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Hutcherson will be missed at reunion
Editor's Note: Excerpts from this story appeared in the Nov. 8, 2005, edition of the Daily Gate City. Dick Hutcherson died Nov. 6, 2005.
By Brad Cameron/Gate City Sports Editor
Saturday's Keokuk Racers Reunion will be without one of the drivers who appeared at the first reunion in 2003.
Dick Hutcherson, one of the legends who helped make Keokuk become known as “The Racing Capital of the World” and the “Home of Champions” died Nov. 6, 2005. He was 73.
A special tribute will be held for Hutcherson during the reunion Saturday.
Hutcherson only raced a little more than 10 years, but his impact on stock car racing remains strong.
“He was one of those guys who could do it all,” said Lem Blankenship, a Keokuk native who also enjoyed a successful career in racing. “He was your all-around guy. He was a good driver. He was a good mechanic, and he was a good businessman. He was so well-rounded. He was one of those rare individuals who could do anything.”
Hutcherson started his career racing jalopies around Sportsman Park in Keokuk in 1956. He went on to the IMCA circuit in 1959.
“Hutch and Ramo (Stott) had the biggest influence on my racing career,” Blankenship said. “I remember watching them at Sportsman Park racing those jalopies.”
Don White, another Keokuk racing legend, helped Hutchinson get his start.
“I built his second car for him, I believe a '58 Ford,” White recalled. “He called me about building a car for him, and I built it during the winter. I guess he must have done pretty good with it. I didn't get to race with him because he was racing IMCA, and I was racing USAC.”
Hutcherson enjoyed success in the IMCA. He won the IMCA points title in 1963, ending a string of four consecutive championships by Keokuk legend Ernie Derr.
“I've always said, if you're going to beat Ernie Derr, you'd better bring your lunch because it's going to take all day,” Hutcherson said at the first Keokuk Racers Reunion May 10, 2003. “When you beat him, you know you did a good job.”
He also edged out Stott, another Keokuk racing legend, to win those titles.
“Dick was a super-hard racer,” Stott said. “He drove my car in the Bulldog 100 in Des Moines and finished second. He told me after the race he should have won, and I agreed with him.”
Hutcherson would later help prepare the car that sat on the pole at the Daytona 500 in 1976.
Hutcherson also won the 1964 IMCA points title before joining the NASCAR circuit full-time in 1965. In the Grand National Series (the predecessor to today's Nextel Cup Series), Hutcherson finished second in his second career start at Occoneechee Speedway. He joined the Holman-Moody team in 1965 and won 10 poles and nine races in his first season. Hutcherson finished second in points to Ned Jarrett.
Hutcherson won three races with Holman-Moody in 1966 and two more races in 1967 in cars owned by Buddy Long. He made 103 starts in NASCAR and finished with 14 wins, 23 poles and 73 top-10 finishes.
Hutcherson ended his driving career after the 1967 season. He took a job as one of the top mechanics at Holman-Moody and became the crew chief for friend and fellow driver David Pearson. The duo went on to win championships in 1968 and 1969.
“There are very few drivers who could do that, who could go on to be a crew chief and be as successful as he was,” Blankenship said.
He served as general manager at Holman-Moody before he teamed with Eddie Pagan to create Hutcherson-Pagan Enterprises in December 1971.
Hutcherson-Pagan Enterprises began as a business to build and repair races cars. They built cars for A.J. Foyt, Darrell Waltrip, Rick Wilson and others.
After Pagan's death in 1984, Hutcherson became sole owner of the firm. In 1986, younger brother Ron joined the business.
The Charlotte, N.C.,-based racing operation expanded to provide parts for NASCAR's three series (Nextel Cup, Busch Grand National and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series).
“My fondest memories of dad involve him being around the race track,” said Dick's son Rick. “That is where he was the happiest.”
Hutcherson's busy schedule kept him from returning to Keokuk, but he was able to take some time to come back for the racers reunion in 2003.
“He really had a lot of fun,” Rick said. “He was totally surprised about the number of people who came out for the event. He was tickled about the response, that people still remembered him.”
