racin' thru the raindrops

photo size issues

2013-01-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's just me (although I've heard this from others) the images aren't as big as I would like. Especially if you're trying to read them.

Two workarounds.

Don't click right on the image. Click to the side of it. Seems to give you the option of enlarging the image if it has that little "plus" inside a circle.

Or right click and open the image in another tab. Then you can again click it larger if the image has that little "plus".

Hope that helps.

green flag

2012-12-31T03:52:00.000-08:00

(Scroll down to find new entries.... Or click on the labels on the left.) I've dated this for the end of 2008 (now I've moved it up to the end of 2012!). Go here to find out what it is I'm trying to accomplish. My "mission statement". And remember to click on the thumbnails. They get bigger and readable (even for my eyesight).

1964 Eldon Rasmussen profile

2012-02-14T10:00:00.001-08:00

Again, from Racing Wheels.

1963 Billy Foster profile

2012-02-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

From Racing Wheels.

okay, it's Monday, but....

2012-02-13T10:00:00.001-08:00

About 40 years ago things went off the rails, or at least onto a different line. Alice Cooper showed up in town and for a while I really liked the sound. Still like that sound and he/they were a way to find other sounds.

apologies

2012-02-12T22:05:00.000-08:00

Not sure why multiple posts ended up happening on one day. Living next to Snafouver is my only excuse. (If you know who Len Norris is then you know where Snafouver is.)

I suppose I could try to alter time and fix things but it's best to let these things happen and try not to let them happen again.

1931 motorcycle hill climb

2012-02-12T10:00:00.002-08:00

While this isn't the motorcycle race referred to in the previous ad, it is interesting, and I don't think I've put this one up yet. I have something from 1929 back in the "early Vancouver" thread. Same club, Flying Thirty Club, and same hill in Maillardville I guess.

1931 Port Moody international regatta

2012-02-10T22:56:00.002-08:00

The boat race referred to in the previous post.

old ad from the Sun

2012-02-10T10:00:00.001-08:00

The Vancouver Sun is about to be 100 years old. Congratulations. Glad to see it and other local papers still operating. Here's a 1931 ad from that newspaper:

1950 Abbotsford

2012-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Going through the GVMPS archives/research material that has been gathering dust and this slid out of the pile. A 1950 scan from a trip Tom J., Gerry M. and myself did to the BC Archives.

One task was to find some sort of Fernie, BC link to Pete Henderson. I believe we found that in a local newspaper.

And the other task was to hopefully find a 1949 reference to racing at Abbotsford Airport. Didn't find that. 1950 is the best we've got so far. Sorry that I don't have the exact date for the clipping. Sometime in September, 1950. Or the exact name of the Abbotsford newspaper.

unidentified dune buggy

2012-02-09T11:07:00.001-08:00

Sorry, got lost in the looking and forgot to post for a couple days. Will get back at it with this photo I bought at a antique store. I was thinking/hoping it was John Haftner, but I don't think so. He did drive dune buggies initially but I can't find anything that associates him with this "lynx" buggy.

I also thought hill climb when I saw the snow fence behind the vehicle but it could just as easily be a solo parking lot event.

And it doesn't have to be from the Greater Vancouver area.

So all I can say for sure it that it's unidentified.

Another "First Canadian" at Indianapolis

2012-02-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Seems like I was wrong, or not up to date in being correct, about who the first Canadian to race at the Indianapolis 500 was.

A guy named "Wild Bill" Turner (I doubt his Mom named him "Wild") seems to have been the first. While originally listed as being an American it turns out he was from Toronto. And he participated in the first 500 in 1911.

More information can be found in this thread at the The Nostalgia Forum. And Tom J. has written about him in Vantage, the Vintage Racing Club of BC's newsletter, recently.

I'll just add a couple clipping found on the web. Apparently there could be some hill climb film footage out there. At least it was out there in 1914/15.

Allen Heath bio, 1964, part three

2012-02-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Final installment to the Allen Heath story up to the beginning of the 1964 season. He would race a couple more years, after his recovery from losing his hand. I know there's a video of him running at El Centro in a CRA race whipping the tail of his sprint car with his good hand while broadsliding off the turn holding the wheel with his hook.

Allen Heath bio, 1964, part two

2012-02-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Heath heads south to race in California. Then to the midwest to run big cars. And almost loses his life.

Allen Heath bio from 1964, part one

2012-02-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Born in Saskatoon, learned his racing in the Pacific northwest. Even raced up here at Con Jones Park (now Callister Park) in the midgets. Heckuva story.

CAMRA, 1975, Doug Larson wins

2012-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

The 1975 CAMRA season ended in Spokane. Doug Larson, of Quesnel, BC, took the points championship.

Actually, the top three positions were from Canada: Larson, Cliff Hucul and Ralph Monhay. And three more in the top ten to boot: Brian Green, Buddie Boys and Ed Crombie.

1975 CAMRA

2012-02-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

The 1975 season came down to the wire. And, for the first time since 1969 when Norm Ellefson won the title, Canadians were in position to win the championship.

John Haftner, going up Knox Mountain

2012-01-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Knox Mountain records show that John Haftner, of New Westminster, first started racing at Knox Mountain in 1972. He's won it a few times since his start in a dune buggy. And, to this point, holds the quickest time up the mountain -- 1:37.065 for the 3.5 km (2.2 miles) climb.

He also raced solo gymkhanas at various locations in the lower mainland. One year, 1974, he had fast time of the day for a national solo event. Clubs ran events across Canada on the same layout and the times were recorded as if they were all in one location. Like I say John was number one. Not sure if he repeated that or not.

Here is one of his more recent runs up Knox Mountain.

1969 SCCBC winners

2012-01-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

For the 1968 season:

Sunday morning rockabilly

2012-01-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

Les Vogt, if he ain't the original Vancouver rocker, then who is?

Lots on Les right here.

The Devil's Hairpin, 1957

2012-01-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

Racing scene from the 1957 movie The Devil's Hairpin. Directed by and starring Cornel Wilde. Playing at the following theatres back then.

Eugene Thiessen, Eugene, OR

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

A couple 1954 clippings showing that the talent Eugene Thiessen brought north to Chilliwack wasn't a fluke. He was good.

Jeeps....

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

An exchange from an early episode of the TV series Combat! Keenan Wynn is some bigshot, loudmouth brass and Shecky is a buck private who is supposed to be the jeep driver but the Colonel jumps in the seat.

Keenan Wynn: "Used to race a little before the war. Mostly midgets. You ever drive a midget?"

Shecky Greene: "They wouldn't drive with me, sir. Sorry, sir."

All that to bring out this little item that has one time sprint car champ Jimmie Wilburn lauding the skills of driving a jeep during the war.

Portland International Raceway, 1963

2012-01-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

Some footage from an October, 1963 race at PIR. Looks like the Pooper at 1:20 and Bob McLean in the Lotus at 2:20. Could be wrong there.

(Edit, clipping for Competition Press for the supposed race film, bfp.)

Al Taylor, motorcycle racer, 1950

2012-01-24T10:00:00.001-08:00

I don't know much about Al "King" Taylor. There is an Alvin Taylor in the GVMPS but I'm not sure if this is the same guy. About the right era.

