hot rodders, late 1940s

 Larry McBride makes headlines.

 

some more stuff

From the Larry McBride collection.

Mexican road race

I mentioned the Mexican Road Race last week and that a local driver was entered, but it didn't happen. I couldn't find anything in my notes to confirm this claim (made by me) that it was Don Bennett.

Checking my notes again it was Larry McBride, the Digney Speedway champion, that was hoping to race the road race. The car would be sponsored by Tom Howe, owner of Empire Motors, who had also raced midgets for a short time as well as being a bicycle racer.

The car was to be a Lincoln. Barry Youngston remembers his father Tom would be the mechanic. Barry remembers the hood was painted flat black to prevent some glare.

According to my notes the race was cancelled. And Larry's comment was that it "probably saved my life."

One of the reasons the entry might not have happened was that the race was stopped after 1954. Too many fatalities amongst other reasons.

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.

season ending trophies

Larry McBride was champion at Digney Speedway a few times: 1950 in the hot rods, and 1952 and 1954 in the stock cars. The bottom photo appears to be from 1952 with him holding an armful of booty from the track.

some hot rod stuff

Larry McBride, have I mentioned him before? Yeah, back in April.

But wait, there's more! More McBride, more hot rods. Summer's coming. The driving season is upon us. And all the girls, and the history, and the girls, and the grief, and the girls, and the money, and the girls, and the fun, that comes with it. Did I mention girls?

Some stuff from Larry's collection.