early vancouver racing, part 22

Haven't found anything so far for 1928, so skip ahead to 1929. A race scheduled, given promotional space in both the Sun and Province, but no results. Rain? Probably, but it would be nice to have had some sort of confirmation of the cancellation in one of those newspapers.

Add a motorcycle hill climb to the body of knowledge.

And note the passing of promoter Con Jones in June of 1929. Jones' name came up in 1912 when he helped promote a race at Minoru Park for the Victoria Order of Nurses.

And Salt Lake City resident and promoter Ab Jenkins raced into town to promote the Studebaker President Eight automobile. 115 hp, 80 mph at only $2995. Available at Willis Kingsley Motors Ltd., Georgia at Bute.

49--May 24, 1929, Hastings Park

--no results

49a--June 2, 1929, New Westminster

--motorcycle hill climb

early vancouver, part 21

1927, and all I can find is a rain-out in May and a two day series during the Exhibition, the second day ending with the fatal accident of Seattle's Phil Churchill.

46--May 24, 1927, Hastings Park

--rained out


47--August 18, 1927, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Art Hines 1:00
2nd, A.D. Smith 1:00 1-2

--6-miles
1st, Art Hines
2nd, Howard Wills
3rd, Swede Smith
time, 6:20

--free for all
1st, Swede Smith
2nd, Churchill
4th, Pradella

--5-mile special
1st, W. Bloomgren
2nd, Devon Smith
3rd, Vic Pradella


48--August 19, 1927, Hastings Park

--no results, Churchill fatality

early vancouver, part 20

A Victoria auto race, no doubt to feature the talents of Jack "Lucky" Smith, transplanted from Alberta, who would become the "daddy of Victoria racing" in the 1930s and 1940s. He wasn't the only one but he was one of the more important founders of the racing tradition Victoria has gained a reputation for.

45--August 25, 1926, The Willows

--mile against time
1st, Geo. Smith, Snyder Special 1:05
2nd, Jack Ross, Dodge Special 1:05 4-5
3rd, Jack Smith, 1:06 3-5

--light cars, 5-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz
2nd, R. Burnstrom, Burnstrom Special
3rd, R. Benson, Benson Special
time, 5:48

--5-miles, open
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, Jack Smith
3rd, Geo. Smith
time, 5:32 1-5

--3-mile match race, B.C. Championship
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, Jack Smith
3rd, Phil Churchill
time, 3:22 1-5

--15-mile free for all
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, R. Burnstrom
time, 17:17

early vancouver, part 19

Another holiday in 1926 and another visit by what I like to think of as the "dirt track kings of California".

Other northwest drivers like Jack Ross, Gus Duray and Victoria's Jack Smith were also here. And motorcycles featuring Fred Deeley, Jr.

42--July 1, 1926, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Al Hopp 1:02 2-5 (?)
2nd, Gus Duray
3rd, E. Spatz

--5-miles
1st, Gus Duray
2nd, Jack Ross
3rd, Jack Smith
time, 5:23

--7-miles
1st, Jim Sharpe
2nd, Jim Miles
3rd, O.H. Benson
time, 8:54 2-5

--8-miles
1st, Al Hopp
2nd, Francis Quinn
3rd, Jim Miles
time, 8:41 3-5

--15-miles
1st, Gus Duray
2nd, Jack Ross
3rd, Jim Sharpe
time, 16:34

--5-miles, motorcycles
1st, Dick Kells
2nd, R. Sedback
3rd, H. Mowatt
time, 6:18 1-5

--8-miles, motorcycles
1st, F. Deeley
2nd, Phil Bradley
3rd, E. Brown
time, 10:16

43--July 2, 1926, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Al Hopp 1:04 4-5
2nd, Bill Cooper
3rd, Jack Smith
4th, Jack Norton
Earl Evans

--5-miles, fastest cars
1st, Al Hopp
2nd, Jack Smith
3rd, Earl Evans
time, 6:33 1-5

--3-miles, motorcycles
1st, R. Sedbach
2nd, Phil Bradley
3rd, H. Mowatt
time, 4:55

--5-miles, open
1st, Bob Parsons
2nd, Jimmy Sharpe
time, 6:58

--5-miles, motorcycles
1st, Dick Kells
2nd, Fred Deeley Jr.
3rd, Merlyn Owens
time, 6:23 4-5

--4-miles, motorcycles
1st, Ray Deeley
2nd, E. Brown
time, 5:10

--15-miles free for all
1st, Bob Parsons
2nd, Jimmy Sharpe
time, 17:49


44--July 3, 1926, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Al Hopp 1:03
2nd, Gus Duray
3rd, Jack Ross

