It's been a week but I've been thinking, and wishing, that I should have gone up to the microphone when it was offered to attendees of the banquet to say something.
So here goes anyway:
The Vancouver Sun of Monday, July 27, 1959 said over 18,000 people watched the opening day races at Westwood. So did the Vancouver Province. Canada Track & Traffic said it was an "estimated 10,000".
Split the difference. A lot of people went up and down the narrow lane to Westwood that Sunday, July 26, 1959.
And over the years many more thousands did the same. They might have only gone once or maybe a handful of times. or maybe they made every sports car races for a season or two or more. And maybe even the motorcycle races as well.
It would be a marvel to find someone who went to all the races from 1959 to 1990. For anyone too have done that would have been a major commitment not unlike a marriage. And lord knows spouses can disappoint and forget to do something in the extreme.
At the Westwood 50 ceremony last Saturday those who had raced in various classes were asked to acknowledge themselves. The Ladies' Auxiliary probably got the biggest group.
But one group was left out -- the spectators.
So on behalf of the hundreds of thousands I want to thank those who raced, crewed, marshalled the corners, officiated and did all the myriad of jobs it takes to put on the races at Westwood.
You people were our heroes.
So I thank you.
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