Hey John,
Being from OK, I was more oriented toward the Okies and Texans--I flew against (note I didn't say "competed with," no competition to them) Carl Berryman, James Mears, Riley Wooten, Wayne Welch, Norman Barnes, Gerald Sanders, Marlin McGee, etc., etc.
Berryman and Wooten in particular, were a couple of the most gracious fliers I ever met...Carl was about a hundred feet tall, but would hold his hand down at shoulder level when at the top of the circle so as to give you a fighting chance at reaching him, not that he needed his height advantage anyhow. Riley would always say "Boy you young bucks are sure makin' it hard on me", as he shredded your streamer at will. They sure could give a guy a combat lesson!
Not to say the other guys mentioned weren't gentlemen in the circle as well. "Them wuz the days!"
Biggest thing I was ever involved in at KC was a 5000 lap (yes, 3 zeros) Rat Race. Talk about equipment attrition!
--Ray