1975 GLASS CITY 200 WINNER JIM BICKERSTAFF-FIRST BUCKEYE TO WIN CLASSIC
1975 GLASS CITY 200 WINNER JIM BICKERSTAFF-FIRST BUCKEYE TO WIN CLASSIC
In 1968, Toledo Speedway promoter and ARCA founder John Marcum came up with the idea of running a 200 lap Late Model invitational—the Glass City 200. Despite a 20-year hiatus of the race from 1978-1998 (when the Toledo track was sold), the race was revived in 1999 when Marcum’s grandson, Ron Drager, purchased the track with business partner Roy Mott.
And the race still carries the prestige and notoriety that it once did back in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
For the first time in several years, the Glass City 200 overall champion did not win one of the 100 lap segments. But 1975 champ Jim Bickerstaff (#24) displayed great strength as he battled 2 of Michigan’s legendary short track kings, Joy Fair and Bob Senneker. Jim became the first Ohio driver to win the Glass City 200….
With 55 cars on the grounds, future short track star Tommy Maier set quick time in the Owosso Furniture #40, going below 17 seconds with a lap of 16:92. Veteran Fran Harden (#54) and Bob Sensiba (#48) took the consi wins.
Fair, looking
for that 2nd Glass City 200 win, had Bickerstaff on his rear bumper
for much of the second 100 lap segment.
The duo tangled on lap 81, as Fair went to the tail and Bickerstaff
inherited the lead. Senneker had other
ideas as he grabbed the point on lap 88 and took the checkered flag over
Bickerstaff, Maier, Randy Sweet and Knotts.
Bickerstaff’s second and third place finishes gave him the 200
championship over Knotts, Fair, Schippers and Jerry Makara (#42).
The 25th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 presented by Francis Engineering, Woodville Auto Finance, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express is set for Saturday, September 28.
As we move closer to the 2013 edition and this special anniversary of one of top outlaw-bodied Late Model races in the area, please check the website each day for stories, updates, lap money sponsors, the entry list and historic notes and photos (courtesy of ARCA historians Brian Norton and Jim Hehl) of the Glass City 200.
Lap money sponsorship and just $10 per lap and tickets are now on sale by calling 419-727-1100 today!
