Andy Lokkeberg
"Lokkeberg Racing" Late Model #84 says good bye to Riverhead
Raceway, Long Island and to all his f ans, crew, friends and
family and will be moving on to Tennessee with his wife Jo- and
their 2 dogs, NASCAR & Stockcar and his race car.
Andy's first
interest in racing was at the age of 11 when he started racing
Soapbox derbies. Then at the age of 17 he began racing
Hydroplane race boats. After that Andy joined the Navy, but his
love of racing was still with him.
In 1990 the
desire to race came back, so in 1993 he and his wife Jo decided
to take the plunge and bought their first racecar from none
other than Sean Egan and Andy entered as a rookie into the
Charger division. After a blown motor Andy took sometime off but
was back to racing shortly. In 1998 Andy won his first career
victory in the double point 30 lapper and once again he won his
second feature in 2001. At the end of 2001 Lokkeberg Racing
decided to move up, so Andy sold his Charger car and bought a
Late Model and again took the plunge with his wife Jo, family
and his crew backing him up. Having a great rookie year –
learning and having fun, Andy returned the following year to win
many heat races and on several occasions came close to that
checkered flag. No matter what, Andy was known by Bob Finan as
“likable Andy.” Andy was having fun with his car – he has a
passion to drive and even when he isn't winning, he is doing
what he enjoys most and that is his love of racing and to see
the fan’s happiness when they come into the pits waiting for
autographs. At the end of the night when you looked at your car
and saw all the fingerprints from all that touched your car this
was by far just like a win for this man and his team.
Andy Lokkeberg,
his wife Jo and his dedicated crew and family never got to be
Champions, but this is one man that enjoyed what he was doing
and he and his wife will continue to race only this time in
Tennessee and Andy Lokkeberg truly is a champion in the eye of
his wife and she has always said this is her favorite driver she
loves growing old with.
Andy would like
to thank his family and crew as he could not have done all these
years without them. Andy’s crew has been real loyal and
dedicated and has sacrificed many weeks and weekends to be with
him. In addition, Andy would like to pay a special thanks to
Jimmy Reilley, where no words could express Andy’s love for this
man and his dedication to Lokkeberg Racing. Andy would also like
to tip his hat to their crew, father, brother Arne, Donnie,
Walter and Bill. Thanks to all the officials at Riverhead and
to Bob Finan. Andy would like to finally thank his fans and last
but not least thanks to his sponsors that made this racing team
happen and a special thanks to his parents Betty and Ken for all
their dedication and sponsorship in his racing... thanks Mom and
Dad.
So, as soon as
their home is sold, Andy and Jo will be moving to Tennessee to
be closer to their daughters and grandchildren. Andy will
continue to race in Tennessee and maybe one day his descendants
will pick up his love of racing and he has high hopes his
grandchildren will become interested. Then the whole thing
becomes worth it. To all Andy would like to say good-bye and
thank you, peace and happiness to all.
Source: Only on LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
October 26, 2005