--5-miles, open
1st, Al Hopp
2nd, Bob Parsons
time, 5:27 1-5

--7-miles, open
1st, Jimmy Sharpe
2nd, George Smythe
3rd, Elmer Spatz
time, 8:06 1-5

--5-miles, consolation
1st, Jack Smith
2nd, Elmer Spatz
3rd, George Smythe
time, 5:38

--10-mile B.C. Championship
1st, Jimmy Sharpe
2nd, Jack Smith
3rd, Elmer Spatz
time, 11:22 4-5



--5-miles, motorcycles
1st, Dick Kells
2nd, H. Mowatt
3rd, Fred Deeley, Jr.
time, 6:20

--10-miles, motorcycles
1st, Ray Deeley
2nd, R. Sedbach
3rd, Phil Bradley
time, 12:05

--5-mile motorcycle consolation
1st, H. Mowatt
2nd, Ed Lanseth
3rd, E. Brown
time, 6:31 1-5

early vancouver racing, part 18

1926 is interesting in that southern California racers came north. Ascot Speedway in the Los Angeles was in a bit of a doldrums phase before the local legion took it over. So they headed north on a barnstorming tour. Francis Quinn and Jimmy Sharpe both were to stars but, unfortunately, both lost their lives, Sharpe in a racing accident and Quinn in a road accident.

The first of a couple parts.

40--May 22, 1926, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Francis Quinn 1:04 1-5

--15-miles open
1st, Francis Quinn
2nd, Al Hopp
3rd, Burr Metheny
time, 17:18 2-5

--5-miles, open
1st, Bob Parsons
2nd, Francis Quinn
3rd, Peter Lofstrom
time, 5:53 1-5

--3-miles, open
1st, Burr Metheny
2nd, J.W. Norton
3rd, E.B. Spatz
time, 3:33

--pursuit
1st, Burr Metheny


41--May 24, 1926, Hastings Park

--mile again time
1st, Al Hopp 1:04 4-5

--4-miles
1st, Al Hopp
2nd, Bob Parsons
3rd, E.B. Spatz

--6-miles
1st, Francis Quinn
2nd, Earl Evans
3rd, Jimmy Sharpe

--5-miles
1st, Elmer Spatz
2nd, J. Jamieson

--20-miles
1st, J.W. Norton
2nd, Bob Parsons

--special, 3-miles
1st, Francis Quinn
2nd, Earl Evans
3rd, Jamieson
4th, Jack Smith

early vancouver racing, part 17

Another year of racing at Hastings Park. I believe A.D. Smith is Devon Smith and George Smyth was better known as Swede Smith. Lots of guys named Smith raced back then.

38--August 14, 1925, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, George Lott, Pelican Special 1:03 3-5
Jack Ross, Buttera Special 1:03 3-5
3rd, Kenny Eckle, Ford Special 1:06 1-5

--small cars, 5-miles
1st, A.D. Smith, Ford Special
2nd, Phil Churchill, Churchill Special
3rd, Kenny Eckle, Ford Special
time, 5:49 2-5

--big cars, 5-miles
1st, Jack Ross, Buttera Special
2nd, Gus Duray, Romano Special
3rd, Chet Latta, Dodge Special
time, 5:34 1-5

--15-mile free for all
1st, George Smyth, Hayes Special
2nd, Gus Duray, Romano
3rd, Chet Latta, Dodge Special
time, 16:27 1-5




39--August 15, 1925, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Jack Ross, Buttera Special 1:02 3-5
2nd, Gus Duray, Romano 1:03

--small cars, 5-miles
1st, George Lott, Pelican Special
2nd, Kenny Eakle, Ford Special
3rd, Phil Churchill, Churchill Special
4th, A.D. Smith, Wilcox Special

--large cars, 5-miles
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, Gus Duray
3rd, Fred Hirsch, Romano Sturdvent Special
time, 5:26 4-5

--25-miles
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, Phil Churchill
3rd, George Lott
time, 29:00 1-5

early vancouver racing, part 16

Some interesting names: Jack Smith of Victoria, Happy Horstman (I believe that's the proper spelling), Jack Ross and a guy with a Hispano Suiza.

