Hey Folks, how about an Ontario Stock Car topic. It would be cool to restore an older Late Model or Modified. If I had my choice I'd like one of Bob Websters Dodges, they were always spotless. I know there are a few fella's and maybe ladies here who raced or know someone that did in the 60's , 70's 80's in southern Ontario. Any car, any racer, anything even slightly related, basically anything ya got, lol. Over to you GMDad.
-- Edited by Iwannagofast on Wednesday 8th of April 2015 08:33:52 AM
I am a little prejudice but it would have to be the #43 of Alex Gunn sponsored by Parkdale Auto Parts or my own #8 Late Model sponsored by R.C.Davidson Power Sweeping.
I talked to Jimmy Howard about a year ago, still lives in same house with shop on Beach Blvd and looks exactly the same inside as it did back in the 60's.
Some trivia for you Randy... what car did Davey Moore buy to start out racing with and who drove a 1966 Ford Galaxie with the engine set way back inside the car?
You might be sorry you started this topic Randy, I can go on for hours...lol
Correct on the 66 Galaxy. He was an engineer and still lives in Stoney Creek
Lot of other super modified drivers from that era are Gary Witter (Jimmy Howards son-in-law I believe) Colonel Glenn Schurr; Slammin Sam Snyder; Harv Lennox in the Tammy 10; Al Mitchell and Hugh Brown in the number 6 7/8....good years
I remember Bruces Galaxie for certain. You're talking about Davies Modified?.....was it one of Willards or Stevenson's cars? .....and nope, I'm not sorry - please - go on.
Some years ago I complied with the help of a lot of people all the Canadian drivers who have competed in Supermodifieds at Oswego Speedway, Oswego, New York. This place has always been a big deal for pavement open wheel racing, there was a reason that for years it was described at the Indy of the East. There is speculation that the class of Supermodified racing actually started at the CNE in the 1950's, the folks in Ohio beg to differ but certainly the Hogan/Duncan car was one of the very first tubular framed supers ever built.
So the following is an alphabetical list of those racers who made the trip to Oswego.
Kenny Andrews Make Armstrong Art Boulianne (CAMRA rear engine car) Rick Batters Eddie Bell Mac Bound "Downtown" Andy Brown (NHL Goalie from Hamilton, Ontario)
Jimmy Brown
Barry Brush John Burkholder Guy Chatrand John Clapham Ryan Coniam Warren Coniam Brian Coere Ed Crombie (CAMRA rear engine car) Keith Dempster Doug Didero Bernie Kline (teammate of Pete Harvey) Harvey Docksteader Gary Evans Harold Gallanger Dave Carls Jim Gray Russ Gray "Gentleman" Jack Greedy George Groves Shannon Groves Ron Hartrick George Herbison Joe Hylwka Ted Hogan Dave Hooper Mike Hooper Jimmy Howard Dave Lair Harvey Lennox Brad Lichty Mike Lichty Dennis Lichty Wade Litt Andy Mackereth Brian Mackereth Norm Mackereth Bruno Marcheson Jack McCutcheon Norris McDonald Skip McKenzie Dave McKnight Steve McKnight Dell Meeks Al Mitchell Brian Morrison Dave Morton Gary Morton Norm Morton John Norton Marvin Pegg Ron Pern Don Rammage Craig Rayvals Paul Ryckman Walt Riley George Ritchie Randy Ritskes Bill Rowse Mark Sammutt Rod Sauder Howie Scannell Glen Schurr Sean Shanahan Jack Sharpe Sam Snider John Spencer Cecil Stephens Mike Stone Doug Syer Tim Timms Mark Van Luven Bruce Waddell Kenny Williamson Scott Wilson (yes the fuel drag racer) Gary Witter (lost his life September 1971 Oswego Classic) T.J. Woolsey.
Pardon any spelling mistakes and if you know of anyone not on the list let me know.
