Bad Ending to a Disappointing Season
The weeks before Crandon the team was busy trying to find some more speed in the car, this included giving the motor a little freshening up and a few other things. Weeks before the scheduled practice session in Crandon the car was ready to go and we could not wait until that weekend arrived. We had the car loaded and the test days were finally here only to be cancelled due to the poor timing of Mother Nature. Although we needed the rain in Northern Wisconsin I had wished it would have held off just another day or two.
Since the car was ready and the huge 40th anniversary weekend at Crandon was still a week away we focused our attention on building a float for the Friday parade held every Labor Day race weekend in downtown Crandon. What we did was pretty simple but turned out very nice, we took a small go-cart and made some panels for it similar to the buggy. We then took it to Victory Sign to have them sticker it up to replicate the car. We took that replica, placed it on a trailer that was covered in balloons and pulled it with a 4-wheeler that had a banner on it thanking Crandon for 40 exciting years of racing. The most important part was we put the kids in the trailer and had the throw balloons, glow sticks, T-shirts, BFGoodrich hats and stickers.
After the parade we focused our attention on getting ready for the Saturday World Championship race. It was finally here and I was sitting on the pole knowing the car had to be better than the previous race but wondered how much better it was going to be. The green flag flew and I was off, came around the famously dangerous Crandon land rush corner some place between 3rd and 6th, there was a group of us and it was hard to tell exactly what position I was in but I was pleased with the start. Soon after we all got ourselves sorted out I realized the car was not all that I hoped it would be. It seemed to have more top end of which I was lacking but it was not pulling out of the corners like it had in the past. I was finding myself losing ground to the cars in front of me and seeing cars gain on me in the rear.
I was passed by a few cars and on what I believe was the second lap I was passed coming out of the finish line corner, knowing we had a nice straight around Parson’s pond I pressed hard to pass back. Going into the next tight left hand corner there was three of us in a very tight formation. I knew I had a good run on the car in front of me so I decided to take the car wide in order to keep up my speed and hopefully pass both cars on the upcoming wide left hander. As I was attempting to go outside I downshifted to second and at that very instant the inside car appeared it was going to spin out. The car that was in between did what any good racer would do and turned quickly to the right to avoid a collision. When he did that he cut in front of me and caught my front left tire with his car. Well as luck would have it, with only one hand on the wheel and no power steering the jolt of the tire was transmitted to the steering wheel and eventually my wrist which could not take the violent change of direction and broke.
At first I thought, well more like hoped, it was only a little stinger or a sprain. I tried to gain control and grabbed the wheel with my left hand but it just was not going to happen. I got on the radio with my spotter and brother-in-law Mark Hockers and said “I think I broke my wrist” as I looked down and immediately noticed that my hand was no longer pointing in the direction it should and tried to correct it but nothing moved. I then said “I broke my wrist” and he said “find the nearest EMT.” With the car still rolling and in second gear I drove myself to the starting line where I knew an EMT was parked.
On the way only a couple things went through my head, the first was how I am going to finish the kid’s tree house the neighbors and I had started and the second was what a bad ending to a disappointing season after having such high hopes for the new car just 3 months ago. As I pulled up to the EMT’s I began to painfully get myself out of the car and before I was out the team and family was there to support me as they looked in concern. Cori took me to St. Mary’s Emergency in Rhinelander where they took x-rays, gave me some pain meds and pushed the displaced wrist close to where it was suppose to be and sent me home with a prescription of Vicodin and instructions to get it checked in 7 – 10 days. I made it back to the track in time for a beer before heading up to watch the start of the last race of the day, Pro-2.
Following the races I can’t count how many offers I had to drive the car in Sunday’s race. However I knew that my little brother, Nick, who had unselfishly help in countless hours building the new car, was the only logical choice to be the driver. Although he would be cramped since he is a “little” taller than me, he nervously accepted to drive. Being that he had not yet driven the car let alone raced it, we were on the pole and there was an extremely close championship point’s race being decided we collectively decided that when the green flag flew he would let the field leave the line and then begin to race from the back of the pack. He did as we discussed and immediately began to pass cars, avoided a few incidents and did a great job piloting the car to season tie best place finish of 6th. I was proud of how well he did and excited that he had a big smile of approval on his face when he got out of the car at the end of the race.
Although that was the end of the TORC season for the sportsmen classes the Lemke Off-Road Racing Team is not done. The National off Road Racing Series, NORRS, is hosting a race Oct 10-11 during Oktoberfest in Weyauwega, WI. We had planned on attending and Cori, my wife, was going to try her hand at driving along with Nick. But since I am laid up we decided, although the risk is low, we could not afford to take the chance of both of us being injured. We have offered one of the days driving duties to a crew member, late coming sponsor and the guy that started me in this crazy sport, Jeff Hosking. Jeff is the owner and operator of one of our valued sponsors, Hosking Electrical Contracting. We are excited for this weekend because we have a lot of friends that are too busy in the summer to make it to the races but mid October fits in their schedule well and they are planning to attend. I wish I could be driving, but I am confident that Nick and Jeff will make us all proud.
I went to get it rechecked by the doctor that fixed my right wrist over 10 years ago from a similar accident. The results were not favorable, the break was not in the correct location and worse than previously thought, surgery and a hand specialist will be required. I would like to thank my racing family, all the racers, racing friends and families for the sympathy of my injury and offers to help over the past few days. It is privilege to be surrounded by such a great group of people that are so concerned and caring.
- Todd Lemke
Name: Todd Lemke
Sport: 1600 Light Buggy
City, State you reside in: Sobieski, WI (20 miles North of Green Bay)
Single/Married: Married to Cori Lemke
Kids: Jadin and Laci
Age: 7 and 4
Age When First Started Competing: 30
Favorite Spot: Any place quiet and outside
Favorite Vacation Spot: Any place where I am away from the normal every day routine.
Inspiration: My family and a drive to suceed.
Career Honors, Awards and Highlights: 1st place finish my first year racing in an old 2 seater.
Took 3rd in the year end points in 2003. (I need to verify the year)
When I’m not competing I like to: Spend time with my family, hunt, fish and snowmobile.
Other interesting Info : My first off road race I rolled my car and broke my wrist but still finished the race. Served in the United States Air Force (1988-1991). I can't dance!
Quote: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail " - unkown