Anyway this Al Taylor had hopes and dreams.

cranky letter from a 1967 motorcycle fan

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

Came across this while looking for Vancouver motorcycle stuff:

first Canadian at Indianapolis

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

So it was....

Billy Foster, 1965. Used to be the common answer. But, no, Billy wasn't first. And Eddie Kostenuk, also of Victoria, didn't qualify in either 1962 or 1963, even though his car was qualified in 1963 by Johnny Rutherford.

Pete Henderson, 1916, has been the answer for a while now with Billy Bourque, 1909, thrown into the mix just to create controversy.

Pete's first Indy 500 was actually only 300 miles. His second, in 1920, was 500. He finished 6th in 1916 and 10th in 1920.

Bourque ran at Indianapolis before the 500 mile Memorial Day Classic. And, sadly, he was killed during one of those 1909 races.

Here's what Norris McDonald had to say about Bourque 100 years later:

http://www.wheels.ca/Motorsports/article/535736

Canadian racer's tragic legacy at Indy

Norris McDonald

MOTORSPORT WRITER

If you're in this biz, hardly a day goes by without something from the Indy Racing League or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway landing in your mailbox.

The Indy communications people who churn this stuff out are so good that if a race driver blows his or her nose somewhere, I swear a press release will quickly follow.

Now, much of what has been delivered so far this year has to do with the Indianapolis Speedway's Centennial celebrations. It was 100 years ago that the track opened – although the 500-mile race for which it's best known wasn't started until two years later, in 1911.

As of today, we're about seven weeks short of the actual anniversary of the speedway's opening, which was June 5, 1909, when a gas-filled balloon race was held.

And the anniversary of the very first scheduled motor race – seven motorcycle races, in fact – won't arrive until Aug. 14. But there's a little-known Canadian connection that I'd like to share with you.

Although the anniversary of the motorcycle races is said to be Aug. 14, 1911, the meet was rained out, according to an auto racing magazine of the day, Speed Age. When they finally got going the next day, the show was called off after just three races following a series of violent flips.

(An aside: the first motorcycle race was won by a local Indianapolis lad named Edwin G. Baker, who went on to fame and fortune as "Cannonball" Baker.)

This rainout and subsequent cancellation of the rest of the next day's races then set the stage for the first auto racing at the Speedway, which took place on Aug. 19.

The first race driver to be killed at the Indianapolis Speedway on Aug. 19, 1911, was William Bourque, a 26-year-old Canadian-born racer from West Farnham, Que., southeast of Montreal near the Eastern Townships

Although it is not a claim to fame that would be high on anybody's list, Bourque's death is still historically significant and ranks right up there with Baker winning the first motorcycle race, Barney Oldfield of Wauseon, Ohio, setting the first speed record at the track (43.1 seconds to go a mile) and Louis (Louie) Schwitzer of Silesia, Austria, winning the first auto race.

Bourque was in his teens when he moved from Quebec to Springfield, Mass., to work for the Knox Automobile Co.He started as an apprentice and showed his talent behind the wheel by qualifying to be a test driver.

According to historians, Bourque was an excellent driver who was known to have "outstanding nerve, judgment and physical strength." The week before his death, he'd won four prizes at a race meet in Richfield Springs, N.Y.

Bourque, who was engaged to be married there later that year, had won one race that fateful day and was looking to win again when he went out for the feature event, the 250-mile Prest-O-Lite Trophy Race. He was battling Bob Burman for the lead and was holding off Louis Chevrolet when disaster struck.

This, from Speed Age:

"At 50 miles, Chevrolet, Burman and (Lewis) Strang ran in that order. The track was breaking up, especially in the turns, and the dust was blinding ...

"Forty-five miles later, the Knox wavered, about 300 yards north of the grandstand, then shot straight for the outside ...

(It was reported that Bourque was seen glancing backwards at other cars on the front stretch. At that moment, a wheel caught a rut and the car went out of control.)

"The car hurtled the fence, turned turtle, and threw the mechanic, 22-year-old Harry Holcomb, into a fence post," Speed Age continued. "His head crushed, he died instantly. Bourque, pinned under the car, died without regaining consciousness ...

"It was a gory beginning, and the newspapers played the theme no end. Eyewitness after eyewitness was quoted, almost crowding out the story of the races."

In fact, two days later, on Aug. 21, the Indianapolis News reported: "There were more women in the crowd than on Thursday and they appeared to be the most interested of the spectators. The killing of the two men, it seemed, only served to increase the excitement."

Three more people died that weekend – a riding mechanic and two spectators when an out-of-control car flew into the crowd.

The coroner was not amused, announced he was holding the Speedway responsible – in particular for the deaths of Bourque and Holcomb – and recommended an investigation by a grand jury.

The end result was the paving of the crushed-stone-and-tar speedway with more than three million red bricks, hence the nickname, "the Brickyard."

And William Bourque? Consigned to history, until now.

So, first Indy 500 Canadian: Pete Henderson. First Canadian on the Indianapolis Speedway, and first Canadian to lose his life there: William (Wilfred?) Bourque. (There's even a Facebook page for Bourque.)

while on the subject of board tracks

2012-01-22T11:59:00.000-08:00

Stumbled across a few videos on the British Pathe site. Hope this works:

AT AMERICA'S BROOKLANDS

Sunday funnies

2012-01-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Stumbled across another "348" Sunday page featuring The Gumps.

one of my favourite songs

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, a blast from the past. The Seeds of Time doing Crying the Blues.

northwest racer, Jimmie Wilburn

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Because he won so much he got the nickname "Ho Hum", like winning wasn't a big deal.

And he travelled and won. A lot. This win was a Reading, Pennsylvania.

more midget madness

2012-01-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

Lewiston, ID, 1962. Vancouver driver, Bill Hall is part of the photo action.

Tacoma Speedway, even more

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

Came across this ad for film footage of the 1915 AAA at Tacoma. I wonder if it still exists?

Until then a 1913 Keystone film titled "The Speed Kings", and featuring Earl Cooper and Teddy Tetzlaff will have to do. Also features Fatty Arbuckle.

Tacoma Speedway, some more

2012-01-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

The big historian of Tacoma Speedway, Dr. Wayne Herstad, gave a talk on the speedway a couple years back. It's broken up into five parts. I'll embed part two, as the first part has a bunch of "society" business being taken care of before the talk begins.

Sound is poor, as in "turn up the volume!", but with headphones on I heard most of it. And the last section has the camera pan over some of the memorabilia.

More Tacoma Speedway info here.

Tacoma Speedway

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

An old, if 1997 is old, article about Tacoma Speedway. Big American Automobile Association (AAA) races were held there from 1912 to 1922. From 1915 until the end it was a two mile board (as in lumber) track.

Skagit Speedway from 1973

2012-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

Three pretty interesting videos from Skagit Speedway, circa 1973. I see Al Mullet's No. 29 super stock amongst others that came north to race at Langley Speedway.

The Stripes, Hot Rod

2012-01-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

Vancouver rockabilly band circa 1957.

More info on The Stripes here and here.

some 1935 northwest big car winners

2012-01-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

An attempt at getting a graph of winners (not complete by any stretch) of northwest big car races. If it doesn't work it'll disappear and anyone who saw it will wonder where it went. (I'll never tell.)

more Doug Larson

2012-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

Some old, random clippings from the Cariboo Observer.

sad news, Cal Morrow

2012-01-11T11:57:00.000-08:00

Just received information that Cal Morrow passed away recently. He is one of those originals from the Vancouver area.

