Don “Spyder” Anderson, was born in 1942 in Calhan, Colorado. He bought his first
midget from Hall of Fame member Frank Peterson in 1963 to race in Rocky Mountain
Midget Racing Association events, where he won his first race the next year and finished
6 th in season points. In a career that spanned the next 22 years, he finished in the top
ten in RMMRA points 14 times, and finished second or third in 5 of those seasons.
Colorado has a rich Midget racing history, from the early days at tracks such as
Merchant’s Park to the incredibly competitive era at Lakeside Speedway, where Spyder
raced against full fields of top-notch racing teams on a weekly basis, and dozen or more
top drivers were a threat to win the main event on any given night. He quickly became
a crowd favorite as a superb qualifier who won countless heat races and trophy dashes,
along with 22 main event races at the speedway.
Spyder was a small engine repairman by trade and did all of the engine work in the cars
he owned or drove for others. He was an innovator who always looking for a
competitive advantage, and chose a variety of powerplants for his cars over the years.
He won three main events with his original Ford V8-60, 18 with a SESCO powerplant,
and his last feature win was with an ARIAS Chevy. His racing partners through much of
his career were Joe Hainds and Dick Ludwig, and the team became a force to be
reckoned with in the famous black #41 Hainds and Ludwig SESCO.
Spyder was diagnosed with cancer in 1986, and he won his final feature that season. He
passed away in 1987 at age 45, his untimely passing shortening a career that surely
would have included much more racing success.
Spyder Anderson was an icon of Colorado racing. He was highly respected by racers and
fans alike for his competitive spirit and keen sense of humor. Just watching him squeeze
his 6’4” frame into the narrow confines of a midget was worth the price of admission.
The racing community lost a fierce competitor and a true gentleman far too soon.
It is our honor to recognize Spyder Anderson’s outstanding career with his 2022
induction into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame.
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