Jim Gessford began his racing career in 1948 with a track roadster he started building while in high school. His second roadster was state-of-the-art and won many races with several drivers. His cars evolved with the times from roadsters to coupes, supermodifieds and sprints. Gessford owned and maintained cars that raced from Florida to California, and won many races with such names as Chuck Sears, Gordie Shuck, Cliff Sealock, Lloyd Beckman, Dick Sutcliffe, Roger Rager, Don Maxwell and Dean Ward. Gessford considers one of his most memorable race meets a clean sweep at Belleville, Kan., on August 9, 1976, with Lloyd Beckman driving a car he prepared. Gessford was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2000.