Dave Dodder No. 97

   Dave was from Letts, Iowa, my hometown of 400 people about 10 miles from Columbus Junction, Iowa.   He was a neighbor! A really nice guy! We used to cheer him on Go Dave Go!

Below is a photo of Dave's son, Jon, isn't that a neat photo! Thanks Jon!

Jon Dodder shared this on facebook. From HRN 1967

Below John Lafrenz shared on facebook this car on hauler at Davenport

Thanks to Dave's son Jon Dodder we have these photos of Dave and a few of his stock cars over the years to share!

Thanks Jon!

Above is Dave, his wife and little Jon.  A good night for Dave with a trophy!

Jon said this photo was dated 1967.

Jon says, " I'm guessing the photo of just me and my dad is about 1969.

  So many memories, it hard to pick a few.   I remember the first time Dad took me into the pits, I was only 14. What a thrill to be around all of the cars and drivers.  So much fun to be part of his crew, adjusting tire pressure, changing gears and tires.  I could go on for hours."

Dave and his son Jon in 1966.  In Letts, Iowa. Jack Jones's house is in the background.  Jack was also an MVSC driver for a while.

Jon Dodder tells us about this photo above he posted on facebook, "Dave Dodder. Mid to late 60's. My dad is in the Hawkeye shirt, Uncle Joe Dodder is looking into the car and my mom is the background to right of Joe.

I know there was an instance where he rolled a car and it landed on it's roof. Then when he unbuckled, being upside down, he naturally fell and hit his head on roof. May be where occasionally used nickname "Dingy" came from. Not sure if this is that wreck or not, the roof doesn't look too bad!"

Jon shared this photo below on facebook.  It was 1967 at Columbus Junction track.

The car above was a  64-65 Chevelle with a 427 ci under the hood.  Lyle Thomas identified it on facebook.  He said, "first owned by Harlan Jackson. Talking to my Dadm(Gary Thomas). He thinks Dave Dodder,Jerry Rhinehart maybe a few races and then Tom Hearst." 

Jon Dodder said yes his Dad drove for Harlan Jackson for one year..

Thanks to Jon Dodder for posting this photo of his Dad, Dave on facebook.  This might be 1972 or 73.  Jon noted thIat his Dad had a bubble helmet windshield.

I asked Jon if he could remember any fellows on Dave's pit crew and if Jon wanted to race.  This is his response, " In the early years, mainly Junior Briggs, but I'm sure there were others(I've got a few good stories involving him I'll share later) Later years, John Hines, Joe Marston, Royal Trader, Gary Axel, and Paul Anderson( Paul built and housed his last car from 1980).  Dad retired after the 1980 season and I think he would've kept racing had it not been for the farm crisis.  I always wanted to race and many would find this strange, but he actually discouraged racing which of course led to a few minor father/son arguments. Thankfully, he sold the chassis to L.B. and Harold O'Brien and most of the parts before I could get my hands on them!

Jon posted Dave's first stock car  here is it-