Category: Anecdotes

1964-07-30 – Anecdote

1964-07-30. In 1962 Ed had completely dominated the Modified racing at Southside. In 1963 he went there mostly for only the bigger races, in one of which he was leading when his engine blew, in a second one he was leading when the engine in the car ahead of his blew and, hitting its oil, Ed went into the wall, and in a third big-distance race Ed had his well-known crash when his throttle stuck and his car ended up in the catch fencing overhanging the grandstand. Therefore by the start of the ’64 season Ed had provided the Southside fans with plenty of excitement. In the race referenced in this article, both Ed and George were going to race, but on the drive to Virginia their tow vehicle broke down and they could not make it in time. They were however able to get to Bowman Gray the following evening for the 400 lap race, where Ed was running 1st or 2nd for most of the race but for reasons unknown finished 4th. (Click on image to open)

Anecdote

1960 – 12-25, from the “Springfield Sunday Republican”. I include this clipping because of its reference to Ed’s having been “probably the most unpopular driver” at Riverside in the late ’50s. I have no idea why this would have been the case, especially as there are numerous testimonials to Ed’s having been amongst the most popular drivers at other tracks through the years. (Click on image to open)

Anecdote

1965 – 06-24. This is from the “Rome Sentinel”. I don’t know why Ed was “barred”, although I would point out that in the previous 4 races at U-R he had got a 3rd, a 2nd, and two wins. The ban was short-lived, and Ed was reinstated in time for the next race, where he finished 2nd. (Click on image to open)

Anecdote

These comments were gathered by Bob Echo, originally published in his NERFers’ Corner and republished in NERF’ers’ Corner Reloaded. Thanks to Jared Echo for the information.

Anecdote about the Eastern Bandits and Glen Wood

Posted by “Gluefingers” on a car modeling forum:

 

 
Glenn Wood won the "Tobacco Bowl" race at Bowman Gray Stadium with this car on 12/31/60. (The "Tobacco Bowl" was an annual race held at B-G on New Years weekend for a number of years in the '50's & '60's). Glenn set a track record qualifying at 17.47 seconds for the '60 race, and lapped the entire field during the race.An article in the Speed Sport News describes the car as being built primarily by Leonard Wood, and having a 1960 Ford engine developing 300 hp. The engine was set back 30" and as has already been noted had 3 carbs. The steering wheel was from a Ford Falcon.By the early 60's the "Tobacco Bowl" came to be dominated by New Englanders like Ed Flemke, Red Foote, Dennis Zimmerman and Rene Charland. Somewhere I read an interview with Charland in which he recalled Glenn Wood complaining about the Yankees coming down and eating his lunch at BG. "I can't understand it" Glenn was supposed to have said, "I know I have the best equipment out here, and along comes Flemke, along comes Foote, putt putt putt right by me!" to which Charland replied "Well Glenn, maybe you HAVEN'T got the best equipment out here." And by then, he probably didn't.

GF

http://www.frwspeedequipment.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5436&p=54661&hilit=flemke#p54661