 | Dave Johnson (self proclaimed the “happiest man in town”) is co-owner, along with his son Mike, of Dave Johnson Sales at 8535 W. Kellogg. He was born and raised in Wichita, graduating from North High in the Spring of 1953 and began attending Wichita University as an art major and cheerleader that Fall. Dave participated with his mother in the development of the original WuShock, mascot concept, the first costume, and was the first mascot from 1954 to 1955. He began in the car business selling cars for Bob Moore Olds and Grant Davis, getting his own lot at Kellogg and West Street in 1959. In 1966 he became a franchise dealer for Chrysler with Dave Johnson Chrysler Plymouth at 7127 E. Kellogg. He partnered with Rusty Eck in 1984 on the Dollar Rent a Car franchise in Wichita, later expanding to Tulsa and Oklahoma City. He has been married to wife Billie for 55 years. They have 4 sons (David, Rusty, Mike, lost Chris at 35 years of age), 3 daughters-in-law (Sally, Theresa and Toni), 16 grandkids and 3 great grandkids. You can reach Dave (the Gunner) at Dave Johnson Sales on West Kellogg, by phone at (316) 721-0442, or by email at wushock1dj@cox.net. |
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History of auto business in Wichita – series - part 2
Q: I am what you might call a bit of history buff. I am well informed of the “old Wichita” from the mid to late 1800s and turn of the century; but I have little information on early automobile history in Wichita. Can you lend any insight?
A: In continuing our drive through Wichita automotive history, we pick up where we left off last month.
The Early Years 1916-1930
Wichita citizens were very enthusiastic about the automobile and forward thinking in the way they implemented them into the culture. In a Wichita Beacon article dated Saturday, July 1, 1916, the author announced the big Independence Day automobile (I.M.C.A.) races at the West Side Racetrack.
The race attracted the top racers of the time, such as:
Eddie Hearne - veteran speed demon, driving Briscoe No. 8.
George Clark - Dixie champ, driving a Mercedes.
Joe Cleary - driving his big Fiat.
Fred Horey - Canadian champion, driving a Maxwell.
Johnny Mais - driving the “Mais Special” Mercer.
Juddy Kilpatrick - driving Briscoe No.2.
Fred Woodbury - of Chicago, in the famous dirt track car, the Duesenberg.
“Wild Bill” Endicott - driving a “Sweeney Special”.
Louis LeCocq -French racing master, driving the Mercer with which he smashed the world’s one-hour record at Springfield on June 17, 1916.
Johnny Raimey - driving the famous Simplex Zip.
Interestingly, Tim Hurst, manager of the race, race organizers and car enthusiasts fought to include the only woman auto racer in the world at that time, “daredevil” Miss Elfrieda Mais, who her $10,000 “Mais Special”, an auto built just for her, in an exhibition race.
The article took a subtle dig at race associations of the time saying of Miss. Mais, “She now is the licensed “speed queen” of the I.M.C.A. surrounded by more than a hundred “kings”. In the last year, she has hung up some pretty fast records that even the best of the men drivers have failed to lower. Her races, however, are not competitive, only exhibitions being granted her by the clannish auto race association managers.”
Tickets sold at Dockum’s for a dollar for adults and 50 cents for children.
Events such as these fed the spirit of Wichita citizens and sent car sales through the roof. Wichita Ford Dealership, Price Auto that opened in 1916 saw such robust sales that by 1918 had doubled their facility and multiplied their sales five times over.
The growth in the industry was not without some strife, however. Henry Ford was known to rule with an iron fist and had contentious relationships with many of the dealerships. At the time, cars were a risky business because while popular, it was unknown whether or not they would fall out of fashion, or what technology would, after all, win out. Car dealers were innovators, speculators, entrepreneurs and investors risking a great deal in the venture. They were also businessmen who resented being told how to run their business when it was their money being risked. This was so true for Will Price, founder of Price Auto, that he invested in stock of Ford’s greatest competitor, GM, noting that he had enough invested in the Ford Motor Company.
Even with Ford and GM dominating the automobile market, the spirit of Wichita was demonstrated in the city’s only “home grown” automobiles made by John J. Jones and the Jones Motor Car Company, which operated from 1914 to 1920. Production started in 1914 with Jones Six, a seven passenger Touring Car. In 1917 a four passenger Roadster and Sedan was added. Early Jones engines were a Lewis rated at 22 horsepower. A 30 horsepower Continental Red Seal engine from 1917 to 1920 powered the Jones Six.
Even with the competition, the Jones cars did quite well, selling over 1,000 cars in 1918. In 1915, most Jones car sold for $1,150.00. By 1917, prices were $1,475.00 and by 1919, prices were over $2,000.00 for all models. A 1919 Sports Roadster was listed at $2,300.00. Unfortunately, in 1920 the Jones Factory had a large fire destroying half the complex and 14 automobiles. After nearly 4,000 cars the Jones Motor Car Co., whose motto was “the home care for home people” went into receivership.
Meanwhile, prohibition played a part in heating up car sales in Wichita, as bootleggers purchased the cars and had the interiors removed and engines souped up to transport liquor all over the state and evade the law in the process.
Soon however, the Great Depression had the nation in its grips and the Second World War was looming on the horizon. The automobile industry in Wichita continued to change. I’ll be back next month with what happened in Wichita’s automobile history in the 1930s and the onset of World War II.
