Louie Mansfield and the classic Crosly.

Red Farnsworth in Russ Wright's coupe.

Roy Dean Liebig, with his dad Daryl on the right.

Roy Dean Liebig  
Anyone familiar with the Rapid City, SD, racing scene, will easily recognize the Liebig name.  This dynasty began with father, Daryl, also know as "Popcorn", and sons Billy, Sam, Don and Roy Dean.

Roy Dean was still a teen for his 1961 start.  During the So. 79 seasons, he favored a big Ford Sedan, dressed in bright orange paint with the familiar "55" across the doors.

He steadily finished in the top 5 in points during those years.  When racing resumed on the big half mile, Roy Dean raced off and on, until coming back full bore in a sprinter for the 1973 season.

The return would be short lived. A year later, during a BCRA show, Roy Dean’s machine made hard contact with the front stretch wall during hot laps. A severely broken vertebra ended his career, and he eventually retired to Phoenix until his death a few years ago.

Today, South 79 Speedway has returned to pasture land, adjacent to a popular gun-shooting range.  It's hard to see the track from ground level, as you can only make out its outline from one of the nearby hills.

- J.R. Hughes.

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