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Topic: Tulsa Speedway mystery death in the 60s/70s
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Page 4 of 5 of 87 replies
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November 23, 2010 at
11:52:02 PM
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This message was edited on
November 23, 2010 at
11:55:08 PM by redbandana
Reply to:
Posted By: jimmyvan1977 on November 23 2010 at 10:49:23 PM
The driver who died was my uncle. His full name was James Allen Vanbeber. He was the son of Anita Vanbeber and James Homer Vanbeber. My other uncle, Karl, also raced for awhile after that. My dad, Richard, was more of the slacker pit crew guy, but he was a mini sprints ace. I was named after my uncle, and was told several stories of the incident in question. Neither my uncle Karl or my dad ever spoke in detail about who was involved, but it was a bitter subject. I have nearly a hundred pictures from the late 50's 60's and 70's, but none from that accident, and I do stress accident. I would love an electronic copy of the pic. Racing is in my blood, and I would love to have raced in the days before electronic scoring. Thanks to all those intrested in my uncles death and the circumstances surrounding it. My uncle was an amazing man according to every account I have ever heard. He would have shrugged off any thought of someone out to murder another driver.
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Hello ,,i have not been on this sight for a while i went on to see what was up and i seen you post..I missed you by 30 minutes..
I am sure some pictures are out there of the wreck of your uncles car..I know i have it in a scape book.I just moved to Kansas and have all my stuff in storage in Missouri where i cant get to it untill this coming spring.,i am working in Lincoln Ne untill Janurary ...If i remember right the Tulsa World News Paper i believe or the Program at the track had a pretty good picture of the car after the wreck happened..Maybe one of these guys have a copy of it..It was in the program or the paper the days following the crash...Warren or Brian may be able to help you quicker than i could...
I remember i liked that car becuase it looked so much like Frankie Lies #55 same style..
I sure hated to see that happen.It was a accident that happens in racing,,my Dad also Died from Injurys in a racing Accident in 1971 ,3 years later. .If one of the guys on here cant get a pic of it i know i have it in my 1968 scarp book.If they cant help you out i will this coming Spring when i get back to Missouri to finish moving to Kansas...I was there that night a remember it well and would talk to you about it any time if you would like. Tim
Win as if you are use to it.And lose as if you enjoyed
it for a change.Its hard to get to the top and alot
harder to stay there.
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November 24, 2010 at
09:29:20 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: redbandana on November 23 2010 at 11:52:02 PM
Hello ,,i have not been on this sight for a while i went on to see what was up and i seen you post..I missed you by 30 minutes..
I am sure some pictures are out there of the wreck of your uncles car..I know i have it in a scape book.I just moved to Kansas and have all my stuff in storage in Missouri where i cant get to it untill this coming spring.,i am working in Lincoln Ne untill Janurary ...If i remember right the Tulsa World News Paper i believe or the Program at the track had a pretty good picture of the car after the wreck happened..Maybe one of these guys have a copy of it..It was in the program or the paper the days following the crash...Warren or Brian may be able to help you quicker than i could...
I remember i liked that car becuase it looked so much like Frankie Lies #55 same style..
I sure hated to see that happen.It was a accident that happens in racing,,my Dad also Died from Injurys in a racing Accident in 1971 ,3 years later. .If one of the guys on here cant get a pic of it i know i have it in my 1968 scarp book.If they cant help you out i will this coming Spring when i get back to Missouri to finish moving to Kansas...I was there that night a remember it well and would talk to you about it any time if you would like. Tim
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I found this site awhile back, but I was in the Marine Corps at the time, and didn't get a chance to register. My seven year old son said to me the other day, "dad we don't have any family traditions." I quickly informed him that our family was a part of racings early days. A time when you loaded up one racecar, maybe 4 tires, and a tool box. You drove to the track, pushed the pedal down and turned left. When the race was over, you either won, fought or just gathered up your pile and drove home. I look at my son and I imagine a simpler time, no playstation, no wii, not even a cell phone. The Vanbeber boys were no bigger than my son when they strapped into a mashup of metal and oil and went racing. Thank you Tim for the thought, and if you do get a chance, I would love a copy of the picture. I will try and post some of the pictures that I have. If the original poster reads this, please understand that since I was not in attendance on that summer night in 69, I can't dispute his recollection. All I can say is that racing is a dngerous sport, I'm sure my uncle knew that, excepted it, and strapped in that night well aware of the risk. I believe there is a 3/8 mile dirt track up there, and he's kickin up dirt right now.
