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“Steady Eddie” Flemke started his
driving career in 1948 in the early jalopy races. In the 1950’s he
raced at all the United Stock Car tracks and won Riverside Park
championships in 1956 and 58.
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.
He was known as the best of the
big dollar race winners. Among his estimated 500 victories is the
1972 Spring Sizzler, two Utica Rome 400’s, 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 very willing to
teach and encourage other drivers such as Denny Zimmerman, Reggie
Ruggerio, 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.”
After a thirty year driving career
Eddie retired after driving his last race at Stafford in 1978. He
was a founding member of NEAR in 1981. He died of natural causes in
1984. |
