Pace: Motorsports icon Don Wilbur dies at 76
Inland Northwest motorsports icon Don Wilbur, instrumental in the building of the go-kart facility for the Spokane Kart Racing Association, champion NHRA car owner, organizer of car shows for nearly 50 years and so much more in the racing industry, died on Saturday at the age of 76.
Spokane County’s multi-use racing complex made up of a half-mile oval, two-mile road course and quarter-mile drag strip, which got its start in life as Spokane Raceway Park, was another of Wilbur’s many accomplishments.
Orville Moe and Wilbur were keen to build the facility in the 1970s and succeeded in getting the project completed. Wilbur and Moe were also influential in organizing decades of the famed Spokane Auto Boat Speed Show held at the Fairgrounds. Known as one of the most popular shows in the Northwest, Wilbur put countless hours of hard work and dedication into the event along with shows in Western Canada and across the Northwest.
As a drag team owner, Wilbur and his driver Vern Massie were one of the top organizations in the early days of drag racing. The duo struck up a friendship in 1960 that led to the creation of The Destroyer, a combination of Massie’s chassis and Wilbur’s engine. During their time together, Massie with Wilbur’s guidance earned their team an NHRA divisional championship and eight national records.
Under Wilbur’s ownership, a dedicated group of crew members looking for its speed fix were still racing as recently as the late 2000s. Putting together a front-engine dragster, Wilbur and the group of volunteers guided Ron Prior at races in Spokane and across the region competing in Nostalgia and NHRA Top Eliminator classes.
NASCAR was also a passion of Wilbur’s as he entered cars in what is now the K&N Pro Series. In 1974 when the series ran for the first time at what is now known as Stateline Speedway, Wilbur fielded a Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Norm Ellefson to compete against the likes of Jack McCoy, Jimmy Insolo (who won the 1974 race) and Ray Elder.
In addition to stock cars and dragsters, Wilbur worked in hydroplanes and also fielded Sprint Car, Super Modified and kart teams. The Davenport native was even part of an Indy Car operation for a time.
Many of the region’s motorsports greats were part of Wilbur’s inner circle including Jim Tipke, the Sneva family (including Jerry Sneva who drove for Wilbur’s NASCAR team), Earl Wham, Fred Rogers, Gordie Whipple, Jim Hordemann and Dick Flynn.
Car clubs were also a big interest for Wilbur. He was a member of the Washington Hot Rod Hall of Fame.
As far back as the mid 1950s Wilbur was part of organizing clubs in the region, popular for their dedication to unique looks and speed in the behemoths and roadsters of the time.
Wilbur stayed active in streetcars throughout his life including having his 1932 Ford sedan featured in a 2010 article that appeared in Hot Rod magazine. Several of the West Coast’s finest automobile craftsman helped Wilbur build the Ford for touring and show purposes. At the time Wilbur and his wife Nancy’s goal was to enjoy the vehicle with their grandchildren, he told Hot Rod’s Chris Shelton.
His wife Nancy, a son and two stepdaughters survive Wilbur. A memorial service to honor the legendary Wilbur will be announced at a later date.
Kart finales on tap
Spokane’s two karting facilities, Sunset Speedway and Spokane Kart Racing Association’s road course, host their respective season finales this weekend.
Sunset’s Larry Wheeler has built a solid lead in the Adult Clone class en route to the 2016 championship, but there are several positions behind him that will be up for grabs on Saturday night. With 31 points separating Bryan Morris and Griffin Lenon, second and third place in the standings will be decided this weekend.
Diane Perry and Nick Moore round out the top five drivers in the class.
Junior drivers Calvin Griswold (Jr. I) and Mason Morris (Jr. II) locked up their season championships at Sunset’s September 10 event.
SKRA’s finale on Sunday features the Junior 2 class as the facilities tightest points battle with Thomas Huttle holding a 14-point advantage on Jimmy Laswell. Also, Junior 1 points leader Riley Miller will have his hands full as he tries to protect a 25-point lead over hard-charging Carson Blakesley.
Burt Gassaway is on pace to lock up championships in the World Formula and Sr. Tag divisions heading into the weekend. Tim Draggoo will also be looking to have a strong day in the two classes as he sits in second place for the Sr. Tag division, just 18 points in front of Lawrence Marquette. Draggoo is chasing World Formula second-place driver, Will Krasselt, who has a 10-point lead heading into Sunday’s finale.