When you say a driver is probably the best stock car driver in town it doesnt mean much unless your from keokuk ia. Ernie derr drove mercurys, oldsmobiles, pontiacs, plymouths and dodges shown here with equal success in the imca stock car ranks. Ernie derr and ramo stott were big racing stars then, and i really liked watching them race, said rasmussen. The keokuk gang consisted of old man ernie derr, don white, ramo stott and hutcherson himself. Ernie derr, a recordsetting imca champion from the 1950s through the 70s, has died. Derr took the lead at the start and kept it for the entire distance winning by three full car lengths. Tommy hinnershitz known as the oley dirt farmer this late pennsylvania sprint car driver is in all the halls of fame acknowledging the exploits of dirt sprinters and won more races than anyone will ever know. Legendary keokuk, iowa, race driver ernie derr has died at age 92.
Jan 10, 2014 keokuk, iowa ap ernie derr, a recordsetting stock car racing champion from keokuk, iowa, who competed between the 1950s and 1970s, has died at the age of 92. The old man will be tough to beat if you have to haul him out in a wheelchair. His son jared became a quarter midget racing champion. Over 9,000 drivers competed at imca events in 35 states and canada during imcas 104th season in 2019. Dick hutcherson ford factory driver, multiple nascar race winner, finished 2nd in nascar points in 1965, 3rd in 1966, 3rd place at lemans 1966. He was just a little skinny guy and that is when i knew i could be a race car driver. The first three finishers pulled steadily away from the rest of the field for the final twenty laps. From 19381948, the drivers of the ray nichels prepared midgets campaigned by his father rudy nichels were ted duncan, tony bettenhausen, johnnie parsons, paul russo, mike ohalloran, and ray richards all members of the midget. Gordy ran a lot of the imca races and had some help from ernie derr and ramo stott, who also lived in keokuk. He said it was spur of the moment decision to buy that first race car. Ramo stotts nascar superbird at the talladega aero.
Aug 18, 2009 ernie derr drove mercurys, oldsmobiles, pontiacs, plymouths and dodges shown here with equal success in the imca stock car ranks. Imca stock car national championship 1970 standings. Keokuk, iowa ap ernie derr, a recordsetting stock car racing champion from keokuk, iowa, who competed between the 1950s and 1970s, has died at the age of 92. Ernie derr, ron hutcherson, fred horn, freddy fryar, irv janey, gordon blankenship, mel morris, bill stark, mike derr, gene newsome, royce whitlock, fred cook, butch hall individual driver statistics for the 1970 imca stock car national championship. And they all raced or were involved with the cars we love. Ernie used to come down here and race in what was called the big engine race in the late 60s and up through 1971 or 72 before the track was paved. Ernie derr used this fire suit, which not so subtly indicates he was backed by stp, to race his way to a fourthplace finish in the arca 250 at daytona international speedway. Derr helped put keokuk on the map with his accomplishments. Click on the site to see ernie derr s career results at that track.
A red dodge from keokuk, iowa carrying the number one on its side and driven by mr. Ernie derr stats, race results, wins, news, record. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Ernie derr celebrates his 1971 iowa 300 win at the iowa state fairgrounds. But one time after a race in mason city we saw ernie derr at a truck stop. Ernie derr dodge charger racing, stock car racing, stock car. Mar 23, 2014 a 200mile usac stock car race at milwaukee, held on august 16, 1962. Even has ramos autograph on this 197071 arca champions car. Ladow in 1938, at the age of 15, ray nichels, went on the road as a midget car crew chief, racing at tracks across america.
The memory flashbacks of ernie derr and ramo fighting it out on the track like true gentlemen was overpowering. Countless sanctioning bodies have come and gone in the past century, but the international motor contest association has endured, persevered and prevailed over all obstacles since its founding in 1915. May 17, 2015 but one time after a race in mason city we saw ernie derr at a truck stop. Racetrack condition a fast, good holding track attendance a large crowd. Stock car legend ernie derr was by far the most dominant driver in the imca stock car series from 1952 through 1971, amassing 12 imca national titles and posting 339 imca race wins as documented by auto racing analysis from microfilmed imca records, national speed sport news, illustrated speedway news, and speed age. Ernie derr passed away at his home in keokuk on january 8, 2014 at the age of 92. Photo by dennis piefer 2 mike derr races with his father ernie derr at the iowa state fairgrounds in 1970. Late model stock car races at hutchinson, kansas on september.
A 200mile usac stock car race at milwaukee, held on august 16, 1962. Stott and funk were often sidebyside but neither could muster enough speed to challenge derr. Late model stock car races at hutchinson, kansas on. Click on the year to see the standings for that year.