35--June 14, 1924, Hastings Park

--5-mile City Championship
1st, Jack Smith, Victoria
2nd, Dave Grant, Vancouver
3rd, Frank Martin, Vancouver
time, 6:43

--mile against time
1st, Jack Ross 1:07 1/2
2nd, C.A. Latta 1:10
3rd, Jack Smith 1:11

--3-miles, open
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, C.A. Latta
3rd, Harry Schuck

--5-miles, open
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, C.A. Latta
3rd, Kenny Eakle
time, 6:32

--3-miles, small cars
1st, Jack Smith
2nd, Kenny Eakle
3rd, Dave Grant
time, 4:45

--15-miles, open
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, Jack Smith
3rd, Harry Schuck
time, 22:15 2-5


36--August 15, 1924, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Philip Smith's Dodge Special 1:05 2-5
2nd, Horsman's Motordrome Special 1:06 3-5
3rd, Harry Schuck's Special 1:07
4th, Pat Reed's Marmon 1:08 3-5
5th, Chet Latta's Romano 1:11
Jack Smith's Chevrolet 1:11
7th, Don McKinnon's Hispano Suza 1:14
8th, Jack Ross' Buttera Special 1:21


--5-miles
1st, Jack Smith
2nd, W. Bernston
3rd, McKinnon

--3-miles
1st, Horsman
2nd, Chet Latta
3rd, Jack Ross

--10-miles
1st, Horsman
2nd, Jack Ross
3rd, Smith
time, 11:55


37--August 16, 1924, Hastings Park

--no results

early vancouver, part 15

Tragedy finally struck the local scene when Dudley Lamberton Smith died as the result of injuries suffered in an accident at Hastings Park, August 18, 1923.

The result was to limit the entry of racers to only so-called "professionals" from the U.S.

When I spoke with Gordon Reelie many years ago he said that he was at Hastings Park when Smith was killed. At that time Reelie lived in North Burnaby, within hearing distance of the horse track, especially if there were cars racing. The incident ultimately didn't deter him from getting involved with the sport.

And, in one of those eerie coincidences, I bought a paperback book called "The Complete Book of Auto Racing" by Lyle Kenyon Engel and the staff of Auto Racing Magazine.

Inside the book had passages underlined and some comments made in the margin. A bit frustrating except that I already had a cleaner copy of the book. What made me buy it was a comment written by this unknown owner of the book previous to me:

"My first contact with car racing -- when working at 'Standard Motors' -- Ford -- 8th and Kingsway. A mechanic 'Dud' Smith -- killed at Hastings Park -- 1923 -- driving a Model T Ford -- with Rajah head -- went thru outside board fence at full speed."

Then this unknown writer added, beneath a line drawn beneath the above passage:

"Drove this track several years later in a touring Ford and was chased off by speed cop Charles Palmer -- 'for my own protection'."

33--August 17, 1923, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Bloom, Stutz, No. 6
2nd, Butler, Butler Special
3rd, Bloom, Special

--5-miles, 3 heats
heat no. 1--1st, "Tip Bloom", Stutz
time, 7:10

heat no. 2--1st, Dud Smith, Crescent Special
2nd, Robins, Ford
3rd, Dave Grant, Carmichael Garage
time, 7:20

heat no. 3--1st, George Smith, Frontenac Ford
2nd, Black, Ford No. 1
3rd, Barnett, Maxwell No. 5
time, 6:53

--25-miles
1st, George Smith, Frontenac Ford
2nd, Bloom, Stutz
3rd, Grupp, Stevens Special
time, 29:15


34--August 18, 1923, Hastings Park

--30-miles
1st, Tip Bloom, Stutz, No. 6
2nd, Pat Reed, Stevens Special
3rd, C. Latta, Baby Romano

early vancouver racing, part fourteen

Big ad for the big races during the Vancouver Exhibition.

The first race noted below is from Victoria. The Foster is Phil Foster, one of a handful of Foster brothers who helped develop racing in the Victoria area. Phil's nephew was Billy Foster.

30--July 1, 1922, The Willows

--one mile Ford race
1st, Olson
2nd, Flesh
3rd, Foster

--5-mile Ford race
1st, Olson
2nd, Foster
3rd, Newman
4th, Flesh

--5-mile Ford race
1st, Olson
2nd, Foster
3rd, Newman

--many motorcycle races that day


31--August 26, 1922, Hastings Park

--25-miles
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz, No. 8
2nd, George Smith, Kimbro
3rd, Walter Bloom, Dodge, No. 4

--light cars
1st, ???
2nd, Bloom

--mile against time
1st, Jack Ross

--2-miles
1st, Jack Ross


32--August 27, 1922, Hastings Park

--2-miles
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz
2nd, George Lott

