Saturday, May 11, 1968, Langley Speedway

New season. Lacking in some detail for this race.

Saturday, May 11, 1968

BCTRA Intercity

Ken Horner flipped four times in practice before time trials.

Early-late dash

Brian Thompson

Super stock dash

Don Latting (Sedro Wooley, WA)

B modified dash

Walt McKitka

A modified dash

Unknown

Early-late slow heat

Ernie Noel

Early-late fast heat

Brian Thompson (308 cubic inch Hudson)

Super stock heat

Don Latting

Early-late main (18 started)

Ron Morrison

Super stock main

Don Latting

A & B main (combined)

A -- Roy Smith
   -- Glen Parsons

B -- Jack Cross

some photos from Oregon

Taken from the H.A.M.B. forum's Oregon thread. An old story on what is now Portland International Raceway. Done by Pete Sukalac, who contributed to Hot Rod magazine amongst other magazines of that era.

Nice to see a picture of Pete Kellond racing down there. Other names are also familiar like Harry Eyerly and Tom Veness.

Sprint cars at Pacific Raceways, 1960

Thanks to Golden Wheels' Dave Craver for the photo.

While I doubt it was the full circuit, the sprint cars of the Pacific northwest did race at Kent, WA's Pacific Raceways in 1960.

There was some controversy as the race was held the same day as the Sea-Fair sports car races at Shelton.

I've only had rumours of this race, having got a photo sent to me about five years ago. And then recently a column in a 1976 Racing Wheels had a report on the race.

So it sometimes takes time to piece a small bit of history together.

1967 Inter-City points

The three track circuit -- Langley, Western (Victoria) and Grandview Bowl (Nanaimo) -- ended up with the A and B modified points looking like this.

1967 season at Langley Speedway

Lots of trophies handed out by the BCTRA, LARA and ELRA at their respective season ending banquets.

Jim McMillan inside of BCTRA points champ Bob Keam.

Glen Parsons, third in BCTRA A modified points.

Norm Ellefson, winner of the July CAMRA race and the 1967 CAMRA points title.

1967 BC Track Racing Association

Banquet held October 14th, at the Lamplighter Club

Early-late point

1 -- Brian Thompson
2 -- Ron Morrison
3 -- Ken Horner

Super stock points

1 -- Bob Keam
2 -- George Cook
3 -- Jim McMillan

A modified points

1 -- Larry Sproule
2 -- Cal Arnold
3 -- Glen Parsons

Hard luck trophies

Early-late -- Earl Jergens
Super stock -- Barry Tomkulak
B modified -- John Phillipson
A modified -- Len Jones

Appreciation awards

Orville Neilson
Hank Hankins
Queen’s Hotel

Life of the party awards

Mrs. Joyce Ryan
Floor-show Miller
Wing-ding Willoughby

Rookie of the year

Ron Neilson

Best appearing car and crew

Bob Keam

Sportsman of the year

Gary Destobel

Top mechanic

Early-late -- Rae Wilson
Super stock -- Don Bullock
B modified -- Bernie Anderton
A modified -- Jim Marchant

Participant awards

Early-late -- Dave Dixon
Super stock -- George Cook
B modified -- Dennis Goldstraw
A modified -- Larry Sproule

Langley Auto Racing Association and Early Late Racing Association

Banquet held in White Rock

LARA

Top points

Early-lates -- Chris Palm

Championship race

Rick Atchison

Best appearing car

Chris Palm

Best appearing pit crew

Cliff Jensen and Locky Hay, #88

Modified stock top points

1 -- Doug Rutherford and Lloyd Bellamy (tied)
2 -- Larry Gibbons
3 -- Henry Van Diemen
4 -- Doug Firth

Championship race

Doug Rutherford

Best appearing pit crew

Doug Rutherford

Best appearing car

Lloyd Bellamy

ELRA

Rookie of the year

Rollie Walker

Sportsman award

Don Latting

Best appearing car and crew

Gordy Hemrich

Championship race

1 -- John Cowan
2 -- Bob Moran
3 -- Don Latting

Top points

John Rothwell

Hard luck award

Clare Walsh

Outstanding contribution

Les Spratt

Sunday funnies

From 1940, the National Auto Racing News, which would become National Speed Sport News during the Second World War, had a short lived comic strip. "Race Track Hogan" might be a little corny but it has a racing theme.

