10 replies to this topic

[Michael Ferner]

A question to our genealogy experts: has anyone ever researched the Kinser family tree? And I don't mean the simple relations, like Steve and Randy are the sons of Bob, or Mark is the son of Karl, but how are those different branches exactly related? I think I know that Sheldon and Bob were first-grade cousins, but even there I'm not really sure. What I (believe to) know is this:

 

The original Kinser Brothers were Mickey, Karl (b. June 1, 1938), Larry and Terry. Parents were Kenneth and Lois. Mark is Karl's son.

 

Sheldon Ray was born Dec 9, 1942 to Eathel and Jean, and is the father (or grandfather??) of Sheldon junior. This branch of the family appears to have been involved with Kinser Logging.

 

Bob Kinser was born Aug 21, 1931 to Zelbert and Mary (Watson), and is the father of Steve and Randy. Steve is the father of Kraig.

 

Where does Kelly Kinser fit in? Jerry Kinser? Dallas Kinser?

 

[RStock]

Sheldon Kinser Jr is Sheldon's son, not grandson.

 

http://articles.orla...-sheldon-sprint

 

Kelly Kinser is a son of one of Karl Kinser's brothers, I'm not sure which one. I just know he is Karl's nephew, and Steve's cousin.

 

Never heard of Jerry or Dallas Kinser.

Edited by RStock, 01 October 2013 - 00:20.

[Michael Ferner]

Many thanks, Robby!

 

I wasn't sure of Sheldon junior because of the big difference in age, and a somewhat ambiguous wording in one article I read. Thanks for clarifying.

 

I don't know much about Jerry and Dallas; the former was a car owner for Kelly Kinser, I think ("Kinser Timber"?), and Dallas raced in Central Indiana in the mid eighties, winning the Kokomo Mid-Season championship in 1986.

[RStock]

 

I don't know much about Jerry and Dallas; the former was a car owner for Kelly Kinser, I think ("Kinser Timber"?),

 

Something is not adding up here. Karl Kinser's bio at the National Sprint Car Hall Of Fame site lists his brothers as Mickey, Larry and Terry. Are you sure that should not be Larry or Terry instead of Jerry Kinser?

[Michael Ferner]

No, I'm not sure! But I've come upon the name Jerry quite a few times in research, and my only source for Larry and Terry is that same NSCHoF article, so maybe they got it wrong? On the other hand, Kelly's car owner may not have been his own father, but another member of the clan - viz Steve and Karl!

[RStock]

No, I'm not sure! But I've come upon the name Jerry quite a few times in research, and my only source for Larry and Terry is that same NSCHoF article, so maybe they got it wrong? On the other hand, Kelly's car owner may not have been his own father, but another member of the clan - viz Steve and Karl!

Ha, yeah, the Kinser clan is a large one and often loosely connected. Steve and Karl were actually barely related. If we could find out who owns Kinser Timber, that might help. Have you encountered the name Jerry Kinser in race results, in other words was he a driver?

Edited by RStock, 01 October 2013 - 16:09.

[Michael Ferner]

Not that I know of. Yes, Kinser Timber may be a key, and Kinser Logging. Two companies in the lumber industry can't be an accident!

[RStock]

OK, I found Jerry Kinser as the owner of Kinser Timber Products.

 

http://companies.fin...c-in-Gosport-IN

 

So there is a Jerry Kinser, I'd say a cousin/uncle who sponsored Kelly.

Edited by RStock, 01 October 2013 - 16:56.

[ReWind]

Dallas D. Kinser from Solsberry, Indiana, was born in 1965.

http://www.mylife.com/dallaskinser

He is the son of Linda L. Kinser nèe Kramer (1947-1994) and brother of one Shane L. Kinser from Bloomington resp. Springville, Indiana, who was born in 1972.

http://www.findagrav...r&GRid=75436102 http://www.mylife.com/shane_kinser

No hint at the men’s father, though.

 

In October 1987 the late Shav Glick did some research into the Kinser family.

http://articles.lati...rint-car-racing

Bobby Kinser, 56, who is Steve's father, is still a racer. He holds the track record at Kokomo for sprint cars, drove on the USAC circuit for years and still wins his share of races.

Mark Kinser, 24, is Karl's son and runs the World of Outlaws circuit as Steve's teammate. In 1985 he became the second-youngest winner of a World of Outlaws feature race and this year is sixth in driver points.

Kelly Kinser, 28, is Steve's cousin and races sprint cars on the All-Star circuit around Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Randy Kinser, 27, is Bobby's son and Steve's younger brother. He drives occasionally with the Outlaws and has toured Australia with his brother.

Sheldon Kinser, 44, is another distant cousin. He was the best known until Steve came along. Sheldon won the USAC sprint car championship three times and drove six times in the Indianapolis 500. His best finish was a sixth in 1981, his last year at Indy, but now his career is over. Sheldon has cancer of the throat and is not expected to live the year.

"It seems that Kinser's a popular name around Bloomington," Steve said. "The fact that so many of us are racers makes us seem like one big family."

There is something of a familial atmosphere around the Kinser household. Steve's wife, Dana, is not a racer but her father, Owen Snyder, raced midgets under an assumed name because his boss did not approve of racing. Her stepfather, Jim McQueen, is a USAC sprint car mechanic, and her brother, Owen Jr., is chief mechanic for Rick Galles' Indy car team of Geoff Brabham and Jeff McPherson.

[Michael Ferner]

Thanks, Reinhard, although there's not that much new information. It seems to me, that it is not possible to find a relation going back any wee number of generations. Perhaps some common ancestor stepped from a boat in the 18th century, and moved to Southern Indiana to start a family, from where it all spread. And quite possibly, the Kinsers themselves don't know how they are related!

 

As for Dana Kinser [née Snyder), I intentionally left out the spouses, as the whole sprint car community appears to be connected by marriage, one way or the other!

[arttidesco]

Sorry I can't help with older generations of Kinsers but in case you do not know ( ) Steves son Kraig has a son called Kash born in 2008.