--6-miles
1st, Walter Bloom, Dodge
time, 7:26 7/8


--6-miles
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz
time, 7:46 1/4

--25-miles
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz
time, 29:06

early Vancouver racing, part thirteen

1921 stuff at Hastings Park:

26--June 11, 1921, Hastings Park

--rained out

27--June 15, 1921, Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz 1:05 1/2
2nd, Mario Bianchi, Romano 1:06 1/4
3rd, Gus Duray, Lott Special 1:09

--5-miles
1st, Charlie Latta, Peugeot
2nd, Chet Latta, Baby Romano
3rd, Jim Healey, Kimbro
time, 6:40

--10-miles
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, Gus Duray
3rd, George House, Erickson Special

--7-miles
1st, Chet Latta
2nd, Healey
3rd, Taylor, Taylor Special
time, 9:00

--15-mile free for all
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz, No. 8
2nd, Gus Duray, Lott Special
3rd, Charlie/Chet Latta, Peugeot
time, 17:49 1-2


27a--July 1, 1921, Chilliwack Fairgrounds

a Ford auto race scheduled as part of a Dominion Day sports day, no results


28--August 12, 1921, Hastings Park

--15-mile free for all
1st, George Lott
2nd, Jim Healy, Studebaker Special
time, 19:35

--heavy cars, 10-miles
1st, Erickson, Curtiss Special
2nd, Lott
time, 12:30

--light cars, 8-miles
1st, Healey
2nd, Kimbro
time, 10:55


29--August 20, 1921, Hastings Park

--15-miles
1st, George Lott
time, 18:00 1-5

early vancouver, part twelve

Second part of the 1920 story. There's probably some, if not a lot of overlap here. I've already done the International Motor Contest Association's adventures in western Canada from this time frame. But what's a little redundancy amongst nutbars?

Friday, September 17, 1920, Vancouver, B.C., Hastings Park, 1/2 mile

--event no. 1--light cars--five miles--1st, Dodge, No. 2; 2nd, ONO, No. 5; 3rd, Oakland, No. 10--time, 6:41 2-5

--event no. 2--5 miles--1st, Fred Horey (No. 44); 2nd, Toots Reynolds (No. 1)--time, 6:44 2-5

--event no. 3--light car race--8 miles--1st, Toots Reynolds (No. 1); 2nd, Fred Horey (No. 44)--time, 11:41 1-5

--event no. 4--special match race--10 miles--1st, Jack Ross; 2nd, Henderson--time, 12:00

--event no. 5--pursuit handicap--7 laps--1st, Henderson (No. 43--scratch); 2nd, Meyers (No. 24--started first)--time, 4:35

--event no. 6--1st heat--5 miles--1st, Horey (No. 44); 2nd, Hoffman (No. 9)--time, 6:40

--event no. 7--Dominion Sweepstakes--2nd heat--1st, No. 43; 2nd, Reynolds (No. 1)--time, 7:12 3-5


Saturday, September 18, 1920, Vancouver, B.C., Hastings Park, 1/2 mile

--event no. 1--consolation race--five miles--drivers who did not win Friday--1st, Hoffman (No. 9); 2nd, Maley (No. 17); 3rd, Meyers (No. 24)--time, 7:27

--event no. 2--match race--2 miles--1st, Henderson (No. 43); 2nd, Horey (No. 4)--time, 2:24 1-5

--event no. 3--light car race--15 laps--1st, Meyers (No. 24); 2nd, Reynolds (No. 1)--time, 9:35 3-5

--event no. 4--Dominion Sweepstakes--final heat--5 miles--1st, Henderson (No. 43); 2nd, Fred Horey (No. 44); 3rd, Hoffman (No. 9)--time, 6:13

--event no. 5--novelty race for commercial travellers--1st, Ernest Bulmer; 2nd, Norman Lindsay--time, 1:20--Henderson drove the winner.

--event no. 6--free-for-all--10 miles--1st, Henderson; 2nd, Hoffman--time, 13:18--dead heat at end, toss of coin won

early vancouver, part eleven

1920 in both Victoria and Vancouver with AAA cars and in late September IMCA cars. First off two races featuring northwest drivers like Jack Ross, Gus Duray, George Lott as well as some interesting local names like Arleigh Pilkey.

More about Arleigh can be found elsewhere on this blog.