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November 24, 2010 at
11:00:21 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: jimmyvan1977 on November 24 2010 at 09:29:20 AM
I found this site awhile back, but I was in the Marine Corps at the time, and didn't get a chance to register. My seven year old son said to me the other day, "dad we don't have any family traditions." I quickly informed him that our family was a part of racings early days. A time when you loaded up one racecar, maybe 4 tires, and a tool box. You drove to the track, pushed the pedal down and turned left. When the race was over, you either won, fought or just gathered up your pile and drove home. I look at my son and I imagine a simpler time, no playstation, no wii, not even a cell phone. The Vanbeber boys were no bigger than my son when they strapped into a mashup of metal and oil and went racing. Thank you Tim for the thought, and if you do get a chance, I would love a copy of the picture. I will try and post some of the pictures that I have. If the original poster reads this, please understand that since I was not in attendance on that summer night in 69, I can't dispute his recollection. All I can say is that racing is a dngerous sport, I'm sure my uncle knew that, excepted it, and strapped in that night well aware of the risk. I believe there is a 3/8 mile dirt track up there, and he's kickin up dirt right now.
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That accident happened in 1969. The week before after the races my Friend Bobby and I talked to James Van Beber. He was telling us how it was hard for a poor boy race team wa having a hard time to compete with the big boys, he did not have quick change rear and told us that he could change the whole third member between the heat and feature. There was a lot of talk about his accident, about how another driver had told him that he was going to get James and put him over the wall. I remember having an argument with a fan of this other driver that almost came to fists.I remember who the other driver is but I guess I had better not mention any names. I knew Karl and saw him win a modified feature in the 9 car in 1975 and was happy for him. I still have the program with his picture on the front
Ray
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November 24, 2010 at
12:33:06 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Bkcr on November 24 2010 at 11:00:21 AM
That accident happened in 1969. The week before after the races my Friend Bobby and I talked to James Van Beber. He was telling us how it was hard for a poor boy race team wa having a hard time to compete with the big boys, he did not have quick change rear and told us that he could change the whole third member between the heat and feature. There was a lot of talk about his accident, about how another driver had told him that he was going to get James and put him over the wall. I remember having an argument with a fan of this other driver that almost came to fists.I remember who the other driver is but I guess I had better not mention any names. I knew Karl and saw him win a modified feature in the 9 car in 1975 and was happy for him. I still have the program with his picture on the front
Ray
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Thanks Ray for sharing your memory with me. My uncle Karl passed away in 2007. He raced and won a few races at big H motor speedway outside of Houston. He and my dad worked with my uncle Jimmy in the pits, and my dad would always brag about how fast they were. My grandpa raised them all in Bartlsville and Tulsa, hard times then. They did what they could witn what they had. If you or anyone has the ability to post any pictures from then or from the program, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
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November 24, 2010 at
04:13:23 PM
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You are right it was 69.,,Dad drove for Jay Carnes out of missouri in 68 and then Al Weiland in 69,,Jay came down and was there the night of the crash.That is why i was thinking it was 68..Dad still drove a few times for Jay down around Joplin,Jay was switching to Late Models because they were closer to home,,and My Brother Randy drove his late model.....I heard some stuff also..But didnt want to say anything ether,,names anyway about the crash,,,.
Win as if you are use to it.And lose as if you enjoyed
it for a change.Its hard to get to the top and alot
harder to stay there.
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November 24, 2010 at
07:03:42 PM
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This message was edited on
November 25, 2010 at
02:10:02 PM by Racing From The Past
Reply to:
Posted By: jimmyvan1977 on November 24 2010 at 12:33:06 PM
Thanks Ray for sharing your memory with me. My uncle Karl passed away in 2007. He raced and won a few races at big H motor speedway outside of Houston. He and my dad worked with my uncle Jimmy in the pits, and my dad would always brag about how fast they were. My grandpa raised them all in Bartlsville and Tulsa, hard times then. They did what they could witn what they had. If you or anyone has the ability to post any pictures from then or from the program, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
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Karl worked as a counter man at Lesters Gears on North Lewis and I knew him pretty well and he knew that I was helping on Mike Peters car and we would talk racing all the time. One Friday night Norman wanted to race at Muskogee and we took two cars the 17 and 71. Everbody knew that James Warren was driving the 17 at Tulsa but not any where else. Norman had Larry Coleman drive at Enid, Dewey and Wichita. We wer unloading the cars and Karl came over to talk and Harold Leep was standing around waiting for the Suchy car and Karl thought that he ws going to drive the 17, He Said " Is Harold Leep driving the 17 to night" after I stopped laughing I said no that James Warren was.
