Langley Speedway, May 21, 1967

The first really big race at Langley Speedway since it opened in 1967. A Canadian American Modified Racing Association (CAMRA) event, first one in the Greater Vancouver area since two events were held at Haney Speedway in 1963.

A dash
1 -- John MacPherson (Bremerton, WA)

1st heat
1 -- Gary Destobel
2 -- Larry Sproule
3 -- Harold Sjostrom (Nanaimo)

2nd heat
1 -- Ralph Monhay (Bob Morgan Chev)
2 -- Chuck Neitzel (Boise, ID)
3 -- Bob Brooks (Spokane, WA)

3rd heat
1 -- Bill Crow (Boise, ID)
2 -- Bud Gorder (Spokane, WA)
3 -- Norm Ellefson (Spokane, WA)

50 lap main event
1 -- Bob Gregg (Vancouver, WA)
2 -- Norm Ellefson (no. 98, Spokane, WA)

super stocks were also on the bill:

super stock dash
1 -- Rick Barker

1st super stock heat
1 -- Les Spratt

2nd super stock heat
1 -- Gordy Hemrich

super stock main (10 cars, 15 laps)
1 -- Gordy Hemrich

Westwood Wednesday, 1964

Yet another year of Westwood, building toward the 50th anniversary of the track's opening. Big race in 1964, won by Jerry Grant. Lots of great info in the newspapers for it.

more sad news, Jack McCoy, NASCAR champion

Learned that Jack McCoy, from Modesto, California, passed away earlier in April. He had been a NASCAR Western Grand National champion a couple times. And he travelled north to Langley and Western Speedways as well as the Westwood sports car circuit for NASCAR races.

I bought his book, Racing's Real McCoy, a few years back. A good look at his life in racing and the west coast NASCAR scene of the 1960s and 70s.

A couple links and a couple photos of him with his No. 7 at Westwood.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2009-04-16-2971215401_x.htm

http://localracing.nascar.com/node/2516

Happy Birthday, Larry McBride!

An announcement in the local daily that Digney Speedway champion (1950 in the hot rods, 1952 and 1954 (stock cars). He's 80 (!!!) as of April 27th.

From the Vancouver Sun on Saturday.

Scrambola, part eleven

A classic racing pose from that era:

1972 Westwood motorcycle opener

Been doing some work on the 1972 newspapers (as you might be able to guess from some recent posts).

I'd not been aware of the fatal mentioned in this article. Always sad to learn of these things.

Langley Speedway, May 20, 1967

1967 is the beginning of a couple busy years at Langley. Saturday evening (lights were being installed) and Sunday afternoons. Plus holidays. Close to 40 days of racing scheduled.

And some of these reports for the weekend racing get squashed together into one report. Sometimes confusing to pull out which race is for which day.

But....

Looks to be early lates, super stocks, and B modifieds for the Saturday.

early late dash
1-- Jack Meslo

super stock dash
1 -- unknown at this point

B modified dash
1 -- Harold Sjostrom (Nanaimo)

1st heat for early lates and super stocks
1 -- Dennis Corfe
2 -- Ron Morrison
3 -- Brian Thompson

2nd heat for early lates and super stocks
1 -- Brian Thompson
2 -- Bob Keam
3 -- Howie Garb

1st B modified heat
1 -- Cal Hough
2 -- Harold Sjostrom
3 -- Ken Klatt

2nd B modified heat
1 -- Fred Hewitt
2 -- Jack Cross
3 -- Walt McKitka

combined early late and super stock main
1 -- George Cook (super stock)
1 -- Brian Thompson (early late)

B modified main
1 -- either Harold Sjostrom or Fred Hewitt
2 -- Jack Cross
3 -- Cal Hough

Westwood Wednesday, 1963, supplementary

"Supplementary", sounds like Capt. Kirk or Picard. Westwood also ran karts and motorcycles. So a couple 1963 clippings featuring results for those racing machines.

Westwood Wednesday, 1963

Another Wednesday, another race result from the archives, 1963 this time:

Westwood, pre-Wednesday post

Something extra to the Westwood posts: Peter Mitchell's name has come up on the CMSHG forum. Here's a photo of him as the 1972 season was getting started.

1972 drag racing opener

Close to the date itself, Mission opens its season in 1972 with some money worries.

Scrambola, part ten

Some racing competition shows up:

1972 hydro schedule

Races at Harrison Lake, Hatzic Lake and the interior. Mentions of Ron Bestward, Bill Allan and Ron Derrickson.

Lorne Colwell Memorial Award

Not sure how long this happened. And I really don't have the details on Lorne's passing. I believe it was during a hydroplane race in the Seattle area. And I think he was a protege of Jim Hutchison.

