THE REVIVAL TIMES

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...

There is a unique thrill in watching vintage racing footage — especially when it captures a moment in time that helped shape a community’s passion for motorsport. The 1961 Lake Garnett Grand Prix sits squarely in that place where history, enthusiasm, and pure racing spirit intersect. Just a few years after the original events began, this race showcased drivers and cars at the height of early American sports car competition — raw, spirited, and deeply connected to local fans. This video is more than moving images. It’s a window into a bygone era where the roar of engines echoed across...

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...

This feature article, published in Southeast Kansas Living (Spring 2025), highlights the vibrant racing heritage of Garnett and the continued impact of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. The piece captures both the rich history of the original races and the renewed energy surrounding the modern event. Coverage like this helps share the story of Garnett’s motorsport legacy with readers across the region. To discover more stories from Southeast Kansas, subscribe to Southeast Kansas Living and receive each issue in your mailbox: www.sekliving.com. Submitted by Susan Wettstein.

Toly Arutunoff is an internationally celebrated sports car racer and unique car collector.  He raced a 1957 Porsche Carrera Speedster GS at the original Lake Garnett Grand Prix in 1959, the first year.  Toly raced all over the SCCA races in the U.S and also raced in Europe.  He won the 1981 H-Production SCCA national championship and the President’s Cup. Toly came back to the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary and to run his 2002 Qvale Mangusta in the 80 MPH group.  Toly and Brian Haupt (who raced in 1972, the last year of...

Registration for the sixth annual Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival will open a lot earlier than in previous years. . . and close a lot earlier as well. Organizers of the vintage sports car event have restructured registration in anticipation of a greater number of participant applications for the 2019 Revival as the Ford Mustang is the featured marque. Commemorations will be taking place for not only the 50th Anniversary of the Boss Mustang, but also the 60th Anniversary of the Lake Garnett Raceway. The new registration format and important dates are: Another reason for the change is to keep...

This scanned program from the 1962 Lake Garnett Grand Prix showcases the continued growth of the event during the early 1960s. Inside are race lineups, event information, and advertisements that reflect both the motorsport culture and the strong local support behind the races. We appreciate Susan Wettstein for helping preserve this piece of Lake Garnett Grand Prix history.

By 1964, the Lake Garnett Grand Prix had become a well-established racing event. This official program captures that momentum, detailing the day’s events, competitors, and the local businesses that supported the race. Programs like this preserve the character and energy of the era, offering insight into how the Grand Prix was experienced by spectators at the time. We are grateful to Susan Wettstein for contributing this piece of history.

These stunning aerial views capture Lake Garnett and the historic race course from above, offering a perspective few get to see on race weekend. The sweeping shoreline, winding roads, and scenic setting highlight why this venue has been such a special part of racing history. Taken by Danny DeWald, these images showcase the unique layout of the track and the natural beauty that surrounds it. From above, you can truly appreciate how the course wraps around the lake and why it continues to be such an iconic setting for the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival.

The original Lake Garnett Grand Prix was sanctioned by the SCCA from 1959 to 1972.  It is a 2.8 mile public road course around a fishing lake in a small park in Garnett, KS (population 3,253) which is about 75 miles south of Kansas City.  Lake Garnett has quite a history, but as sports cars became more powerful and faster, the course became too dangerous, so the races were stopped, and it became a Ghost Track. In 2014 C.B. Harris and others revived the Ghost Track, added a car show, an autocross and rides around the course at speed for...

Bob Icenberger raced at Lake Garnett back in the original days. His daughter Valerie connected me with Bob, and we had a fun interview. Bob raced a 1962 Sprite MKII that was coral pink and usually sported the SCCA national number 13. He raced all over: Grain Valley, Texas when Dick Smothers raced there; the airport in Shreveport, LA; War Bonnet in Oklahoma; Hallet when Paul Newman raced there and Bob even visited with Newman; Heartland in Topeka; the Greenwood Raceway in Iowa; an airport at Independence, Kansas; at Des Moines when Art Bunker was racing there with his Porsche;...

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.

Every great event begins with a group of people willing to raise their hands and say, “Let’s make this happen.” This historic photograph captures one of those moments — a meeting of the original organizers of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix during the 1960s. The names of those present are handwritten directly on the photo, a small but powerful detail that reminds us these weren’t just racers and spectators — they were neighbors, volunteers, planners, and visionaries. These were the people who helped turn a bold idea into a community tradition. The People Behind the Race The Lake Garnett Grand...

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 1968 Lake Garnett Grand Prix program reflects a later chapter in the original run of races. Its pages document the competitors, schedule, and community partnerships that kept the event thriving. As the racing world continued to evolve, Lake Garnett remained an important venue for drivers and fans alike. Thank you to Susan Wettstein for preserving and sharing this historic program.

This original 1960 event program offers a detailed snapshot of the Lake Garnett Grand Prix during its early years. Within its pages are race schedules, driver listings, sponsor advertisements, and the structure of the day’s competition. Programs like this help preserve not only the racing action, but the community spirit and organization behind the event. We are grateful to Susan Wettstein for sharing this important piece of Lake Garnett racing history.

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...

Grace Harris was from Kansas City and loved racing airplanes and cars. She was the first FAA licensed balloonist. Grace knew Kansas Citian Mastin Gregory. Grace Harris won the 1959 Ladies Group at Lake Garnett in an English Elva MkII made by Frank Nichols. Elva was a corruption of “elle va” meaning “she goes.” Grace Harris won the Women’s Division of the Midwest Region SCCA in 1958, ’59 and ’60. In 1980 she wrote her book “West to the Sunrise” and has a scholarship in her name for female aviation students. Although this is not her car, it is very...

There is something special about watching racing history come alive on film. In 1958, the quiet roads around Lake Garnett transformed into a high speed circuit filled with sports cars, open exhaust notes, and the unmistakable energy of American road racing’s golden era. Long before modern safety barriers and digital timing systems, drivers relied on raw skill, courage, and mechanical intuition to navigate the winding lakeside course. This original footage captures the Lake Garnett Grand Prix as it happened — not recreated, not retold — but preserved in motion. A Glimpse Into 1958 Road Racing The late 1950s were a...