Jennings Township near Landeck in Van Wert County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Landeck Speedway - The Roadster Era 1949-1956
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 12, 2026
1. Landeck Speedway - The Roadster Era 1949-1956 Marker
The Landeck Speedway began as a dream of Alphonse "Mike" Kill and Joe Kolter. In 1948, Leo Bonifas donated 40 acres of farm ground for a racetrack. Over the late summer and fall, a half mile semi - banked clay oval was carved out at the south end of the Bonifas farm and bleachers erected along the front stretch. Joe Kolter died while working at the track and a working partner, Nelson "Nellie" Grothaus, was added. Nine race cars, called "roadsters", were in the first race in 1949.
Racers included George Place, Amos Place, Gary Bupp, Jim Cooley. Don Jones, Tim Rode, Speedy Rucker, Joe Osenga, Nellie Grothaus. Stoney Kill, Walt Lear, Bud Claypool, Les Dancer, Bobby King. Paul Hooper, Smokey Stover and Orvie Moorman. Cliff Hillan was the announcer. The winter of 1948, the Buckeye Roadsters Association was formed. The roadster era was brief, lasting only four years. By 1953, most roadsters grew into sprint cars and some of the drivers made it to bigger tracks. In 1954-55, the Speedway was pur- chased by Rob Suever and Ike Lause of the Suever Stone Quarry.
Erected 2026.
Topics. This historical marker is listed
this page online
Location. 40° 48.072′ N, 84° 24.739′ W. Marker is near Landeck, Ohio, in Van Wert County. It is in Jennings Township. It is at the intersection of Wren-Landeck Road (County Route 70) and Converse-Roselm Road (County Route 197), on the right when traveling west on Wren-Landeck Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21207 Wren-Landeck Rd, Venedocia OH 45894, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Landeck Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); Anthony Wayne's March Across Van Wert County / Venedocia Village
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 12, 2026
2. Landeck Speedway - The Roadster Era 1949-1956 Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 12, 2026
3. Landeck Speedway - The Roadster Era 1949-1956 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 25 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 17, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
