The Ill-Fated 1953 Dodge City 200

• Larry Lawrence

The Dodge City 300 was the biggest race in America during the 1910s. It brought out all the factory teams and was the one race where East Coast and West Coast riders came together to race against one another. The race went away after 1921. In the 1950s the race was renewed, this time as a 200-Mile AMA National Championship.

This photo is from the ill-fated 1953 race. Held on July 5th, race day temperatures reached 105 degrees. Only eight riders of the starting 40 were able to complete the race, the heavy dust whipped up by strong winds, combined with the heat, caused many riders to drop out and many motors to fail. Indian-mounted Bill Tuman took the win.

While running in third at the 140-mile mark, Billy Huber was overcome by heat stroke and crashed heavily. Huber died the following morning.

Front row riders at the start of the race are Chuck Basney (27), Paul Goldsmith (3), Hugh McAfee (89), Eugene Thiessen (4), Roy Dearing (33), Everett Brashear (25), Billy Huber (7), John Gibson (22), Al Gunter (54) and Burt Raush (62). On the second row you can see Claude Dawson (15), Gene Smith (96) and Billy McConnell (65).

Front row riders at the start of the ill-fated 1953 Dodge City 200 are Chuck Basney (27), Paul Goldsmith (3), Hugh McAfee (89), Eugene Thiessen (4), Roy Dearing (33), Everett Brashear (25), Billy Huber (7), John Gibson (22), Al Gunter (54) and Burt Raush (62). On the second row you can see Claude Dawson (15), Gene Smith (96) and Billy McConnell (65).

Front row riders at the start of the ill-fated 1953 Dodge City 200 are Chuck Basney (27), Paul Goldsmith (3), Hugh McAfee (89), Eugene Thiessen (4), Roy Dearing (33), Everett Brashear (25), Billy Huber (7), John Gibson (22), Al Gunter (54) and Burt Raush (62). On the second row you can see Claude Dawson (15), Gene Smith (96) and Billy McConnell (65).

8 thoughts on “The Ill-Fated 1953 Dodge City 200”

  1. Hey Larry,That is a cool photograph. AL WILCOX, national #49 told me the story of this race. He was in it. National #7 Billy Huber was AL’s hero from Trenton,NJ. It was so hot and dusty, that Billy’s mouth filled up with dirt and he crashed into the wall. He died of a heat stroke.

    Last year, Al,91, showed me something he thought was of great value. It was a picture poster of #7 Billy Huber winning Langhorne PA. race. Back in the day, Harley Davidson would make these huge posters of a H-D race winner each week and they would mail them to the dealers for display purposes. Joan and I framed that poster and presented it to Al at our riders meeting last October at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Al hung it on the wall outside of his new bathroom we built for him, in his home of 82 years. Al passed away Feb.3,2011.

    We will have a tribute to “Al Wilcox, 70 years at the races” at Summit Point Raceway this Friday April 1 at noon. Everyone is invited. Race On, Dear Friend.

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  2. Roger

    I’ve heard that same story. I’m guessing if it’s true then poor Billy’s mouth was filled with the dirt when he crashed. The legend makes it sound like it somehow happened before he crashed, but that’s highly doubtful.

    LL

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  3. Back in the 70’s my buddies and I used to ride up to the Reading Fairgrounds every summer to see the Billy Huber Memorial 1/2 mile race. Great memories. Thats the first time I heard the story about the crash. Thanks for the story and the great picture.

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  7. I was at that fatel race and Billy Huber blacked out and hit a barbed wire fence on the outside of the track. It was a very hot and windy day and the spectators were also having huge problems and there was very little drinking water. Sad day for HD fans.

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  8. Billy Huber was a relative of mine. I am from Lebanon pa, my great grandfather was William Huber, we lived on S 10th St in Lebanon. I’m in my mid 70’s and vaguely remember seeing Billy ride.. I rode motorcycle myself in 60s into the mid 70’s. I only rode on the street.. It was a sad end for a GREAT flat tracker. A side note for James Huber, met a man once who had some things of Billy’s. I never got to his shop it is called Sensenig Vintage Motorcycle Racing located in Ephrata, Pa. I don’t know if the shop still exists. John Huber Richard Jr.

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