There are a lot of racing veterans in this world. There are a lot that know a lot about racing. There are a lot that know about race cars. There are a lot that were once talented racecar drivers.
There are not many that have all of those qualities though. However, Robert Hamke is one of those few.
Hamke, owner of Hamke Race Cars & Parts, knows as much as there is to know about racing and has been around the sport for just as long.
Hamke started being around racecars back in 1959 when he was just 12-years-old. He started racing Half Midgets and Go-Karts. Then, he moved from Indianapolis to Miami Florida and soon started building Go-Karts when, as Hamke says, “Go-Karts” were a big deal.
Hamke continued to learn how to build race cars and race them at the same time, driving Super Modifieds, Late Models and more.
In 1977, Hamke broke his leg at New Smyrna and was out of the season for seven months, so he spent his time fixing other peoples' cars. And that is how Hamke Race Cars and Parts started.
Officially, the business started in 1981. In 1987, Hamke relocated from Florida to North Carolina, where the shop remains today.
Over the years, Hamke has worked with some of the biggest and brightest stars in the business. He’s built cars for the likes of Donnie Allison, Kenny Schrader, Jeremy Mayfield, David Stremme, Kyle Busch, Johnny Sauter, Steve Wallace, Jeff Fultz, Scott Hanson and so many more.
And wins and championships have come by the truckload. So many, that Hamke doesn’t event keep track, nor remember. “I’ve won all the championships and the big races. I just want to keep winning them,” he says.
While Hamke continues to run one of the most successful racing businesses in the industry, he is quick to point out too, that even though he’s not racing on the track anymore, that he’s not a retired driver.
Hamke raced cars like this Super Modified, which was built by his father. (photo from retrorockets.org)
“It gets kind of hard racing against your customers,” said Hamke. “I ain’t ever quit racing yet though. I just haven’t raced for awhile. I am pretty much done, but I can still go fast.”
