Digney Speedway

 From 1950, BC Midget Auto Racing Association and BC Roadster Racing Association.

 

1955, False Creek Speedway

 The BC Midget Auto Racing Association trying to get the track ready. It didn't get up and running until 1957. This article from May 10, 1955 Vancouver Province.

1953 motorsport show

I believe I've posted stuff on this from the Vancouver Sun. This is from the Province.

pole day

Noted that it was Pole Day at Indianapolis today. Not sure who got the pole, the rules are a bit different than from 20, or 50 years ago.

Victoria's Ed Kostenuk (actually spelled "Kostenuick") tried to qualify for Indianapolis in 1962 and 1963. He didn't make it.

He had raced big cars at Langford Speedway, Shearing Speedway and Western Speedway on Vancouver Island as well as further south into Washington and Oregon.

John Dalby said that once, when Ed was driving John's big car down at a dirt track in the US, Ed disappeared into the cloud of dust at turn one on the green at the back of the pack only to come out on the back stretch in the lead. When asked what happened Ed said something to the effect that he couldn't see anything and needed to get out of there quick.

He had also raced midgets at Burnaby's Digney Speedway in 1950 getting the BC Midget Auto Racing Association points title. As can be seen from the initial scrapbook clipping he made some headlines in the Vancouver area.

Some of his exploits can be found at his inductee posting at the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame site.

One thing that happened to Ed Kostenuk back in 1962 was that he got hit in the face with a bird and came back to Victoria shaken and wondering about his future in racing. The article from the Victoria Colonist is by sports writing legend Jim Taylor. The bird didn't end his career.

In 1963 he tried again to qualify but couldn't get up to speed. A rookie by the name of Johnny Rutherford did make the field with the car, at that point named the City of Victoria but changed for Johnny's sponsors. Ed carried on having six starts in champ car racing.

I've also seen a clipping where he had a wreck in a USAC stock car race that hurt Johnny Rutherford a bit.

I wonder if Johnny remembers much about Ed Kostenuk.

Gim Wong, midget car racer (amongst other things)

I believe Gim Wong said last Saturday at the Digney Reunion preview that he would be turning 86 on his next birthday. He talked a bit about Con Jones Park in East Vancouver and the midgets racing there, Mickey McDowell and others, and that was where his interest in midget racing came from.

I first met Gim a number of years ago. He is generous of spirit and information and carries with him a wonderful memory and a number of passions.

The photos show some of racing he has been involved with over the years. While he wasn't a champion he definitely was the type of racer that one has to respect: enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and able to make little or no money stretch out and allow him to race.

Long may he be around.

Gordon Reelie, midget race car owner

Looking at the 1978 Racing Wheels scans that Marty has put up on his photo website (check the history links) I see a couple photos of Vancouver, BC, midget car owner Gordon Reelie and a couple of his wins.

One at the Kingdome in Seattle, WA, with one of his longtime drivers, Palmer Crowell, at the wheel. And the other from Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles, CA, with northern California driver Hank Butcher driving.

Reelie was involved with midget car racing for close to 50 years. He was a builder/owner and helped get a few of the local speedways (Digney and False Creek) started. His success as an owner came in the B.C. Midget Auto Racing Association (BCMARA), Washington Midget Racing Association (WMRA) and the United States Auto Club (USAC).

It was for those above accomplishments, and much more, that he was nominated and inducted, posthumously, into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. He passed away a number of years ago but was preparing and bringing his car to the track right up until the end.

tis the season for shows

This weekend the Vancouver Motorcycle Show is on. Check
http://www.sportshows.ca/VanCycle/

All sorts of trade shows as well as motorsport/rod and custom shows follow. Some have lasted a long time, some have gone by the boards (as the saying goes, many shows being held in hockey arenas and similar venues). Some early shows include the spring car of 1949. Digney Speedway and the B.C. Midget Auto Racing Association had displays in that show to promote the upcoming season for both.


Unfortunately the season for A.C. Digney and the BCMARA went poorly with the two going separate ways at the midway point. But, as with all shows, no doubt an optimistic face was put on in hopes of success for the future.