24--May 22, 1920--The Willows, Victoria

--mile against time
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz 1:06 1/5
2nd, Gus Duray, Stutz 1:07 4/5
3rd, Geo. Lott, Lott Special 1:11 1/5
4th, J. Healey, Stutz Special 1:12 4/5
5th, W.R. McDonnell, Ford Special 1:15
6th, J. Buttera, Buttera Special 1:18 4/5
7th, C. Erickson, Erickson Special 1:19 3/5
8th, B. Giddings, Oh No Special 1:21 1/2
9th, G.W. Stewart, Pepp Special 1:30

--heavy cars, 5-miles
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz, 5:51 3/5
2nd, Gus Duray, 5:52
3rd, Geo. Lott, Lott Special
4th, Carl Erickson, Erickson Special

--light cars, 5-miles
1st, W.R. McDonnell
2nd, Bill Giddings, Oh No Special
3rd, James Buttera, Buttera Special
time, 6:53 2/5

--heavy cars, 8-miles
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, Gus Duray
3rd, Bill Giddings, Lott Special
4th, Carl Erickson
time, 9:19 1/5

--small cars
1st, W.R. McDonnell
2nd, Jim Buttera
3rd, Jim Healey, Oh No Special

--20-mile Victoria international free for all
1st, Jack Ross
2nd, Carl Erickson
3rd, W.R. McDonnell
time, 21:24


25--June 12, 1920--Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, No. 8, Jack Ross 1:05
2nd, No. 7, Gus Duray 1:07
3rd, No. 11, Jim Healey 1:09 1/2
4th, No. 10, Charlie Latta 1:10
5th, No. 14, MacDonald 1:13 1/2
6th, No. 9, Erickson 1:16 1/2
7th, No. 2, Buttera 1:19
8th, No. 5, Arleigh Pilkey 1:19
9th, No. 12, Stewart 1:25

--290 cu. in. and over, 10-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz, 12:52
2nd, Jack Ross, Stutz, 13:43
3rd, Erickson, Erickson Special

--light cars, 15-miles
1st, Latta, Dodge
2nd, Pilkey
3rd, Gordon Stewart, Chevrolet
4th, Erickson
time, 20:38 1/2

--20-miles, free for all
1st, Jack Ross, Stutz
2nd, Charlie Latta, Dodge
3rd, MacDonald, Ford Special
4th, Erickson, Erickson Special

early vancouver, part ten

The two other major races held in 1919, one in Victoria and the other at Vancouver. Gus Duray was the hot driver. He won all the feature races (4 of them) held in B.C. in 1919. And that Stutz he was driving, formerly owned by Jim Parsons of the Seattle/Tacoma area and a winning driver and dealer in the Stutz automobile himself, was hot as well.


22--August 16, 1919--The Willows, Victoria

--mile against time
1st, Henry North, Romano Special 1:09
2nd, Gus Duray, Stutz 4 1:11 2/5
3rd, George Lott, Lott Special 1:12 1/5
4th, Harry Hooper, Vulcan Kewpie 1:17 4/5
5th, Louie Nelson, Victoria Special 1:18

--heavy cars, 8-miles
1st, Henry North, Romano
2nd, Gus Duray, Stutz
time, 10:00 1/5

--light cars, 5-miles
1st, Henry North, Comet Special, 6:54 1/2
2nd, McDonnell, Ford, 7:21 1/5

--20-miles, Victoria free for all
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz
2nd, Walter Blume
3rd, Henry North, Romano
time, 26:00 2/5

--small cars, 4-miles
1st, ???, Comet
2nd, McDonnell
time, 5:40 2/5

--5-mile dash
1st, Gus Duray
2nd, Henry North, Romano
3rd, Walter Blume, Mercer
time, 6:26 3/5

--amateur, 2-miles
1st, W.J. Rennie, Ford
2nd, R. Graham, Buick
time, 3:30


23--September 18, 1919--Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Walter Bloom, Lott Special 1:07 3/4
2nd, Gus Duray, Stutz Special 1:09
3rd, Jack Ross, Stutz Special 1:11
4th, Henry North, Seattle Special 1:13

--290 cu. in. and over, 6-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
2nd, Walter Bloom, Lott Special
3rd, Jack Ross, Stutz Special
time, 6:52

--230 cu. in. and under, 5-miles
1st, Henry North, Seattle Special
2nd, ???, Comet Special
3rd, ???, Marvel Special
time, 6:49 1/2

--25-mile free for all
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz
2nd, Walter Bloom, Lott
3rd, Henry North, Seattle Special
4th, ???, Haye Special
time, 30:33 1/4

early vancouver, part nine

An early movie that played both in Vancouver and Victoria, and seemed to coincide with the automobile races.

Greased Lightning played at the Rex in Vancouver and the Royal in Victoria. Both theatres long gone.