Calvin James MORROW | Visit Guest Book
MORROW, Calvin James December 11, 1931 - December 20, 2011 We are deeply saddened to announce the peaceful passing of our proud and loving father Cal. Calvin was the oldest boy from a family of eight children, born and raised in North Vancouver. From an early age he fell in love with cars and eventually built his own custom 1934 Ford hot rod, which he completed in 1954. He went on to win many races and shows. Cal's family was always his first priority. He is survived by his daughter Cindy (Brent), son Bradley (Lynne), daughter Teresa (Kevin), son Frank (Kelli), daughter Wanda (Brent), stepdaughter Andrea (Don), 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother Wayne, sisters Norma and Darlene, granddaughter Nicole, first wife Jacqueline and second wife Marguerite. The family wishes to invite you to a Celebration of Cal's Life on Saturday, January 14, 2011, 2:00pm at First Memorial Funeral Home, Boal Chapel 1505 Lillooet Road, North Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice in Calvin's name.
Published in Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on January 10, 2012

The photos come from a January 1955 Rod & Custom magazine. Details, and more photos can be found here.

And Cal's inductee page for the Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society can be found here.

Doug Larson, CAMRA champ

2012-01-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

Some more Doug Larson clippings.

Doug Larson, CAMRA champ

2012-01-10T21:13:00.000-08:00

Doug Larson, out of Quesnel, BC, won four CAMRA titles. Sadly he passed away a few years ago. The Cariboo Observer is online so here are a few clippings.

Sunday funnies

2012-01-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

While I am reading the first volume of Gasoline Alley (published by Drawn and Quarterly) these are Sunday pages from The Gumps.

Saturday morning music

2012-01-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

An old hot rod song. Faron (Hello Walls) Young and Hot Rod Boogie.

Charlie Kobus

2012-01-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

His name has come up before. And I've been stumbling across it again in recent searching. (And yeah I know the name gets spelled differently in the first clipping. Whaddya gonna do?)

So from back here to right here.

Phil Churchill, 1927

2012-01-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Had a request for some information on Phil Churchill, who raced in the northwest during the mid-1920s. He was listed as being from North Bend, WA.

As it happened Phil lost his life in a racing accident at Vancouver`s Hastings Park. His was the second fatal at the track.

More results of Phil Churchill at the Hastings Park track can be found by clicking this link.

I got the before and after photos of the Churchill car at Hastings Park from the pages of Racing Wheels sent to me by Dick Downes. And the death certificate came from the microfilm files at my local university.

While the photo caption says 1926 the fatal accident happened in 1927. Sorting out what happened so many years ago is a very slow process of microfilm newspapers.

Washington State Hot Rod Hall of Fame

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

I will add this site, the Washington State Hot Rod Hall of Fame, to my links. We're so closely connected to the place, especially when we sit in line for hours to get there at the border.

One of the 2011 inductees is Harold LeMay. Here's an old clipping about him.

even more Bobby Rowe

2012-01-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Over to Eugene, Oregon with the big cars.

more Bobby Rowe promotions

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Bobby Rowe got the midgets introduced in the northwest. He helped get Jantzen Speedway built in the Portland area and the touring little cars went up to Vancouver, BC (Con Jones Park) and east to Lewiston, Idaho, amongst other locations.

Bobby Rowe

2012-01-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

Bobby Rowe was a hockey player and a coach. He played on the Stanley Cup winning Seattle Metropolitans and coached the Portland Buckaroos.

When not playing he promoted some races from the 1920s through to just after the Second World War.

CMHF, Norm Ellefson

2011-12-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

This is now being announced across Canada, Norm Ellefson is one of seven inductees into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.

Go to Norris MacDonald's blog for more information.

Norm was CAMRA champ for 1966, 1967 and 1969. He also drove to victory at the Minnesota State Fair in 1969.

He won numerous big races over the years including the Gold Cup and Matan Memorial at Edmonton, the Copper Cup in Salt Lake City, the Billy Foster Memorial in Victoria.

The clipping is from PGARA Speedway in Prince George.

Norm got his start in racing at Springbank Speedway in Calgary in the early 1950s and was still driving a car in the late 1990s at Spokane Raceway Park.

He drove the old stock cars, super modifieds, super stocks, and NASCAR Grand Nationals all to great success.

He is a deserving entry to the CMHF. And this is a good way to close out the year.

Happy New Year to Norm and everyone out there.

Art Jones, hydroplanes, Kelowna

2011-12-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

Was given a Christmas present of the Kelowna history book this year. The only motorsport reference that I've found so far is of the Regatta. No hill climb or Billy Foster Speedway or Knox Mountain Speedway, let alone Kel-Win Speedway.

Okay, that's fine.

Art Jones was a big deal in hydroplane racing and here's some 1953 clippings to prove that.

Interesting to see names like BC Sports Hall of Famer Jim Hutchison and former Spokane midget racer Tommy Close in the results.

further information on the "Vacuum Cleaner"

2011-12-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Marty Kobata's comment in the previous post on Bay View we have this link to rear engine dragsters.

And from there another link to the "Vacuum Cleaner" dragster from Seattle.

Of course, you know I'll save it all just in case everything gets deleted.

some more Bay View photos

2011-12-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'd love to get more information on this and other drag strips from the early days.

The top car is said to have something to do with Seattle's Jim Green, a name that has a lot of motorsport history in the Pacific northwest.

Again please and thank you to Larry Pfister and the old horsepowerheaven website.

Bay View drag strip

2011-12-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

Some sent a comment about a previous posting on Bay View. Said motorcyclists Dayton MacKenzie and Terry Rea used to beat the cars regularly.

I noted the link to the old horsepowerheaven website was dead. So with apologies (and please and thank you to Larry Pfister) here are some of the photos that were on that site.

The second photo might be of Sandy Lovelace, the namesake of the Memorial award given each year for those who preserve the history of motorsport in the Greater Vancouver area. At least, that's what information I was given a few years back.

so Merry Xmas

2011-12-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Watch an old movie, if you can find one you want to watch. (Stuff "lifted" from the web. Please and thank you.)

restored super modified story

2011-12-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

One of those Tipke super modifieds was restored a few years back. Norm Ellefson adds some information to the story.

some old photos from 1921

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

It would be wonderful to find out that the photos from the 1921 races in Spokane were saved, negatives or whatever. Important stuff.

some more old race information, 1921

2011-12-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Interesting the late edition, or was it the early edition, concerning "LATTA!" He finished third. Big headline for a third place.

Many of these drivers came to Vancouver's Hastings Park during this era.

some old race information, 1916

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

From Spokane, and part of the fair, but I can't seem to find anything on what was advertised as a second day of racing.

NASCAR WGN, 1972 at Spokane

2011-12-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

One more big race from Spokane in 1972. The Western Grand National race. Cool thing is the trophy dash and heat results. (Okay, my version of "cool" and someone else's version might be entirely different. It's "cool" to me.)

