THE REVIVAL TIMES

There’s something magnetic about watching vintage race footage — especially when it takes you back to a time when grassroots motorsport was still finding its feet and every event carried a sense of discovery. The 1960 Lake Garnett Grand Prix is one of those moments captured on film that speaks to the heart of early American road racing. This original video brings you into an era where enthusiasm powered the sport as much as the cars themselves, and where the community gathered beside a lakeside course to witness speed and skill in motion. A Glimpse Into 1960 Road Racing By...

Exciting news as we gear up for the 2024 Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. We’ve made some changes to the event segments for this year, which many of you have been requesting for the past several years and that will provide more options for track time. If you are planning on participating, we highly recommend that you read through all of this carefully. First and foremost, all event segments are a-la-carte and all of the track groups will have sessions on BOTH Saturday and Sunday. You can participate in as many or as few as you like, on one or...

Here is some of the crew recruiting at the All Speed Expo for 2020. We had a great turn out and met lots of great folks while getting to talk about this years event for Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. We are holding the event October 9th, 10th and 11th which is the second weekend in October. The second weekend is always our goal unless, mother nature tells us otherwise. Look forward to seeing you on the track. Enjoy a few pics

It’s time for our annual volunteer drive.  Here are some specific positions we are looking to fill for 2021 but if you have some other way you can help, just let me know.

Toly Arutunoff raced at Lake Garnett in 1959 with a ’57 Porsche Carrera Speedster GS listed at 100 HP.  I had a fun interview with Toly.  He said his Speedster was fun, nimble and had good brakes.  Toly remembered staying at someone’s house in Garnett.  He remembered the course as having a narrow bridge, a dip but no chicane back then.  Toly said people took the train from Tulsa to come to Lake Garnett.  Toly remembered KC’s Tom Newcomer as a friend, Bob Aylward from Wichita who was later murdered, KC’s Harvey “Woody” Woodward who put his car into the...

The LGGPR was delayed until November which brought snow and 14F weather! A few of the HVR drivers came from TX, OK, KS, and MO to overcome the cold and enjoy some great camp fire time and fun driving on the track! HVR truly appreciates being able to participate in this one of a kind event! See you in 2019!

September 13, 2020 by Sports Car Digest It has been more than six decades since the first race cars roared around Lake Garnett Grand Prix in Kansas, showing the true definition of power and speed. On October 9-11, 2020, a group of dedicated individuals is once again injecting the lifeblood back into racing at Lake Garnett Raceway by hosting the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. During the seventh-annual Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival (LGGPR), countless families and car enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness vintage race cars, classic sports cars, and modern performance automobiles descend on the North Park...

I want to thank Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival Board members for helping with this effort. They put on a fantastic event every year and they are also helping to bring that same spirit to kids who don’t have the chance to zoom around. About Geeks for Kids Geeks for Kids builds custom electric cars and other assistive devices for kids with movement limitations; we empower kids to explore their world independently – often for the first time in their lives. With this freedom, they are no longer sitting on life’s sidelines, passive observers from strollers and wheelchairs.  Last year,...

by Jason Pendleton View Original Document Freedom, freedom, freedom” chanted the swelling crowd of young people that had converged on the courthouse square to voice its anger over the arrests of its peers by local police. Late into the night of July 6, 1963, the local police and sheriff’s authorities stood face to face with an angry mob of more than two thousand. Acutely aware that the situation was moving beyond their ability to control, the local authorities sought assistance from the state police and the governor. Highway patrolman and other law enforcement authorities from as far away as the state capital raced...

Mustang is the featured marque at this year’s event, and organizers of the LGGPR are putting out a call to owners of all years of Boss 302, Boss 351, and Boss 429 Mustangs – in street trim or race versions. Participants and Mustang enthusiasts will be treated to special displays and track groups dedicated to the “World’s Most Popular Ponycar”. Scott Ward, LGGPR President said, “The Mustang crowd has consistently been one of the largest supporting groups at the Revival, and we felt it was fitting to give them the honor of being the featured marque this year, especially since...

Editor’s Note: This story was written and submitted by sports car enthusiast Stephen J. England, who recently discovered the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival through social media. After reconnecting with the legacy of Lake Garnett, he graciously reached out to share the memories of his family’s racing experiences at the historic raceway, and how he is looking forward to returning. We’re proud to feature his contribution as part of preserving and celebrating the history that continues to bring people back to Garnett. We welcome anyone who would like to share their stories of the either the original races or the...

