Poyntz Avenue will experience a bit of nostalgia tomorrow, Friday June 22, 2001. The History Channel has chosen Manhattan as a PitStop for their 19th Annual Great Race. One hundred cars, built between 1909 and 1950, will come through Manhattan on their way from Atlanta to Pasadena. They will stop in Manhattan and display the cars to the public.
The Great Race is the world’s richest vintage car race with a purse of $275,000. The cars travel on scenic back roads, in a controlled speed rally, across the country over a two-week period. They stop in communities as they go through to rest and give citizens a chance to interact with the drivers and race participants. In Manhattan the Yard Art Car Club will provide manpower and bring out their antique automobiles to showcase along with the race cars on Poyntz.
Each community that hosts the racers competes for a cash prize; it is based on enthusiasm and community involvement. The communities are divided into three categories: best pit stop, lunch stop and overnight. Each category will compete for a $5,000 prize that is awarded to its community public library to use as they choose. Criteria for the award include hospitality, size of crowd, enthusiasm, originality of theme and the local organizing committee. Communities can design a theme that is unique to their area and create an exciting atmosphere for the racers to experience.
About 40 towns and cities, of all sizes, across the country serve as stopping locations for the race. Before coming to Manhattan the race will overnight in Lawrence, stop in Topeka and then spend the next night in Salina. The route is not direct, so the cars may take several hours to drive from one city to the next, for example from Manhattan to Salina. Event organizers spend several weeks before the race traveling the country to design the route. Each year a different route is designed. The route each year is kept secret until the drivers leave their morning location each day.
Sponsorship for this great event will come from several area businesses. CarQuest Auto Parts, Briggs Auto Group, Rose Muffler House and the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau will serve as major sponsors. The Yard Art Car Club has also graciously agreed to work with organizers and make this event a success.