Lilac Cup, 1972

2011-12-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

Don't think I've posted much on Spokane. Maybe a bit, but not this surely.

more old clippings

2011-12-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

Seems hard to believe that 1983 is old. But it is. Again from Spanaway Speedway. This time the midgets.

more old clippings

2011-12-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

Super modifieds down at Spanaway Speedway in 1983. The feature was won by Kamloops driver Marty White.

some new findings

2011-12-16T22:58:00.000-08:00

Been jumping around, methodically mind you, from year to year trying to answer a few questions while also finding things I didn't know were there.

So a few posts worth of clippings.

This one featuring Victoria's Billy Hitchcox winning a NASCAR late model sportsman race at Tri City Speedway in 1982.

sad news

2011-12-15T10:46:00.001-08:00

Over the past few months three Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers have passed away.

Lee Romanowski

Harvey McEwen

Al Prendergast

All contributed to the growth and continuation of motorsport in the Greater Vancouver area. They will be missed.

GVMPS panels

2011-12-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

One of the things the Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneer Society likes to do is include some sort of display panel of each inductee. This really only started around 2003/4 so there are major omissions and gaps.

But lately I've been trying to digitize them. As they are bigger than what a scanner flat bed can handle I've been going back to the old "take a photo of a photo" routine. Used to do that with my old 35 mm and then set up the dark room in the bathroom. (Shudder...those are memories I'd like to forget.)

Anyway, these aren't perfect but they can be fun. The ones I do are pretty basic so I'll include two done by the inductees themselves. Bob Nottingham and Jack Cross.

some early modifieds

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

Photos from the 1961 Edmonton Gold Cup program. Cars would travel from near and far to try for the money.

Norm Ellefson, 1960

2011-12-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hearing some good news from and about Norm Ellefson. I'll wait for the official announcement but here's one of his early big wins up in Edmonton. The Gold Cup of 1960.

AYPE cross country race, 1909

2011-12-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Seattle PBS station has played a documentary on the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition of 1909 a few times. It features, as part of the story and the exhibition, a cross country automobile race from New York to Seattle.

Came across the 1959 story in the Tri City Herald. And some additional online info.

An overview article of the race by the UW.

And a look at the cross country race from the Ford No. 1 race car.

more 1957 drag racing, Washington State

2011-12-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Another result. And a photo of this Lew Conn and his dragster.

drag racing from Washington State, 1957

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

From Bowers Field (Kittatas County Airport?) near Ellensburg, WA. Lew Conn seems to have been the hot shot racer in that area at that time.

Goldendale (Maryhill) hill climb

2011-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Came across this while looking for something else. One clipping from the Tri City Herald (1959) and the Ellensburg Record (1957).

1955 Shearing Speedway, big cars

2011-12-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

There were ads for big car races at Shearing Speedway in 1955 but nothing in the way of results from either Victoria newspaper or the Cowichan paper. Haven't looked at the Nanaimo Free Press for that year yet. Maybe something there.

I like how the ad has the possessive "Shearing's" to name the Speedway.

1953 Shearing Speedway, big cars

2011-12-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

A second season that built on the success of the abbreviated first season.

1953

May 16, 1953

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Brownie Brown
3, Vern Bruce

--1st heat:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Dave Cooper
3, Brownie Brown

--2nd heat:
1, Corky Thomas
2, Bill Heller

--15-lap main event:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Jack Spalding
3, Bill Heller
4, Corky Thomas

May 23, 1953

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Bob Simpson
--main event: Bob Simpson

May 30, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Dave Cooper
3, Ken Maddill

--1st heat:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Dave Cooper
3, Verne Moore

--2nd heat:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Ken Maddill
3, Verne Moore

--15-lap main event:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Ed Kostenuk
3, Verne Moore

June 2, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Bob Simpson
3, Ed Kostenuk

--1st heat:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Shorty Scovell
3, Ed Kostenuk

--2nd heat:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Dave Cooper
3, Shorty Scovell

--main event:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Ed Kostenuk
3, Shorty Scovell

June 6, 1953

--rained out

June 13, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Cliff Spalding
2, Dave Cooper
3, Wilbur Clarke

--no other big car events held this evening

June 20, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Eddie Kostenuk
2, Dave Cooper
3, Bob Simpson

--1st heat:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Ken Madill
3, Fred Carson

--2nd heat:
1, Vern Moore
2, Fred Carson
3, Bob Simpson

--10-lap main event:
1, Vern Moore
2, Ken Madill
3, Ed Kostenuk

July 1, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Fred Carson
3, Bob Simpson

--1st heat:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Dave Cooper
3, Ross Clements

--2nd heat:
1, Corky Thomas
2, Vern Bruce
3, Bob Simpson

--3rd heat:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Corky Thomas
3, Vern Moore

--main event:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Jack Spalding
3, Bob Simpson

July 11, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Jack Spalding
3, Fred Carson

--1st heat:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Ed Kostenuk
3, Ross Clements

--2nd heat:
1, Bob Simpson
2, Fred Carson
3, Bill Heller

--3rd heat:
1, Ross Clements
2, Bill Heller
3, Vern Bruce

--main event:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Bob Simpson
3, Ross Clements

August 1, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Ed Kostenuk
3, Fred Carson

--1st heat:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Ed Kostenuk
3, Dave Cooper

--main event:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Ed Kostenuk
3, Brownie Brown

August 15, 1953

--fast time: Jack Spalding, 15.28 (NTR)

--trophy dash:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Jack Spalding
3, Bob Simpson

--1st heat:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Bob Simpson
3, Jack Spalding

--2nd heat:
1, Jack Spalding
2, Bob Simpson
3, Corky Thomas

--3rd heat:
1, Vern Bruce
2, Corky Thomas
3, Bob Simpson

--main event:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Bob Simpson
3, Corky Thomas

August 29, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Corky Thomas
3, Vern Bruce

--1st heat:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Corky Thomas
3, Fred Carson

--2nd heat:
1, Corky Thomas
2, Vern Moore

--3rd heat:
1, Bob Simpson and Ross Clements, dead heat

--main event:
1, Vern Bruce
2, Corky Thomas
3, Bob Simpson

September 5, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Ed Kostenuk
3, Corky Thomas

--1st heat:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Corky Thomas
3, Dave Cooper

--2nd heat:
1, Corky Thomas
2, Vern Bruce
3, Verne Moore

--3rd heat:
1, Vern Bruce
2, Verne Moore
3, Ross Clements

--main event:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Corky Thomas
3, Verne Moore

September 19, 1953

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Ed Kostenuk
3, Bob Simpson

--1st heat:
1, Dave Cooper
2, Bob Simpson
3, Ross Clements

--2nd heat:
1, Corky Thomas
2, Bob Simpson
(only cars left running)

--3rd heat:
1, Ross Clements
2, Corky Thomas
3, Bob Simpson

--main event:
1, Corky Thomas
2, Dave Cooper
3, Bob Simpson

October 12, 1953 championship races

--fast time: ??