Here's the synopsis from Turner Classic movies:

When Andy Fletcher, the inventive village blacksmith of Pipersville, demonstrates his automatic "Little Giant Potato Slicer" for a committee of skeptics, including banker Laban Flint, the machine works well until it begins to deposit peelings in the faces of the onlookers. Later, Flint, an enemy of new inventions, tells Andy that he cannot continue to court his daughter Alice if he spends all his money to buy a car. Andy trades his potato machine for a dilapidated auto, but when it breaks down on the way to the Chautaugua picnic, Alice and her father ride away with Andy's rival from the city, Alden J. Armitage, in his new car. Andy then converts his old auto into a racing car and, christening it "Greased Lightning," he enters the country fair race. Learning that Armitage is robbing the bank's safe, Andy gives up his lead to capture the crook. Flint agrees to Andy and Alice's marriage and gives them a new car.

And a link to a Charles Ray bio.

early vancouver, part seven

Must get back to this after two months of not getting back to it. Early Vancouver. Up to 1919.

20--May 28, 1919--Hastings Park

--295 cu. in. and over, 8-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
2nd, Rae Lentz, Romano Special
3rd, Will Erickson, Hudson Super Special
4th, A. Williams, Mercer Special
5th, Cliff MacBeth, Elks' Mercer Special
time, 9:08

--270 cu. in. and under, 5-miles
1st, Bill Giddings, Maxwell Special
2nd, Walter Bloom, Comet Special

--free for all tire change, 5-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
2nd, Cliff MacBeth, Elks' Mercer Special
3rd, Rae Lentz, Romano Special
4th, Will Erickson, Hudson Super Special
5th, A. Williams, Mercer
time, 6:29

--295 cu. in. and under, 8-miles
1st, Cliff MacBeth, Elks' Mercer Special
2nd, Bill Giddings, Maxwell

--free for all, 10-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz
2nd, Williams, Mercer
3rd, MacBeth, Mercer
4th, Giddings, Maxwell
5th, Erickson, Hudson
time, 13:30

--special touring car race, 3-miles
1st, Fred Elliot, Saxon Six
2nd, Charlie Laey, Stutz
time, 4:09



21--July 19, 1919--Hastings Park

--mile against time
1st, Rae Lentz, Romano Special 1:04
2nd, Gus Duray, Stutz Special 1:08 2/5
3rd, Jack Ross, Mercer Special 1:10 2/5
4th, Geo. Lott, Lott Special 1:11
5th, Walter Blume, Comet Special 1:14 4/5
6th, Harry Hooper, Vulcan Special 1:18 1/2
7th, Ira Hayes, Hayes Special 1:22 1/2

--230 cu. in., 5-miles
1st, Walter Blume, Comet Special
2nd, Bill Giddings, Maxwell Special
3rd, E. Cartner, Elks Special
time, 6:37

--invitational, 7-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
2nd, Rae Lentz, Romano Special
3rd, ???, Lott Special

--293 cu. in. and over, 6-miles
1st, Walter Blume, Comet Special
2nd, Bill Giddings, Maxwell Special

--Vancouver Derby, 25-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special, 32:28
2nd, George Lott, Lott Special, 34:30
3rd, Harry Hooper, Vulcan Special, 36:19

--5-miles
1st, Stutz Special
2nd, Lott Special
3rd, Vulcan Kewpie
time, 5:48

early vancouver, part six

1918 and racing returns to Vancouver. Introducing U.S. drivers like Gus Duray and Walter "Tip" Blume. Stutz, "the car that made good in a day", and the return of the Romano Special.



18--July 1, 1918--Hastings Park

--Mile against time
--Gus Duray, Stutz Special 1:15
--Cliff MacBeth, Yakima Special 1:17 1/2
--Ritchie, Ford Special 1:22 1/2
--Gus Duray, Paige Special 1:23
--J. Erdman, Erdman Special 1:25
--Walter Brooks, Duthie Special 1:27
--Harry Skar, Comet Special 1:28 1/2
--H. Lillie, Vancouver Special 1:35

--12 mile free for all
1st, Cliff MacBeth, Yakima Special
2nd, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
3rd, Harry Skar, Comet Special
4th, J. Erdman, Erdman Special

--Australian Pursuit
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz
2nd, Cliff MacBeth, Yakima
3rd, ???, Paige Special
4th, Ritchie, Ford

--small cars (270 cu. in. and under), 6-miles
1st, J. Erdman, Erdman Special
2nd, Ritchie, Ford Special
3rd, Walter Brooks, Duthie Special
time, 7:41


