The Daufeldt Brothers
By Ken Paulsen
You can always read stories about the stars of dirt track racing's history. This article is dedicated to the rest of the field that participated on bullrings throughout the Midwest.
The Daufeldt brothers, Ed and Bud, from Tipton, Iowa fall into that category. They started into racing shortly after getting out of the service in the late '50s. Ed went into farming. Bud became an expert mechanic. This was a time when you did not need a major sponsor or have to buy your way into racing. Find an old coupe on its last set of wheels, work on the motor, install a roll cage and go racing. The Daufeldt's did that with a 1936 Ford.
Their first night out was less than spectacular. In fact to hear Ed relay the story, " we were all over that track". Out of self-preservation, the stars of the day offered advice on how to set up the car so that it would stay on the track most of the race. Over the next several weeks, they were able to get the car's handling adjusted to where they could keep it in one groove while the leaders were making their pass but rarely would you find them leading the pack. Such is the life of most weekend warriors: money to pay part of the expenses but don't give up your day job. Racing was fun back then. You did not go broke trying to get ready for the next race.
The boys ran a few more years going through a succession of coupes and sedans but as the '50s passed on to the '60s the old car bodies gave way to mid fifties Chevrolets with overhead valve engines. The cost to race was going up and the fun was going down.
Ed and Bud left racing when the coupe era died out. As with all of us who appreciate the early days of this sport called stock car racing, the desire to see coupes racing side by side, broadsliding through the turns, never left their hearts. In the early 1980's you began seeing a few coupes appear at vintage midget and sprinter events. Not enough cars to stage an event nevertheless it was a start. Ed and Bud jumped back in with a passion. When I first visited Ed's farm in the mid '80s, he already had a 1930 modified Model A, a 1930 Plymouth and a 1937 Ford slantback in racing attire. He also found a late 1960s sprinter that he readily admits is his favorite to race. Bud had built a pair of 1937 Fords: the original looking coupe with flathead and a lowered slantback with later version 6 cylinder.
Since 1985, Ed and Bud have probably built or helped build well over two dozen stock cars. Most frames are already junk when they locate a body so they also look for an early 1950's truck frame as the starting point. Fortunately there are still plenty around if you know where to look. Ed starts by getting the chassis so that the tires are in position and motor in place. Using whatever scrap tubing is available, he builds a roll cage so that the body is lowered over the frame. His roll cages do hold up. While running the feature event for vintage cars in Des Moines, Iowa one Friday night, he got caught up in slower traffic and tested out the back straightaway guard rail with the '37 Ford. The body was beyond repair; however, in a few short weeks he had refitted the car with 1940 Ford sedan sheet metal.
The fun in racing has returned for the Daufeldts. Ed's current stable includes a 1934 Ford Sedan, 1934 Hudson coupe and a 1936 Chevrolet coupe and the sprinter. Bud still has his 1937 Ford sedan. And, oh yes, this time around look for them near the front of the pack when the checkered flag falls.
DAUFELDT BROS PHOTOS
Ken Paulsen is a native Iowan who now resides in South Carolina. He's a very dedicated, lover of the old coupe days and vintage racing. JIMMIES Old Time Racing Photos welcomes Ken to our web pages. Maybe we can get Ken to contribute more stories in the future. You may contact Ken atKen Paulsen.