6/12/2019
Eric Blumer
EBR Carries On The Tradition, At Least For One Night.
It’s a right of passage if you are a racer at Angell Park Speedway. It’s the bar just south of the Sun Prairie city limits on highway N. Today they call it, “Chicken Licks.” They just might literally have the worlds best chicken wings. Folks who have been around a while know it was “Doris’ Second Chance,” back in the day. Or, as Kurt Mayhew told us, “Before that it was ‘Fauerbach’s.’” I’d never heard that before, but Kurt’s been coming to Angell Park since 1969. “TK’s” and “Buckshots,’ are the other two names it’s had, that fans might recall.
Stopping at this particular establishment is a tradition after the races. Sure, times have changed on a lot of levels, but some from APS still hold onto the ritual. Since Eric’s friend Owen Leatherberry had just attended his last race for years to come, as he will soon graduate high school and head to the Merchant Marine Academy, I figured it would be a good night to go. After all, Eric had a good run at APS, the races were done by 9:15 and we were packed up by 10:00. “OK, but I have to work in the morning,” said Eric. We were glad that Greg (Owen’s dad) and Owen agreed to join us. Stephanie took “The Jackman” home and then also stopped out. Mary Jo went to bed.
We found a place on the corner of the bar and were soon joined by Mayhew, who Eric met at the Chili Bowl earlier this year. Kurt probably holds the distinction of being the oldest active Midget driver in the world, as it appears Hall of Famer Floyd Alvis is done. We were joined by Kurt’s crew of one, who’s name escapes me. Steve, Bill Ecker’s, main wrench on the #57 Midget also joined us.
Steve and Eric also met at the Chili Bowl where Eric ended up helping the Ecker crew some. Steve began to regale us with the story of coming home from Plymouth the night before after their Midget got destroyed.
Making a long story short… Steve told us he got stopped for speeding on the way home. He wasn’t going that much over, but apparently Wisconsin State Troopers frown on getting passed if they are going the speed limit and you obviously are not. At some point after the trooper made contact, Bill, from the back seat, asked him if he was a race fan, according to Steve, who really just wanted to get back on the road without a citation. Fortunately, the trooper was a race fan, apparently with a sense of humor too, as Bill then asked him if he wanted to buy a used race car. The trooper smiled, shook his head, passed on the offer and let Steve go with a warning.
Next, shots appeared in front of the drivers and crew members at the bar, including Eric, who as most of you know, is 19 years old. Although Steve continued to insist that Eric was only 14. It is Wisconsin and it would have been legal for Eric to have a drink under my supervision, but I smelled the shot to make sure… It was straight lemonade.
Just as we were about to leave, some rowdy fans stepped close to us and the conversation got to where we told them Eric races a Legend. Eric sat and politely listened as one of the fans took the time to give Eric all the advice he could on how to drive a race car. The guidance had the requisite amount of hand motion and drunken rambling you’d expect out of someone who’s never driven a race car before.
We finished our wings and got in the car. It was midnight. Eric would be getting six hours of sleep, at best, prior to work. As he started the car Eric said, “I’m going to be tired for work tomorrow, but it was worth it.” Kurt, Steve and Greg, thanks for the memory.- Bill
Submitted By: William Blumer
