Roger Cornell - 1960

2006 IHRS Award Recipient – The late Roger Cornell Driver & Fabricator

Our award is to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the local oval track history. As we looked over who might we recognize for calendar year 2006, the name of the late Roger Cornell stood out like a bright beacon. In talking to Glen Cornell and Roger’s son Lance,  I have gained even more respect for the career of Roger as a driver and as a fabricator. Roger came from a racing family, his father and uncle both raced modified model T’s in the 1930’s and 1940’s. His father and uncle also drove at Wilkins Speedway in the early 50’s.  Rogers driving career actually started with a modified 1940 Ford sedan on the local drag strips.  Roger could make a flathead Ford run, holding the top end mph record of 96 mph. Oval track racing in Jalopy’s started at Meridian on the dirt in the mid 50’s Midway Auto was a big supporter of Rogers driving career in those days and we have some of those folks with us today. The significant qualities that made Roger so successful were 1, he had equinity, 2, he was one of the top fabricators in the Northwest, and 3, and he could drive!  Combining all 3 of those qualities made for numerous victories and class championships on the dirt and on the pavement at Meridian.  In the mid 1960’s Roger built a number of  off-set roadsters of his own design. Names that come to mind that owned theses roadsters were Al Russell, the Renfro brothers Ken and Jerry from Horseshoe Bend, Idaho. Brent Nyberg, Dwayne Dillon. All had success in a Cornell offset. Bob Pike of Spokane is currently restoring one the Cornell offset roadsters.

The crowning moment of Rogers career had to be in 1966, when at the Western States CAMRA race…Roger made history when he drove to a 50 lap feature main event win in a 6 cynlider powered car, beating all the v-8’s and the best super mods on the CAMRA Circuit…….August 12th…..1966… (Show RACING Wheels article) he had a 2nd place a-main finish on Saturday night show, capturing the title for the two day event.

In the early 70’s roger built a 1956 chevy stock car. The owner wasn’t much of a driver so Roger jumped into it taking on the best of the stock cars at that time….side note…..my brother-in law Bob Hansen bought that car and ran the limited stock car class in it, it handled like a dream. Leaving the oval track racing scene in the mid 70’s Roger took his inguiity and produce speed equipment for the local motor cyles racers.

On Dec 6th, 1998 @ the age of 62, Roger passed away from complications of a brain tumor. It is my pleasure to honor the late Roger Cornell with the IHRS Humanitarian Award for calendar year 2006. He joins Dan Crow as our other recipient for 2006. 

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