Vintage racing films have a way of pulling you back in time — not just to a place, but to a feeling. The 1963 Lake Garnett Grand Prix stands out as a moment when community spirit and pure motorsport passion met on the winding lakeside roads of Garnett, Kansas. This original footage isn’t just a video; it’s a living piece of history. It shows drivers in their element, cars in motion, and a crowd gathered to celebrate speed and skill in an era when road racing was deeply rooted in camaraderie and enthusiasm. A Classic Moment in Racing History By...

Contributed by Brooks Laudin from the Cobra Experience They say a picture is worth a 1000 words. Some pictures are worth more than that, including this one (good for 2400 words) which was brought to our attention by a recent visitor to The Cobra Experience. Dan Haugh is from Kansas, was at this race as a 10-year old, and came out of his seat when this image from the 1963 race at Lake Garnett crossed the screen during our in-house movie at the museum. Like others before him, he suggested there was more to the story behind a simple image,...

Dick Knudson called the MG “The Sports Car America Loved First” in his 1975 book. The TC was quite the sports car in its day and it still is for me today. Running it each year at the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival (www.LGGPR.org) each year in the Historic Class (older and slower cars) is a thrill for me. Last year my mechanic (wife Pam) said we hit 67 on the back straight away. OK, it has an old erratic speedometer, we were going downhill somewhat and there was a little tail wind, but I am still claiming a death...

The 2025 Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival Spirit of the Event Award recognizes an outstanding group of individuals and organizations whose dedication helps make the event possible each year. Congratulations to Paul Yeager, Scott Ward, Willie Helms, Rick Feuerborn, TT&T Towing (Mike Topp), the City of Garnett (Kris Hixx), Garnett Fire Department, St. Luke’s Anderson County Ambulance, Jon Mensie, and Rick VanTuyl. This award honors those who give their time, expertise, and support to ensure the revival runs smoothly and safely. From logistics and safety to behind-the-scenes coordination, their efforts reflect the strong community partnership that defines the Lake Garnett...

The original Lake Garnett Grand Prix was a SCCA sanctioned race from 1959 to 1972.  It is an historic 2.8 mile road course around a fishing lake in the small town of Garnett, KS which was about an hour south of Kansas City.  Many sports car greats raced at Lake Garnett: Dave McDonald, Ken Miles,Don Yenko, Jack Hinkle, Jim Hall, Bob Johnson, Bob Aylward, Toly Arutunoff and KC legends Bob Hindson, Tom Newcomer, Grace Harris, Joe Egle and Woody Woodward among others.  Carroll Shelby brought his factory race team with Cobras 97, 98 and 99 to take on the new...

This documentary explores the early “street years” at Watkins Glen, when racing took place on public roads before the construction of the permanent circuit. Much like Lake Garnett, the original Watkins Glen races were run through everyday roadways, transforming quiet communities into high-speed motorsport venues. During the 1960s, Watkins Glen and Lake Garnett even competed for the opportunity to host National Championship SCCA events. Both shared similar beginnings — grassroots organization, passionate volunteers, and drivers eager to test their skills on challenging road courses. This film offers a compelling look at a legendary circuit whose early history closely mirrors that...

This newspaper article, written by Dane Hicks and published in The Anderson County Review, highlights the return of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix through the modern-day revival event. The piece captures the excitement surrounding the renewed celebration of Garnett’s racing heritage, connecting today’s community with the historic road races that once drew national attention. Coverage like this reflects the continued local pride and growing interest in honoring the legacy of the original Grand Prix. We appreciate the thoughtful reporting and support in helping share the story of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival.

This scanned program from the original 1959 Lake Garnett Grand Prix offers a detailed look at the event as it was presented to spectators more than six decades ago. Spanning approximately 28 pages, the program provides insight into the race schedule, participating drivers, sponsors, and the atmosphere surrounding one of the early years of the Grand Prix. It captures not only the competition itself, but the community support and organization that made the event possible. We are grateful to Susan Wettstein for preserving and sharing this remarkable piece of Lake Garnett Grand Prix history.

Will Toly come back to Lake Garnett for the 60th Anniversary? YES! Toly hopes to return to Lake Garnett and drive his 2002 Qvale Mangusta. Kjell Qvale (pronounced “Shell Kervahley”) was a Norwegian who came to the states and started selling MG TCs in 1947. He later sold Jaguars, Porsches, Rolls Royces, De Tomasos, Maseratis and Lamborginis among other cars. Qvale was responsible for the Jensen Healey, the Pebble Beach Concours and the Corkscrew design at Laguna Seca. When I asked Toly about his favorite race courses he mentioned Targa Florio and Elkhart Lake. Toly also had a major influence...