VIR - August 1957 Saturday Qualifying Race Report

Virginia International Raceway - August 3-4, 1957

The Danville Register - Sunday, August 4, 1957

Inauguration Day at VIR Roaring Success; Big Races Today
Over 5,000 Spectators see 14 laps of Sports Car Racing
Bob Holbert, Ed Hugus Win Opening Races;
83 laps crammed into 7-event card today

click on photo for a larger version

Start of Race #1	Ribbon-cutting
Ed Hugus - winner of Race #1	Holbert takes checker

Inauguration Day at the Virginia International Raceway east of Danville was pronounced a roaring success. More than 5,000 spectators thrilled at the sampling of things to come. The dose will be offered today.

As against Saturday's 14 laps of Sports Car racing, there will be 83 laps crammed into seven events starting at 10 a.m. today. Time trials indicated that yesterday's top average speed of 73 miles per hour will be eclipsed by something like 85 mph when 'the "big ones" hit the trail this afternoon.

Bob Holbert of Warrington, Pa.,turned in the 73 mph average in the seven-lap afternoon finale, shoving a Porsche 500 around the 22.4 miles in 18 minutes, 23 and two-tenths seconds. Thus he captured the Class F Modified event.

Ed Hugus of Pittsburgh, Pa., maneuvered an Alfa Romeo to victory in the opening event, averaging 67.05 mph, in the G Production classification.

Other winners in the various categories were: Harry Beck in Class F, George Tipsword in Class H Modified, John Middleton in Class E Modified, and M.R.J. Wylie in Class G Modified.

Against the times set by these smaller cars yesterday afternoon, the time trials for the larger models turned up real speed. Both Charles Wallace of Washington and Walter Hansgen of Chicago drove D-Jaguars around the "dangerous dozen" at an average of to 88.6 miles. Their time for the 3.2 miles was 2:27.8.

Later, Carroll Shelby of Dallas spun the newly-imported Maserati around the course in an unofficial 2:25.6 minutes. But his qualifying time was recorded in the official books of the Sports Car Club of America as 2:28.1.

Thus a Wallace-Hansgen-Shelby battle shaped up for the third race to be run today and for the finale.

Wallace ran into trouble in the second race yesterday when his Porsche RS Spyder spun off the track and was damaged slightly. There were two other miscues in the same race but no one suffered as much as a scratch. Frank Baptista's Lotus went off the track on the back side and Ray Heppenstall's Jomar broke down and went into a spectacular skid at the head of the home stretch

Except for the fact the spills ruined the driver's chances, the in-cidents did little more than prove a bit of excitement.

VIR President Ed Kemm said he was well pleased with the results of opening day. While some minor faults were found, cor-rections were rapidly being made for today's anticipated throng.

Attendance was just about what had been expected yesterday. More than 3,000 tickets were sold at the gate, plus the advance tickets plus the many pass-carriers.

State Police of Virginia and North Carolina, and traffic officers at the parking sites, kept traffic moving smoothly along. There were no long waits, no jams and relatively little dust.

As a result of this and the super program offered today, the largest crowd ever to view a sports event in this area is expected at the Milton track, located 11 miles East of Danville.

The more than 5,000 persons in attendance yesterday were "swallowed up" In the spacious 200-acre infield of the track. There was more than enough room for all to find good locations to watch the spectacle.

It was one of the hottest days of the year and the 10 concession stands were kept busy. Those who attended were telling their friends who will join them today to dress for the heat, bring along a camp stool or pillow and an umbrella will be handy.

Today's program will have to move rapidly because of the 265.6 miles of racing offered. That there will be few delays was promised by Chief Steward George Zuver-who, incidentally, was not happy when the first race was five minutes late starting.

Just prior to the initial race, Congressman William M. Tuck cut the ribbon opening the track. He was introduced by Delegate C. Stuart Wheatley and complimented the founders of the track. He declared the drivers are setting an example for America's youth in confining racing to the track. Mayor Curtis Bishop gave the invocation. Grand Prix racing came to the South with the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner and Dixie.