--trophy dash:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Ross Clements
3, Corky Thomas

--1st heat:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Corky Thomas
3, Fred Carson

--2nd heat:
1, Verne Moore and Vern Bruce, dead heat

--50-lap main event:
1, Ed Kostenuk
2, Corky Thomas
3, Verne Moore

1953 summary:

track record: Jack Spalding, 15.28

trophy dash wins: 5, Dave Cooper
4, Ed Kostenuk
3, Jack Spalding
1, Bob Spalding and Cliff Spalding

main event wins: 4, Dave Cooper
3, Ed Kostenuk
2, Jack Spalding
1, Bob Simpson, Verne Moore, Vern Bruce and Corky Thomas

final points standings:

1--Dave Cooper (2) 265 1/2
2--Verne Moore (1) 264 1/2
3--Ed Kostenuk (75) 198
4--Corky Thomas (3) 184 1/2
5--Haslam and Heller (4) 112
6--Vern Bruce (36) 88 1/2
7--Ross Clements (44) 83
8--Fred Carson (42) 60
9--Bob Simpson (0) 34 1/2
10-Bill Mattison (50) 0

Frank Cameron perpetual trophy: Dave Cooper

big car races advertised at Shearing for 1955: no results in the newspapers available.

Shearing main wins (1952-1953)

1--4, Bob Simpson
Dave Cooper
3--3, Ed Kostenuk
4--2, Del Fanning
Jack Spalding
6--1, Pike Green
Bob Gregg
Vern Moore
Vern Bruce
Corky Thomas

1952 Shearing Speedway, big cars

2011-12-01T18:07:00.001-08:00

It was a struggle to get a new track on Vancouver Island after Langford Speedway closed. No one wanted a track in the Victoria area. Then the Shearing brothers, up in Cobble Hill, built a track, and for a couple years that was race central on the Island.

1952

August 23, 1952

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Bob Simpson
--10-lap main event: Pike Green
(20 laps according to Pike)

August 30, 1952

--fast time: Del Fanning, 16.5
--trophy dash: dead heat between Del Fanning and Bob Simpson
--main event: Del Fanning

September 6, 1952

--no results

September 13, 1952

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Dave Cooper
--main event: Del Fanning

September 20, 1952

--fast time: Bob Simpson, 16.29 (NTR)
--trophy dash: Bob Simpson
--main event: Bob Simpson

September 27, 1952

--fast time: Bob Simpson, 15.32 (NTR)
--trophy dash: Bob Simpson
--main event: Bob Simpson

October 4, 1952: championship races

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Bob Gregg
--25-lap main event: Bob Gregg

October 12, 1952

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Bob Simpson
--main event (?): Bob Simpson

1952 summary

--Bert Sutton Trophy, top points: Bob Simpson

--Frank Cameron Trophy, untiring effort: George Haslam

--Jimmy Laird Trophy, most improved driver: Corky Thomas

big car owner standings:

1--Grant King, Winfield
2--Dave Cooper, Mercury
3--Corky Thomas, Winfield
4--George Haslam, Cragar

big car driver standings:

1--Bob Simpson
2--Dave Cooper
3--Corky Thomas
4--George Haslam

main event wins: 3, Bob Simpson
2, Del Fanning
1, Pike Green and Bob Gregg

I'm just going to cover the big cars at this point. The stock cars of the Vancouver Island Track Roadster Association (VITRA) will have to wait.

Ray Elder, RIP

2011-12-01T00:32:00.000-08:00

Southern California NASCAR racer Ray Elder passed away November 24th. He came up and raced at Langley Speedway in the early 1970s as well as Westwood.

Here's a link to his NASCAR stats for what is now called the Sprint Cup series and the K&N Series.
Back in the day they were the Winston and Winston West Series.

And a video that features the #96 of Ray and the #4 of Hershel McGriff on the dirt at Ascot Speedway.

1961 Copper Classic, Salt Lake City

2011-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Final results for the Copper Classic. Art Pollard won the two day event with Eldon Rasmussen second. The picture of Art (below) is from a couple years later.

Eldon Rasmussen, down in Salt Lake City, 1961

2011-11-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Copper Cup was a big race at the Salt Lake City Fairgrounds for a number of years. By 1963 it was part of the CAMRA circuit. But even back in 1961 drivers were coming from far and wide to vie for the big prize money.

IMCA, Calgary, 1950

2011-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Some results that include Calgary's own George LeMay. George is also in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.

"the Ted Williams of auto racing", Emory Collins

2011-11-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Some 1950 Calgary Herald clippings on the IMCA race in Calgary. It was Emory Collins' last year racing.

oldie, but a goodie

2011-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've put this Jack Smith clipping up. Found it on the net. Finding information on Jack's early days in Alberta is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. After he got to Victoria he became very well known. And that is the reason why he is in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.

a couple Sunday cartoons

2011-11-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Because I haven't added any for a long time.

some Langford stats, 1936-1950

2011-11-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hopefully this is the updated version I worked on recently. I'd added incorrectly in a previous draft. And that upset Pike Green immensely. He wasn't happy being behind Vern Bruce, a guy he couldn't get along with way back when. He was much happier having more wins when I did a recount.

Langford Speedway (1936-1950) summary

main event wins: 1--22, Jack Spalding
2--16, Digger Caldwell
3--10, Swede Lindskog
4--7, Don Olds
5--6, Jerry Vantreight
Dave Cooper
Ernie Spalding
8--5, Pike Green
Bud Green
Del Fanning
11--4, Lew McMurtry
Vern Bruce
13--3, Wally Schock
Jimmy Seim
Chick Barbo
16--2, Dave Dippallito
Stan/Jack Mahoney
Bert Bloomgren
Bert Sutton
20--1, Elmer Setterman
Woody Woodford
Claude Walling
Les Anderson
Bill Gehler
Joe Moore (Kenny Rickman)
George Haslam
Bung Eng
Bob Simpson
Brownie Brown
Ed Kostenuk

midget main wins: 1, Bud Green

hardtop main wins: 2, Chuck Cedar

Langford Speedway, 1950

2011-11-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

At the end of the 1950 season, the property the held Langford Speedway was sold to the local school board, thus ending eleven seasons of big car racing. The big cars would return to the Victoria area, but it would take a detour north before then.

And all of that will be covered shortly.

1950

May 6, 1950

--fast time: Del Fanning, 17.11 (NTR)
--trophy dash: Jack Spalding
--30-lap main event: Del Fanning

May 20, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--main event: Ernie Spalding

May 24, 1950

--fast time: Ernie Spalding, ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--30-lap main event: Dave Cooper

June 3, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--30-lap main event: Jack Spalding

June 17, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--30-lap main event: Bob Simpson

June 24, 1950 (Washington hardtops)

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Chuck Cedar
--B main event: Jack Anderson
--A main event: Chuck Cedar

July 1, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--main event: Jack Spalding

July 8, 1950 (Washington hardtops)

--no results (rain?)

July 15, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Vern Bruce
--30-lap main event: Brownie Brown

July 22, 1950 (Washington hardtops)

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Chuck Cedar
--main event: Chuck Cedar

July 29, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Jack Spalding
--30-lap main event: Ed Kostenuk

August 5, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Vern Bruce
--main event: Dave Cooper

August 19, 1950

--cancelled because tires were seized by customs

August 26, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ed Kostenuk
--main event: Dave Cooper

September 4, 1950

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Jack Spalding
--40-lap main event: Dave Cooper

1950 summary

track record: Del Fanning, 17.11

trophy dash wins: 5, Ernie Spalding
3, Jack Spalding
2, Vern Bruce (Chuck Cedar, hardtop)
1, Ed Kostenuk

main event wins: 4, Dave Cooper
2, Jack Spalding (Chuck Cedar, hardtop)
1, Del Fanning, Ernie Spalding, Bob Simpson, Brownie Brown, and Ed Kostenuk

BCASA big car Champion -- “Brownie” Brown

Owner: Rundell Winfield, No. 10

Midget champ: Ed Kostenuk in No. 33C Cooney V8

Langford Speedway, 1949

2011-11-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

The penultimate season for Langford Speedway.

