Woody Church
Interview By Steve Bechtel
When and how did you start racing?
Started in drag cars in 1958 and by the summer of 1963 I had a B-Gasser. Married in January of 1964 and we took an apartment on 126th and Winchester which is only a few blocks from the track. I could hear the Raceway boys when
the track opened in the spring I started attending and bought a season pass. By the end of the year I bought an old late model and got it ready for the 65 season.
What division did you start off in?
I went right into late models. I had known Bill Koenig form his dads auto parts store and he suggested late models.
What was your first car?
I purchased an old Ray Young car from Jimmy Wray, a 61 Ford and put the 427 engine from my Gasser in it.
Was it #55 or did you race under another number?
I started the season as #55 then a fellow who had not raced the previous year returned with a #55, I think his name was Johnson. Track officials asked me to change so I took 56 for the balance of that season. When the number was available again I used it.
Why #55 for all those years?
I just liked double digits. 55 was the only double digit not in use when I was a spectator.
How long before you won your first race?
Won a heat race on Memorial Day after only 4 or 5 weeks of competition. It was a long dry spell till the next one.
How long before you won your first feature?
It was at Raceway in my 4th full season.
What was your favorite car(s)?
There were two. The car I had Gene Richards build with a Mustang body that ran well after I put on a Frings front clip on and changed the rear over to 2 point, and the Junk Yard Dog.
What was your favorite track?
I call Raceway my home track but I liked the 2 groove racing at Grundy and I really liked the speed at Illiana as it was challenging to get around it quickly.
What victory stands out after all these years?
That would have to be my first 50 lap win at Raceway. Jerry Kemperman and I swapped the lead several times and I went on to win it.
What victory that "got away" stands out?
There were two. Both were 300 lappers. I had lost my brakes after 200 laps as the car had an awesome push going in. I was trying to pass Gary Mittidero for 30 or so laps and could not get by without taking him out so I let him go. I did not know that he was leading and I was running second and that's the way it ended. The other 300 had a big crash that blocked the track and everyone was pitting so I got a splash of gas and beat everyone out. While we were in the pits, the track went from caution to red. I thought I was leading as I
took the green first but for some reason they scored Koehler as the leader even though he restarted behind me. John McKarns wrote an article on it for one of the racing papers.
How hard was it racing 4 nights a week?
It was rough. The first year I raced I started work at 6:00 am. When I returned after military service I had the night shift so I had a hell of a time getting to work. The cars were not as complicated then so little was done to maintain them.
You had some big crashes at the 300 lapper and at Illiana. What happened?
The big 300 crash!!! Edgar Mounts put a clutch fan on for the 300 and it would not cool in hot laps so he welded a piece of flat stock from the water pump pulley to the fan blade to lock it up. I saw him do it. About 60 laps into the race I was lapping Edgar and the water pump shaft broke at the
flagman and sent the fan through the radiator. I was the first one in and about 12 others followed. Had to put a new rear clip on the car after that one. After fixing the car we went to Illiana for a Sunday show and Stash blew the engine in Jimmy Hardens car. There was a big wreck and had to put a new front clip on after that one. It was a rough couple of weeks.
Have you ever been injured in a race?
Yes, the first time at Raceway. I stopped to avoid a spinning car and Rubino piled into me. The chicken licken bucket seat I had in the car deflected to the rear about 3 inches and a piece of flat stock that was welded to a cross bar for the shoulder harness mount went through the back of the seat and hit my spine. Thought I broke my back but all was ok and the pain went away after 6 weeks or so. At Grundy, somebody blew up going into turn 3 and I went into the wall backwards and Bill McEnery ended up on top of my car. The brake pedal bruised the heck out of my right foot and a piece of rust got in my left eye and had to be removed at the eye doctors. I limped like hell for a week and could not see for a week. Also at Grundy , running 5th after 95 laps of an ARTGO 100 lapper, I lost the engine going into turn one and put it in the wall backwards then slapped her hard with the left side. Suffered a mild concussion and took a week to get my head clear. At Illiana, the left upper A- arm broke and I spun off turn two and somebody hit me head on and I broke
my left foot. It took me a month to restub the car and when it was ready I cut the cast off and went racing. Really should have waited at least one more week.
Why Fords when almost everyone else was running a GM product at the time?
Had to be because I was always a hot rodder and Ford was the car to hot rod. I was running B-gass at the strip with a 56 Ford that had a 427 side oiler in it. So when I decided to go oval racing, I had a great motor. I just stuck with them till 1977 or so and just could not get parts at a reasonable price
so I stuffed my first small block Chevy in my 73 Mustang and called it "Halfbreed."
What did you like most about Raceway Park?
It was close to home. I did not have a trailer when I started and used to flat tow it back and forth. Most of the guys were helpful. Had a lot of fun and a few good runs. All my friends that I still have are from racing and most of them I met at Raceway.
What did you like least about Raceway Park?