-- Edited by Offset on Wednesday 8th of April 2015 03:52:43 PM
The first offset supers I ever saw were at The Ex in Toronto in 1963 , Jimmy Howard and partner Gary Witter . Not sure what year the regular modifieds started ....50's I would think . Personally I consider super modifieds to be offset motored cars . New Yorker Nolan Swift really pushed the envelope with car developement in 1960-61 with what was probably the beginning of the modifieds from what we called "stockcars " .....there may have been others in different parts of the U.S . around that time , I'm sure .
Probably the best driver in the Windsor area was Stan Earish but these were late models at Checker Flag Speedway .
I used to go to Oswego for Classic Weekend in September and always cheered for the Canadian drivers in the Supers as well as the Mods ......was there when Warren Coniam won it all .Doug Didero was always good ( think he is an American now ) Ah , the memories .
Almost forgot ...the late Don Biederman entered his stocker at Oswego in the Modified division and actually qualified !
-- Edited by teejay99 on Wednesday 8th of April 2015 04:14:55 PM
-- Edited by teejay99 on Wednesday 8th of April 2015 04:19:40 PM
I remember Bruces Galaxie for certain. You're talking about Davies Modified?.....was it one of Willards or Stevenson's cars? .....and nope, I'm not sorry - please - go on.
Davey started out in Modified when he bought the #61 of Ivan Little. Not sure when he won his first race but didn't take him long to catch on. I remember Webster's immaculate looking Dodge all the time. Him and my brother Ken were fierce competitors along with Don Shirton and Carl Game to name a few.
Never been to Oswego had always wanted to go see the supers run on the big track. Only saw them run at Flamboro and CNE
I,m sitting here looking at a photo of Brock Allin's 34 Ford 5 window - ( Black / White # 40 ), which as a kid of 14 , I personally worked on at Parker's Garage in Woodstock ( 1954-55) . It started out with a " homegrown " VERY built flathead and then it got a 51-53 Caddy . Brock ran mostly Nilestown , Tillsonburg , Delhi and Ailsa-Craig ( spelling ? ) . He ran with Harvey Lennox - Tammy 10 , Al Mitchell ( Dorchester / # 24 ? ) and Jimmy Wilson in The " Watter Bros " gorgeous red 34 Dodge hemi coupe # 576 ( Springfield ) -- MEMORIES !! -- LATER -- DON / Fleet 51
The only dirt tracks I saw back then was the local Checker Flag and then up in Nilestown . Everything else was paved ....Delaware , Pinecrest ( Toronto ) CNE , Oswego . I do like dirt now ever since my first trip to El Dora to cheer on Dave Blaney in the Vivarin Ford outlaw sprint back in mid 90's .
Flamboro was paved when the super modifieds ran there but Davey Moore and Bruce VanDyke ran at Speedway Park in Hamilton and Merritville in St Catherines which were dirt tracks
The only dirt tracks I saw back then was the local Checker Flag and then up in Nilestown . Everything else was paved ....Delaware , Pinecrest ( Toronto ) CNE , Oswego . I do like dirt now ever since my first trip to El Dora to cheer on Dave Blaney in the Vivarin Ford outlaw sprint back in mid 90's .
I don't remember Nilestown as a dirt track. I started going there in 1968-69.
I remember it had paved track with a cross road through the middle which made it a figure 8 for some classes. It kept you on the edge of your seat.
In the early 50,s Nilestown was dirt as was the old horse track in Tilbury and the best dirt track of all Ridgetown. Fastest car in those days was Copperhead 1 driven by Trip Trepanier of Jennets creek. He ran a Chrysler test engine on juice. Huge fight in the Tilbury pits one night 1952 I think. Many went to the local lockup over it. Tire irons flying everywhere over the Chrysler test engine . Trip very seldom got out of the car and nobody was allowed near it. A driver was killed at that track and it closed shortly after. I was about 13 then and we never missed a race. Some of you might remember Joe (Sunny) Atkinson of Merlin (My hometown) He ran a car called Black Diamond with an Airplane Engine. I believe Stew Clutton has the engine in his dragster yet today.