Can't remember where I got these. Off the net. Somebody offered them up. So thanks. (I see now it was a Texas Open Wheel forum.)

music, Herb Alpert!

A ditty called "Mexican Road Race". Has little to do with greater Vancouver racing except that Hershel McGriff, from Portland, a regular a Langley in the late 1960s into the 1970s, got his big break at that race when Big Bill France invited Hershel to the southeast to race on the NASCAR circuit.

There is a story from Don Bennett, a Digney Speedway top gun, that there were plans to field a car in the early 1950s for the race. But those plans fell through, much to the relief of Don's mother.



Plenty of reports and stories on the net about the Mexican Road Race.

Langley Speedway, Sunday, September 17, 1967

Last race of the season, the ELRA and LARA championship races. Again, just trophy dashes main events.

Doug Rutherford's modified stock.

Sunday, September 17, 1967

LARA and ELRA championships

First early-late dash

Al Baldwin

Second early-late dash

Terry Keeler

Modified stock dash

Doug Rutherford

Super stock dash

Ken Sayers

Early-late consolation main

1 -- Merv Meyers
2 -- Ken Myers
3 -- Clarence Reggenwetter

Early-late championship (40 laps, 20 start)

1 -- Rick Atchison
2 -- Ray Mackie
3 -- Jim Whiteman

Atchison started last, was first by lap 15.

Modified stock championship (13 start)

1 -- Doug Rutherford
2 -- Charlie Brown (Lloyd Bellamy)
3 -- Grey Ghost (unknown)

Super stock championship (50 laps, either 20 or 24 started, 13 finish)

1 -- John Cowan
2 -- Bob Moran
3 -- John Rothwell

Jerry Janchak, from Skagit Speedway, hit the fence and totalled his car.

#118, John Bettles, voted most popular driver.

Sandra Scott won a go-cart raffle from LARA.

Langley Speedway, Saturday, September 16, 1967

Trophy dashes and main events only. Longer mains as they were championship races.

Saturday, September 16, 1967

BCTRA Inter-City championships

New B modified track record:

Walt McKitka, 16.10 broken 15 minutes later by Harold Sjostrom, 16.06

Early-late dash

Brian Thompson

Super stock dash

Barry Tulkola

B modified dash

Jack Cross

A modified dash

Cal Arnold

Early-late championship (35 laps, 20 start, 6 finish)

1 -- Dave Dixon
2 -- Tom Hankins
3 -- Ken McCauley

B modified championship (50 laps, 17 start, 10 finish)

1 -- Dennis Goldstraw
2 -- Walt McKitka
3 -- Doug Bowell

Super stock championship (30 laps)

1 -- Don Latting (Sedro Wooley, WA)
2 -- George Cook
3 -- Barry Tulkola
4 -- Bob Keam

A modified championship (75 laps, 10 start)

1 -- Larry Sproule
2 -- Barry Chamberlain
3 -- Cal Arnold

Langley Speedway, Saturday, September 9, and Sunday, September 10, 1967

The CAMRA show got done with the usual satisfying results. Local driver Larry Sproule showed well against the import drivers that came from Edmonton, Calgary, Spokane, and Victoria amongst other places.

Saturday, September 9, 1967

CAMRA

NTR -- Larry Sproule, 15.07

A dash

Norm Ellefson

B dash

Walt McKitka

First heat

1 -- Ron Jurisch (Bremerton, WA)
2 -- Ron Neilson (Cloverdale)
3 -- Lorne Grocott (North Vancouver)

Second heat

1 -- Don Bennett (Coquitlam)
2 -- Dennis Goldstraw (Vancouver)
3 -- Cal Hough (Cloverdale)

Third heat

1 -- Jim Tipke (Spokane)
2 -- Frank Jannett (Calgary)
3 -- Chuck Neitzel (Boise)

Fourth heat

1 -- Eldon Rasmussen (Edmonton)
2 -- Larry Sproule (New Westminster)
3 -- Al Smith (Victoria)

Sproule was ahead by a nose but the finish was recorded at the front wheel.