The reunion was the last time Blankenship saw Hutcherson.
“Dick, Ramo, Ernie and Don did so much for racing in Keokuk that it made it easier for guys like me to come along and have success with it,” Blankenship said. “Hutch was someone who made an impact on this sport.”
By Brad Cameron/Gate City Sports Editor
Saturday's Keokuk Racers Reunion will be without one of the drivers who appeared at the first reunion in 2003.
Dick Hutcherson, one of the legends who helped make Keokuk become known as “The Racing Capital of the World” and the “Home of Champions” died Nov. 6, 2005. He was 73.
A special tribute will be held for Hutcherson during the reunion Saturday.
Hutcherson only raced a little more than 10 years, but his impact on stock car racing remains strong.
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Hutcherson started his career racing jalopies around Sportsman Park in Keokuk in 1956. He went on to the IMCA circuit in 1959.
“Hutch and Ramo (Stott) had the biggest influence on my racing career,” Blankenship said. “I remember watching them at Sportsman Park racing those jalopies.”
Don White, another Keokuk racing legend, helped Hutchinson get his start.
“I built his second car for him, I believe a '58 Ford,” White recalled. “He called me about building a car for him, and I built it during the winter. I guess he must have done pretty good with it. I didn't get to race with him because he was racing IMCA, and I was racing USAC.”
Hutcherson enjoyed success in the IMCA. He won the IMCA points title in 1963, ending a string of four consecutive championships by Keokuk legend Ernie Derr.
“I've always said, if you're going to beat Ernie Derr, you'd better bring your lunch because it's going to take all day,” Hutcherson said at the first Keokuk Racers Reunion May 10, 2003. “When you beat him, you know you did a good job.”
He also edged out Stott, another Keokuk racing legend, to win those titles.
“Dick was a super-hard racer,” Stott said. “He drove my car in the Bulldog 100 in Des Moines and finished second. He told me after the race he should have won, and I agreed with him.”
Hutcherson would later help prepare the car that sat on the pole at the Daytona 500 in 1976.
Hutcherson also won the 1964 IMCA points title before joining the NASCAR circuit full-time in 1965. In the Grand National Series (the predecessor to today's Nextel Cup Series), Hutcherson finished second in his second career start at Occoneechee Speedway. He joined the Holman-Moody team in 1965 and won 10 poles and nine races in his first season. Hutcherson finished second in points to Ned Jarrett.
Hutcherson won three races with Holman-Moody in 1966 and two more races in 1967 in cars owned by Buddy Long. He made 103 starts in NASCAR and finished with 14 wins, 23 poles and 73 top-10 finishes.
Hutcherson ended his driving career after the 1967 season. He took a job as one of the top mechanics at Holman-Moody and became the crew chief for friend and fellow driver David Pearson. The duo went on to win championships in 1968 and 1969.
“There are very few drivers who could do that, who could go on to be a crew chief and be as successful as he was,” Blankenship said.
He served as general manager at Holman-Moody before he teamed with Eddie Pagan to create Hutcherson-Pagan Enterprises in December 1971.
Hutcherson-Pagan Enterprises began as a business to build and repair races cars. They built cars for A.J. Foyt, Darrell Waltrip, Rick Wilson and others.
After Pagan's death in 1984, Hutcherson became sole owner of the firm. In 1986, younger brother Ron joined the business.
The Charlotte, N.C.,-based racing operation expanded to provide parts for NASCAR's three series (Nextel Cup, Busch Grand National and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series).
“My fondest memories of dad involve him being around the race track,” said Dick's son Rick. “That is where he was the happiest.”
Hutcherson's busy schedule kept him from returning to Keokuk, but he was able to take some time to come back for the racers reunion in 2003.
“He really had a lot of fun,” Rick said. “He was totally surprised about the number of people who came out for the event. He was tickled about the response, that people still remembered him.”
The reunion was the last time Blankenship saw Hutcherson.
“Dick, Ramo, Ernie and Don did so much for racing in Keokuk that it made it easier for guys like me to come along and have success with it,” Blankenship said. “Hutch was someone who made an impact on this sport.”
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