|
|
|
Don Vonderfecht had close to a score of experience when he rolled out on Midwest Speedway's surface in 1981. A veteran of the Super Modifieds and Sprint Cars of the sixties and seventies, "Do It Yourself" Don was all class in his self-contained race operation.
With his pipe-bender and his welder, he bent out and added on to a Nance 100 inch. With his comprehensive grip on the craftsmanship of power plants, he lit his own fire. Also a keen eye for mixing and matching paint was obvious while designing his own Race Cars. But of all of these, it was the way Vonderfecht pitched his car around dirt banks that will resonate in conversation for years to come.
Disheartening for myself...Holbrook, NE's only Sprint Car Driver chose to chase the challenge of Kansas Sprint Car competition. For a stretch during the late seventies and up through 1982, Don had hustled his way around this 3/8ths mile on occasion. He enters the period when he brought that 100-inch Nance for an outing on a free weekend. He didn't take any Checkered Flags home with him, but he left a lasting impression on those who saw. Don never did return to race again at the Track following his brief appearances, though, his career was far from over. Don ran laps until 1998.
When asked about his opinion on this fabled venue, he honestly replied, "I've always liked Midwest more than Eagle."
Photography by Bob Mays and Joe Orth.
Content is property of the Midwest Speedway Preservation Society.
All rights reserved.