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happy Jeff Hinkemeyer holds his trophy and champagne after winning the
Thunderbird Open at Dodge County Speedway. – Kathy Hinrichs Photo
Kasson, Minn. (September 3, 1981) – For the third year in a row, Jeff Hinkemeyer surprised his fellow competitors in Minnesota late model invitationals when he won it all in Dodge County Speedway’s Thunderbird Open.
Hinkemeyer goes into a lot of races battling the odds when he shows up in his Mustang and lines up besides Camaros. He chose the unlikely number “13” for his race car and he lacks the years of experience that most of the other drivers have, but none of these things has stopped the St. Cloud pilot.
So far this season, he has won the three “big ones” in Minnesota this year – at Hibbing, Proctor, and now at Kasson on Wednesday night.
Dave Bjorge never threatened to take the lead and as for others, they remained a good half-lap to a full lap behind in the 40-lapper.
In the first three laps of the event, there were three red flags and when the race finally did get underway, such notables as Phil Prusak, Joe Merryfield, and Don Zweifel had been eliminated.
From there on, though, it was clear sailing. While Hinkemeyer and Bjorge raced smoothly around the 3/8-mile track, the rest of the field had their own personal battles for position.
Tom Nesbitt of Thunder Bay, Ont., finished third while Billy Moyer Jr. of Des Moines was fourth. Leon Plank of Mondovi, Wis., round out the top five finishers.
Bjorge, Hinkemeyer, Ron Schreiner of Eleva, Wis., and Rick Egersdorf of St. Paul were heat winners. Bruce Busho Owatonna won the consolation.
Results –
1. Jeff Hinkemeyer, St. Cloud
2. Dave Bjorge, Sergeant
3. Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay, Ont.
4. Billy Moyer Jr., Des Moines
5. Leon Plank, Mondovi, Wis.
6. Ron Schreiner, Eleva, Wis.
7. Jim Bruggeman, White Bear Lake
8. Les Duellman, Fountain City, Wis.
9. Rick Egersdorf, St. Paul
10.Dick Sorenson, Rochester
11.Bruce Busho, Owatonna
12.Jack Harder, St. Paul
13.Vic Kelin, St. Paul
14.Mike Jasperson, Somerset, Wis.
15.Rich Olson, Rochester
16.Wendell Kuehn, Rochester
17.Em Fretheim, Decorah
18.Ed Sanger, Waterloo
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