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A GLIMPSE INTO THE  HISTORY OF
MIDGET AUTO RACING

  The first Midget Auto Race Car was built by Alexander Pabst in 1934. During the period of time Alex was building his car, other race enthusiasts became interested and many more cars went under construction. Alex’s driver was Leo “Pop” Faulkner.  After enough cars were built and tested on vacant lots, old dirt roads, fields and what have you, they were noticed by Bill White, a very keen promoter, who saw their potential and promoted the first Midget Auto Race at the stadium of Loyola University in the summer of 1934. Some of the drivers who ran at that time were Leo Faulkner, Carl Young, Curly Mills, Bill Betteridge, Jimmy Miller, Louie Foy and others. These guys were widely known at the “Original Midgeteers”.

  The first Midget Race held in St. Louis was in the spring of 1936 at Sylvan Beach in South St. Louis County. Some of the drivers who participated were Ben Chesney, Clyde Dillon, Rex Easton, Kip Young, and Harry Pol.  This very same month and year Midget Auto Racing was started in New York State at Coney Island. Midget Racing held such appeal that by 1938, almost every major city had a midget group operating and legitimate organizations were being formed throughout the country. This was the year the St. Louis Auto Racing Association was formed and chartered in the State of Missouri.


             ST. LOUIS AUTO RACING ASSOCIATION (SLARA)
               Est. 1938—Disbanded 1976 -- History and Records

  The St. Louis Auto Racing Association was formed in April of 1938.  From the beginning it became an immediate success and sanctioned races continuously until the interruption of WW II. Because of the interruption of WWII, the pre-war records of the Association were scattered and are incomplete and many of the officials of that period have not been available to compile complete and accurate records. If anyone reading this has any information regarding the history of the St. Louis Auto Racing Association, please feel free to email Duane at this website.

  During the hey-day of midget auto racing, this association sanctioned in excess of 150 midget races per year operating on a seven day a week basis. Professional midget auto racing was the highlight of all spectator sports in the late forties. There were more race cars and drivers than could be accommodated. At some tracks they had as many as a 125 race cars. The promoters of the tracks complained that it was taking too long to qualify the cars and the programs were running too long into the night. A decision was made to form a Class “A” division and a Class “B” division. Both of these divisions operated independently of each other, on a seven day a week basis, with a great deal of success.

  Between inception and disbanding, the St. Louis Auto Racing Association sanctioned in excess of two thousand midget auto racing events and at no time in their long racing history did they ever deviate from the established policy of racing only for a guaranteed purse.

                 SLARA CHAMPIONS 1946-1971*

       (Records prior to 1946 are unavailable as are records after 1971)
                 If they become available this list will be updated

YEAR         DRIVER                    OWNER       CAR #          MOTOR    FEATURE
                                                                                                                                 WINS                                                                                  
1946Chuck Marshall               Geo Langeback            3        Ford 60         13
1947Ray Knepper              John Morrison          45        Offy         26
1948Red Hamilton             John Morrison          45        Offy         18
1949Ned Shoemaker              Elmer Freber            27             Offy                   16
1950Dick Ward                 Shorty Burns            93              Offy                   12
1951 Russ Fox                    Phillip Fox           10              Offy         14
1952Bud Hoppe                 Bud Hoppe                       1         Ford 60    16
1953Eddie Moore              Tiny Hageman           37              Ford 60              11
1954      Arnie Knepper                Sonny Knepper         25              Ford 60        23
1955Arnie Knepper                 Sonny Knepper              25              Ford 60              18
1956Curt Lehman               Gene Bess            5               Ford 60          9
1957Bud Hoppe                 Bernie Moeller         10          Offy              12
1958Arnie Knepper                 Max Willis           7               Ford 60          12
1959Arnie Knepper                 Dallas Garman           5          Offy          10
1960Arnie Knepper            Dallas Garman           5          Offy          8
1961       Dwight Brown           Ed Baue               6          Offy                8
1962Dwight Brown                 John Columbo            1               Offy                    11
1963Gene Weyant             Dallas Garman                 5         Offy                 9
1964Dan Frye, Sr.             Dallas Garman                 5         Offy                 8
1965Dan Frye, Sr.            Gus Sohm                93              Offy           11
1966Dwight Brown            Gus Sohm           92         Offy                 7
1967Howard House                Howard House              12               Offy                     7
1968Bud Hoppe                 Sonny Knepper             25          Falcon              7
1969Joe Walters                   Bill Darnell               14          Chevy II          8
1970Burt Wilson               Dallas Garman                5           Offy                6
1971Mike Hill                    Jack Hill                 77           Offy           4
Pages courtesy of Wally Mc Duffy from a book donated to the museum.
Photo's of Ron Taylor, Art Range, Ron Householder and Wib Spalding courtesy of Dean Hoffman