[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I'm having trouble with the data. So I have a question: how many races were run in 1955? 1956? Surely it has to be more than the 45 & 56, respectively, as the record books say for Kiekhaefer to have run 190 in those 2 years...

But he ran many cars.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I'm having trouble with the data. So I have a question: how many races were run in 1955? 1956? Surely it has to be more than the 45 & 56, respectively, as the record books say for Kiekhaefer to have run 190 in those 2 years...

That's where the data makes Kiekhaefer even look better. According to the NASCAR Chronicle there were 45 races in 1955 and 56 races in 1956. In total, Kiekhaefer cars entered 190 races. He entered several cars in each race. They won 52 times, 51 poles, 116 top 5s and 139 top 10s.

[Bob Tanner]

May I add a couple of facts about Kiekhaeffer?

First of all, he wasn't one of my favourite people. In fact, he was the Jack Roush of his day except he took things to the extreme. He went to lengths Jack would never dream of doing...

(1) There are multiple times where Karl would rent a track "for testing" for one or two days prior to a scheduled race. He would rent it up until the track opened to accept race entrants. His six Chrysler's and one Dodge would then monopolize the track and all other cars would be denied opportunity to practice.

(2) When Kiekhaeffer showed up to race he brought his cars in on what we see now on the roads as a car hauler. This was when his competitors either drove their cars to the track, towed them in or brought them in on an open trailer.

(3) He also brought a mobile machine shop with him. It was in a 28' enclosed straight truck.

Keep in mind that items #'s (1) and (2) were in 1955 and 1956. Things like this applied to stock cars, were unheard of.

(4) Karl demanded that his team be "fresh" and "clear headed" for each race. He insured this by mandating all of his drivers remained alcohol-free for forty-eight hours prior to each race. Also he would not allow them to sleep with their wives the night before a race. He made them stay in motel rooms and had bed check, much like college athletes do today (I think they still do this anyway, but in today's culture, who knows?).

He paid his drivers well and made them successful. But, in my opinion, if Big Bill would have allowed him to stay in the sport, he would he ruined it, much as the mega-teams have done today.

[Fireball]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

May I add a couple of facts about Kiekhaeffer?

First of all, he wasn't one of my favourite people. In fact, he was the Jack Roush of his day except he took things to the extreme. He went to lengths Jack would never dream of doing...

(1) There are multiple times where Karl would rent a track "for testing" for one or two days prior to a scheduled race. He would rent it up until the track opened to accept race entrants. His six Chrysler's and one Dodge would then monopolize the track and all other cars would be denied opportunity to practice.

(2) When Kiekhaeffer showed up to race he brought his cars in on what we see now on the roads as a car hauler. This was when his competitors either drove their cars to the track, towed them in or brought them in on an open trailer.

(3) He also brought a mobile machine shop with him. It was in a 28' enclosed straight truck.

Keep in mind that items #'s (1) and (2) were in 1955 and 1956. Things like this applied to stock cars, were unheard of.

(4) Karl demanded that his team be "fresh" and "clear headed" for each race. He insured this by mandating all of his drivers remained alcohol-free for forty-eight hours prior to each race. Also he would not allow them to sleep with their wives the night before a race. He made them stay in motel rooms and had bed check, much like college athletes do today (I think they still do this anyway, but in today's culture, who knows?).

He paid his drivers well and made them successful. But, in my opinion, if Big Bill would have allowed him to stay in the sport, he would he ruined it, much as the mega-teams have done today.

Sounds like a formula for winning races.

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

That's where the data makes Kiekhaefer even look better. According to the NASCAR Chronicle there were 45 races in 1955 and 56 races in 1956. In total, Kiekhaefer cars entered 190 races. He entered several cars in each race. They won 52 times, 51 poles, 116 top 5s and 139 top 10s.

Agree!18 out of 38-1955,14 out of 44-1956.Not bad for never running the full amount of races either year,yet still was the champ of each,for his full time team's,if that is what you want to call them.