Also can you remember Fred Phillips a school teacher from London. He was the starter / flagman at Nilestown and Delaware back in the 50,s. He would stand in the middle of the track between the two rows of cars and you could bareley see him for dust. Very colorful guy, don't know how he didn't get run over.
Never went to Tilbury or Ridgetown , unfortunately , as they are fairly close to my area . I go to South Buxton sometimes , a small egg shaped dirt track that packs good crowds .
In remembering dirt tracks , there was Dayus Speedway here in Windsor in the late 40's , early 50's ......all jalopies but the guys had a lot of fun as my then 5 year old memory thinks of it . I remember powder puff races and " hot dog and coca cola races " .....( cars were lined up on track , drivers had to run to a table in the infield , eat a hot dog , drink a coke , run back to the car and drive 5 laps ( maybe 10 ) ........you had to be there .
Here's an early one .... Does the name Lloyd Shaw mean anything to anyone here? My father (who has zero interest in cars) remembers a guy living on the street my father grew up on (in Toronto), who had a race car in the driveway, who's name was Lloyd Shaw. I did a bit of poking around (on the 'net) and there is a race car driver by the name of Lloyd Shaw in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. The Lloyd Shaw my father knew (or knew of) was older than my father, and according to the CMHF, Lloyd Shaw was born in 1912 (my father in 1930). The timing of my dads memory of the race car would be between the end of the war and 1948. The car pictured is the only Lloyd Shaw car I could find on the 'net. I know it's not a stock car, but according to the CMHF, he did race stock cars.
Here's the copy paste from the CMHF site:
Lloyd Shaw had a spectacular career as a builder of racing cars, as a champion racer at home and in the United States in both open-wheel and closed-wheel cars, and as an administrator and promoter. Born in Toronto in 1912, he was 20 when he built his first sprint car and went racing at speedways in places like Leamington, Chatham, and Sarnia. With most of the records missing, we don’t know how many races he won in those days but we do know that on his first visit to the circuit in Leamington, he set Canadian and British Empire speed records for a half-mile dirt track. Following the Second World War, in which he flew bombers for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lloyd won Canadian Auto Racing Society sprint-car championships in 1948, 1950, ’51 and ’52. During the 1950 season, Lloyd also drove a stock car and won that year’s CARS stock car championship. In 1953, NASCAR opened up a Grand National race at Langhorne, Pa., to “foreign cars.” Lloyd’s sponsor, James Cook, who was the Canadian agent for Jaguar cars and had dealerships in Toronto and Winnipeg, entered a Jaguar for Lloyd and he won the pole in it. To this day, Lloyd Shaw is the only Canadian ever to win a pole in NASCAR’s premier division. As well as racing himself, he was also a builder. He was one of the founders of the Toronto Racing Drivers’ Club (he also served as treasurer and was instrumental in the club’s construction of Canada’s first post-war race track, Pinecrest Speedway) and the Canadian Auto Racing Society. He retired from active participation in the sport in the mid-1950s and died in 1983.
-- Edited by pint and a pound on Thursday 9th of April 2015 12:53:55 PM
Pint 'n a Pound, that's some cool history - and don't worry this one certainly qualifies. Mods, Supermods, Late Models, Bombers, Open wheel, Full bodied, Sprints, Can-Ams, Quarter Midgets and anything else that chased something similar for a few laps also qualifies. I was just trying to get folks talking about something we obviously all love. Keep it coming.
My uncle, Murray Beamish, raced sprint cars for Lloyd Shaw at Speedway Park in Toronto. Lloyd also put his sprinter in the pole at the famed mile Langhorne PA Speedway. He sat on the pole of a NASCAR Race at the CNE in a Jaguar XK sports car. I believe Lee Petty won that race and it was the first NASCAR race for Richard Petty.
