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The War Bonnet Story
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- Published on Friday, 03 April 2015 20:51
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The War Bonnet Story
Editor's Comments: This story is a work in progress. Several events, such as the "Tornado" mentioned by Pete Hylton, are still being researched. John Bernadine of Tulsa is writing a book about War Bonnet, and we are colluding with him for additional information. Even though War Bonnet was in NEOkla Region, it deserves a place in the Gazette because it was the first permanent circuit built in Oklahoma, and so many OK Region drivers, workers and officials participated there. Unless other wise noted, the words presented here are by Stephen England.
The above list of amenities and the proposed map of the track are from promotional material prepared by Bob Moore and distributed at an Oklahoma Region Membership Meeting in April or May of 1966. Obviously the changes made to finish the short track in time for the inauguaral Drivers School required changes to the long track. Compare this track diagram with the one provided by Mike Halley later in this article.
The first time I saw Bob Moore he was "driving" the paving machine out of Turn Six (Last turn on short course) to the Start/Finish, laying the final strip of asphalt for War Bonnet's inaugural race. If ever there was a man who "made a racetrack" it was Bob. Always smiling, friendly and willing to do anything to keep the races going. My father told the story of when the track needed some improvement and Bob simply stated he would "write a check for it." The only problem was Bob had no money to cover the check, but that never slowed him down.
When the bankers finally foreclosed on Moore, he was living in the timing stand at start/finish. Bob is currently living in Sapulpa, Ok.
Supermodifieds On A Road Course ?
One of the most unusual race at War Bonnet was the undercard for the 1968 SCCA Formula Series when Super Modifieds, mostly from Tulsa, raced on the short track. They were loud and driven to hairy limits, but their speeds seemed slow in comparison to the Formula cars. It was a good show nonetheless.
In the photo above the Super Modified take the green flag with race leaders Peter York, #1 and Buddy Cagle, #52, already ahead of the field. Below York and Cagle are dicing for the lead. York won. Photos courtesy Jimmie Grimm.
Chet Johnson preps the brand new Lola (still in gel-coat) of Jack Hinkle. October, 1969 photo by John Hansford.
Also new to War Bonnet in 1969 was this Cheetah, driver unknown. Photo by John Hansford.
(7) Dave Dooley, Mustang # 3, dives inside John McComb's Mustang in the South hairpin on the long course, 1967.
(8) The 1967 Mustang battle continues with Dooley in the lead. The flagman in the background is at Turn Ten.
Final Farewell
In 1971 Tom Parker wrote this farewell to War Bonnet for the Gazette.
For everyone there is a place that always brings back fond memories. For me War Bonnet raceway will always be a source of happiness and sorrow because that is the place where I "got involved".
As though it were yesterday, I can remember the first regional races that were held there. Out of the scrub brush and stunted oaks someone had seen fit to lay down a strip of asphalt with a few curves and a timing tower and called it a race track. There were no spectator conveniences, the entrance road was nothing to write home about, but we were there just the same. The papers had carried small write ups which mentioned that the Chaparral Chevrolet and the Ferraris would be there; they weren't but we really were not disappointed.
(12) Steve Whitney's Volvo 544 climbs the hill out of the esses. 1967
The whine and howl all of the small bore machines was like soothing music to our enthusiastic ears! I can close my eyes and still plainly see the red Datsun in turn three, locking up the right front wheel and the blue smoke being whipped into his slipstream; the blue Cobra as it managed to plow off the course and fill it's oil radiator intake with dirt; The LeGrand Alfas who's team had driven across the country in 48 hours just to make the race, win almost easily.
The road will still be mud and gravel when time ends, just as it was for the Trans-Am. We grinned and beared it and were greatly rewarded for our patience as Mark Donohue and that blue Camaro demonstrated their winning ways. As much as we like it the press hated it! All they could say was that they did not like the access road, while scarcely mentioning the race. Tulsa's paper even had the gall to print, in large black letters, "Pan-Am Race"! They dwelled on the mighty Parnelli Jones and gave precious little time to the winner, Donohue.
Memories of races and slaloms at War Bonnet are just that, memories. Deep ditches cross the entrances; no trespassing signs and tall weeds are everywhere.
Gordon Smiley's Porsche Carrera leads Doc Foerster's Datsun 2000 through the decreasing radius Turn Three on the short course. 1968
Not long ago, I walked the main straight once again and it was like visiting an old friend for the last time. Standing on the start/finish line, I look at the torn, weatherbeaten timing tower; it's screens are ripped, some of the shutters are just hanging by one hinge or missing; the black-and-white checkered paint is slowly fading into nonexistent. Where racecars once roared and whined, there is only silence; where people worked furiously on their racing machines, only three foot tall weeds serve as a monument.
(13) Bert Jones in a Datsun 1600 chases Charlies Barnes Lotus Cortina in the down hill North hairpin. 1968
As I walked around the course, I can still remember the good line to follow, just as I had practiced in the Z-28 just two years ago; down the staight, very close to the wall, twitch the car to the right, long gentle bend to the left onto the long course, very fast downhill, four-wheel drift up the other side at 110 mph, shift to fourth for the downhill straight, brake hard at the 200 marker, down to first for the hairpin, shift to second, turn left, shift to third, turn right and shift into fourth, see the tach rise to 6500 rpm before the right turn onto the bridge, experience the weightless sensation as the car tops the bump right after the bridge, long left turn out onto the short course, right, blind left, brake hard for the entrance to the hairpin, down to first with the power on hard, slide out just short of the wall and hit second just under that start/finish banner; how vividly it all comes back!
One cannot help but think "IF". What I could do if I just had the money; for now, it appears that all you or I can do is remember the good times as we drive by.
Corner workers frame Doug Champlin's Lotus 23C and Ernie Grimm's ISO Grifo Chevrolet as they head for Start/Finish. 1967
Lap Records for the Long Course, as of October, 1968
Editor's comments: The lap record for DS, Eloise Norris is obviously in error. I believe it should be 1:52. There is no record for C Sedan even though two time National Champion Richard McDaniel drove his "Purple People Eater" Overseas Motors Mini in the 1968 TransAm under two liter class.