Thanksgiving, Langford Speedway, 1940

 From the October 12 and 15, 1940 Victoria Daily Times.

 

1947, Langford Speedway

 From Victoria Daily Times, June 20, 21 and 23, 1947.

 

Langford Speedway, 1947

 From the June 13 and 16, 1947 Victoria Daily Times.

John Rothwell

 From the May 13, 1973 Columbian newspaper. Gordie Hemrich collection.

Langford Speedway, 1948

 From the August 13, 14 and 16, 1948 Victoria Daily Times.

more from the archives, Dave Cooper

 Dave Cooper at Langford Speedway.

George Haslam, part of the Haslam clan

 A lot of Haslams have raced out of Victoria. George Haslam was one of the originals.

Victoria getting ready to race after the Second World War

From the Victoria Daily Times, October 1945.

old centerspread from Victoria

Langford Speedway cars. Victoria Daily Colonist, April 30, 1950.

some Langford Speedway racers

Digger Caldwell and Vern Bruce (with Bruce Passmore and Jack Smith) at Langford Speedway. Photos by George Hobson.

1947 Langford Speedway

Ad and results from the August 1 and 4, 1947 Victoria Daily Times.

interview with an old-timer

Tony West, who raced at Victoria's Langford Speedway, interviewed in 1977 while he was working as an official for the Washington Midget Racing Association.

something to break up the box scores

A 1947 programme from Langford Speedway.

some Langford stats, 1936-1950

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Langford Speedway, 1941

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