Konig History

[Jeff Lytle]

This modified midget racer sported a 250cc Koenig racing boat engine from Germany, and was track champion at Indian Trail Speedway in 1970 and NC State paved track modified midget champion in 1972 at Two Flags Raceway. It was originally built by Jan Thomas who campaigned the car with Junior Neal, the class C open go cart national champion in 1969, winning about 90% of the feature races it entered (car number 7).

I bought the remains of the car after a bad accident
(t-boned) at Wayno Speedway in 1971, rebuilt it, and won the paved track championship in 1972 (car 54). Just after that I painted the car yellow, renamed it the Screamin’ Yellow Zonker and that’s how it ended its career on dirt at Rock Rest Speedway. Note: one peculiar feature of the car on pavement was that it got so much bite that it wanted to go on two wheels through the turns on pavement at Two Flags Raceway in Concord.

Bruce Kepley, Monroe, NC