[Dwight Clock]

I have a question for some of the older guys on the board. Back east we had a driver by the name of Ed Flemke who became a legend on the paved tracks in the modifieds. I recently found out from reading a book on him that he had competed for a time on Southern Indiana dirt tracks while stationed at Fort Knox. This would have been around 1955 - 57. Does anyone here remember him from that time?

[Bobv]

Dwight I found this info in a 1973 Stock Car Mag. article which may put in question the Indiana connection. I was a big Richie Evans fan and so am familiar with Eddie from his close association with Richie.

It was also in 1952 that the U. S. Government tried to take Flemke away from racing. But nothing could keep Ed Flemke from racing. Not even the U. S. Army. He was drafted in 1952. But, he still managed to win that championship. Flemke admits that he was AWOL most of the time. In 1953 he was shipped to camp in Jackson, South Carolina. At the time Flemke raced at tracks in the immediate area. Later he was sent to Ft. Devins, N.J. He was AWOL when he broke a leg racing at Candlelight Stadium in Bridgeport.

When he returned from the hospital the Army locked him up. But, there was an of ficer who went to the races and knew the name Flemke. So, Flemke was given an other chance.

He was then sent to Ft. Dix, where he completed his basic training and went through automotive school.

Flemke made Riverside Park his home in the mid-fifties. He and Buddy Krebs won the Riverside 500 (a team race) in 1954. Flemke was on leave when he won the race. He came to the "Park that night, and luckily found that there was no driver for one of the cars in the Krebs team. The cars were already teamed, even though a driver had not been secured for the race.

In 1956 Ed was in close contention for the championship with Benny Germano. The point battle was so close that it went right up to the last race. In the last race, Flemke beat Germano across the line and won the championship. But, Flemke wasn't too happy about winning when he later learned that Germano was to retire. He would have liked to see the retiring ace re tire with a championship. To this day, Flemke wishes that he had only known. During the years 1955-58, Flemke drove the Garuti Bros. #28 from Ray's garage in Kensington, Ct. Ed and Richie Garuti had been friends since they were teenagers. At the time, only Moe Gherzi was driving for the "G-boys." Flemke needed a car for the 1955 season, so the Garuti Bros. built him one in a week. In 1956 Flemke and Moe Gherzi drove the Garuti Bros. team cars, the #14 and the #28, to victory in the Riverside 500. In 1957 Flemke was track champion again, driving the famous red and white #28.

In 1959 Ed left the "Park' to join NASCAR. He joined because he felt that NASCAR was a growing national organization. It offered many big races. He began in NASCAR by running the Norwood (Mass.) Arena, and Thompson (Ct.) Speedway in Benny Washburn's #15x from Bristol, Ct.

[Dwight Clock]

Thanks, Bob! That does put it in question. I appreciate the post.:thumb:

[Jimmydiesel]

Originally Posted by Bobv Dwight I found this info in a 1973 Stock Car Mag. article which may put in question the Indiana connection. I was a big Richie Evans fan and so am familiar with Eddie from his close association with Richie. It was also in 1952 that the U. S. Government tried to take Flemke away from racing. But nothing could keep Ed Flemke from racing. Not even the U. S. Army. He was drafted in 1952. But, he still managed to win that championship. Flemke admits that he was AWOL most of the time. In 1953 he was shipped to camp in Jackson, South Carolina. At the time Flemke raced at tracks in the immediate area. Later he was sent to Ft. Devins, N.J. He was AWOL when he broke a leg racing at Candlelight Stadium in Bridgeport. When he returned from the hospital the Army locked him up. But, there was an of ficer who went to the races and knew the name Flemke. So, Flemke was given an other chance. He was then sent to Ft. Dix, where he completed his basic training and went through automotive school. Flemke made Riverside Park his home in the mid-fifties. He and Buddy Krebs won the Riverside 500 (a team race) in 1954. Flemke was on leave when he won the race. He came to the "Park that night, and luckily found that there was no driver for one of the cars in the Krebs team. The cars were already teamed, even though a driver had not been secured for the race. In 1956 Ed was in close contention for the championship with Benny Germano. The point battle was so close that it went right up to the last race. In the last race, Flemke beat Germano across the line and won the championship. But, Flemke wasn't too happy about winning when he later learned that Germano was to retire. He would have liked to see the retiring ace re tire with a championship. To this day, Flemke wishes that he had only known. During the years 1955-58, Flemke drove the Garuti Bros. #28 from Ray's garage in Kensington, Ct. Ed and Richie Garuti had been friends since they were teenagers. At the time, only Moe Gherzi was driving for the "G-boys." Flemke needed a car for the 1955 season, so the Garuti Bros. built him one in a week. In 1956 Flemke and Moe Gherzi drove the Garuti Bros. team cars, the #14 and the #28, to victory in the Riverside 500. In 1957 Flemke was track champion again, driving the famous red and white #28. In 1959 Ed left the "Park' to join NASCAR. He joined because he felt that NASCAR was a growing national organization. It offered many big races. He began in NASCAR by running the Norwood (Mass.) Arena, and Thompson (Ct.) Speedway in Benny Washburn's #15x from Bristol, Ct.

