JRKracer
12-01-2009, 03:58 PM
National Speed Sport News
The Hay Barber Was A True Midget Racing Legend
MIDGET MAN: Earl Kouba was a longtime midget racer throughout the Midwest and his children have continued to be involved in auto racing in different capacities. (Kouba Family Collection Photo) By: Mike KerchnerPosted On: 11/24/2009, 08:23 am
Tagged in: History Features, Mike Kerchner
In an era when most racers had colorful nicknames, Earl Kouba was known as The Hay Barber from Sedalia because of his daily life as a cattle rancher in the tiny Colorado town of Sedalia.
But when he strapped into a midget, Kouba was one of the toughest drivers in the land. His career began in Colorado and concluded 40 years later when he retired from driving after having moved to Minnesota.
Kouba made his first midget start at Merchant’s Park in 1938 and the following season he was crowned Mile High Racing association champion, racing in the midget division at the track.
World War II brought a break in Kouba’s racing career as he joined the Navy and worked as a diesel mechanic. After the war, he returned to racing and eventually began a relationship with Ethel Higdon, marrying her in 1949.
The couple’s honeymoon to California was not without a racing connection. While Kouba did leave his midget at home during the trip to California, he heard of a stock-car race in the area and prepped the couple’s Hudson for the race. He finished eighth and earned enough money to fund the remainder of the trip.
Through the years, Kouba raced midgets, stock cars, champ cars and sprint cars and even made a few attempts at the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb. He was a versatile driver, but it was midget racing where he found the most success.
One of his favorite cars was “Baby,” a 1947 Kurtis, which carried an Offy through most of its racing history. He took the car on tour, racing with the AAA from Indiana to California in 1948, but through most of his career, he raced on the Colorado circuit on the dirt at the Arapahoe Fairgrounds and on asphalt at Lakeside Speedway. He won numerous races at both tracks.
In 1955, Kouba won every race he entered at Arapahoe and earned the Rocky Mountain AAA championship. He continued to be active as a driver and a car owner for years to come.
While Kouba took his last ride in “Baby” at Independence, Iowa, in 1979, his oldest son Joe drove her to her last victory at Fairmont, Minn., in 1983. Kouba began restoring the car before his death in 1992 and the job was finished by Joe and the rest of the Kouba klan in 1995.
Kouba’s youngest son, Jimmy, remains an active racer and his daughter Judy works in public relations for Chevrolet’s NASCAR program.
Kouba is memorialized each year with the running of the Earl & Ethel Kouba Memorial sprint-car race. The 17th annual event was held at North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minn., earlier this year.
This was printed in this weeks Speed Sport News. If you all do not get the paper I thought you might enjoy the story. I couldn't get the Picture to copy and paste.
Joe
The Hay Barber Was A True Midget Racing Legend
MIDGET MAN: Earl Kouba was a longtime midget racer throughout the Midwest and his children have continued to be involved in auto racing in different capacities. (Kouba Family Collection Photo) By: Mike KerchnerPosted On: 11/24/2009, 08:23 am
Tagged in: History Features, Mike Kerchner
In an era when most racers had colorful nicknames, Earl Kouba was known as The Hay Barber from Sedalia because of his daily life as a cattle rancher in the tiny Colorado town of Sedalia.
But when he strapped into a midget, Kouba was one of the toughest drivers in the land. His career began in Colorado and concluded 40 years later when he retired from driving after having moved to Minnesota.
Kouba made his first midget start at Merchant’s Park in 1938 and the following season he was crowned Mile High Racing association champion, racing in the midget division at the track.
World War II brought a break in Kouba’s racing career as he joined the Navy and worked as a diesel mechanic. After the war, he returned to racing and eventually began a relationship with Ethel Higdon, marrying her in 1949.
The couple’s honeymoon to California was not without a racing connection. While Kouba did leave his midget at home during the trip to California, he heard of a stock-car race in the area and prepped the couple’s Hudson for the race. He finished eighth and earned enough money to fund the remainder of the trip.
Through the years, Kouba raced midgets, stock cars, champ cars and sprint cars and even made a few attempts at the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb. He was a versatile driver, but it was midget racing where he found the most success.
One of his favorite cars was “Baby,” a 1947 Kurtis, which carried an Offy through most of its racing history. He took the car on tour, racing with the AAA from Indiana to California in 1948, but through most of his career, he raced on the Colorado circuit on the dirt at the Arapahoe Fairgrounds and on asphalt at Lakeside Speedway. He won numerous races at both tracks.
In 1955, Kouba won every race he entered at Arapahoe and earned the Rocky Mountain AAA championship. He continued to be active as a driver and a car owner for years to come.
While Kouba took his last ride in “Baby” at Independence, Iowa, in 1979, his oldest son Joe drove her to her last victory at Fairmont, Minn., in 1983. Kouba began restoring the car before his death in 1992 and the job was finished by Joe and the rest of the Kouba klan in 1995.
Kouba’s youngest son, Jimmy, remains an active racer and his daughter Judy works in public relations for Chevrolet’s NASCAR program.
Kouba is memorialized each year with the running of the Earl & Ethel Kouba Memorial sprint-car race. The 17th annual event was held at North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minn., earlier this year.
This was printed in this weeks Speed Sport News. If you all do not get the paper I thought you might enjoy the story. I couldn't get the Picture to copy and paste.
Joe