Car #69 - Lady Luck Special
1955 Bowling Green Speedway Champion
| Let me introduce
myself. I am Mike Wilhelm's wife. Mike, as you know, died suddenly
on June 20th, 3 days after he drove a stock car for the first time
at Latimore Valley since the 50's. He spent the last four years
loving every minute of effort and work put into "selling the
memories of the Bowling Green Speedway". He was constantly
amazed at the number of people who stopped by their displays at
racing events and the stories they shared of Bowling Green. Young
people, who as children, went there with their parents, and older
people who shared their memories of their favorite drivers.
Bowling Green was a great place to go. No matter where you sat in the grandstand, the races were visible from all angles. Most of the drivers were beginners, but the races were as exciting to watch as any I can recall at any track. Put the likes of Bobby Hersh, Mike, Dick Miller, Johnny Mackison, Frankie Thompson, and many others on such a beautiful sloped track and the racing was as good as it could get. Add fireworks, trapeze artists, sky diving, and other attractions---it just couldn't get any better than that. His family and his racing
friends held a short service and my grandson and I spread
his ashes on the 4th turn of the old speedway on July 21st. It was
a place he loved, and I can still see him in car #69, revving his
motor around that turn as the green flag waved for the start of
the race. |
    Mike Wilhelm (left) with Gene Goodling (right) |
Additional statistics on Mike Wilhelm...
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Mike started his racing career in the #29 car, owned by Kemp Beaumont and Bill and Norman Spicer of Parkton, MD. Mike finished 4th in points in 1953.
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In 1954 he drove the #69 car, owned by Sterling Boehler of Brodbecks, PA. The team's mechanics were Jim Measley and Elmer Shearer.
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Finished 4th in points against fellow competitors that included such notable drivers as Johnny Mackison, Frankie Thompson, Buzz Wilson, and many other outstanding drivers of the 1954 season.
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In 1955, Mike competed in 37 races, qualifying for every feature for a total of 3 feature wins, 13 heat wins and was crowned Bowling Green Speedway's Track Champion. What makes this season even more incredible is that in mid-season Mike suffered a broken leg in a crash during a feature and was sidelined for 4 weeks while in a cast. The very day the cast was removed, Mike returned to racing and won that night's feature!
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By July 28, 1956, Mike had already qualified for 24 features, scoring 8 feature wins.
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Over a two year span, Mike qualified for 69 consecutive features.
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When Mike quit racing in July of 1956, he was tied for 1st place in points at Williams Grove Speedway with Buddy Goodling.
It was his wife, Helen that designed the Lady Luck logo on Mike's famous black #69 "Lady Luck Special", which became his trademark. He also acquired the nickname of "Crazy Wheels."
Driving was Mike's life. He drove heavy equipment, drove fuel trucks in the winter months, and finally purchased his own Semi and became an owner operator. During that span, he achieved a 3 million mile safe driving record for which he received awards. He donated his beloved Chevy Titan to the York County Vo-Tech School in York, PA, where it is still being used for teaching purposes today. At the time of his death, he owned the Wilhelm Escort Service, escorting some very impressive loads around the countryside. Mike also owned and rode motorcycles, and was a 50 year member of the AMA.
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