Who owned the silver $ that he drove shortly after that?

[Dwight Clock]

Originally Posted by Jimmydiesel Who owned the silver $ that he drove shortly after that?

Flemke himself owned the %, and cent sign coupes that he ran. John Stygar owned the $ coupe. Thanks to my brother Russ for the correction.

[pgray]

Originally Posted by Bobv Dwight I found this info in a 1973 Stock Car Mag. article which may put in question the Indiana connection. I was a big Richie Evans fan and so am familiar with Eddie from his close association with Richie. It was also in 1952 that the U. S. Government tried to take Flemke away from racing. But nothing could keep Ed Flemke from racing. Not even the U. S. Army. He was drafted in 1952. But, he still managed to win that championship. Flemke admits that he was AWOL most of the time. In 1953 he was shipped to camp in Jackson, South Carolina. At the time Flemke raced at tracks in the immediate area. Later he was sent to Ft. Devins, N.J. He was AWOL when he broke a leg racing at Candlelight Stadium in Bridgeport. When he returned from the hospital the Army locked him up. But, there was an of ficer who went to the races and knew the name Flemke. So, Flemke was given an other chance. He was then sent to Ft. Dix, where he completed his basic training and went through automotive school. Flemke made Riverside Park his home in the mid-fifties. He and Buddy Krebs won the Riverside 500 (a team race) in 1954. Flemke was on leave when he won the race. He came to the "Park that night, and luckily found that there was no driver for one of the cars in the Krebs team. The cars were already teamed, even though a driver had not been secured for the race. In 1956 Ed was in close contention for the championship with Benny Germano. The point battle was so close that it went right up to the last race. In the last race, Flemke beat Germano across the line and won the championship. But, Flemke wasn't too happy about winning when he later learned that Germano was to retire. He would have liked to see the retiring ace re tire with a championship. To this day, Flemke wishes that he had only known. During the years 1955-58, Flemke drove the Garuti Bros. #28 from Ray's garage in Kensington, Ct. Ed and Richie Garuti had been friends since they were teenagers. At the time, only Moe Gherzi was driving for the "G-boys." Flemke needed a car for the 1955 season, so the Garuti Bros. built him one in a week. In 1956 Flemke and Moe Gherzi drove the Garuti Bros. team cars, the #14 and the #28, to victory in the Riverside 500. In 1957 Flemke was track champion again, driving the famous red and white #28. In 1959 Ed left the "Park' to join NASCAR. He joined because he felt that NASCAR was a growing national organization. It offered many big races. He began in NASCAR by running the Norwood (Mass.) Arena, and Thompson (Ct.) Speedway in Benny Washburn's #15x from Bristol, Ct.

This is a great post ! Well composed , interesting , informative piece about a great driver from the past ! I knew some of the Flemke history but not this ... Thanks to Dwight for the question and BobV for a great article !

This is a great example of the kinds of posts that we need to see more of ! ( Nothing here to dispute , bash or pick at ).


Paul
www.paulgray28.com

[Dwight Clock]

Bones Bourcier, nationally acclaimed motorsports writer and editor of the book being discussed "STEADY EDDIE, Memories of Modified Racing's Fastest Professor", called me reference this thread and sent me the following e-mail. I post it here with his permission. (Quote) "Dwight, I noticed your post concerning the late, great Ed Flemke. As the editor of the book you're referring to (STEADY EDDIE, Memories of Modified Racing's Fastest Professor", I can tell you that according to Eddies first wife, Flemke DID indeed race at some dirt tracks in Southern Indiana, although she could not recall the names. (Sadly, she passed away just a couple of months ago, though she was a great help with the preperation of the book.) These Indiana starts came in the early 1950s, as you pointed out, while Eddie was stationed across the river in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Eddie was admittedly not much of a dirt shoe, so he probably just made these starts just for kicks. On pavement, however, he was one of the finest drivers I have ever seen, and certainly one of the most influential figures in Eastern short-track racing. As a footnote, their son, Eddie Flemke Jr., now a veteran on the NASCAR Modified Tour, was concieved while Steady Eddie and his former wife were stationed at Fort Knox! I would love to hear some feedback from anybody on the IOW message board who might know of any Indiana tracks where Eddie might have raced. Steady Eddie was both a friend and a hero to me, dating back to my teenaged years in Connecticut, and now that I live in Indiana it would be interesting for me to re-trace his "Hoosier" footsteps. Thanks! --Bones Bourcier (Unquote)