It was released as the first single from their 1991 album sailing the seas of cheese and reached number 23 on the u. All told, from 1951 through 1975, ernie derr amassed a total of 358 race wins. I have such fond memories of ernie derr racing here in springfield, mo. The 12time imca champ won usac stock car races at sedalia, mo, terre haute, in and des moines, ia and was a fixture in the usac top10 in points in the early1970s. Ernie derr racing at the minnesota state fair in 1970. He was a 12time international motor contest association champion and is the winningest driver in the history of the circuit. Don white, ramo stott, dick hutcherson, lem blankenship, ernie derr what do these guys have in common. Don white two time usac stock car champion, over 50 usac feature wins, ford, charger and daytona driver.
This is an imca stock car flyer of the late 60s early 70s. Ernie derr didnt need to brag about his racing career. Ernie derr 1968 season results incomplete imca stock car series. Located in the extreme southeast corner of iowa on the mississippi river, keokuk iowa was a hotbed of. He finished fourth in imca late model points in 1972. Ernie derrresultsimca stock car series1968 the third turn. Ernie derr 12time imca stock car champion 1953, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962. Along with dick hutcherson, ramo stott and don white, derr was a member of the keokuk gang, a collection of racing drivers from keokuk, iowa.
Race driver ernie derr has died front porch expressions. Jun 16, 2009 music video by primus performing jerry was a race car driver. But when i think of the old imca stock car series, one car stands high above the rest. Dikes hansen going into late model hall of fame motor. Derr nationality american born november 29, 1921 hometown near donellsson, iowa died january 8, 2014 place of death keokuk, iowa racing highlights. This is a category to list all the drivers whose hometowns are listed as being in iowa.
Get the latest race results, news, videos, pictures, win record and more for ernie derr on. Click on the site to see ernie derrs career results at that track glossary. The song tells the stories of two characters, jerry, an illfated race car driver who collides with a telephone pole while driving intoxicated hence the use of. Derr nationality american born november 29, 1921 hometown near donellsson, iowa died january 8, 2014. Both ramo and ernie both had wins in imca, usac and arca. Jan 09, 2014 stock car legend ernie derr was by far the most dominant driver in the imca stock car series from 1952 through 1971, amassing 12 imca national titles and posting 339 imca race wins as documented by auto racing analysis from microfilmed imca records, national speed sport news, illustrated speedway news, and speed age.
Sep 03, 2018 but when i think of the old imca stock car series, one car stands high above the rest. He won 12 international motor contest association imca championships, made one start in the nascar grand national series, and won eleven arca racing series races. Mel raced for many years as did mark mosier and johnny moss. Divisions imca international motor contest association. Mike derr is inside third row with ernie derr outside. He was named one of nascars fifty greatest drivers in 1998. Jan 09, 2014 ernie derr didnt need to brag about his racing career. Dirt racing auto racing champion 1969 dodge charger classic race cars old race cars auto racing champion 1969 dodge charger classic race cars old race cars. International motor contest association, sprint car cover. I first saw ernie, whose obituary follows, race when i was a teen and hed occasionally bring his dodge to davenport speedway. Aug 8, 2012 ernie derr racing at the minnesota state fair in 1970. Sanctioned by international motor contest association i. Keokuk race car driver ernie derr standing, pictured with sons russ, left, and mike, from november 1974.
Due to poor records, we can not confirm nor deny driver was in this event. Old vintage cars vintage race car nascar crash ridge runner dirt track racing auto racing old race cars car and driver race day. Former race car driver who put together an accomplished career despite suffering a head injury during a race. Some of the drivers he battled for imca championships with include his brother in law 2 time usac and 3 time imca champion don white, 2 time imca. In memory of ernie derr 12time imca champion home facebook.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Ernest vigil derr was an american stock car racing driver. Imca yearbook 1967sprint car coverramo stotternie derr. He started racing in 1956 and moved up to the international motor contest association imca circuit in. There is a racing superstition that green is bad luck. In 1957, on the way back from the iowa falls races, i bought a 1941 ford coupe and made it into a race car.
While known as the part of what this author calls the keokuk connection, he actually lived for many years in nearby fort madison. Dirt racing auto racing champion 1969 dodge charger classic race cars old race cars auto racing champion 1969 dodge charger. At the time, imca inverted the top six for this race, so ernie won the pole. Des moines, iowa july 11, 1971 somebody turned to a newsman with 60 laps remaining in the iowa 300 stock car race at the state fairgrounds sunday and said, ramo wont win. Status 1 arizona state fairgrounds due to poor records, we can not confirm nor deny driver was in this event. I first saw ernie, whose obituary follows, race when i was a teen and hed occasionally bring his dodge to davenport. On may 31, 1974, dad and jim dreasher finished in the only dead heat in the history of the topeka fairgrounds. Driver ernie derr 1953 nascar grand national results.
Ernie derrresultsusac stock car series1961 the third turn. Ernie derr 1961 season results incomplete usac stock car series. Jan 10, 2014 keokuk race car driver ernie derr standing, pictured with sons russ, left, and mike, from november 1974. Imca stock car national championship 1970 standings driver. Derr nationality american born november 29, 1921 hometown near donellsson, iowa died january 8, 2014 place of death keokuk, iowa.