Ed Flemke

Competitor, Car Builder, Official
CLASS OF 1998

“Steady Eddie” Flemke started his driving career in 1948 in the early jalopy races. In the 1950s he raced at all the United Stock Car tracks, resulting in the 1955 United Racing Connecticut Championship, Riverside Park Speedway & West Haven Speedway Modified Championships in 1956 and the Riverside Park title again in 1958.

In 1960 with the emergence of NASCAR in New England he became the leader of the famed Eastern Bandits as they raced and won up and down the East Coast. He was never considered a points chaser but he still finished runner-up in the NASCAR National Modified Championship in both 1960 and ’61.

Among the many tracks where he visited victory lane include Thompson Speedway, Stafford Speedway, Plainville Stadium, New London-Waterford Speedbowl, Norwood Arena, Riverside Park Speedway, Seekonk Speedway, Catamount Stadium, Monadnock Speedway, Utica-Rome Speedway, Islip Speedway, Fulton Speedway, Westhampton Raceway, Airborne Speedway, Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Old Bridge Speedway and Bowman-Gray Stadium. He was known as the best of the big dollar race winners. Among his estimated 500 victories: the 1957 Eastern States 200 (in a convertible), 1973 Spring Sizzler, two Utica Rome 400s, and the 1977 Thompson 300.

Flemke was also well known for his chassis innovations and his ability to make a car handle. He obviously developed the Flemke front end. Eddie was a mentor to many drivers including Denny Zimmerman, Reggie Ruggiero , Ron Bouchard and Richie Evans. Pete Hamilton honored Eddie Flemke by inviting him up to the press box after his Daytona 500 win and telling the crowd that he owed his victory to “Steady Eddie.”

By the dawn of the 1980’s, Ed was driving less frequently and had built his chassis shop “Race Works” with his son Ed Jr into a successful business. He was a founding member of NEAR in 1981. Flemke spent his last season in racing at the Waterford Speedbowl as the Chief Steward under Dick Williams. Ed passed away in March of 1984.