I got a lot of flack from the management about running Grundy on Friday night and not supporting Raceway. I guess It started when they cut the purse for the Sunday, Friday and Wednesday shows. It was down to $200 to win with $50 for 5th in the feature. I could not afford to run for that so I would only bring my car out on Sat. night as it paid $300 to win and 9th & 10th paid around $90. I normally drove Jimmy Hardens car except for Saturday nights. Then they started messing with the tires and you had to run the bull crap nylon street tires. That was it for me. I ran Grundy and Illiana after that until Raceway finally went back to a racing tire, then I ran there once in awhile.
Describe your relationship with Pete Jenin;
I have only had a few conversations with Pete and those were all one sided. His side. He is not a racer and thinks that those of us who are are assholes (his words). Raceway was a great track and still could be with the correct promoter. About 10 million people live within an hour and a half drive of the place and no one is in the stands.
Describe your relationship with Bud Koehler;
I think the only reason Koehler even talked to me was because of Bill Koenig who I was friendly with. I got along ok with Bud and even let him drive my car on a few occasions when his broke.
Describe your relationship with Bob Pronger;
Only talked to Bob a few times as he "was above" talking with the "slow guys." I always enjoyed watching him drive and thought he was the best Raceway ever had. He is the only driver I have ever seen that used his car like a weapon.
Who were your best friends in racing?
I got along good with almost everybody. A fellow I met in the stands, Joe Carollo, in the late 60's is still my best buddy along with Richie Halligan. Also Ray Young, Stash Kullman, Jerry Kemperman, Dave Weltmeyer, Wayne Para, Woody Pool, Larry Schuler, Kirk Harden etc., etc.
Who were your toughest competitors?
At Raceway it had to be Jerry Kemperman. Illiana and Grundy it would be Ed Hoffman.
Who was the hardest to pass?
Both of the fellows in the previous response. Kemperman had a bag of tricks and it took me awhile to learn them. I adopted some of them for my own use and it paid dividends. Both of those fellows always ran me clean as I did them. Hoffman and I battled for the win in a 75 lapper at Illiana for 65 or so laps after we cleared traffic and ran side by side and nose to tail and never touched each other. It was a great race and Eddie won it.
Who did you not want to see in the mirror with 1 lap to go?
Bud Koehler. He would just knock the livin' bejesus out of you using you for all his brakes and did not give a damn if he took you or himself out. Ron Bloomberg is a close second choice.
Who was your favorite local driver growing up?
Don Gartless!! I had only gone to Raceway 3 or 4 times growing up and did not attend regular shows till I was 21 years old. Started driving ovals at 22. The year I spent in the stands, I liked Don Oldenberg. He drove my car one night in my first year and finished 6th in the feature! I realized I had a lot to learn. Don helped me with questions and even gave me parts. He was really a great guy and I'm glad I had a chance to meet him.
Who are your favorite local drivers now?
Dave Weltmeyer, Larry Schuler, and John Brolick. All real good guys who run hard and clean. Haven't had a chance to run with Mike White or Pat Kelly or the rest.
Who do you cheer for in NASCAR?
I really do not have a favorite. I always want Musgrave, Martin and Trickle to do well as I ran with them. I ran more with Tom Musgrave than I did with Ted as Ted was just beginning his career. There are a few who I hope never win a race.
Who helped you the most in your career?
Hard question. There are a number of fellows who deserve recognition here. First would have to be Bill Koenig, offering sound advice and reasonably priced parts and construction materials. Don Oldenberg as stated above. And later in my career, George Appleton was a great help. He would call me at my shop to ask what I was doing to the race car and offer advice which was always good.
Any feuds or rivalries over the years?
Gary Mittidero is still pissed at me for trying to take him out in the 300. I went round and round with Bill McEnery for a short time and we shook hands and it was over. I saw him 4 or so years ago and we talked for quite awhile. He's a good guy when you get to know him. Dennis Rubino never liked me but who cares? I tried to get along with everyone. Its just my nature.
Any funny stories from the track to tell?
Well, there was the time I was running down Interstate 80 going to Raceway for the night show after running Grundy in the afternoon. and Lee Schuler passed me up pulling his car to Raceway. In the rear dugout of his trailer was son Larry changing the gear as the old man was making 80 mph or better. Paul Bauer was fun and games and turned the infield water hose on everyone while we waited for the ambulance to return one night. Louie Panico piled up and ate his cigar he always chewed on. Leo Mens was driving Rich Halligans car and ate the third turn wall. The ambulance came out but Leo seemed unhurt, that is until he saw Richie come running out of the pit gate, Leo jumped into the ambulance and told them to take him away. Pete Jenin had a body guard at one time and after a ruckus in the pits, Jenin tried to break
it up and ended up punching his own body guard! A guy in the pits (who shall remain nameless) set off a smoke bomb in the pit washroom and police and fire department showed up. Just good clean fun. Kyle Harvey was bringing Colyers car out to Illiana on a trailer and never tied it down. The car left the trailer on Route 30 and tore the hell out of the front end. I helped him get it back together before Dan showed up. Speaking of trailers, I was putting Jimmy Hardens car on the trailer at Illiana and barley touched the fender with the right front tire and the whole steering arm fell off the right front. Just a few minutes before I was at well over 100 mph in that car. Talk about luck!
