Carlson, Green, Manske, Simpson are Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Inductees

By Chad Meyer

The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, located in Algona, IA, will induct four individuals in its 2024 class of inductees.

Past drivers Ed Green, Dick Manske, and John Simpson will be inducted along with Myron Carlson, former racing mechanic.

In addition to wins at several area racetracks, Ed Green from Algona, IA amassed at least 22 wins at Algona, including two fair race championships and was the winner of the Schattschneider Memorial three times at his home track. Green also earned the season point titles in 2002 at the Algona, Britt and Mason City tracks.

Also from Algona, Dick Manske won at least 13 times at his home track. In 1993 he won three weeks in a row and had a bounty placed on his performance during that stretch. In 1995 he was the winner four times, including the season championship race and was the 1997 Fall Special winner. Manske was also a great ambassador for the speedway. His victory lane celebrations were filled with kids autographing his race car and receiving free ice cream cone certificates to McDonald’s

John Simpson, who hails from West Bend, IA, earned at least 12 wins as a driver at Algona, including the 1988 and 1991 Mid-Season Championship races and two July 4th specials. He is the 1992 Hobby Stock season champion at his home track and collected a win in the Fairmont Nationals.  As a car owner, his daughter Chelsea is the 2008 fair race champion, while son Nathan collected the 2017 fair race championship.

Algona’s Myron Carlson is a championship and race winning mechanic and innovator, playing an important part in the success of fellow hall of fame inductees, Dave Erpelding, Tim Erpelding and Denny Anderson. Both Steve Krapp and Carlson convinced Denny Anderson to race at Algona again in 1994. By 1998, Anderson kept one car in Algona full-time and with Carlson spinning the wrenches, they won the Algona point championship in 1998 and finished second in 1999.

The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame committee, with the help of the living members of the Kossuth Racing Hall of Fame, selected the inductees for 2024.

The induction ceremony will take place during the Kossuth County Fair races on Thursday, August 1st.

More details and a list of past inductees is available at www.KossuthMuseum.com.

Toy Show at the Museum – December 2nd

Haugland, Hejna, Wolf, Ubben are Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Inductees

By Chad Meyer

 

The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, located in Algona, IA, will induct four individuals in its 2023 class of inductees.

Drivers Dan Haugland, Mike Hejna, and Ed Wolf will be inducted along with Ken Ubben, a former flagman at the Algona and Britt tracks.

Dan Haugland

Dan Haugland from Crystal Lake, IA amassed 42 wins at the Algona track, tying him for seventh all-time here. Haugland amassed 56 total wins in his career and was the 2006 and 2007 track champion and earned the 1999, and 2006 Kossuth County Fair Race wins. Haugland also scored the 2007 Schattschneider Memorial at his home track.

Clear Lake’s Mike Hejna earned 10 wins at Algona and was the 1997 track champion. He also was the winner of the 1992 and 1994 fair races and captured the Algona 1997 Fall Finale win. Hejna won multiple USMTS tour events.

Wolf after winning the Night of 1000 Stars at the Hancock County Speedway.

Algona’s Ed Wolf continues to leave a legacy at the Kossuth County Speedway. He won several feature events at his local track, including the 1997 Schattschneider Memorial and a run of three out of four July 4th races. Wolf also had significant success at the Hancock County Speedway, in Britt, IA, winning the 1996 Night of 1000 Stars for IMCA Stock Cars and won the 1997 season championship race there. In addition to helping his son Austin have a successful racing career, Wolf has been instrumental in guiding many area racers.

Flagman Ken Ubben

Ken Ubben from Buffalo Center, served as either assistant flagman or flagman for then track promoter Daryl Brayton at the Algona track through Joe Ringsdorf’s first year as promoter. Ubben started at the Hancock County Speedway when it opened in 1995 and was the assistant flagman and flagman at the Britt track during the 10-year promotional tenure of Dan and Sandy Danielson.

The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame committee, with the help of the living members of the Kossuth Racing Hall of Fame, selected the inductees for 2023.

The induction ceremony will take place during the Kossuth County Fair races on Thursday, August 3rd.