Cool find Pint, I had no idea the car still existed.
The year 1932 was the height of the Great Depression. Jobs were few and far between and, for the older generation, the times were an enormously trying period as people by the score were losing their life savings, homes and farms.
BY NATIONAL POSTOCTOBER 26, 2007
The year 1932 was the height of the Great Depression. Jobs were few and far between and, for the older generation, the times were an enormously trying period as people by the score were losing their life savings, homes and farms.
But, for 20-year-old Lloyd Shaw, the future looked promising. He had heard there was going to be dirt track automobile races at Leamington, Ont., on July 1. With the help of a good friend who knew how to weld, Shaw decided to build a race car out of old parts to compete in the event. Shaw was going to become a famous race car driver.
The Leamington event was part of a major international racing series that also included stops in Sarnia and Windsor, Ont., attracting some of the best AAA drivers in the United States. The AAA cars were also known as the big cars and were, at the time, the pinnacle of North American motorsports. The Leamington race was held each year on the Canada Day weekend.
The car that Shaw constructed was a very unusual machine, unlike any other competing that year -- or ever. With a front-mounted, four-cylinder Buick engine driving the rear wheels, Shaw decided to place the radiator at the rear of the car. This proved to be a very unwise decision as the car boiled over within a few laps because the radiator could not get enough air going through it.
As a rookie driver, Shaw did much better in the car, qualifying mid-pack that year at 37.6 seconds, about 4.5 seconds slower than the frontrunners at the Leamington Fairgrounds.
A couple of tries later at building a quality race car, Shaw finally found a winning combination with a new car in 1935. Car #12 was a Cragar-Ford converted Model A, which he successfully competed in AAA events both in Canada and in the U.S. from 1935 to 1946.
In 1950, Shaw fit a Jaguar Mark V engine into a new chassis also numbered #12. With this combination in the sprint car and a new Jaguar XK120 roadster from his sponsor, James L. Cooke Motors, he set two speed records in one day at Speedway Park near Toronto that have never been broken.
Legendary CFRB sportscaster Bob Hesketh once said of Shaw that, if you cut into his veins, you would find oil instead of blood. Even with his successes, everything was not all rosy for Shaw. He had his share of injuries and wrecked cars.
Nevertheless, 1953 turned out to be a banner year for Shaw. He had a new #12 race car also powered by an XK120 engine -- one of the fastest powerplants available -- again sponsored by Cooke. In addition, he had gone into partnership with his daytime boss Ernie Pigott, head of Pigott Motors on Yonge Street in Toronto. Together, they spent more than $50,000 to fix up the old Speedway Park on Highway 7 in Vaughan as a track specially prepared for the half-mile roadsters. With seating for 7,000 people, their efforts were rewarded with capacity crowds at their race meets in 1953.
In addition, Shaw was operating what was probably the first racing driver's school in Canada to teach half-mile dirt track racing to those who wanted to give it a try. He even custom-built a training car.
While Speedway Park was gaining a reputation among drivers as a good track to race at, there was one track where Shaw loved to race that had a very bad reputation. It was referred to as the "big left."
Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Penn., was one big circle with no straights. Constructed in 1926 as a one-mile dirt oval, it was one big slide with the rear hung out and the power on for the entire lap. This was the way Shaw liked to race. While Langhorne was known as the track that ate the heroes, Shaw excelled there.
On July 21, 1953, Shaw was entered in a special International 200 at the Langhorne track. The event pitted American against foreign cars and Shaw was the only Canadian entered. In the time trials, Frank Arford of Michigan was killed when he was thrown out of his car.
Shaw, in the James L. Cooke Jaguar XK120M, amazed everyone by matching the fastest time ever recorded at Langhorne, a mighty feat for a racer from the wilds of Canada. Regretfully, while starting on pole, the engine on the Jaguar began to overheat, forcing a pit stop that caused Shaw to finish 23rd.