B main (35 laps, 13 start, 7 finish)

1 -- Dennis Goldstraw
2 -- Len (Ken?) Wilcox
3 -- Jack Cross

Crashes on laps 2, 3 and 19.

A main (50 laps, 15 start)

1 -- Chuck Neitzel
2 -- Larry Sproule
3 -- Alvin Haggith (Nanaimo)

Lap 35 -- Bud Gorder blew an engine and the oil took out Gary Destobel, Bob Gregg and Barry Chamberlain.

Sunday, September 10, 1967

LARA and ELRA

Rained out

Langley Speedway, Friday, September 1 and Sunday, September 3, 1967

The Canadian American Modified Racing Association was scheduled for its third appearance at Langley on Friday, September 1, 1967. Unfortunately it rained. But, fortunately for racing fans, it was rescheduled for eight days later.

LARA and ELRA got their show in on Sunday afternoon, September 3, 1967.

Friday, September 1, 1967

CAMRA

Rained out


Sunday, September 3, 1967

ELRA and LARA

Early-late dash

Frank Fletcher

Modified stock dash

Doug Rutherford

Super stock dash

Clare Walsh

First early-late heat

1 -- Stan Cavanaugh
2 -- Terry Keeler
3 -- Dave Barkett

Second early-late heat

1 -- Larry Gilbert (Victoria)
2 -- Dave Jensen
3 -- Lyle Wolf

Third early-late heat

1 -- Don Fletcher
2 -- Chris Palm
3 -- Rick Adsit

First modified stock heat

1 -- Red Baron
2 -- Bill Goldstone
3 -- Henry Van Diemen

Second modified stock heat

1 -- Dave Angus
2 -- Bob Baker
3 -- Doug Rutherford

First super stock heat

1 -- Jim McMillan
2 -- Mac Morrison
3 -- Bob Moran

Second super stock heat

1 -- Clare Walsh
2 -- George Cook
3 -- John Rothwell

Early-late Consolation main

1 -- Stan Cavanaugh
2 -- Dave Burkett
3 -- Leo Lester (Laser?)

Early-late main (nineteen start, eight finish)

1 -- Chris Palm
2 -- Brian Thompson
3 -- Lloyd Green

Modified stock main

1 -- Henry Van Diemen
2 -- Doug Rutherford
3 -- Bob Baker

Super stock main (25 laps)

1 -- George Cook
2 -- Jim McMillan
3 -- Clare Walsh

Langley Speedway, Sunday, August 27, 1967

Visitors from the south augment the afternoon of racing.

Sunday, August 27, 1967

LARA and ELRA
WELSCAR

4700 in attendance

20 WELSCAR entries

Total cars in pits -- 76

Early-late dash

Chris Palm

Modified stock dash

Doug Firth

Super stock dash

Clare Walsh

First early-late heat

1 -- Lew Ferguson
2 -- Terry Keeler
3 -- Leo Laser

Second early-late heat

1 -- Ray Skibinski
2 -- Don Wolfe
3 -- Norm Cartwright

Third early-late heat

1 -- Ray Mackie
2 -- Frank Fletcher
3 -- Al Baldwin

First modified stock heat

1 -- Harry Van Diemen
2 -- Smokey Graham
3 -- Keith Widder (Whitter?)

Second modified stock heat

1 -- Bob Baker
2 -- Doug Rutherford
3 -- Larry Gibbons

First super stock heat

1 -- Bernie Aase (US)
2 -- Hal Schukar (US)
3 -- Ben Dean (US)

Second super stock heat

1 -- Doyle Braton (US)
2 -- Ben Coleman (US)
3 -- Ken Sayers

Third super stock heat

1 -- Jack Jeffery (US)
2 -- Ben Baker (US)
3 -- John Rothwell

Early-late consolation main

1 -- Al Reimer
2 -- Lew Ferguson
3 -- Terry Keeler

Early-late main

1 -- Lucky Hay
2 -- Dave Beales
3 -- Ray Mackie

Modified stock main

1 -- Doug Firth
2 -- Larry Gibbons
3 -- Harry Van Diemen

Super stock main ELRA

1 -- Clare Walsh
2 -- John Rothwell
3 -- George Cook

Super stock main WELSCAR

1 -- Jack Telford
2 -- Bob Darby
3 -- Bill Williams

Sundae funnies

A couple from a Spokane newspaper. Hopefully not repeats.

