Category: People

1963 – Utica-Rome. On the right is NASCAR Chief Steward Ralph Ouderkirk. Photo by John Grady, from “The Home of Heroes” by Bones Bourcier.

In this photo taken at Marlboro, Ed’s stubble is evidence of the hectic schedule that the Eastern Bandits ran. Photo by Bob Williams, from the Larry Jendras Jr Collection.

Utica-Rome – Cliff Kotary on the left.

1964 – Utica-Rome New Yorker 400. Giving Ed the trophy is Utica-Rome co-owner Bernie Ingersoll.

1965-07-21 – Beltsville. Drivers’ meeting prior to first-ever Modified race there. Shown in this picture are Johnny Roberts (light grey shirt, lower left corner), to his left Red Foote (checkered shirt), to Red’s left Runt Harris (black shirt), behind Red is Lenny Pond (white shirt), to Runt’s left Bobby Allison (pink shirt), to Bobby’s left Al Grinnan (white shirt and trousers), behind Al’s left shoulder Ed Flemke, behind Ed’s left shoulder Joe Kelly. Photo by Bob Williams.

This came from a Oxford Plains Speedway program dated October 3, 1965. The photos were taken the week before at a 300-lap Modified-Sportsman race in which Ed finished 3rd. Thanks to Dan St.Pierre.

1965-09-26 – Oxford Plains. In the bottom photo, on the far right is John Stygar, co-owner of the $ and for many years Ed’s chief mechanic and right-hand man. Thanks to Dan St.Pierre.

1966 – 05-27 – Rene Charland fire, aka “The French Barbeque”. Ed, wearing a t-shirt and cotton trousers, ran across the track and reached into this burning wreck to pull out Charland and save his life. Ed was given the “NASCAR Heroism Award” for his bravery.

1966 – Albany-Saratoga. Charland fire. Photo by John Grady. This image appears to be merely the (incorrect) reverse of the preceding “photo print” color image.