BELLEVILLE, Kan. — Don McChesney, curator of the Belleville High Banks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum died on November 6.
McChesney was instrumental on starting the High Banks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum in Belleville, Kansas in 1997, he wore many hats at the Museum.
McChesney’s exposure to racing began in the post war years in Belleville, Kan. By the time he bought his race car in 1966, he had pitted for Goodrich 67, Roy Walker Roger Lane and others. Further, he was a correspondent for National Speed Sport News.
He raced with the Blue Valley Racing Ass’n with regular events at Fairbury and Beatrice, Neb. McChesney ran in the top 10 with feature wins both years despite starting a month late each year. He raced his Hudson 6 against V-8 competition in 1968. He was out of racing from 1968-75 for health reasons. McChesney drove a sprint car for Tim and Tom Hiatt in 1975 as they participated in BCRA, IMCA, and the Nebraska Sprint Car.
In 1981, he was one of the founders of the Jayhusker Three Quarter Midget Racing Association. He fielded a car for nine years and served as president of the Jayhusker group for nine years. In 1991, he and his son campaigned a sprint car for six years.
McChesney competed on the High Banks as a racer, and later vintage competitor, along with promoting the Vintage Nationals in Belleville, Kan.
