This post isn't about a NASCAR race, an ARCA one, a USAC one, or even a local feature at Nashville's Fairgrounds. It is about a 100-mile, big time event at a new half-mile dirt track on the Northern Montana Fairgrounds in Great Falls. IMCA - the International Motor Contest Association - sanctioned the race, and it is believed to be the first major stock car race in the state of Montana. (And arguably, perhaps the only major stock car race in that state.)
I extracted a couple of articles from archived editions of the Great Falls Tribune newspaper about the race.
Race preview:
The cream of the nation's driving talent will bid for $2,000 in prize money in the 100-mile dirt track classic for stock cars this afternoon at the North Montana State fairgrounds.
It will be the first stock car race ever conducted here and promises to be an eventful test with 12 professionals entered for the 200-lap grind. The speedsters will be bidding for points in the national competition for stock car racing, won for the last two years by Herschel Buchanan of Shreveport. La. The national champ will be among the entries this afternoon.
The track here has been placed in top condition for the grueling race. Drivers who inspected it Saturday said it ranked among the best in the nation and predicted new speed records may be established for the 100-mile course if weather conditions are favorable.
Virtually every type of late model stock car will be seen in the endurance run. Drivers already entered represent eight states and include sectional champions from the south, middlewest and southeast. Bidding for Buchanan's title is Jimmie Clark of Fort Worth, who won the last two competitive events and hopes to make it three straight today. Clark won at Shreveport last Sunday and at Miles City Wednesday.
Another top racer bidding for honors is Bill Harrison of Topeka, who hopes to establish a record here. Harrison said the track is in top condition and will test the skill of drivers as they jockey for the lead over the long grind. Officials said that while 12 entries already have been received, post time entries may increase the field to 16.
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Race report:
Herschel Buchanan, two times national champion from Shreveport, La., won the first stock car classic here Sunday afternoon in a grueling, dusty 100-mile grind. Buchanan, driving a 1951 Nash led the last 100 laps of the 200 lap test and never was seriously threatened after the half-way point.
His superior driving plus first-rate performance from his auto enabled him to edge second-place Charlie Stark of Syracuse. N. Y by a lap and a half. Stark drove a 1949 Plymouth. Buchanan did the 100 miles in two hours, three and a half minutes. The world's stock car record for a hundred miles is one hour and 57 minutes.
The event, sponsored by the Elks drum and bugle corps under sanction of the International Motor Contest Assn., drew a paid crowd of 5,348 and grossed $10,746, including taxes.
The race was marked by one smashup and numerous mechanical breakdowns but no one was injured. The track, although dusty, was in good condition for the race. Officials sprayed it with 60,000 gallons of water Saturday night.
Buchanan, a Nash salesman in his home town and a former speedway driver, started the race in fourth position and moved into first on his 40th lap. He lost the lead on the 90th lap to flashy young Jimmy Clark, driving a 1950 Oldsmobile. Clark, bidding strongly for Buchanan's national title, fell back at the 100th lap when high gear went out of his car. He completed the last 100 lap in second gear and finished in fifth place.
Matt Perlick, Minneapolis, and Glen Larson, Aurora, Ill., were the early leaders. Larson copped first place at the start and held it until he crashed through the fence on his 35th lap. The crackup resulted when Perlick spun out of control on the far turn ahead of Larson.
Larson smacked Perlick and careened to the left through the inside guard rail. Perlick, who finished third in a 1950 Oldsmobile, was out front from the 35th lap to the 40th, when he was forced to make a pit stop to replace a tire damaged in the smash-up with Larson. The stop dropped Perlick out of contention.
Behind Perlick was Frank Winkley, Minneapolis, with a 1952 Ford. Clark finished fifth and Gene Harmon, Lincoln, Neb., took sixth with 1949 Hudson. Highly-touted Bill Harrison, one of the pre-race favorites with a 1952 De Soto, lost a wheel early in the race and finished seventh. He lost several minutes in the pits for repairs. In eighth place was John Nash, St. Paul, with a 1950 Hudson. Larson, driving a 1951 Oldsmobile, took ninth and Bobby Dugan, Tampa, Fla., finished 10th in a 1952 Oldsmobile.
The tail-ender was Dick Eidsmoe, Minneapolis, who drove a 1951 Henry J. He snapped an axle on a turn in his fifth lap and set out the rest of the race in the pits.
Buchanan won $500 while Stark got $360 and Perlick $270. Every driver in the race received a share of the $2,000 prize money.
I included the hometown for each of the drivers. Pretty amazing to realize how far many of the drivers traveled to Big Sky Country to race for a paltry share of a $2,000 purse.
| Position | Driver | Hometown | Car |
| 1 | Hershel Buchanan | Shreveport LA | Nash |
| 2 | Charlie Stark | Syracuse, NY | Plymouth |
| 3 | Matt Perlick | Minneapolis, MN | Oldsmobile |
| 4 | Frank Winkley | Minneapolis, MN | Ford |
| 5 | Jimmy Clark | Fort Worth, TX | Oldsmobile |
| 6 | Gene Harmon | Lincoln, NE | Hudson |
| 7 | Bill Harrison | Topeka, KS | DeSoto |
| 8 | John Nash | St. Paul, MN | Hudson |
| 9 | Glen Larson | Aurora, IL | Oldsmobile |
| 10 | Bobby Dugan | Tampa, FL | Oldsmobile |
| 11 | Dick Eidsmoe | Minneapolis, MN | Henry J. |
In addition to Buchanan's IMCA wins and championships, he raced in 23 Grand National events from 1950 through 1954. He impressively notched a Top 5 in nine of those 23 starts.
From what I've gathered, I don't think many more races - if any - were held at the fairgrounds half-mile track. However, the excitement of the IMCA race there led a few racing and business minded folks to build a new and more permanent facility. Great Falls Speedway was built. It continues today as a 3/10 clay oval under the name of Electric City Speedway.
http://www.electriccityspeedway.com/
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Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
updated by @tmc-chase: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