More details and a list of past inductees is available at www.KossuthMuseum.com.

Museum Fundraising Auction Underway!

The Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum (located in Algona, IA) fundraising auction is live! This online only auction features vintage and recent racing memorabilia, vintage sprint car parts, gift cards, tractor diecast and much more. 100% of proceeds stay with the museum to support its operation!

Link to online auction: https://lhoffmanauctions.hibid.com/auctions

Bidding starts February 13, 2023, and ends February 23, 2023.

Preview of items: February 20, 2023; 5:30pm – 7:30pm.

Pickup February 24, 2023, from 5:00-7:00pm and February 25, 2023 from 9:00am-11:00am.

Thank you to Leroy Hoffman for his auctioneering services!

Auction highlights:

Various gift cards and merchandise from area businesses
IH 350 Utility tractor – runs
Seed signs and seed neon signs
Seed and feed company signs
Vintage license plates and thermometers
Vintage sprint car parts
Racing sheet metal from:
Colby Fett and Alec Fett
Cody Knecht, Cody Laney, Nick Meyer
Billy Moyer Sr, Chris Simpson, Jeff Aikey
Ty Griffith, Ryan Gustin, Tim Ward, Andy Eckrich
John Logue, Johnathon Logue, Clayton Christensen
Ryan Hiscocks, Tom Berry Jr

And MUCH MORE!

Contact Edgar Meyer at 515-320-5604 or Chad Meyer at 515-320-2593 or cmeyermotorsports@gmail.com with questions. We greatly appreciate your support!

2023 Fundraising Auction Starts February 13th

Photo for attention only

The Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum (located in Algona, IA) needs racing memorabilia and related items. We are seeking donations of race car door panels, roofs and noses. Racing or ag-related diecast, vintage ag and racing hats, shirts, signs, and posters are welcome. Almost anything works for this fundraising auction!

This online only auction will feature vintage and recent racing memorabilia, vintage sprint car parts, gift cards, and much more.

Bidding starts February 13th and ends February 23rd

Pickup February 24 from 5-7pm and February 25 from 9-11am

More details on the auction coming soon.

100% of proceeds stay with the museum to support its operation!

Contact Edgar Meyer at 515-320-5604 or Chad Meyer at 515-320-2593 or cmeyermotorsports@gmail.com to donate items. We greatly appreciate your support!

Fundraising Auction Now LIVE- February 15-24, 2022

 

Kelly Shryock signed door panel.

The annual auction to support the Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum located in Algona, IA is now underway!

Collectibles, Racing Memorabilia, Tools, Gift Certificates, Prints, Photos, Misc.

This online only auction ends Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 6pm.

Auction preview is Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the museum 2:00- 4:00 pm.

Check out and pick up is Friday February 25 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. & on Saturday February 26 from 9:00am – noon.

All items are donated by local businesses & local individuals. 100% of proceeds stay with the museum for ongoing expenses. We greatly appreciation your support! May be adding more items to auction the week soon, be sure to check back often.

Location:
Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum
800 East Fair St.
Algona, IA 50511

www.kossuthmuseum.com

1917 Ford Model T race car, has title.

Race tire signed by Denny Anderson, Gary Shumski and Mark Noble

2021 Salute to Veterans Kossuth County Speedway winner’s sign, autographed by winner Cody Laney, plus Zane DeVilbiss, Kelly Shryock, Todd Shute, and Nick Meyer.

Kossuth County Speedway 10 punch pass

Kossuth County Speedway 10 pit pass

ISU electric cooler, never used

Racing hats

Rechargeable grease gun donated by NAPA

12 quart oil shelf donated by KEVKO

Snap On air impact wrench 3/8. New in box

Case IH creeper, donated by Dean Benschoter

CAT Challenger 85D & fertilizer cart 1/64th scale.

 

Holiday Train Display Date Added – Dec. 26

HOLIDAY TRAIN DISPLAY – new date set for Sunday, December 26 from 6-8 pm.
 
Miss last weekend’s Holiday Train exhibit at the museum? Don’t fret, we are excited to announce we have scheduled one more opportunity to see our holiday train display.
 
