Uncola Rematch race ad shows pay-off for the big event. (Checkered Flag Racing News ad)By Dale P. Danielski
If Phil Stewart had issues with the Wisconsin short track drivers taking most of the money back home with them after one of his special events at Elko Speedway in 1971 he never mentioned it. More than likely it really didn’t matter as he was putting on races like never seen before in the Upper Midwest. And best of all the pit area was jammed with most of the best and equally significant, the grandstands were packed! With the recently announced Old Style 200 to take place September 18-19 at the Speedway much the same was expected for the event. And boy did that turn out to be true as the event drew the best field of cars yet and the biggest crowd, over 10,000 over the two days.

Minnesota transplant Jim Sauter raced this car #5 a 1969 Chevelle in the Border State Rivalry events. (Jim Mussoni photo collection)By Dale P. Danielski
With Wisconsin Star Dick Trickle’s decisive win in the Uncola 7000 Challenge race at Elko Speedway July 5th the Minnesota contingent was out for revenge in round two, The Uncola Rematch. They didn’t have long to wait while licking their wounds either as the Rematch was set to take place August 10.
With Trickle handily winning the first race in his Ford, Iten Chevrolet of the ‘Cities decided to offer a bit more incentive to the predominantly Chevy group of Minnesota racers by presenting the winner of the Rematch with a very intricate and beautiful four foot trophy. The trophy was billed as the Minnesota-Wisconsin Challenge Series Award and was accompanied by a $750.00 check. A large throng was on hand to again witness the action as 7,222 fans officially paid to see the event, most of them rooting on the Minnesota “Scat Pack”.

#76 Yellow 1969 Mercury Cyclone is a car Roy Schmidtke drove in the Uncola races. (Dale P. Danielski photo)By Dale P. Danielski (Starmaker Multimedia)
Border States rivalries with Wisconsin and Minnesota sports teams are well documented. But not to be outdone or upstaged is the fact some of the most intense rivalries occurred between Wisconsin and Minnesota short track race drivers through the years. The 1970s produced a number of challenge races and with tracks in both Wisconsin and Minnesota hosting big events it was certain to draw all the top drivers from both states as they strayed from the weekly show in attempts to make some big money at these special events. I pick the ‘70s era as that is when this scribe was becoming more mobile and gaining a real interest in the sport both in my neck of the woods, Central Wisconsin and beyond. The paved speedways are where it started for this guy so that is what at least initially, we will focus on.

Photo used with permission from Angell Park SpeedwayRepublished with permission from Angell Park Speedway

1973 Badger Midget champion John Hartwig, had a racing career that spanned some 25 years. He started out in stock cars, but "All they did was crash," according to Hartwig. He had watched the midgets run at Sun Prairie and liked their style of racing, so in 1957 he bought his first open wheeler at the age of 20. He notes the first car was the number 73, McGovern’s Spec., previously driven by Al Fredenberg. In his rookie year he did not crack the top 25 in points. Then the service called for a couple of seasons and Hartwig could not race. Taking his place in the cockpit of that car was Hall of Famer Tom Bigelow. Hartwig’s next car was a Hillegas, with a tired motor. He upgraded to one of the first Chey II engines and his racing took off.

Angell Park Speedway PhotoUsed with permission from Angell Park Speedway

Bill Berg didn’t have a chance. With his dad Dick, as a corner worker for the Badger midgets and three local midget racing heros as older brothers, there was little doubt Berg would wheel a midget at some point. Growing up in Sun Prairie he did what local kids do on Sunday. He attended the races at Angell Park. When he was old enough, he crewed for his brothers Ron, Al and Dan Fredenberg. "It’s all their fault," he claims of his brothers’ expectations that he would someday take the wheel.

In 1989 Tom and Tammy Bong gave him his first shot at midget racing and he didn’t disappoint. That year he finished 13th in Badger points and was their Rookie of the Year. From then through the mid-1990's he was a regular at the speedway.