Highlights And Sidelights Of Day At VIR

• It's a hot day for the races and the well in the paddock just ran low.
• Congressman William M. Tuck arrives in front of the pagoda at 35 minutes before race time--not in a Maserati, not in a Ferrari nor a Jaguar. He is nursing the steering wheel of an air-conditioned Cadillac bearing license No. 3. He set no speed records.
• During time trials, just after lunch, blond and tanned Charlie Wallace of Washington took care of any speed marks. He roared his XKSS Jaguar around the "dangerous dozen" at an average of 88.6 miles per hour - a mark that many thought might hold for some time to come.
• Carroll Shelby's Maserati, No. 98, made it around the course in just two-tenths of a second less than did Wallace, Walter Hansgen was one second behind, but later came back to tie Wallace.
• The official ceremonies started on the nose, except that the sound system doesn't work until Delegate Stuart Wheatley of Danville presented Congressman William Tuck. Many years of success are wished by the former governor from this, his native Halifax County. He is handed a set of scissors by VIR President Ed Kemm and snips the red four-inch ribbon across the starting line.
• Twenty one of the smaller racers immediately started warming up as Head Starter Jesse Coleman anxiously paces the white stripe. Twenty roared away at 2:05 as Wiley G. Reid's DB Panhard (No. 109) has trouble starting. He gets off 10 seconds later. And trails the others by that much after the first lap. Spectators along the paddock are saying that when time came for drivers to raise their hands to signify they were ready, Reid was waving his arm back and forth. His car wasn't ready but the signal wasn't discernible farther up the track.
• The leader of the first lap ever run at VIR is J. Ed Hugus pushing an Alfa Romeo, owned by William M. Speer. Allen Markelson's Alfa Romeo is close behind. Robert Grossman, in the same make machine, is third by a half length. They hold the same positions on the second of seven laps.
• No. 109 finally came by-sputtering with Reid shaking his head.
• After three laps, Hugus' No. 13 has a lead of 1,500 feet.
• The real race is for second place, with Markelson and Grossman still side by side in front of the Paddock. Grossman passes on horseshoe bend and leads by a couple of lengths at the end of the seventh lap.
• Hugus has lapped Reid's crippled machine after four laps. Reid draws laughter and cheers as he shakes his body bock and forth as if trying to keep the sputtering craft rolling.
• After five rounds Hugus holds his lead. Grossman moves 500 feet out front and Markelson's third place is being challenged by Templeton Briggs, also in an Alfa Romeo. All four leaders are competing in Class G Production.
• Hugus opens up a 2,000-foot lead after six laps. Grossman holds his margin in second place and Markelson recovers a 200-foot lead over Briggs.
• No. 109 is still in there. He is doing better.
• Hugus wins the first race at by a half mile. Grossman captures second and Markelson is third
• No. 109 finished - and is cheered. Some bets are paid off.
• Hugus completed the seven laps at an average speed of 67.05 miles per hour. He made the 22.4 miles in 20 minutes, three and six-tenths seconds. Second place in G Production was Grossman's 20:25. Martelson's time was 20:29.
• Two other classes of slower cars were racing at the same time. Among the MG's top winners are Harry Beck, D. Muir III, and John R. Ryan, respectively.
• In Class H. Modified, the top winners were: George F. Tipsword, in the tiny Bandini; Howard Hanna in his DB and Walter F. Martin in a Crosley.
• Just as the second race was ready to start at 2:45, the ambulance is called out to care for a spectator with sunstroke. They are whirling away at 2:51.
• No. 140, a Porsche 550 piloted by Robert Holbert takes the lead from Charlie Wallace after the first turn, He widens the lead to 500 feet on the first turn. Wallace is being closely pursued by Donald Sesslar, also in a Porsche 550.
• No. 3, an MGTD In Class F Modified brings up the rear after one lap.
• At the end of the second lap Holbert leads and Sesslar is 600 feet back. Wallace just went off the track on the sharp turn leading into the home stretch.
• Holbert leads by 700 feet after three laps, and no one is even close to Sesslar's second place. When they get around, the other leaders are Gaston Andrey in a Ferrari, John A. Middleton III in a Ferrari, Charles W. Kolb in a Triumph Monza and M.R.J. Wylie in a Lotus.
• Holbert has lapped No. 3 - Dick Lord - when he completes four laps. Sesslar and Andrey hold second and third.
• After five laps, it is Holbert and Sesslar all alone-with the lead of a mile in front of third place Andrey.
• After six laps, the leaders hold but Middleton has taken third place from Andrey.
• Holbert wins over Sesslar by some 200 feet.
• It is a new course record, naturally, Holbert, who hails from Warrington, Pa., shoved his Porche 500 around the 22.4 miles in 18 minutes, 23 and two-tenths seconds for an average speed of 73 miles per hour.

The race results:

FIRST RACE (7 Laps, 25 Miles) (Class G Production, Class F MGs and H sports).

Overall and Class G Prod.

1. Ed Hughes, Pittsburgh, Pa., Alfa Romeo.
2. Bob Grossman. West Nyack, N.Y., Alfa Romeo.
3. Alan Markelson, New York, N.Y., Alfa Romeo.

Class F-MGs

1. Harry Beck, Newcastle, Del.. MG-A.
2. David Muir, Norfolk, Va., MG-A.
3. John Ryan, Cutler Ridge. Fla., MG-A.

Class H Sports

1. George Tipsword, Lawrenceville, M., Bandini.
2. Howard Hanna, Broomall. Pa.. DB Panhard.
3. Walter Martin, Roaring Springs, Pa., Crosley.

Winning Time: 20:03.6 minutes, average 67.05 m.p.h.

SECOND RACE (7 Laps, 25 Miles) Class E, F and G Sports)

Overall

1. Bob Holbert, Warrington, Pa., Porsche 550.
2. Don Sesslar, Lancaster, Ohio, Porsche 550.
3. John Middleton, Barrington. Ill., Ferrari.

Class E Sports

1. John Middleton, Barrington. Ill., Ferrari.
2. Gaston Andrey, Newton, Mass., Ferrari
3. Charles Kolb, W. Hyattsville, Md., Triumph Special.

Class F Sports

1. Bob Holbert Warrington, Pa., Porsche 550
2. Don Sesslar, Lancaster, Ohio, Porsche 550,
3. Dick Thompson. Washington D.C., Porsche GT.

Class G Sports

1. M.R.J. Wyllie, Allison Park, Pa., Lotus
2. Bob Weller, Toledo, Oh., Lotus
3. Roy Shecter, Miami, Fla., Lotus

Winning time: 18:23.2 minutes, average 73.0 m.p.h.

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