1949

May 7, 1949

--fast time: Jack Spalding, 17.87
--trophy dash: Jack Spalding
--28-lap main event (power failure): Jack Spalding

May 14, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Jack Spalding
--30-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

May 21, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Del Fanning
--10-lap B main event: Ken McMurray
--A main event: Del Fanning

May 24, 1949

--fast time: Vern Bruce, 17.95
--trophy dash: Vern Bruce
--10-lap B main event: Ed Kostenuk
--30-lap A main event: Jack Spalding

May 28, 1949

--fast time: Vern Bruce
--trophy dash: Vern Bruce
--30-lap main event: Vern Bruce

June 4, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Jack Spalding
--30-lap main event: Ernie Spalding

June 11, 1949

--fast time: Jack Spalding, 17.62
--trophy dash: Jack Spalding
--30-lap main event: Vern Bruce

June 18, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Jack Spalding
--30-lap main event: Vern Bruce

June 25, 1949

--rained out

July 2, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Vern Bruce
--30-lap main event: Del Fanning

July 9, 1949

--Satan’s Hell Drivers

July 16, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Digger Caldwell
--30-lap main event: Jack Spalding

July 27, 1949, Digney Speedway, Burnaby, BC

--30-lap main event: Bob Simpson (in No. 36 rear-engine)

July 30, 1949

--fast time: Dave Cooper, 17.67
--trophy dash: Digger Caldwell
--30-lap main event: Ernie Spalding

August 13, 1949

--fast time: Ernie Spalding, 17.31 (NTR)
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--30-lap main event: Ernie Spalding

August 20, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--30-lap main event: Jack Spalding

August 27, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Vern Bruce
--30-lap main event: Don Olds

September 3, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--B main event: Don Olds
--A main event: Ernie Spalding

September 5, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: ??
--30-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

September 10, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--30-lap main event: Ernie Spalding

October 1, 1949

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Ernie Spalding
--60-lap main event: Vern Bruce

1949 summary

track record: Ernie Spalding, 17.31

trophy dash wins: 5, Jack Spalding
4, Vern Bruce and Ernie Spalding
2, Digger Caldwell
1, Del Fanning
(1, unknown)

main event wins: 5, Ernie Spalding
4, Jack Spalding and Vern Bruce
2, Digger Caldwell and Del Fanning
1, Don Olds

--1949 big car champion: Jack Spalding
--most popular driver: Digger Caldwell

Langford Speedway, 1948

2011-11-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

Langford Speedway's 1948 season.

1948

May 1, 1948

--fast time: Pike Green, 18.48
--helmet dash: PIke Green
--30-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

May 8, 1948

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Vern Bruce
--30-lap main event: Jack Spalding

May 15, 1948

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Pike Green
--B main event: Bob Simpson
--A main event: Digger Caldwell

May 22, 1948

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Digger Caldwell
--main event: Pike Green

May 24, 1948

--fast time: Harry Brown, ??
--helmet dash: Digger Caldwell
--main event: Del Fanning

May 29, 1948

--rained out

June 5, 1948

--fast time, Jack Spalding, ??
--helmet dash: Jack Spalding
--10-lap B main event: George Haslam
--40-lap A main event: Jack Spalding
(Hawkes-Foster Trophy)

June 12, 1948

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Jack Spalding
--B main event: Eddie Kostenuk
--A main event: Del Fanning

June 19, 1948

--rained out

June 26, 1948

--fast time, Jack Spalding, 18.07
--helmet dash: Jack Spalding
--B main event: Eddie Kostenuk
--A main event: Jack Spalding

July 1, 1948

--50-lap stock car main: Roy Newton
--Model T main: Bob Simpson
--15-lap big car main: Dave Cooper

July 3, 1948

--fast time: Don Olds, 17.9 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Don Olds
--40-lap main event: Don Olds

July 10, 1948

--fast time: Don Olds, 17.89 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Don Olds
--30-lap main event: Jack Spalding

July 17, 1948

--fast time: Vern Bruce, 17.92
--helmet dash: Vern Bruce
--main event: Jerry Vantreight

July 24, 1948

--fast time: Don Olds, 17.64 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Don Olds
--main event: Don Olds

July 31, 1948

--fast time: Dave Cooper, 18.21
--helmet dash: Dave Cooper
--main event: Bung Eng

August 7, 1948

--fast time: Don Olds, 17.50 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Don Olds
--B main event: Gar Warren
--40-lap A main event: Don Olds
(Hawkes-Foster Trophy)

August 14, 1948

--fast time: Howard Stanley, 18.12
--helmet dash: Howard Stanley
--main event: Don Olds

August 21, 1948

--fast time: Vern Bruce, ??
--helmet dash: Vern Bruce
--main event: Jack Spalding

August 28, 1948

--fast time: George Simpson, ??
--helmet dash: George Simpson
--main event: Don Olds

September 4, 1948

--fast time: Don Olds, 17.80
--helmet dash: Don Olds
--main event: Don Olds

September 6, 1948

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Vern Bruce
--50-lap main event: Jack Spalding
(Hawkes-Foster Trophy)

1948 summary

--Bert Sutton Memorial Trophy for top points: Jack Spalding
2nd, Digger Caldwell

track record: Don Olds, 17.50

helmet dash wins: 5, Don Olds
4, Vern Bruce
3, Jack Spalding
2, Pike Green and Digger Caldwell
1, Dave Cooper, Howard Stanley and George Simpson

main event wins: 6, Jack Spalding and Don Olds
2, Digger Caldwell and Del Fanning
1, Pike Green, Dave Cooper, Jerry Vantreight and Bung Eng

Langford Speedway, 1947

2011-11-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

Second post-World War Two season at Langford Speedway.

1947

May 24, 1947

--fast time: Digger Caldwell, 19.2
--helmet dash: Digger Caldwell
--B main event: Don Olds
--A main event: Digger Caldwell

May 31, 1947

--fast time: Digger Caldwell, 18.5
--helmet dash: Digger Caldwell
--B main event: Jack Patterson
--A main event: Digger Caldwell

June 14, 1947

--fast time: Howard Stanley, ??
--helmet dash: Howard Stanley
--30-lap main event: George Haslam

June 21, 1947

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Del Fanning
--30-lap main event: Pike Green

June 28, 1947

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Jerry Vantreight
--B main event: Jack Norton
--A main event: Jerry Vantreight

July 1, 1947, The Willows Model T race

--15-lap main--Oscar Guelpha

July 5, 1947

--fast time: Howard Stanley, 18.76
--helmet dash: Howard Stanley
--30-lap main event: Jerry Vantreight

July 12, 1947

--fast time: Jerry Vantreight, 18.69
--helmet dash: Jerry Vantreight
--30-lap main event: Jerry Vantreight

July 19, 1947

--fast time: Dave Cooper, 18.42
--helmet dash: Dave Cooper
--30-lap main event: Dave Cooper

July 26, 1947

--fast time: Ken McMurray, 18.19
--helmet dash: Ken McMurray
--30-lap main event: Jack Spalding

