Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DUBUQUE SPORTS BOWL
DUBUQUE SPORTS BOWL. The earliest sanctioned stock car racing in Dubuque was done on the north side of CITY ISLAND. The Dubuque Sports Bowl according to Pat "Blackie" Lyons of Cascade was "just a little round circle." He remembered needing to drive through "horse weeds and past the dump to get to the track." (1) The actual announcement that Dubuque would have a midget auto and stock car racing track was made in August, 1949 by Leo A. STEFFEN, publicity director of the newly organized Dubuque Sports Bowl Corporation. The announcement was received with the unanimous approval of the Dubuque Dock Commission and the City Council since the development of the site was part of the city's master plan. (2)
The Sports Bowl Corporation was organized with an authorized capital stock of $50,000. Officers of the corporation included Charles L. "Chuck" EGELHOF, president; William V. TOEPEL, secretary-treasurer; and Leo Steffen. Racers could be barred from competing and attending meetings if they violated any rules of a racing season. (3) Work on the track began in August, 1949 to construct a one-fifth mile race track and a parking lot. The opening date was set for September 11, 1949 with an alternative date of September 18, 1949. Steffens reported that midget auto races had not been held in Dubuque for ten years. (4)
In 1950, Lubbers was the first man in the history of the Dubuque Sports Bowl to win the feature race more than one time in one season. (5) Races were sponsored by the Dubuque Stock Car Racing Association and were open to members only. New members were voted on at the Technical Committee meeting held every Monday evening at 8:00 p.m. at the Packard Garage in Dubuque. Any new cars entered had to be 1937 or later model cars. (6)
A popular Dubuque area sport, stock car racing suffered after the announced closing of the Dubuque Sports Bowl in 1969. The season that year opened in May with thirty-two cars entered for the first program. Gary Trieweiler, high point man, was to be driving a Hudson coupe with a modified Chrysler engine. Other entries included late model Fords and Chevrolets with at least one '66 Mustang convertible. The game Total, an audience participation game in which fans could share in the prize money by picking the first five cars in the feature race, was to be played. (7)
On March 11, 1969 after years of racing stock cars on City Island, John Heiderscheit, owner of the Sports Bowl, announced to the Dubuque Dock Commission that the track would not reopen. The reasons for the closing were heavy financial losses in past seasons and anticipated high water. In 1965, for example, the opening of the season had to be postponed due to flooding. While there was no structural damage to the bleachers or grounds, cleaning and repainting took additional time. (8) Heiderscheit dismantled and sold the grandstands and the track was roughened up by the Dock Department crews to keep amateur racers away. (9)
See: STOCK CAR RACING
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Source:
1. Reber, Craig, "Jewel on the River," Telegraph Herald, February 14, 2010, p. 1
2. "Dubuque Gets Midget Track," Telegraph-Herald, August 21, 1949, p. 19
3. Advertisement. Telegraph-Herald, July 21, 1964, p. 7
4. "Dubuque Gets Midget Track..."
5. "Lubbers Set Stock Mark," Telegraph-Herald, September 3, 1950, p. 15
6. Advertisement. Telegraph-Herald, September 14, 1950, p. 7
7. "Stock Races Race Saturday," Telegraph-Herald, May 17, 1968, p. 18
8. "Dubuque Sports Bowl Races Open Saturday," Telegraph-Herald, May 23, 1965, p. 27
9. "Water Skiers Move In As Sports Bowl Folds," Telegraph-Herald, March 12, 1969, p. 27