Langley Speedway video

From the Ken McCauley collection. His name is showing up in the results for 1967. Brian Thompson is in the number 4 Hudson Hornet.

Langley Speedway, Saturday, August 26, 1967

Another Saturday evening at Langley.

Two Nanaimo drivers who did well at Langley.

Saturday, August 26, 1967

BCTRA -- mixed racing

Ken McCauley rolled in time trials but came back to race later.

Early-late dash

Harry Roberts

Super stock dash

George Cook

B modified dash

Harold Sjostrom

A modified dash

Gerry Anderson

First early-late heat

1 -- John Bettles
2 -- Jerry McCrea
3 --Terry Zucht

Second early-late heat

1 -- Al Baldwin
2 -- Brian Thompson
3 -- Earl Jergens

First B modified heat

1 -- John Phillipson
2 -- Dennis Goldstraw
3 -- Jack Dack

Second B modified heat

1 -- Walt McKitka
2 -- Jack Cross
3 -- John Wassel

A modified heat

1 -- Jerry Birdsey
2 -- Garry Destobel
3 -- Harold Sjostrom

Super stock heat

1 -- George Cook
2 -- Bob Keam
3 -- Bill Wilson

Early-late main

1 -- Brian Thompson
2 -- Al Baldwin
3 -- Earl Jergens

Super stock main

1 -- George Cook
2 -- Bob Keam
3 -- Brian Thompson

B modified main

1 -- Ken Klatt

A modified main

1 -- Garry Destobel
2 -- Dave Patterson
3 -- Gerry Anderson

Jerry Birdsey broke an axle on lap 14.

even more sad news, Ron Curties, RIP

Ron Curties, long time member of the Sports Car Club of B.C., amongst other distinguished affiliations, has passed away. He was a 2009 inductee to the Greater Vancouver Motorsports Pioneers Society.

His racing days went back to the 1950s at Abbotsford Airport.

http://www.tricitynews.com/news/179571091.html

http://www.gvmps.org/inductees/RonCurties.pdf

Not a very good photo but that is Ron Curties flagging a sports car race at Abbotsford in the 1950s.

Langley Speedway, Sunday, August 20, 1967

At least there's a Lee Kelly report from to Racing Wheels to help with everything.

LARA and ELRA

Early-late dash

Chris Palm

Super stock dash

John Rothwell

Modified stock dash

Marc Moore

First early-late heat

1 -- Lyle Wolfe
2 -- Don Wolfe
3 -- Ric Jensen

Second early-late heat

1 -- Ray Mackie
2 -- Jim Whitehead
3 -- Keith Cheyne

Third early-late heat

1 -- Don Fletcher
2 -- Ric Adsit
3 -- Norm Cartwright

First modified stock heat

1 -- Doug Rutherford
2 -- Bob Beasley
3 -- Keith Widden (Whitter?)

Second modified stock heat

1 -- Harry Van Diemen
2 -- Bob Barker
3 -- Doug Firth

First super stock heat

1 -- Les Spratt
2 -- Ken Boote
3 -- Harry Ashbrook

Second super stock heat

1 -- Don Latting
2 -- John Rothwell
3 -- Don Robertson

Early-late consolation main

1 -- Don Wolfe
2 -- Lyle Wolfe
3 -- Roger Boucher

Early-late main

1 -- Ray Mackie
2 -- Jim Whitehead
3 -- Don Fletcher

Modified stock main

1 -- Jim Dinsmore
2 -- Larry Gibbons
3 -- Charlie Brown (Lloyd Bellamy)

Super stock main

1 -- Jim McMillan
2 -- Don Latting
3 -- Don Robertson

Media race

1 -- Dave Moyer (Columbian)
2 -- Barry Bell (CJJC)
3 -- Peter Alpin (C-FUN)

more sad news, Whistling Bernie Smith, RIP

Not much information on this, but it was reflected upon by Mike McCardell on Global news this evening. Whistling Bernie Smith has passed away. He was in his late 80s. A long time Vancouver policeman he helped get the hot rodders off the street and onto the drag strip. He was recognized by the Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers Society in 2004.

