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t-head · 06-11-2010, 11:21 AM

The photo above, one of my favorites shows B. T. Barber of Iola, Kansas in the Ford that he raced to a third place finish in the feature race at Winfield, Kansas on July 4, 1913 and to second place over-all at Belleville, Kansas on August 28, 1914

Basil T. "B. T." Barber was born on May 27, 1885 at Sunnyside, Tennessee. He was already an experienced racecar driver by the time he moved to Iola, Kansas in 1910, holding the track record at Chattanooga, Tennessee for a number of years.

He worked as Iola's city electrician until he and a partner became the area Ford Motor Company dealers in 1912. A year later, Barber bought out the partner and eventually added Chevrolets, Durants, and even airplanes to the dealership. His other business interests included an Eveready service station franchise.

He was an avid flyer and opened Iola's first airport.

He continued to race cars for a number of years, competing on various well known tracks.

He sold his business interests in Iola in 1929 and spent nine years farming northwest of Iola near Genova, Kansas.

Barber suffered from asthma and was in poor health for several years before he passed away in the Iola hospital on March 30, 1958. He was survived by his wife, one son, and one daughter. B. T. Barber is buried in Highland Cemetery on the north edge Iola, Kansas.

06-11-2010, 11:21 AM	#65
t-head Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: In my machine shop. Posts: 1,047	Re: Model T Racing Thread The photo above, one of my favorites shows B. T. Barber of Iola, Kansas in the Ford that he raced to a third place finish in the feature race at Winfield, Kansas on July 4, 1913 and to second place over-all at Belleville, Kansas on August 28, 1914 Basil T. "B. T." Barber was born on May 27, 1885 at Sunnyside, Tennessee. He was already an experienced racecar driver by the time he moved to Iola, Kansas in 1910, holding the track record at Chattanooga, Tennessee for a number of years. He worked as Iola's city electrician until he and a partner became the area Ford Motor Company dealers in 1912. A year later, Barber bought out the partner and eventually added Chevrolets, Durants, and even airplanes to the dealership. His other business interests included an Eveready service station franchise. He was an avid flyer and opened Iola's first airport. He continued to race cars for a number of years, competing on various well known tracks. He sold his business interests in Iola in 1929 and spent nine years farming northwest of Iola near Genova, Kansas. Barber suffered from asthma and was in poor health for several years before he passed away in the Iola hospital on March 30, 1958. He was survived by his wife, one son, and one daughter. B. T. Barber is buried in Highland Cemetery on the north edge Iola, Kansas. Last edited by t-head; 06-12-2011 at 11:03 AM.