--large cars (300 cu. in. and over), 6-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz
2nd, Cliff MacBeth, Yakima Special
3rd, ???, Paige

--small cars, 8-miles
1st, J. Erdman, Erdman Special
2nd, Walter Brooks, Duthie Special
3rd, Ritchie, Ford Special


19--August 24, 1918--Hastings Park

--free for all tire change, 5-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
2nd, Henry North, Romano Special
3rd, Walter Blume, Blume Special
4th, Cliff MacBeth, Mercer Special
time, 7:29 1/2

--small cars, 7-miles
1st, Harry Schuck, Ford Special
2nd, Cliff MacBeth, Mercer Special
3rd, Walter Blume, Blume Special
time, 10:34

--over 300 cu. in., 8-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
2nd, Henry North, Romano Special
3rd, Sam Carmichael, Stutz Special

--Vancouver Exhibition Sweepstakes, 25-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
2nd, Henry North, Romano Special
3rd, Cliff MacBeth, Mercer Special
4th, Sam Carmichael, Stutz Special
time, 30:55

--special invitational, 5-miles
1st, Gus Duray, Stutz Special
2nd, Henry North, Romano Special
time, 5:37

early vancouver racing, part five

A pair of race dates from 1914. The Romano Special makes its first appearance in Vancouver.

I'm not too sure about the results of the Tetzlaff date but the names Billy Carlson, Hughie Hughes and Wilbur D'Alene were pretty big in their day:

15--July 1, 1914, Minoru Park

--Mile against time
1st, Percy Barnes, Romano Special 1:00 1/2
2nd, Hugo Pagano, Speedwell 1:11
3rd, W.H. Smythe, Stearns 1:12
4th, ???, Pacific Car Special 1:13

--Vancouver owned cars for Vancouver City championship, 10-miles
1st, C.R. Thomas, American 13:01
2nd, W.H. Smythe, Stearns 13:01 1-5
3rd, Fred Franklin, Ford 15:00

--15-miles, standing start
1st, Fred Barsby, Studebaker 20:20
2nd, ???, American 20:20.55
3rd, ???, Pacific Car Special 22:40

--International free for all, 10-miles
1st, Romano Special 13:55
2nd, Speedwell 13:56
3rd, Stearns 14:15

--5-miles
1st, Romano Special 6:19
2nd, Speedwell 7:29
3rd, Stearns 7:45


16--July 24, 1914, Minoru Park

--Teddy Tetzlaff, Blitzen Benz, 56 seconds for one mile

--1st event, 5 miles
1st, Hughie Hughes
2nd, Billy Carlson
Time, 5:27

--2nd event, heat for free-for-all
1st, Wilbur D’Alene
2nd, Billy Carlson
3rd, Hughie Hughes

--3rd event, heat for free-for-all
1st, Wilbur D’Alene
2nd, Billy Carlson

--4th event, heat for free-for-all
1st, Billy Carlson
2nd, Wilbur D’Alene


17--July 25, 1914, Minoru Park

--rained out?

early vancouver racing, part four

Wild Bob Burman came north to Vancouver with an entourage of professional drivers.

The big deal of the two weekends that he raced at Minoru Park was his attempts to run the Blitzen Benz at record speeds. According to the newspaper reports of the day he did drop the time for the mile consistently. No world's record, maybe a Canadian record, but nothing seems to have been official.

10--July 18, 1913, Minoru Park

--Bob Burman, Blitzen Benz, 2:15 p.m., 55 4-5 second for the mile

--Bob Burman, Blitzen Benz, 6:00 p.m., 54 2-5 seconds for the mile

--1st heat, free-for-all
1st, Burman

--600 c.I. displacement or more
1st, Burman (Keaton)


11--July 19, 1913, Minoru Park

--10,000 in attendance

--Bob Burman, Blitzen Benz, 52 2-5 seconds for the mile


12--July 25, 1913, Minoru Park

--Bob Burman, Blitzen Benz, 51 3-5 for the mile

--1st heat, free-for-all
1st, Burman
2nd, Endicott
3rd, Benedict (Mercedes)

--2nd heat,
1st, Benedict

--3rd heat,
1st, Burman


13--July 26, 1913, Minoru Park

--Bob Burman, Blitzen Benz, 50 4-5 for the mile

--Burman vs. horse (Flying Squirrel)
3-32nds of of mile
1st, Burman

early vancouver racing, part three

Some 1913 racing. Beginning with motorcycles.