In 1957, Shaw decided to hang up his helmet and goggles. For nearly 35 years, he had been an integral part of the North American motorsports scene. He trained drivers, won races and promoted events. Lloyd Shaw, who died in 1983, was a true Canadian racing ace.
Very interesting story and I've never heard of Mr. Shaw , unfortunately , as I didn't follow sprints until the 90's on myfirst trip to Knoxville Iowa . There is a sprint car museum there ( a must see if you are ever in that area ) and to see what the drivers risked their lives in ( literally ) will make your hair stand on end . There are unrestored sprints there from the 20's ....talk about a death trap ...one flip and it's adios !I wonder if Shaw is mentioned there in their archives ....the dangerous Langhorne is mentioned often .
One story I've heard little about concerned Jack Sharp in the Lobo 1 .
I went to my first Delaware race , early 70's I guess , and it was the last race of the old configuration as it turned out . They were going to close the track and enlarge it . Drivers were asked to try to break the old track record that I believe Joe Hylwka held until then . The turnout that night was "underwhelming" both with cars and fans . I think about 6 supers showed up and didn't come close to Hylwka'a record .
Anyhow , I start talking to one of the track regulars and he tells me the story of Jack Sharp , all the wins , the accident , the recovery etc. but that was 40+ years ago and I never heard of Sharp since that discussion . Anyone can fill in the blanks ? It all seemed a little surreal .
I am not sure if it is what you are referring to but I did hear that they lost the supermodified off the trailer on the 401 (I think on the way to Nilestown). Continued on but when they realized it was missing went back along the route and found it sitting by the side of the highway unharmed.
Was " LOBO 1 " sponsored by Kernahan Lumber ( Hamilton ? ) Whoever it was had a little lighted house on the roof ---- until one night at Nilestown . After the front - straight end-over-end , the little house was no more -- LATER -- DON / Fleet 51
Was " LOBO 1 " sponsored by Kernahan Lumber ( Hamilton ? ) Whoever it was had a little lighted house on the roof ---- until one night at Nilestown . After the front - straight end-over-end , the little house was no more -- LATER -- DON / Fleet 51
Was it a house or a school house?? I do remember that.
anyone remember "bell city" the track that roy bell built at selwyn just north of lakefield ? operated from 66 to july 71, it got paved for the last season but shut down in july. it used to be alot of fun on a saturday night up here. the powder puff was always a hoot. the outline of the track can still be seen on google earth.
__________________
don't walk in like you own the place..........walk in like you hold the mortgage.
same with Speedway Park here i Hamilton. Started as dirt track in early 60's and was paved for its last couple years of existance. Real nice grandstands which are now in the Binbrook Fairgrounds and the basic outlines is still visible but the city is building closer and closer to it all the time.
Do you remember Jack's #93 modified with a Falcon body and painted up like a shark with the teeth and all on the front fenders? My dad owned the motor in that car and him and Jack partnered up on the car for a couple years. Dad had 5 or 6 guys driving his cars at one time or another. Or the time the 3 Deagle brothers were all racing modified and in the qualifying race they ran beside each other for 8 laps so nobody could pass them....sure pi$$ed off a few guys..haha Fun times..
Jarvis1, are you originally from the east end of Hamilton? I remember a Doug Jarvis I use to sell parts to when I worked at Queenston Chev parts dept.
I am from the east end. Dave Jarvis is the name. Quite possible we bought parts from Queenston Motors.
Terry Cruse and I worked on a couple cars.
I still drop in and see Jackie Hollis when I visit back there.
Larry and Donny Deagle are gone. Just Denny left.
I remember the Deagles when they ran Mini's. Absolute maniacs in those things, lol. Anyone have any pics of that Falcon you're talking about Don? Lot's of interesting stuff here guys, thanks - and keep it coming.
