Peoria Oldtimers Racing Club

My father was Vance "Doc" Cramer. He was the nurse at the Peoria Speedway for more years than I can remember. After he retired from Pabst Brewing Company he came back to the Speedway and worked the Pit Gate. He even brought my daughter, katie, the love of his life, with him on Saturday nights.  Being aroud all the drivers, mostly new ones, was a thrill for him. He had many friends at the Speedway. They all use to go to the Pig and Whistle on Farmington Road after the races. My father also saw his share of injuries at the track. Not to mention breaking up fights. The Strube boys would get into it with a Shannon or Bolander and here would come dad to break it all up. At the end of the evening all would be friends again. Boys will be boys.  I grew up on dirt track racing and loved it. I remember that dad had a picture of me sitting in Ed Bolen's car. I had many checkerd flags in my room. Drivers would give me one if they won more than one race. Dad used to have his "whites" cleaned and pressed before each race. Not that he came home with them white. I felt sorry for his poor dry cleaner. He took pride in his job as the track nurse.  

I remember when the Kickapoo Creek flooded and they had boats in the infield. And all the damage that the water did to the track. Things were never the same at the track after that.

Doc passed away on August 2,2001 at 12:52 pm. He suffered for many years with emphasymia, conjestive heart failure and COPD. He went to sleep one day in the hospital and never woke up again. It was the saddest day of my life. My father was everything to me. He was a father but he was also my friend. Doc lived with me for over 15yr when he became sick. never once did I regret taking care of him.

I will never forget the day my daughter was born and the joy that my father had on his face. He loved her so much. She was and still is a tom-boy. Or as Doc called her Wiggleworm. (Poor kid) My oldest grandson Zachary was born at 12:52pm. Different month, day and year from when dad passed away. So weird, when I heard the time I just collapsed. Doc was definately there when his first great grandson was born. And Zachary is alot like Doc. My  poor daughter. No she loves haveing her son like her grandfather.