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/422014--whistling-bernie-smith-dies

http://www.gvmps.org/inductees/bernie_smith.htm

Langley Speedway, Saturday, August 19, 1967

As best as I can figure from the information garnered. (That's pretty lame, but...true.)

Saturday, August 19, 1967

BCTRA -- mixed racing

Early-late dash

Garry Greenaway

Super stock dash

Jim McMillan

B modified dash

Ken Klatt

A modified dash

Larry Sproule

Super stock heat

1 -- Jim McMillan
2 -- Bob Keam
3 -- Bill Wilson

First early-late heat

1 -- Dave Dixon
2 -- John Bettles
3 -- Gus Henry

Second early-late heat

1 -- Brian Thompson
2 -- Ken McCauly
3 -- Ron Morrison

First B modified heat

1 -- Walt McKitka
2 -- Cal Hough
3 -- Ron Neilson

Second B modified heat

1 -- Barry Morgan
2 -- Jack Cross
3 -- Ron Lamont

Fast A modified heat

1 -- Cal Arnold
2 -- Larry Sproule
3 -- Garry Destobel

Slow A modified heat

1 -- Barry Chamberlain
2 -- Glen Parsons
3 -- Alvin Haggith

Early-late/super stock combined main

1 -- super stock -- Bob Keam
1 -- early-late -- John Bettles

B modified main

1 -- Walt McKitka
2 -- Len Cooke

A modified main (35 laps shortened to 25 due to mishaps)

1 -- Larry Sproule
2 -- Len Jones
3 -- Garry Destobel

Langley Speedway, Sunday, August 13, 1967

Frank Fletcher's early-late. From the Langley Speedway Historical Society archives.

Sunday, August 13, 1967

LARA and ELRA

3200 attended

Early-late dash

Rick Atchison

Modified stock dash

Charlie Brown (Lloyd Bellamy)

Super stock dash

John Rothwell

First early-late heat

1 -- John Beaugrand
2 -- Ron Baucher
3 -- Ric Jensen

Second early-late heat

1 -- Keith Cheyne
2 -- Dennis Hill
3 -- Bill Flokely

Third early-late heat

1 -- Chris Palm
2 -- Frank Fletcher
3 -- Cliff Jensen

First modified stock heat

1 -- Harry Van Diemen
2 -- Bill Goldstone
3 -- Ric Lester

Second modified stock heat

1 -- Bob Baker
2 -- Charlie Brown (Lloyd Bellamy)
3 -- Grey Ghost (unknown)

First super stock heat

1 -- Ralph Widdess
2 -- Harland Gustafson
3 -- Tyce Rogerson

Second super stock heat

1 -- Don Robertson
2 -- John Rothwell
3 -- John Cowan

Early-late Consi

1 -- Chuck Swanson
2 -- Dave Laser
3 -- Ric Craig

Early-late main (20 started -- 8 finished)

1 -- Don Fletcher
2 -- Keith Cheyne
3 -- Dennis Corfe

Bert Delisle flipped lap 4.

Modified stock main

1 -- Al Baldwin
2 -- Grey Ghost (unknown)
3 -- Dave Angus

Super stock main

1 -- Don Robertson
2 -- Les Spratt
3 -- John Cowan

Powder puff early-late (20 laps. 20 started, 7 finished)

1 -- Babs Mitchell

Sharon Turner rolled.