I'm not going to go chronologically here (lots of syllables back there). I'll do the motorcycles first, then the automobiles

The Bennett mentioned is Alex Bennett who went back to the U.K. and Europe and was a works rider winning some major races. He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame last year:

7--June 14, 1913, The Willows

--motorcycles

--1st race--Smith, Victoria, won over Scott, Victoria, in 2-mile sidecar race, time, 3:27 ¾

--2nd race--5-mile amateur:
1st, Art Creeck, Victoria
2nd, C.O. Rayner, Victoria
3rd, George Griffin
4th, Comyow, Victoria
Time, 6:44

--3rd race--3-mile professional:
1st, Coburn
2nd, Berreth
3rd, Godfrey
Time, 4:09 ¾

--4th race--3-miles, Coburn vs. Godfrey:
1st, Coburn, time, 4:07 ¼

--5th race--3-miles, Berreth vs. Jimmy Bergstadt
1st, Berreth, time 4:18 ¼

--6th race--10-miles, amateur:
1st, C.O. Rayner
2nd, George Griffin
Time, 13:40

--7th race--4-miles, professional:
1st, Godfrey
2nd, Coburn
3rd, Berreth

--8th race--5-miles, amateur:
1st, Creech
2nd, Rayner
3rd, Griffin



8--July 1, 1913, Hastings Park

--motorcycles, rained out


9--July 8, 1913, Hastings Park

--motorcycles

--one-mile, flying start
1st, Harry Cogburn, California, 1:16 (Province newspaper says 1:14), track record

--2-miles, free-for-all
1st, J. Emery, Seattle
2nd, H. Cogburn, California
3rd, Homer Des Rosier, Vancouver
Time, 2:32

--5-miles, professional riders
1st, H.Cogburn
2nd, Emery
3rd, Harry Meagher
Time, 5:59

--3-miles, amateur riders
1st, Bennett
2nd, McEwen
3rd, Slim Watts
4:06

--5-miles, free-for-all
1st, Cogburn
2nd, Emery
3rd, Meagher
Time, 6:41

--5-miles, amateur, for Con Jones Trophy
1st, George McEwen
2nd, Pat Pettipiece
3rd, Bennett
Time, 7:05 1-2

--3-miles, professional riders
1st, Emory
2nd, Cogburn
3rd, Des Rosier
Time, 3:57 1-2

14--August 9, 1913, Hastings Park

--motorcycles

--5-miles, Vancouver riders
1st, Tom McEwan, (Indian)
2nd, George McEwen, (Indian)
3rd, Bud Parker, (Indian)
4th, Lloyd Purdy (Excelsior)
Time, 6:42

--3-miles, professional
1st, Bennett (only one to finish)
Emory, hurt
Time, 3:45

--5-mile, professional, and
4-mile match race

No results declared.

--6-miles, free-for-all
1st, Bennett (Indian)
2nd, Harry Meagher (Harley-Davidson)
3rd, Harry Cogburn (Indian)
Time, 6:38

--8-miles, Vancouver riders
1st, Bud Parker (Indian)
2nd, George McEwen (Indian)
Time, 10:41

--Hotel Lotus event, 10-miles,
Between Harry Cogburn and Bennett
1st, Bennett
Time, 13:03 2-5

early vancouver racing, adding to the addenum

Digging through the archive (i.e., cleaning up) I came across this 1911 motorcycle race at Hastings Park. From the text it sounds like there were earlier races.

Red Sebastian's name shows up in later years racing automobiles. And Earl Godfrey is named racing motorcycles later on as well.

Here's the results all typed out:

1911a--June 17, 1911, Hastings Park, motorcycles

--exhibition riding:
1st, Red Sebastian, 7 h.p. Indian

--Four h.p. class, 5 miles, for R.H. McClinton Cup:
1st, E. Earl Godfrey, time, 7:08 3-5

--Two and three-quarter h.p. class, 3 miles:
1st, E. Earl, time, 3:01 1-5

--Six h.p. class, 5 miles, for James D. McCormack Cup:
1st, Red Sebastian, time, 6:44 3-5

--Seven h.p. class, 3 miles, for the International Trophy, presented by J.M. McMillan:
1st, Red Sebastian, time, 6:12

--Twin cylinder, 5-mile handicap, for Hemphill Bros. Cup:
1st, 6:02 2-5

--Free-for-all, twin cylinder, 3 miles:
1st, Red Sebastian, time, 3:05 2-5

--Free-for-all, single cylinder, 3 miles:
1st, R. Hemphill, time 4:15 2-5