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November 25, 2010 at
11:17:23 AM
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This message was edited on
November 25, 2010 at
11:26:23 AM by Bkcr
The 9 car in the lower right picture is Karl on the night that he won his feature. The car behind him is Virgil Barnes. The 101 car is Aaron madden with Courtney Granstaff in the 9. Larry ring is leading in the 6 over James Eubanks in the 2
Ray
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November 25, 2010 at
11:34:12 AM
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The picture above shows how fast the big Tulsa track was. Gene See hit the wall so hard tha his seat was torn loose. After this wreck the OCRA mad a new rule that the seat had to have a plate all the up to seat and that it had to bolted to the plate with aircfaft bolts.
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November 25, 2010 at
01:55:37 PM
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Happy Thanksgiving to all, and Ray, you made my holiday. Thank you so much for the picture.
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November 25, 2010 at
06:34:04 PM
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1974 Tulsa video
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November 24, 2011 at
09:05:04 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: jimmyvan1977 on November 25 2010 at 01:55:37 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and Ray, you made my holiday. Thank you so much for the picture.
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Jimmy if you are still reading this site, please give me your address and I will mail you the program above with your Uncle Karl winning the feature at Tulsa in 1975.
Ray
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July 13, 2012 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: miketx on December 02 2008 at 10:46:51 PM
I remember he got hurt real bad years after he got banned, but don't remember that he died racing. Googled him but nothing came up. I just remembered I met him once outside the fairgrounds track at the fair in Tulsa. I think my brother and sisters and I went on some kind of tram ride and he pulled up outside the track, and my mom struck up a conversation with him. I remember him being kind of distant and quiet, but he had the coolest belt...It had race cars on it. I tried to do it with my woodburning kit, but it didn't look as cool as his. I was just a little kid.
mike
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My dad did not die on the race track, I do remember the belt.
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July 13, 2012 at
11:50:37 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: miketx on December 02 2008 at 10:46:51 PM
I remember he got hurt real bad years after he got banned, but don't remember that he died racing. Googled him but nothing came up. I just remembered I met him once outside the fairgrounds track at the fair in Tulsa. I think my brother and sisters and I went on some kind of tram ride and he pulled up outside the track, and my mom struck up a conversation with him. I remember him being kind of distant and quiet, but he had the coolest belt...It had race cars on it. I tried to do it with my woodburning kit, but it didn't look as cool as his. I was just a little kid.
mike
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It just happens my father is Harvey Shane. He died many years ago in Bartlsville, OK at the local hospital. Harvey lived a full life on full throttle. I have read some things on this page about him that can only hurt a sons feelings. It is hard to listen to unfavorable opinions of your dad after he is gone. I was very young when he raced. My brother and I have numerous photo's of him racing, crashing, and winning. And many stories of his temper on and off the track. He was a ferious competitor and I offer no excuses for his bad behavior. I raced my junior and senior year in high school and had a ball. I joined the Marines two after graduation and never sat behind a race car again. Sure miss it though. I frequently go watch the sprint cars and will always love dirt track racing. Its in the blood. I retired from police work as a K-9 handler and have 4 daughters. I'm sure my brother Jack would like to gather a few photos and post them soon. I am sorry to those that still carry a grudge or is angry over my dads behavior and hope that some of you that posted hateful comments realize Harvey still has family that is alive and comments like those are very painful. Mike I remember that belt buckle you are talking about and if Jack or I can find it I will post a picture of it.
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July 14, 2012 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: miketx on December 01 2008 at 12:02:42 PM
The only incident I can ever remember that happened in Tulsa, and it was in the early sixties, was when Harvey Shane ran Al Lemmons into the fence, flipping him several times. Shane was banned from Tulsa after that. Al's car landed on top of the catch fence. Go to Danley Clow's site and click on Al Lemmons and he has a couple of pictures of the aftermath. Could this be the incident the original poster is talking about? Al wasn't killed, of course, but he was out for a while. That was the first time I knew the blood rushed to your head in a flip and gave you black eyes.
