The Vault
1981 – IVERSON TRIUMPHS AGAIN IN DICKINSON LM FINALE
Posted on: Tuesday November 18, 2025
Hyde’s Bob Iverson captured the season finale at Norway (MI) Speedway in September, 1981. (Bob Iverson FB Tribute Page)
IVERSON TRIUMPHS AGAIN IN DICKINSON LM FINALE by Denny Hanson
(Reprinted from the Midwest Racing News September 10, 1981)
(Norway, MI) Sept. 5 – Track champion Bob Iverson closed Dickinson County Raceway’s 1981 season in fitting form as he won the 25-lap late model feature to highlight the special Dickinson County Fair racing program, Saturday night.
The event got off to a shaky start with three restarts and one false start marring the opening four circuits.
After things settled down, Kent Pearson surged to the front of the pack on lap eight and the Kingsford chauffeur will still leading the way when Gary Roehrborn slammed the first turn guardrail head-on after losing the steering in his machine on the 17th circuit. Roehrborn was unhurt, but his car was extensively damaged.
Back under green, Iverson found the going good in the outside groove and picked off Bob Menor, Hubie Brazeau and Jim Peterson to move into second place. Then on lap 21, Iverson overhauled Pearson to claim top spot.
Once ahead, Iverson pulled away from the rest of the field and coasted to the victory which earned his the Lawrence Peterson Memorial trophy given annually to the winner of the fair week main event.
Pearson crossed the finish stripe second, with Peterson, Brazeau and Menor rounding out the top five.
The evening’s most spectacular mishap occurred during the second late model consolation, when Duane Nuens’ car slammed into the first turn guardrail and came to rest on top of Scotty Hansen’s mount. Both drivers were shaken, but otherwise unhurt.
Since the mishap took out about 70 feet of guardrail, officials decided to cancel the remainder of the show, including the scheduled hobby stock feature.
The track’s awards banquet has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 at Holy Spirits School in Norway.
SUMMARY
LATE MODEL
25-LAP FEATURE – Bob Iverson, Hyde; Kent Pearson, Kingsford; Jim Peterson, Kingsford; Hubie Brazeau, Sault St. Marie, Ont.; Bob Menor, Wausaukee, WI; Fran Prestay, Pell Lake, WI
20-LAP B FEATURE- Mark Miller, Kingsford; Ray Ambrosia, Aurora, WI; Terry Mott, Norway; Roy Stern, Marquette
12-LAP CONSOLATION – Steve DeBakker, Norway; Joe Gardipee, Norway; Kim Klitzke, Menominee; Steve DeKerf, Norway
12-LAP HEATS 1) Duane Nuens, Aurora, WI; Ron Demarce, Menominee 2) Scott Hansen, Norway; Gardipee 3) DeBakker; Larry Peterson, Marquette 4) Miller; Ron Baciak, Norway 5) Pearson; Mike Kelly, Norway 6) Bruce White, Kingsford; Menor
6-LAP DASH – Iverson
Fast Time: Iverson, 14.86