MISC: Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame to induct seven new members
10 August 2000
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
LINCOLN, NE--The Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame, Inc.
is ready to induct seven new members on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the
Nebraska State Fair Park Clubhouse in Lincoln, Neb., according to Hall of
Fame President, Tony Glenn. This will be the third year for the Hall of
Fame, which honors Nebraskans for their accomplishments in the sport of
auto racing. Among the special guests expected is Nebraska Governor, Mike
Johanns.
The seven newest honorees are:
- Noel Bullock, North Platte, who won the 1922 Pikes Peak Hill Climb and many outlaw short track events in Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota and Colorado.
- Bob Burdick, Omaha, an I.M..C.A. and NASCAR stock car driver who won the 1961 Atlanta 500 NASCAR Grand National race, as well as many I.M.C.A. late model races in the 1950s.
- Jim Gessford, Hastings, who built and raced track roadsters, modifieds, supermodifieds and sprint cars with such drivers as Gordie Shuck, Lloyd Beckman, Dick Sutcliffe and Roger Rager.
- Joe Kosiske, Omaha, who owned modifieds and late models for drivers such as his son, Bob, and Stan Williams.
- Bob Parker, Omaha, an excellent midget racer. Parker won races throughout the Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota areas, as well as winning the first two Sunset Speedway championships at the Omaha track in 1957 and 1958.
- Gordon Smiley, Omaha, an accomplished road racer. Smiley started two Indianapolis 500-mile races for car owner Pat Patrick.
- Les Vaughn, Omaha, who owned modifieds, sprints and midgets for such star drivers as Jud Larson, Bob Slater, Cotton Farmer, Tiny Lund and A.J. Foyt.
There will also be a silent auction going on at the induction reception. Some of the items that will be up for bid include two tickets to the Indy Racing Northern Light Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, several diecast replica cars, autographed photos, tickets to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, and several other items.
The induction reception will start at 1:30 p.m. on the clubhouse level of the main grandstand at Nebraska State Fair Park. The public is invited. Tickets are $7 for adults and $2 for children and can be purchased in advance at the State Fair ticket office, or send payment to:
Connie Decker
Nebraska State Fair
P.O. Box 81223
Lincoln NE 68501
Tickets will also be available at the grandstand ticket office the day of the reception. The Nebraska State Championship for Sprint Cars will be held that evening at the Raceway.
Text provided by Bob Mays
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos
and art, visit
The Racing
Photo Museum and the
Visions
of Speed Art Gallery.