August 2, 1947

--fast time: Howard Stanley, 18.18
--helmet dash: Ken McMurray
--30-lap main: Jack Spalding

August 9, 1947

--fast time: Digger Caldwell, 18.41
--helmet dash: Digger Caldwell
--30-lap main event: Jack Spalding

August 16, 1947

--fast time: Ken McMurray, ??
--helmet dash: ??
--30-lap main event: Pike Green

August 23, 1947

--fast time: Del Fanning, ??
--helmet dash: Del Fanning
--B main event: Eddie Rossano
--A main event: Jack Spalding

August 30, 1947

--fast time: Howard Stanley, 18.02
--helmet dash: Howard Stanley
--B main event: Dave Cooper
--A main event: Digger Caldwell

September 1, 1947

--fast time: Howard Stanley, 18.31
--helmet dash: Howard Stanley
--50-lap main event: Jack Spalding

September 6, 1947

--rained out

September 13, 1947

--fast time: Del Fanning, 18.29
--helmet dash: ??
--30-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

September 20, 1947

--fast time: Digger Caldwell, ??
--helmet dash: Digger Caldwell
--50-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

1947 summary

--top points, Bert Sutton award: Digger Caldwell

--most popular driver: Jerry Vantreight

--Frank Cameron trophy for the “most untiring effort”: Corky Thomas

--Chuck House, Seattle, owner of car No. 25, was presented with a club bag from the BCASA for his untiring efforts on behalf of the sport.

track record: 18 seconds by Digger Caldwell (1946), Lew McMurtry (1941) and Jimmy Seim (1939)

helmet dash wins: 4, Digger Caldwell and Howard Stanley
2, Del Fanning, Jerry Vantreight and Ken McMurray
1, Dave Cooper
(2, unknown)

main event wins: 5, Digger Caldwell and Jack Spalding
3, Jerry Vantreight
2, Pike Green
1, George Haslam and Dave Cooper

Langford Speedway, 1946

2011-11-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

Some more winners, this time from the post-World War Two era.

1946

May 25, 1946

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Digger Caldwell
--20-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

June 8, 1946

--fast time: Digger Caldwell, 18 (equals track record)
--trophy dash: Digger Caldwell
--20-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

June 22, 1946

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Digger Caldwell
--20-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

July 1, 1946 (The Willows, Model T)

--24-lap main: Albin (Alvin?) Nelson

July 13, 1946

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: ??
--20-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

July 27, 1946

--fast time: Digger Caldwell, 18 2-5
--trophy dash: Digger Caldwell
--20-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

August 10, 1946

--fast time: Bud Green and Digger Caldwell, 19
--trophy dash: Bud Green
--20-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

August 17, 1946

--fast time: Digger Caldwell, 18 (equals track record)
--trophy dash: Bud Green
--20-lap main event: Digger Caldwell

August 24, 1946

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Digger Caldwell
--20-lap main event: Bud Green

September 7, 1946

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: ??
--20-lap main event: Pike Green

September 21, 1946

--fast time: ??
--trophy dash: Digger Caldwell
--15-lap B main event: Lloyd Blair
--50-lap A main event: Pike Green

1946 summary:

track record: 18, Digger Caldwell (equals Lew McMurtry, 1941, and Jimmy Seim, 1939)

trophy dash wins: 6, Digger Caldwell
2, Bud Green

main event wins: 7, Digger Caldwell
2, Pike Green
1, Bud Green

Bert Sutton Memorial trophy
Digger Caldwell 53
Pike Green 40
Jerry Vantreight
Jack Spalding
Bob Wensley
Corky Thomas
Jimmy Laird
Roy Vincent
Jack Norton

(Johnny Wright in Oct. 9, 1946 NSSN has 7 through 10 positions as: 7, Jack Norton; 8, Roy Vincent; 9, Spence Mathews; 10, Jimmy Laird.)

Digger Caldwell also won the Laird Trophy for most wins in the helmet dash.

Edmonton Trans-Am, 1973, part three

2011-11-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

Peter Gregg was second at Edmonton's 1973 Can-Am. John Greenwood, in a Corvette, won the race. Also, a follow up story on Milt Minter's injuries.

Edmonton Trans-Am, 1973, part two

2011-11-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

Some more Edmonton Trans-Am clippings.

Edmonton Trans-Am race, 1973

2011-11-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

Some clippings from the Edmonton Trans-Am race of 1973.

some internet clippings from Edmonton (vital stats: 37-26-37)

2011-11-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

My back and neck have allowed me more time at the computer screen. Never sure if that's a good thing or not. But here I am and have gone through some months (or as much of those months that were available) from the newspaper archive online.

First one, to get your attention, is a big funny car show in Edmonton from 1973. The final featured Ed "the Ace" McColloch and "Jungle" Jim Leiberman. And "Jungle" Pam was there as well, probably more of a draw than the racers. She provided the vital statistics.

More Pam can be found here and here.

I don't think Jim or Pam made it to Mission. But I could be wrong there.

Langford Speedway, 1941

2011-11-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

Last season before the Second World War took over. Photos are from the Golden Wheels collection.

1941

June 7, 1941

--fast time: Lew McMurtry, 18 (equals track record)
--helmet dash: Lew McMurtry
--main event: Lew McMurtry

June 28, 1941

--fast time: Ernie Spalding, 18 4-5
--helmet dash: Jerry Vantreight
--main event: Lew McMurtry

July 2, 1941

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Lew McMurtry
--main event: Jerry Vantreight

July 26, 1941

--fast time: Jerry Vantreight, 18.5
--helmet dash: Jack Spalding
--main event: Jack Spalding

August 16, 1941

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Jack Spalding
--main event: Jack Spalding

August 23, 1941

--fast time: Jerry Vantreight, 18 3-5
--helmet dash: Jerry Vantreight
--main event: Jerry Vantreight

1941 summary

track record: Lew McMurtry, 18 (equals 1939 mark of Jimmy Seim)
helmet dash wins: 2, Lew McMurtry, Jerry Vantreight and Jack Spalding
main event wins: 2, Lew McMurtry, Jerry Vantreight and Jack Spalding

Langford Speedway, 1940 (1000th post!)

2011-11-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

Whoo-hoo! 1000 posts! Didn't think I'd make it.

And here's 1940 from Langford Speedway. More of the local drivers were enlisted and the track relied on American cars coming up.

1940

May 18, 1940

--fast time: Bud Green, 18 3-5
--helmet dash: ??
--main event: Bud Green
May 25, 1940

--fast time: Chick Barbo, 18 2-5
--helmet dash: Chick Barbo
--main event: Chick Barbo

June 8, 1940

--fast time: Chick Barbo, 19
--helmet dash: Seth Renning
--main event: Chick Barbo

June 22, 1940

--fast time: Lew McMurtry, 18 4-5
--helmet dash: Lew McMurtry
--main event: Lew McMurtry

June 29, 1940

--fast time: Lew McMurtry, 18.21
--helmet dash: Lew McMurtry
--main event: Lew McMurtry

July 6, 1940

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Bud Green
--main event: Les Anderson

July 13, 1940

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: Seth Renning
--main event: Bill Gehler

August 10, 1940

--fast time: Jack Spalding, 19 1-5
--helmet dash: Bud Green
--main event: Jack Spalding

August 17, 1940

--fast time: ??
--helmet dash: ??
--main event: Bud Green

October 14, 1940

midgets
--fast time: Jack Frumento, 19.1
--helmet dash: Jack Frumento
--main event: Bud Green

big cars
--fast time: Jack Spalding, 18.3
--helmet dash: Jack Spalding
--main event: Joe Moore

1940 summary

track record: Jimmy Seim, 18 (1939)
helmet dash wins: 2, Seth Renning, Lew McMurtry and Bud Green
1, Chick Barbo and Jack Spalding
1(midget), Jack Frumento
main event wins: 3, Bud Green
2, Chick Barbo and Lew McMurtry
1, Les Anderson, Bill Gehler, Jack Spalding and Joe Moore
1(midget), Bud Green

Langford Speedway, 1939

2011-11-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

The track was a happening place as the years went by, even if the season ended with war against Germany being declared.