Definitely more work needed here.

Langley Speedway, May 13, 1967

I think I promised to start this a month or so ago. Time flies....

The date line of the above story says May 14th but May 13, 1967 was Saturday and there was a race scheduled for Sunday May 14th that got rained out.

A modified dash --
1 -- Al Smith (Victoria, 1966 301 cu. in. Chev)

B modified dash --
1 -- unknown at this point

early late dash --
1 -- unknown at this point

super stock dash --
1 -- Earl Jergens

early late heat --
1 -- Tom Hankins
2 -- Mac Moore
3 -- Rick Lockwood
(crash involved Brian Coles and Jack Meslo)

only early late heat?

super stock heat
1 -- George Cook
2 -- Earl Jergens
3 -- Ron Morrison

B modified heat
1 -- Cal Hough
2 -- Harold Sjostrom (Nanaimo)
3 -- Jack Cross
(Jack Dack had a crash.)

A modified heat
1 -- Al Smith
2 -- Ray Pottinger
3 -- Cal Arnold

early late and super stock combined main
1 -- Ron Morrison (in one report) or Earl Jergens (in another) -- early late
1 -- George Cook -- super stock

A and B modified combined main (13 cars, 30 laps)
A modifieds:
1 -- Ray Pottinger (Nanaimo, 301 Chev)
(Larry Sproule crashed lap one after Len Jones spun in front of him.)

B modifieds:
1 -- Cal Hough

Like I noted before, the May 14th date got rained out.

Westwood Wednesday, 1962

Seem to have missed a week. Stuff happening.

win, so advertise

Renault was feeling like they should celebrate their class victories in the 1962 Shell 4000 Rally. So a big ad.

1962 Shell 4000 Rally

Some clippings showing the results of the 1962 Shell 4000 Rally.

Scrambola, part nine

We will eventually get to racing with the Scrambola, I promise:

some Saturday videos

Some old videos that include Frank Lockhart, Spa with Fangio and Moss, quarter midget racers and others:

Scrambola, part eight

The Sunday funnies with Tillie the Toiler:

because I got nothin'

Two bits of graphic art from back in the day:

Ron Hackett, sad news

More sad news from the local scene. Ron Hackett, early member of the BCCCA, passed away recently. Here's the obituary from the newspaper:

HACKETT Frank Ronald (Ron) August 8, 1928 - March 18, 2009 Passed away quietly at the Penticton Regional Hospital. He is survived by his loving wife Betty of 62 years; daughter Robin and son-in-law Duncan Dube of Summerland, BC, daughter Kerry Hackett of Stratford, ON, granddaughters Vanessa Pinto of Penticton, BC and Taylor Pinto of Summerland, BC as well as several nieces and nephews throughout BC. Sadly predeceased by sister Shirley Jones and brother Harry Hackett. Ron loved the outdoors which showed in his many hobbies that included hunting, fishing, hotrods, boating and RV travel. In 1950 he participated in forming the British Columbia Custom Car Association and became a Past President with a life time membership. He was a member of the Burnaby Gizeh Shrine Club for many years and demitted due to health problems. In 2001 he became a member of the newly formed Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society which honors those that have contributed to motorsports in the region. Ron had a talent for anything mechanical and in 1969 he opened his own business called Temco Controls Ltd, a successful and well respected H.V.A.C. company. After retiring in 1991 he felt it was time to do some travelling and spent many winters RV'ing throughout the Southern United States making new friends along the way. (Our RV was a 40ft. MCI bus which he converted from the ground up creating a beautiful home on wheels). In 2006 we decided not to travel anymore and moved to Summerland looking forward to spending many peaceful years in the Okanagan but it was not to be. Ron was a strong-willed and a determined man and he lived his life "HIS WAY", but beneath it all there was a man only I knew loving, caring, gentle and sentimental. He was the "WIND BENEATH MY WINGS". His passing has left a void in our lives but the love and the memories will always keep his spirit alive. As per Ron's request there will be no service. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Alzheimer Society of B.C., No. 104 - 35 East Westminster Avenue, Penticton, BC V2A 1H7. With special thanks to the care givers and staff of the Summerland Seniors Village for their support and patience through our sad and tragic loss. Words can not express gratitude. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Providence Funeral Homes. Condolences may be directed to the family: summerlandfuneralhome@vip.net

Lloyd Ruby, follow up

An old story from a racing newspaper called FastLane Motorsport News, a Tulsa, OK, trade paper. Not sure if it still exists. I think Don Radbruch sent me a couple issues many years ago. The Ruby story on some of his midget racing days always stuck with me.

Westwood Wednesdays, three

1961 (no foolin'):