it was only one. He had not been running everynight that year and never ran up front. You could tell his car was kinda older style, not like the newer Supers that were poping up in 68 and 69.He stayed out of trouble most the time. It was a surprize when he had the wreck.
Dillard in 1961 jumped into his car in the Hot laps without his helmet and fliped it ,the steering wheel beat him up very badly.They said he was late getting there is why he did it. I was very young but i remember it well it was one of my early memorys of racing that has stuck with me..... Tim
Win as if you are use to it.And lose as if you enjoyed
it for a change.Its hard to get to the top and alot
harder to stay there.
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April 14, 2009 at
04:47:29 AM
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This message was edited on
April 14, 2009 at
11:15:16 AM by redbandana
Reply to:
Posted By: Racing From The Past on December 02 2008 at 10:00:55 PM
Where was Harvey Shane killed at??
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Harvey shane,, when he left this world the race tracks were a safer place. He has to hold a record for being bard from the most tracks. He would show up using a fake name . I remember when he Wrecked Al Lemmons in Tulsa i think it was 61.,i was very young but i remember talking about it on the way home with my Dad Jack Belk. Harvey told my Dad he was going to kill him if he got the chance.And he said it more than once. He tryed one night in Topeka in1962.
Harvey had got involed in a wreak on the front striaght, Belk was coming out of turn 4 full bore. Shane was setting still on the edge of the track and waited for Belk and pulled the front of his car into the path of Belk. Belk fliped several times and was carryed out of the car and came to a few hours later at the hospital...Jack Belk said later thats the only way he will get me.
I remember one night my Mom asked my Dad ,,did you know Harvey was on your tail,Dad said why do you think i was going so fast.If i am in front of Harvey he can never catch me. And if i am behind him thats his problem because i wont be for long.
Like Luther said earlyer. If Harvey Shane was at the race track everybody knew that he was there. Many drivers were scared to death of that man,,he was the worst loser i ever seen in racing.Harvey was a big man and a very tuff fighter.And usualy could intimadate anyone. And felt he could wope anybody.He found a few like Jack Belk he could not intimadte or beat and he could not deal with it.I could write a 50 page book on that o boy but ,,,,,,,,its best he is just gone.......Tim
Win as if you are use to it.And lose as if you enjoyed
it for a change.Its hard to get to the top and alot
harder to stay there.
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April 14, 2009 at
03:58:46 PM
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7918
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Reply to:
Posted By: redbandana on April 14 2009 at 04:47:29 AM
Harvey shane,, when he left this world the race tracks were a safer place. He has to hold a record for being bard from the most tracks. He would show up using a fake name . I remember when he Wrecked Al Lemmons in Tulsa i think it was 61.,i was very young but i remember talking about it on the way home with my Dad Jack Belk. Harvey told my Dad he was going to kill him if he got the chance.And he said it more than once. He tryed one night in Topeka in1962.
Harvey had got involed in a wreak on the front striaght, Belk was coming out of turn 4 full bore. Shane was setting still on the edge of the track and waited for Belk and pulled the front of his car into the path of Belk. Belk fliped several times and was carryed out of the car and came to a few hours later at the hospital...Jack Belk said later thats the only way he will get me.
I remember one night my Mom asked my Dad ,,did you know Harvey was on your tail,Dad said why do you think i was going so fast.If i am in front of Harvey he can never catch me. And if i am behind him thats his problem because i wont be for long.
Like Luther said earlyer. If Harvey Shane was at the race track everybody knew that he was there. Many drivers were scared to death of that man,,he was the worst loser i ever seen in racing.Harvey was a big man and a very tuff fighter.And usualy could intimadate anyone. And felt he could wope anybody.He found a few like Jack Belk he could not intimadte or beat and he could not deal with it.I could write a 50 page book on that o boy but ,,,,,,,,its best he is just gone.......Tim
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The harvey shanes of this world could do us all a favor and just stay home. Big arms and little brains.
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November 23, 2010 at
10:49:23 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: redbandana on April 14 2009 at 03:44:05 AM
Vanbeber was killed in turn 3 and ended up close to turn 4,,,he was driving a little Sedan kinda looked like Frankis Lies blue #55,it was blue #66 i think.I have a pic of it setting there after the wreak. He was running toward the back when somehow he lost it in turn 3 got in the Marbels and fliped through the fence into the space area they had behind the fence.I dont think anyone was ganging up on him.If there was another car it was only one. He had not been running everynight that year and never ran up front. You could tell his car was kinda older style, not like the newer Supers that were poping up in 68 and 69.He stayed out of trouble most the time. It was a surprize when he had the wreck.
Dillard in 1961 jumped into his car in the Hot laps without his helmet and fliped it ,the steering wheel beat him up very badly.They said he was late getting there is why he did it. I was very young but i remember it well it was one of my early memorys of racing that has stuck with me..... Tim
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The driver who died was my uncle. His full name was James Allen Vanbeber. He was the son of Anita Vanbeber and James Homer Vanbeber. My other uncle, Karl, also raced for awhile after that. My dad, Richard, was more of the slacker pit crew guy, but he was a mini sprints ace. I was named after my uncle, and was told several stories of the incident in question. Neither my uncle Karl or my dad ever spoke in detail about who was involved, but it was a bitter subject. I have nearly a hundred pictures from the late 50's 60's and 70's, but none from that accident, and I do stress accident. I would love an electronic copy of the pic. Racing is in my blood, and I would love to have raced in the days before electronic scoring. Thanks to all those intrested in my uncles death and the circumstances surrounding it. My uncle was an amazing man according to every account I have ever heard. He would have shrugged off any thought of someone out to murder another driver.
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