Car No. Driver Name Navigator Name
Year Car Description
1. Driver Dick Burdick
1916 Hudson Speedster White
2. Driver Curtis Graf
1934 Ford Deluxe Roadster Red
3. Driver Michael Dingman
1935 Ford Deluxe Roadster Black
4. Driver David Reeder
1933 Ford Roadster Maroon/Black
6. Driver Dale McClenaghan
1939 Ford Deluxe Convertible B
7. Driver Joe Minshew
1917 Hudson J Racer Yellow
8. Driver Calvin J. Swank
1955 Porsche 356 Cabriolet Tur
9. Ted Van Beek, Jr.
1909 Ford Replica Race Car Green
10. Driver J.A. Hoop
1925 Rickenbacker Series D Rds
11. Driver Leonard Harpenau
1936 Buick Special Moss Green
12. Driver Bill Strathern
1936 Dodge Business Cpe White
13. Driver Gail Alger
1930 Olds Deluxe Conv.
14. Driver Frank Currie
1910 Selden Raceabout Red
15. Driver Gary A. Lane
1938 Ford Business Coupe Black
16. Driver Linda Pike
1937 Ford Cabriolet Maroon
17. DriverRex Gardner
1917 Hudson Speedster Silver
18. Driver H. Jay Mottice
1931 Chrysler Roadster Creme
19. Driver Howard Sharp
1911 Velie H1 Racytype Creme
20. Driver Clem Lange
1920 Essex Convertible Red
21. Driver Ron Wollmer
1932 Ford 3 window Coup
22. Driver Melvin R. Martin
1930 LaSalle Touring Car Burgundy
23. Driver Gordon L. Nelson
1925 Pierce Arrow 80 Roadster
24. Driver Tom Reese
1948 Willys Jeepster Phaeton R
25. Driver Buck Kamphausen
1919 Cole Convertible Creme
26. Driver Charlie Stroud
1937 Packard 115 1028 Green
27. Driver Robert J. Dinges
1929 Oldsmobile 2 dr S/C Crims
28. Driver Bob Harris
1928 Hudson LeBaron Roadster B
29. Driver Art Kampschafer
1950 Pontiac Streamliner Red
30. Driver Farrell Newman
1932 Nash 4 Door Green
31. Driver Joe Watkins
1931 Ford Roadster P/U Blue/Bl
32. Driver Tim Kleptz
1927 Marmon Collapsible Cpe Ro
33. Driver Louise Feeney
1936 Ford 4 dr. Sedan Blk/White
34. Driver FOCUS ON THE FAMILY,
1941 Cadillac Convertible Maroon
35. Driver Bill Williams
1935 Chrysler Airflow Blue
36. Driver Leroy Ekblad
1935 Ford Tudor Sedan White
37. Driver Bill Phelps
1957 Ford T-Bird Red
38. Driver Steve Bolf
1939 Buick SP8 Convertible Bur
39. Driver Billy Cothern
1929 Ford (’32) Speedster R/W
40. Driver G.R. Pike
1916 Hudson Indy Car Black
41. Driver Allan Miles
1941 Ford S/D Bus. Coupe Black
42. Driver John Hollansworth
1917 Peerless Speedster Green
43. Driver Curtis Jackson
1935 Ford Speedster Red
44. Driver Bill Collins
1949 *VW (’52) Hebmuller Red
45. Driver Steven R. Hedke
1957 Triumph TR 3 Green/Yellow
46. Driver Wayne Stanfield
1934 Indy 500 Racer Black
48. Driver Stephen R. Koch
1957 Porsche 356 Speedster Red
49. Driver Bill Bowman
1957 Mercedes 190SL Gray/White
50. Driver Wes Abendroth
1955 Chevrolet Corvette White
51. Driver Bob Fisher
1951 MG TD Black
52. Driver Bill Brouillard
1953 MG TD Green
53. Driver Arthur Alvis, Jr.
1954 Chevrolet Corvette Red
54. Driver Bill Josler
1929 Ford Speedster Red
55. Driver Gary Poulin
1922 Buick Speedster Red
56. Driver Hollis Harris
1935 Oldsmobile 2 dr Touring B
57. Driver Ralph Steinberg
1936 Ford Tudor Black
58. Driver Richard Fredette
1934 Ford Pickup Grey
59. Driver Ron Vose
1931 Cadillac Roadster
60. Driver Thomas D. Roland
1938 Ford Tudor Std Grey
62. Driver Richard Howe
1932 Packard Roadster Robin Blue
63. Driver Glenn Lange
1932 Essex Convertible Tan/Brown
64. Driver Nick Maher
1937 Ford 78 Phaeton Bonnie Blue
65. Driver Bob Creighton
1930 Oldsmobile 2 Dr. Sedan Green
66. Driver Armand Boisvert
1930 Dodge Coupe Blue/Black
67. Driver Gab Joiner
1922 Marmon 34B Speedster Maro
68. Driver Dale Bell
1917 Hudson Cabriolet Red
69. Driver Marvin Price
1948 Packard Deluxe 8 Maroon
70. Driver Ken Smith
1943 Jeep 4X4 Olive Drab
72. Driver Bob Stanek
1934 Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet C
73. Driver Bob LaBine
1955 Ford T-Bird Goldenrod
74. Driver Mike Coggins
1939 Ford Convertible Black
75. Driver Ron Ferris
1932 Ford 18 Green/Black
76. Driver Mark Ancil
1935 Auburn 851 Cabriolet Red
77. Driver David O. Lykins, Jr.
1929 Ford Model A Spdstr Red
78. Driver Hans Vorpahl
1935 Mercedes-Benz 200 Cabriol
79. Driver Les Kyle
1933 Chevrolet Deluxe Sedan Yel
80. Driver Dave Meier
1938 *Kenworth (’41) Day Cab B
81. Driver Stanley Jones
1932 Ford Roadster Burgundy
82. Driver Dennis Slechta
1936 Buick Roadmaster Conv Yel
83. Driver Joe Knowles
1940 Buick Phaeton Black/Plum
84. Driver Becky Mann
1929 Ford Model A Spdstr Yellow
85. Driver Gus E. Pradilla
1949 Cadillac 61 Sedan Dark Green
86. Driver James Rutledge
1947 Ford Delux Tudor Tan
87. Driver Raymond Fini
1935 Ford Fordor Black
88. Driver Corky Coker
1937 Buick Shafer 8 Black
89. Driver David Coker
1937 Buick Shafer 8 Special Red
90. Driver Bob Coker
1937 Buick Roadmaster Conv Green
94. Driver Bill Miller
1936 *Ford (’38) 5/W Coupe Cream
97. Driver Rodney Rucker
1916 Amer. LaFrance Speedster
98. Driver George Tarbutton
1942 Ford DeLuxe Black
99. Driver HISTORY CHANNEL VIP,
1939 Ford Deluxe Convertible Red
100 Driver Allen Hill
1931 Packard Roadster Red/Blac
101. Driver J.D. Hanks
1931 Ford Deluxe Coupe Maroon/
102. Driver Lin Thomas
1928 Ford Model A Pickup
103. Driver Bill Hembree
1939 Ford Coupe Black
104. Driver Bobby Warren
1942 Ford Convertible Black
105. Driver Ken Davis
1929 Ford Model A Speedster Bl
106. Driver Gordon Kennedy
1931 Ford Model A Coupe Red
107. Driver Tom Littrell
1929 Ford Model A Boat Tail Sp
108. Driver Chad Champlin
1928 Ford Model A Roadster
109. Driver Scott Dorsey
1930 Ford Model A Roadster
110. Driver Charlie Herrera
1930 Ford Model A Coupe Red
111. Driver Jack Roush
1940 Ford Deluxe 5/W Coupe Beige
THE FOLLOWING ARE TOUR ENTRIES -only #123 & #125 are going all the way
112. Driver Ted Holden
1935 Chrysler Airflow Blk/Grey
113. Driver B. Rosenberg-TR
1969 MG B Red
114. Driver Charles Mitchell-TR
1953 M G Two door Green
115. Driver Bob Cline
1962 Triumph TR4 White
116. Driver Jerry Cram
1959 MG Roadster BRG
117. Driver Bill James
1957 Thunderbird, White
118. Driver Jim Richardson
1968 Cadillac Calais, Ivory
121. Gary Lucas
1915 Ford Model T Speedster Red
122. Driver Bob Jenkins
1958 Porsche 356A Spdstr Red
123. Driver Robt M. Mead
1932 Plymouth PB Bus. Coupe Gr
124. Driver Michael Gross
1935 Auburn 653 Cabriolet Tan/
125. Driver L.A. Swanson
1964 Studebaker Daytona Red
126. Driver R. DesBaillets
1928 Ford Speedster White
129. Driver Bill King
1948 Bentley VI Green
130. Driver Jim McGee
1933 Dodge (’34) 4 door Sedan