The Don Oldenberg Story

by Wayne Adams (published in Raceway Park program, 1959)

Successful stock car racing demands a special skill. Some come by this skill naturally; others acquire it after many weeks,—months or perhaps several years practice; while still others never achieve perfection but pursue the sport as a hobby or for recreational diversion.

Around Chicago’s Raceway Park, most fans are quick to classify Don Oldenberg as a ‘natural’ behind the wheel of a stock car.  He has been a consistent performer on the local quarter miles since late in the 1950 season when he made a sudden, over-nite decision to become a driver instead of a car-owner. His fame was almost immediate and he rose from obscurity to a National Title in five short years—becoming the United States first Convertible National Champion in 1955. He still ranks as one of the leading drivers in the nation and has run with practically every big organization in the business.

Oldenberg saw his first race at Raceway Park in October 1948 when stocks made their first appearance at this oval and tho just a casual grandstand observer, he started entertaining thoughts of involving himself in this new, attractive sport. The next season (1949), he appeared in the pit area as a car owner with Red Duvall of Hammond, Ind. as his driver.

It was right after mid-season, 1950, that Oldenberg decided to drive in competition and he was more amazed than anyone at the results. He qualified fast enough to make the feature line-up on his first attempt; his third appearance on the track resulted in a timed run fast enough to place him among the fastest 12 qualifiers; and just a few short weeks later, he drove his speedy 1949 Mercury to a feature win in competition against two dozen of the most experienced veteran pilots in the Midwest (Sept. 24, 1950).

He came back in 1951 with three Mercurys and the driving chores were handled by Bob Parrish, Bill Hause and Oldenberg. Tho he failed to win a feature all season, his hard consistent driving placed him among the point leaders of the Championship Stock Car Club at the end of the year. He soon discovered that maintaining three cars presented unusual problems and in 1952, he cut his racing stable to two Mercurys and Don Schultz of Hammond joined Oldenberg’s Racing Team.

His 1950 Mercury carried him to eight features in ’52 and he finished 3rd in points behind Champion Bud Koehler and runner-up Bob Pronger. Locally, this was his greatest season and he missed 2nd place by only 102 points. One of his wins was a terrific dead-heat affair with the rough running Pat Kirkwood of Fort Worth, Texas in an all late-model, show room car event Aug. 13th, in a torrid battle that no local fan can ever forget. He also won features at many other midwestern ovals with the SAFE Circuit of Champions All-Stars and this was the start of his rise to national fame.

From 1953 thru the early part of 1957, Oldenberg traveled all over the country and devoted his skill and talents primarily to driving late model events at the major ovals, including the mile and half mile tracks. During slack periods in the schedule he always came back to his Raceway Park ‘home oval’ to demonstrate his ability.

He entered the world famous Daytona Beach, Florida Speed-Week Classic in 1951 and 1952, driving a 1951 Packard. He drove a 1953 Lincoln at Daytona in ’53 and in 1954,—a new Mercury. A bent tie rod forced him out in 1951—his first attempt at the beach course but he lasted long enough to receive credit for 28th place in a field of nearly 60 starters. In 1952, he was running 7th when a bent tie rod again forced him to the sidelines. His Lincoln held together in 1953 and he finished 15th but in 1954 he again had mechanical troubles. He ran the early season NASCAR dates in 1953 and returned to Raceway ranking 4th in NASCAR standings. He won two features at Raceway in 1954.

Joining the SAFE National Convertible Circuit in 1955, Oldenberg earned his National Title driving a 1955 Buick Century ‘rag-top’. He scored numerous wins at tracks scattered all over the eastern half of the country—quarter miles, half miles and mile ovals. This title naturally gave him his greatest thrill in racing so far and Don Oldenberg added his name to the long list of Chicago-area drivers who have elevated themselves to the top in auto racing.

He drove a factory sponsored 1956 Dodge in NASCAR’s Convertible loop the following year then switched to his own Buick and finished the season 5th in points—the 1st place driver among the independents and directly behind four other factory backed drivers. He started the 1957 NASCAR season in a factory owned Plymouth ‘rag-top’ then when the manufacturers bowed out of racing, he purchased the car and came home to run Raceway Park. He won 4 features here last year and also drove under MARC and IMCA sanction at big events.

Oldenberg has escaped from two sensational accidents—both while driving a convertible and both in 250 mile races. He dumped his Dodge rag-top three or four times on the Langhorne, Pa. mile track in 1956; then he demolished his 1957 Buick convertible late last season at Cedar Rapids, Iowa when he went end over end twice and sideways three more flips.

Don was born in Marshfield, Wis., Dec. 18, 1922 and moved to Hammond, Indiana around 1936. He has been married 17 years and his attractive wife, Mary, attends almost every race in which he drives. She is an excited and avid fan—thoroughly enjoys racing and never fears for her husband’s safety because of her great confidence in his driving ability. They have two children—a girl, Patricia Ann, age 15 and a boy, Michael, age 10. They now reside in Highland, Ind.—between Hammond and Chicago. He is now a partner with one of his ex-drivers, Bill Hause at Bill’s Auto Sales and Body Shop, 2319 Cline St. in Gary, Indiana.

During World War II, Don served three years in the Army in the South Pacific. During his high school days in Hammond, he played baseball and softball but never became serious about any sport until racing entered his career. He prefers hard-surfaced ovals for racing but judging from past performances, he can drive any surface and any size track with equal ease. He is not a big fellow—only measures 5’ 6” and tips the scales at 145 but he can drive with the biggest and best.

Oldenberg had an exceptionally good season at Raceway Park in 1958. He won eight feature races driving his 1955 Buick hardtop and finished fourth in point standings behind Bill Van Allen, Bud Koehler and Bob Williams. Nine times during the year he set fastest qualifying time and he credits his ace mechanic, Doug Lonkar for the unusual performance of his cars. Don has never won a Championship at Raceway Park and he has set his sights on this goal for 1959—he will have a fresh late model car in competition and with his past experience, — he has the ability to go all the way to the track title.

(Thanks to Todd Miller for his editorial help with this story.)