Dave, I thought Donny was the only brother left. I knew Larry passed quite a few years ago and Denny more recently. Denny was the one with the limp from the bad accident driving Stan Miskin's car. Seen Stan at Humberstone about a yer ago. He still owned a couple of dirt late model cars they were racing in the states. Not sure Randy but will check to see if I can find any.
DEAGLE, Dennis It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Dennis on January 13, 2013, at the age of 72 years, at the Juravinski Hospital. Beloved husband of 36 years to Joyce (Hopkins). Loved and devoted father to Wendy, Mandy (Dave) and adopted son Fab (Tina). Amazing grandfather to Daniel, Bradley, Brandon, Kaitlyn, Nicholas, Marisa, and Nadia. Predeceased by brother Larry (Joan). Survived by brother Donald (Faye)
my 1st job when i was 13 selling wheelspin news for 2bits a copy for a brush cut dizzy dean murray, who was also the track announcer
i remember Kenny Nichols blue 57 chev, the 65 of Bill Bendall, the johnston motors sponsored number 5 of bob webster, how about the sportsmen class 26 henry shivak, the 8 of mike zajac, 16 and 61 gino biegalo and ivan little, denny deagle's number 22 and jack hollis with the infamous shark paint and fin and who can forget the deagle brothers in the mini stock division with there volkswagons and austin mini sponsored by gulliver motors, they would all start dead last and within a couple of laps all 3 brothers would be duking it out for the lead with denny taking most feature wins, yes the good old days 45 years ago for me
the need for speed was injected into my veins at a very young age by my father going to speedway park on friday, merritville saturday nites, and humberstone on sundays......
Yes Ken we more than likely bought a Wheelspin off of you. We were there the first night it opened as my dad "Wimpy Nicholls" built the 43 Sportsman that Alex Gunn drove and the blue 57 Chev was my brothers car....I never got to run a full season at Speedway park but ran about 10 years at Ransomville, Merrittville and Humberstone with my #8 Late Model. Raced with Pete Bicknell when he was just getting out of high school.....could add a few more names to your list...27 of Frankie Fields; Art Clark; 22 of Bill Rafter; 44 of Lorne Overholster; 41 of Jack Shadwell; 47 of Ralph Book. I still have a picture of the 85 Bob Fisher modified and in the background you can see all the kids sitting in the trees behind the pits......never went back much after they paved it.
i live only a few blocks away from tolton and the Nicholls name is still active in racing dirt cars, Murray son of Kenny still races with his son at Oshweken, they have a new car for the 2015 season, for a kid that goes to high school and works p/t at tim hortons and a shoestring budjet, the skys the limit with a racing family dating back to?????????
Wimpy Nicholls.....Tolton Ave? Wayne Conroy was a good friend too.
Correct. Murray still lives in the house and uses the same garage for his and his sons race car that dad did all of the work out of. Bill who did the engines on my race cars worked for Hubert Sabourin at the B.P. on Kenilworth and Roxborough and Hubert ended up being Wayne Conroys father-in-law so we knew Wayne a long time ago. Was a good promotions man for Cayuga Speedway in the 70's
I've known (John)Wayne Conroy since the '50's. He had a 6 cylinder maybe GMC in a '47 Chev that was very fast. Wimpy may have built it. I pinstriped the chrome valve cover and inside I painted "Flatheads Forever". That engine ended up in a race car at Speedway Stoney Creek.
Last time I saw Wayne was at my son's wedding. 10? or 15 years ago.
Wayne was living in Cayuga.
-- Edited by jarvis1 on Sunday 3rd of May 2015 08:49:17 PM
I was scrolling through some older posts adn remembered this one. Ken, I met you at Ohsweken last summer. They had a car show one evening ( which I didn't know about until I arrived) and you pulled in with your truck. My buddy and I had the red Comet ragtop. Thanks for putting the facebook link up.