Powder puff modified stock (7 started)

1 -- Gayle Gibbons

Jim McGowan, celebration of life

 Passing on some information for those that can attend:

THE DATE PICKED FOR JIM’S ‘CELEBRATION OF LIFE’ IS SATURDAY NOV. 17th. 1:00 PM AT:

CAPITAL CITY YACHT CLUB

10630 BLUE HERON RD. (JUST OFF MCDONALD PARK RD.)

SIDNEY,B.C. V8L 5S6

WHICH IS 1 MILE FROM B.C. FERRIES TERMINAL AT SWARTZ BAY.

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.

IF YOU HAVE ANY STORIES TO SHARE, PLEASE BRING, PLUS WE HAVE

PICTURES, MEMORABILIA SPACE AVAILABLE.

HOTROD ATTENDANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. (SEPARATE PARKING)  

-The directions to the marina / yacht club are - off the ferry and down the hiway ( right lane) about 1/4 mile, take Off ramp ( McDonald Park Road)  to the top , turn left and go across the hiway overpass, take first left down to McDonald Park Road (T). Turn right and go about 3 blocks , then left on Blue Heron Road. Marina is about 500 yards down on left.

Return to the ferry down McDonald Park Road and merge on to the hiway to the ferry terminal. 

Sunday funnies

Hopefully I haven't used these before. If I have, well, repetition is always useful in cartoons. (A saying I just made up. And will use again if I have to.)

Stirling Moss and Phil Gaglardi at Westwood, 1965

Interesting film clip of Stirling Moss and Phil Gaglardi (Minister of Highways back then) doing some promotional work at Westwood. Sir Stirling in the Bob McLean Lotus and "Flyin'" Phil looks to be in G.B. Sterne's Morgan.

Langley Speedway, August 12, 1967

I think I should get back to the results. No, not election results. Racing results.

I realize now that I stopped because the next day (August 13, 1967) I haven't managed to get back to the library to get a page from the newspaper scanned so I can have complete results.

So back to work:

Saturday, August 12, 1967

BCTRA

4500 attendance

A modified dash

Gary Destobel

B modified dash

Harold Sjostrom

Early-late dash

Ken Horner

Super stock dash

George Cook

First early-late heat

1 -- Dave Dixon
2 -- Ken McCauley
3 -- Tom Hankins

Second early-late heat

1 -- Brian Thompson
2 -- Earl Jergens
3 -- Garry Greenaway

Super stock heat

1 -- George Cook
2 -- Jim McMillan
3 -- Bob Keam

First B modified heat

1 -- Cal Hough
2 -- John Phillipson
3 -- Denny Goldstraw

Second B modified heat

1 -- Fred Hewitt
2 -- Walt McKitka
3 -- Reinhart Unruh

First A modified heat

1 -- Cal Arnold
2 -- Larry Sproule
3 -- Glen Parsons

Second A modified heat

1 -- Len Jones
2 -- Garry Destobel
3 -- Alvin Haggith

Early-late Main

1 -- Brian Thompson
2 -- Ken Horner
3 -- Garry Greenaway

Super stock main

1 -- Brian Thompson
2 -- Bob Keam
3 -- Ron Morrison

Also ran: George Cook and Jim McMillan crashed.

B main

1 -- Harold Sjostrom
2 -- John Wassels.

A main (25 laps)

1 -- Cal Arnold
2 -- Larry Sproule
3 -- Glen Parsons

Craig Hill, RIP

Racer and broadcaster, amongst other things, Craig Hill passed away a few days ago. Here is a link to some thoughts on Craig.

Craig Hill.

sad news, RIP Jim McGowan

Best known for his hot rod The Apache, Jim McGowan has passed away.

some names from 1968

 Gary Coe, up from Portland, always got everyone's attention. As did Bob Kokotailo in his wheel standing Henry J. And Gary Beck was building toward a hall of fame career up in Edmonton.

Buck Kinney, from Wheelspin, 1968

 Always a winner at Mission. NHRA Division 6 hall of famer. Buck Kinney.

Sunday funnies

 A couple one panel cartoons.

A Spitfire engine rebuild

A fun video.

more from Wheelspin, 1970

 A couple more photos from the 1970 Wheelspins that I've been able to scan. Again, from Mission.