The Dirt Boys of Sportsman Park- Oakley, Kansas.

[Jive-Bomber]

On the western side of Kansas, right off highway 70 is the town of Oakley, which has dirt oval track racing history going back to the mid 1920s with 1 mile ovals. After the War, the Oakley Chamber of Commerce started raising funds for Sportsman Park,...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

[Tman]

Sad story that has played out all over the country. Some folks call it "progress", I don't.

[Abomb]

I'm most likely related to a few of those fella's pictured. That was my Grandpa's neck of the woods after WW2. The place was gone 6 years before I came on the scene, I've never even heard of it before...interesting to find it on the HAMB...

[autobilly]

Dig the flame job on "old number 7".

[Bugsy]

Thanks for posting this. Very cool pictures and story. I never knew about that track in Oakley. It's great to remember what a part of our heritage and hot rodding that these old, local dirt tracks represent. I know that there are some of them left but like so many great things from this country's past, most are gone.

[Hotdoggin DaddyO]

A question posed to the Western Kansas Hambers
Does this look like Walker Air Force Base?

[flamingokid]

I've been hunting out that way,never knew they had a track there.

[Abomb]

Originally Posted by Hotdoggin DaddyO

A question posed to the Western Kansas Hambers
Does this look like Walker Air Force Base?

Nothing like that currently near Oakley, so yeah, it very well could be....Greater Metropolitan downtown Walker KS ????

[BCR]

Originally Posted by Hotdoggin DaddyO

A question posed to the Western Kansas Hambers
Does this look like Walker Air Force Base?

Yes! It does appear to be Walker. I will send this to a friend who has some pics of Walker to see if he can confirm.

On a side note, I'll bet if you snuck on that place you could do a donut in the door of that Hanger, not that any of us would try.

[BCR]

Damn, Now you have my curiousity peaked.

Racing in Oakley was neat, but Racing on Walker!!!! Gonna go on a Hunt for some info on this. Report to come.

[BrerHair]

Love the history, thanks for digging this up J-B.

[lippy]

Yes there was racing at Walker before the owner blew up the runway so no one could race. Lippy

[Hotdoggin DaddyO]

On a side note, I'll bet if you snuck on that place you could do a donut in the door of that Hanger, not that any of us would try.

Shhhhhh...I'm not sure what the statute of limitations are on such behavior. It's only been 25 years. HA

[BCR]

Originally Posted by lippy

Yes there was racing at Walker before the owner blew up the runway so no one could race. Lippy

All the reading I did said the goverment used the run way to test and that is why it is all blown up.

I called my dad and he said all he remembers is talk of a drag race that happened there.

I have a friend that was a dirt tracker then, I am gonna ask him if he ever raced at Oakley. He and his brother had a hopped up GMC 6.

[wizzard23]

My brother was a student at Fort Hays in the early 60's. I've heard him talk of Drag Racing at Walker. Also, years ago I saw some old movies that belonged to R.C. Williams. I believe some of those were shot at Walker.

And Jive Bomber, thanks for showing some Kansas racing history.

[BCR]

Yep, RC would know. Would be cool to see the movies.

Thanks for the Thread Jive Bomber! Even if we are jackin it a little.

[MUNDSTER]

I noticed the truck axle on the white, Chevrolet powered car. Very cool post, thanks.

[exxxtasion]

Hi Guys, i see that youre mentioning R.C williams in this thread, does anyone of you know how to get in touch with him, i have an old FED chassie that according to Mark Williams was bought by R.C back in the 60´s. Would be great to get in touch with him so that i could get som more info and pics of it!

Sorry for OT.

/ Kenny from Sweden