We are closed Christmas Day, but we are OPEN Sunday, December 26 from 1-4pm AND will be open for a special Holiday Train showing Sunday 6-8pm.
 
Questions? Call Edgar Meyer at 515-320-5604.

Toy Swap Meet – November 13, 2021

We are pleased to host our annual Toy Swap Meet at the Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum (Algona, IA) on November 13, 2021.

Date: November 13th
Location: Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum (800 E. Fair Street – on the Kossuth County Fairgrounds, Algona, IA)
Set Up: 7am-9am
Public: 9am – 3pm

Vendors: $20 in advance/$25 day of show (8ft table and 2 admission tickets)

General Public Admission: $5/per person

RC cars and boats; slot cars; Hot Wheels; remote control planes; vintage racing programs & photos; die cast farm toys and MORE!

For more information contact 515-320-1441

 

 

Fan Forum with Mark Noble to be held in Albert Lea

The Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum will be attending the sold out Crossroads Motorsports Show in Albert Lea, MN. The museum will have a display and will also host Mark Noble as part of a fundraising fan forum. 

Date: Saturday, February 1, 2020
Event: 10 am – 4 pm

Mark Noble Fan Forum starts at 11 am. 

Show is held at the Armory Building, 410 Prospect Ave, Albert Lea, MN

Admission: $10 to attend the event, Mark Noble fan forum is a free-will offering to attend, to raise funds to complete the museum’s Trostle sprint car.

Email Chad Meyer (cmeyer@maxyieldcoop.com) for more information.

Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame to Induct Six During Fair

2019 Kossuth Co. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Kevin Berte, stands in victory lane after one of his many wins at Algona. (Photo – Berte collection)

Kevin Berte, Larry Lappe, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Pingel, Ron Pope, Del Stokke to be inducted August 3, 2019. 

The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame will be honoring its 2019 class of inductees during the Kossuth County Fair.

The annual induction ceremony will take place during this year’s Kossuth County Fair races, held Saturday, August 3rd at the Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum, located on the fairgrounds in Algona.

The 2019 inductees into the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame include three drivers.

1960’s era driver, the late Del Stokke, who was the 1970 Kossuth County Fair race champion will be inducted as will Whittemore’s Kevin Berte. Among Berte’s accomplishments, he was a Kossuth County Fair Race champion twice and collected four track championships in six years. He also won the Gene Schattschneider Memorial race at Algona two times and owns 41 wins at Algona, seventh all-time here.

Jerry Pingel with driver Larry Kirkpatrick. Pingel collection

Ron Pope, the 1993 IMCA Modified National champion, earned 32 wins at Algona in his career, plus two track championships. Pope also won three consecutive Schattschneider Memorial races, two Kossuth County Fair races and the 1992 NCAR Nationals at Algona.

Jerry Pingel began helping Jim Utt on his #30 sprint cars in 1971 as a mechanic, and continued spinning wrenches through 1977. With Pingel building and maintaining the engines the team collected wins across the country and at home. Their highest point finish in IMCA national points was third in 1974 with Ralph Blackett as their main driver.

Edgar Meyer, back row, right, stands in victory lane at Fairmont Raceway with the Meyer Farms #12 driven by Bob Weber. Weber collection

For 50 years, Edgar Meyer has been a big supporter of local racing. Owning cars with Bob Weber produced multiple wins in the Jackson Nationals and the Fall Futurity at Webster City, among many others. He has been a sponsor for much of Jake Simpson’s career, of which he has five Algona track championships, multiple fair wins and 46 wins at Algona. Today, Meyer volunteers much of his time for track preparation at the Algona track.

Larry Lappe will be honored for his many years of track preparation at Algona and several other area race tracks.

There will be an inductee reception at the museum at 4:00 p.m., with the ceremony taking place at 4:30 p.m.

Inductees will also be introduced in front of the grandstand during the races.

This event will also serve as a reunion for both past and current inductees. The inductees in the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, their families, and friends are invited to attend the night’s racing activities at the Kossuth County Speedway.

More information about the ceremony can be found online at www.kossuthmuseum.com.