1939 results

May 6, 1939

--fast time: Chick Barbo and Digger Caldwell, 19 2-5
--helmet dash: Chick Barbo
--main event: Swede Lindskog
(Times had quick time: Barbo, 19 3-5)

June 3, 1939

--fast time: Swede Lindskog, 18 4-5
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Swede Lindskog

June 10, 1939

--fast time: Jimmy Seim, 20
--helmet dash: Jimmy Seim
--main event: Swede Lindskog

June 17, 1939

--fast time: Swede Lindskog, 19 4-5
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Swede Lindskog

June 24, 1939

--fast time: Swede Lindskog and Chick Barbo (No. 27), 19
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Chick Barbo (Lindskog 5th)

July 8, 1939

--fast time: Swede Lindskog, 18 4-5
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Swede Lindskog

July 15, 1939

--fast time: Swede Lindskog, Jimmy Seim and Lew McMurtry, 19
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Swede Lindskog

July 22, 1939

--fast time: Swede Lindskog, 18 3-5 (equals track record)
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Bert Sutton (Lindskog through fence, last appearance at Langford. Rajo Jack in attendance.)

August 5, 1939

--fast time: Digger Caldwell and Jimmy Seim, 18.45 (should be NTR but unofficial)
--helmet dash: Jimmy Seim
--main event: Wally Schock

August 12, 1939

--fast time: Wally Schock and Digger Caldwell, 18 2-5 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Wally Schock
--main event: Wally Schock

August 19, 1939

--fast time: Digger Caldwell, 18 1-5
--helmet dash: Digger Caldwell
--main event: Jimmy Seim

August 25, 1939

--fast time: Wally Schock and Jimmy Seim, 18 1-5 (equals track record)
--helmet dash: Wally Schock
--main event: Wally Schock

September 2, 1939

--fast time: Jimmy Seim, 18 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Jimmy Seim
--main event: Jimmy Seim

September 16, 1939

--fast time: Wes Moore and Jimmy Seim, 18 1-5
--helmet dash: Wes Moore
--main event: Jimmy Seim

September 23, 1939

--race cancelled due to mechanical attrition

September 30, 1939

--fast time: Lew McMurtry and Digger Caldwell, 18 2-5
--helmet dash: Lew McMurtry
--main event: Claude Walling

1939 summary

track record: Jimmy Seim, 18 flat
helmet dash wins: 6, Swede Lindskog
3, Jimmy Seim
2, Wally Schock
1, Digger Caldwell, Wes Moore and Lew McMurtry
main event wins: 6, Swede Lindskog
3, Wally Schock and Jimmy Seim
1, Chick Barbo, Bert Sutton and Claude Walling

Langford Speedway, 1938

2011-11-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Third year of the speedway 8 miles north of Victoria.

1938 results

May 7, 1938

--fast time: Wes Moore, 19 1-5 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Bert Sutton
--main event: Jack Spalding

May 21, 1938

--fast time: Jack Spalding, 19 1-5 (equals track record)
--helmet dash: Jack Spalding
--main event: Swede Lindskog

June 4, 1938

--fast time: Wes Moore, 19 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Bert Bloomgren

June 18, 1938

--fast time: Swede Lindskog, 18 3-5 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Swede Lindskog

July 1, 1938

--fast time: Chick Barbo, Swede Lindskog, Bert Sutton, 18 4-5
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Bert Sutton

July 16, 1938

--fast time: Jack Spalding, 18 3-5 (equals track record)
--helmet dash: Jack Spalding
--main event: Bert Bloomgren

August 6, 1938

--fast time: ?
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Swede Lindskog

August 13, 1938

--fast time: ?
--helmet dash: Bert Sutton
--main event: Jack Spalding

August 20, 1938

--fast time: Woody Woodford, 18 4-5
--helmet dash: Woody Woodford
--main event: Woody Woodford

September 3, 1938

--fast time: Swede Lindskog, ?
--helmet dash: Swede Lindskog
--main event: Swede Lindskog

September 10, 1938 (all local)

--fast time: Bert Sutton, 19 1-5
--helmet dash: Bud Green
--main event: Bud Green

1938 summary:

track record: Swede Lindskog and Jack Spalding, 18 3-5
helmet dash wins: 5, Swede Lindskog
2, Bert Sutton and Jack Spalding
1, Woody Woodford and Bud Green
main event wins: 4, Swede Lindskog
2, Jack Spalding and Bert Bloomgren
1, Bert Sutton, Woody Woodford and Bud Green

B.C. Automotive Sports Association points:
Bert Sutton 24
Jimmie Laird 11
Digger Caldwell 6
Sutton won the Burdie’s Cafe Cup symbolic of the 1938 championship.

Langford Speedway, 1937

2011-11-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Second pile of info I have on the big car races at Langford Speedway. This time 1937.

1937 (track is “hard surfaced”, 3/8ths mile)

August 7, 1937

--fast time: Elmer Setterman, 23
--helmet dash: Elmer Setterman
--main event: Elmer Setterman

August 21, 1937

--rained out

August 28, 1937

--fast time: Jimmy Seim, 20 3-5 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Jimmy Seim
--main event: Jack Mahoney

September 4, 1937

--fast time: Jimmy Seim, 20 (NTR)
--helmet dash: Stan Mahoney
--main event: Stan Mahoney

September 18, 1937

--fast time: Bert Sutton, 20 (equals track record)
--helmet dash: no result
--main event: Bud Green

1937 summary

track record: Jimmy Seim and Bert Sutton, 20
helmet dash wins: 1, Elmer Setterman, Jimmy Seim and Stan Mahoney
main event wins: 2, Stan/Jack Mahoney
1, Elmer Setterman, Bud Green

Langford Speedway, 1936

2011-11-04T22:33:00.000-07:00

Some old stats I have about Vancouver Island's Langford Speedway.

1936 (track is dirt, 3/8ths mile)

June 6, 1936

--fast time: Johnny McDowell, 22 1-5 (NTR)
--helmet dash: run??
--20-lap main event: Dave Dippolito

July 1, 1936

--fast time: Fritz Miller, 24.32 (BCASA trophy)
--helmet dash: ??
--10-lap main event: Dave Dippolito

1936 summary

track record: Johnny McDowell, 22 1-5 (NTR)

main event wins: 2, Dave Dippolito

Photos from the GVMPS ceremony

2011-10-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Gerry Frechette has put up a number of photos from October's 2011 GVMPS ceremony.

Just go over here.