As for the Ron Lux deal...Do any of you guys remember that Arnie Knepper was involved in a lot of incidents? I don't know why that keeps sticking in my mind.
One more thing...I've been to hundreds of races, and the Lemmons/Shane incident was the ONLY time I can ever remember one driver trying to hurt another intentionally.
mike
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Sorry to read this about my Dad. I was a young boy. Harvey Shane is my Dad and I also raced at the Tulsa State Fair on the 1/2 mile dirt track and several local tracks in the midwest. I remember some of the names of drivers mentioned in many of these articles. Does anyone remember a driver named Ralph Blacket (spelling not sure of)
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July 14, 2012 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: miketx on December 01 2008 at 12:02:42 PM
The only incident I can ever remember that happened in Tulsa, and it was in the early sixties, was when Harvey Shane ran Al Lemmons into the fence, flipping him several times. Shane was banned from Tulsa after that. Al's car landed on top of the catch fence. Go to Danley Clow's site and click on Al Lemmons and he has a couple of pictures of the aftermath. Could this be the incident the original poster is talking about? Al wasn't killed, of course, but he was out for a while. That was the first time I knew the blood rushed to your head in a flip and gave you black eyes.
As for the Ron Lux deal...Do any of you guys remember that Arnie Knepper was involved in a lot of incidents? I don't know why that keeps sticking in my mind.
One more thing...I've been to hundreds of races, and the Lemmons/Shane incident was the ONLY time I can ever remember one driver trying to hurt another intentionally.
mike
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Sorry to read this about my Dad. I was a young boy. Harvey Shane is my Dad and I also raced at the Tulsa State Fair on the 1/2 mile dirt track and several local tracks in the midwest. I remember some of the names of drivers mentioned in many of these articles. Does anyone remember a driver named Ralph Blacket (spelling not sure of)
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July 14, 2012 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: Racing From The Past on December 02 2008 at 10:00:55 PM
Where was Harvey Shane killed at??
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My father passed away in a hospital in Bartlsville, Oklahoma nearly 30 years ago for heart failure. Harvey had a good compasionate side to him, as well as his reputation for bad behavior on and off the track. He was a aggressive driver and rubbed a lot of paint from what I've heard and saw as a child. I have many fond pictures of him racing and standing there with the checker flag in hand.
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July 14, 2012 at
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I will share a story with you about Harvey Shane that happened at the Dewey, OK race track back in 1974. I was lined up in the pitts in my race car with the motor running waiting to enter the track with other racers. I was 17 years old and my dad, Harvey was leaning in the passenger side door talking to me. I saw a guy run up behind my dad with a full face helmet in hand and with a round house hit my dad in the back of the head with the helmet. For those that don't know my dad or did this was big mistake. The guy that hit him must have been amazed that he didnt drop because he just stood there. My dad turned and hit him with one punch and knocked him out. I was ushered onto the track and raced my race. I know for the next couple of weeks my dad was banned from the pits and had to watch me race from the stands. When my dad was racing and others with him they were tough guys. They raced hard, played hard, and could out fight and out drink most men. I wouldnt trade those memories for nothing. You might fight with a guy one day but the next moment you were handing him a wrench or a tire to fix his car.
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July 14, 2012 at
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Here are a couple of photos you may not have seen. About 1966, Harvey with the Verle Wells midget, with Verle to the far right and Bill Cohee between the two. The second photo has Verles car and Chuck Fishers car. Of course Harvey drove the #74 and the white car was the #26 driven by Don Elliott. The two cars put on quite a show several times during intermission. You stated that Harvey passed about 30 years ago, Don who is my father also passed a little over thirty years ago. These photos were taken by me before the races that night. Dennis
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July 14, 2012 at
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Photos My error
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February 26, 2014 at
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Ihave a photo of Karl Vanbeber winning at Tulsa in 1975. Iwill mail it to anyone in the Vanbeber family,if they want it. Just let me know where to mail it.
Ray
I i would be happy to mail to anyone in have a photo of Karl Vanbeber at the Tulsa Speedway from the night in 1975 that he won the feature. i would mail it to anyone in the Vanbeber fail,if they would like to have. just give me the address to mail it to
Ray
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