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White first to make impact on racing scene
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| Don White won IMCA titles in 1954, 1955 and 1958 and USAC titles in 1963 and 1967 during a racing career that spanned 35 seasons. He is USAC’s winningest driver with 53 career wins. |
By Brad Cameron/Gate City Sports Editor
Through the rich history of racing, several important drivers hailed from Keokuk. The first to make an impact on the racing scene was Don White.
White began his distinguished career at the national level in the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) in 1949 and spent 35 seasons competing in the top stock car divisions.
“I went to a race in Davenport or Cedar Rapids, and I thought to myself this is something I can do,” White said. “I tried it, enjoyed some success, and I've been in it ever since.”
White's first IMCA event was at the track in Cedar Rapids. He ran at the top of the field most of the race until mechanical problems knocked him out of the race.
“I was running second when a wheel broke,” White said. “It was a disappointing ending to the day, but it showed I could race at that level.”
That is something he did in the IMCA for 10 seasons. He won features on every IMCA track from 1949 to 1958. He also won back-to-back IMCA titles in 1954 and 1955 and a championship in his final year in the IMCA in 1958.
White's biggest competitor during his years in the IMCA was against his brother-in-law Ernie Derr, who won an IMCA title in 1953. When White left the IMCA, Derr won 11 of the next 13 championships.
“We helped out each other as much as we could, but you didn't want to give out too much information because you didn't want it to come back and bite you,” White said. “When it was time to race it was every man for himself. He won his share of races, and I won my share.”
White and Derr were the drivers who paved the way for a number of others from Keokuk to try their hand at racing on the national scene.
“You have to give it all back to Ernie and Don,” said Dick Hutcherson at the Keokuk Racers Reunion in 2003. “Those two showed hard work wins races.”
“Don and Ernie took off winning races,” said Gordy Blankenship at the 2003 reunion. “We just followed. We grew up around it and it was something we wanted to do.”
White left IMCA to race in the United State Auto Club (USAC) series in 1959.
“USAC always paid more money,” White said. “At that time they paid a percentage for the gate.”
White was just as successful in USAC. He won national titles in 1963 and 1967. He finished second in points in 1962 and 1966 and third in points in 1964 and 1965. White finished as the winningest driver in the history of USAC with 53 wins.
“To win races you have to have a knack for it,” White said. “Or you have to be darn lucky.”
White didn't have a favorite track to compete at, saying a race track is just a race track, but one stop in which White enjoyed a lot of success was The Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, Wis.
White won 14 USAC Stock Cars races at The Mile from 1962 to 1975, and beat the likes of Al and Bobby Unser, Norm Nelson, Butch Hartman, Mario Andretti and other driving stars to become the track's winningest driver.
White also didn't mind what kind of car he drove. He drove a Ford, a Dodge Charger and a Daytona Superbird during his career.
“As long as it was fast, I didn't care,” White said. “I ran about every kind. I made the most money with the Dodge, but I was also in a Ford for eight years.”
White went on to compete in ARCA and NASCAR Grand National events during his racing career, but his days in IMCA and USAC will aways stand out.
“I competed in them all, but winning titles is what I'll remember,” White said.
White will be one of the featured Keokuk drivers at Saturday's Racers Reunion at River City Mall. Although he doesn't like the attention, White will be on hand to meet with the fans.
“It's just another day for me, but I will be down there some of the day,” White said.
White began his distinguished career at the national level in the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) in 1949 and spent 35 seasons competing in the top stock car divisions.
“I went to a race in Davenport or Cedar Rapids, and I thought to myself this is something I can do,” White said. “I tried it, enjoyed some success, and I've been in it ever since.”
White's first IMCA event was at the track in Cedar Rapids. He ran at the top of the field most of the race until mechanical problems knocked him out of the race.
“I was running second when a wheel broke,” White said. “It was a disappointing ending to the day, but it showed I could race at that level.”
That is something he did in the IMCA for 10 seasons. He won features on every IMCA track from 1949 to 1958. He also won back-to-back IMCA titles in 1954 and 1955 and a championship in his final year in the IMCA in 1958.
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“We helped out each other as much as we could, but you didn't want to give out too much information because you didn't want it to come back and bite you,” White said. “When it was time to race it was every man for himself. He won his share of races, and I won my share.”
White and Derr were the drivers who paved the way for a number of others from Keokuk to try their hand at racing on the national scene.
“You have to give it all back to Ernie and Don,” said Dick Hutcherson at the Keokuk Racers Reunion in 2003. “Those two showed hard work wins races.”
“Don and Ernie took off winning races,” said Gordy Blankenship at the 2003 reunion. “We just followed. We grew up around it and it was something we wanted to do.”
White left IMCA to race in the United State Auto Club (USAC) series in 1959.
“USAC always paid more money,” White said. “At that time they paid a percentage for the gate.”
White was just as successful in USAC. He won national titles in 1963 and 1967. He finished second in points in 1962 and 1966 and third in points in 1964 and 1965. White finished as the winningest driver in the history of USAC with 53 wins.
“To win races you have to have a knack for it,” White said. “Or you have to be darn lucky.”
White didn't have a favorite track to compete at, saying a race track is just a race track, but one stop in which White enjoyed a lot of success was The Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, Wis.
White won 14 USAC Stock Cars races at The Mile from 1962 to 1975, and beat the likes of Al and Bobby Unser, Norm Nelson, Butch Hartman, Mario Andretti and other driving stars to become the track's winningest driver.
White also didn't mind what kind of car he drove. He drove a Ford, a Dodge Charger and a Daytona Superbird during his career.
“As long as it was fast, I didn't care,” White said. “I ran about every kind. I made the most money with the Dodge, but I was also in a Ford for eight years.”
White went on to compete in ARCA and NASCAR Grand National events during his racing career, but his days in IMCA and USAC will aways stand out.
“I competed in them all, but winning titles is what I'll remember,” White said.
White will be one of the featured Keokuk drivers at Saturday's Racers Reunion at River City Mall. Although he doesn't like the attention, White will be on hand to meet with the fans.
“It's just another day for me, but I will be down there some of the day,” White said.
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