1967 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

My First Demolition Derby..July 29th 1967…Win!!

55 Chev

This was my first time ever on a race track. It was at Flamboro Speedway on July 29th 67′. I always painted my cars with the name “Color Me 1st”. On this one, I put powered by Honda on the front fender and yeah Dodge on the back. I guess that’s where it all started for me and the multi representation of car manufacturers. In a few years I will run a 36 Dodge with a Chev motor sponsored by Dixie Ford. There were 34 cars in this race. I use to watch Wreck-Em races and always cheered for the car who smashed everything in sight. No one liked the driver who hid from the action or faked stalling so others would be eliminated while he played possum. Usually those guys got booed. After the smoke settled there was nothing left of this 55 Chev 2 door hard top…did I say 55 Chev?…It’s true they were very popular at that time, but don’t worry this one was severly rusted, and for the restoring buff there were tons to pick from….4 months after this race I woul ask Nonie out on our first date. (a little family trivia).

1968 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

Flamboro Speedway….1968

57 Chev

This Chev let me dwon. It quit and wouldn’t restart. There were always lots of cars in the Flamboro Wreck Em races and unless you had a good running car you were beat. I bashed with many guys who liked the big heavy tanks, Mecurys, Buicks and full size GM’s. They were good for hammering other cars but they overheated quick.

Flamboro Speedway….1968

57 Chev

Always Color Me 1st…didn’t always finish first.

Demo car for Pinecrest…

59 Ford

I tried using Ford for awhile. This Ford was sponsored by teh Samaritones. They were a musucial groukp that went around to nursing homes and hospitals playing for the patients. I was asked to play by the Minister who organized it to try and get kids off the street. My main reason for joining was so I could be with Nonie who also was a member of this group. I asked Nonie to go steady in February of 68 and she said yes. Later on the Samaritones would put $25 into getting this car ready. It didn’t do to well.

1969 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

Demo Derby Win at Acton Speedway Fall 69′

59 Chev

When I got to Acton Speedway, this 59 Chev was for sale for $50. I bought it and won $125 for the Wreck Em race. The reason I took Chevy’s with sixes was because they always started when they got hot. My goal was to destroy the car so bad I coudln’t take it home with me.

Color Me 1st…Acton Speedway

59 Chev

Acton Speedway…1969

56 Chev

This Chevy didn’t last either. It was beat up pretty bad.

Acton Speedway…1969

56 Chev

Late summer 69.

Pinecrest Demolition Derby

59 Ford

First win with a Ford….This car had no lettering on it. I must not have had time to get it done. I always put Color Me 1st on th side and UFO on the door.I got warned for speeding in this race and we ended up winning it.

Pinecrest Demolition Derby

59 Ford

Pinecrest Labour Day Wreck A Rama…$500 to Win

Hillman

Pinecrest had an annual Labour Day wreck em’ race event. It lasted all day with heats and a feature. The grand prize was $500 to win, that would be about 2 months pay. There were 3 ways to get in the feature. Cars with the most spectacular paint scheme or lettering or appearance were voted on by the fans. The 3 winners were automatically qualified for the feature. Before the heats started they drew 10 names out of a hat. Those names drawn did not have to go in the heat but could save their car for the feature. Over 100 cars showed up. They put compacts in the same heat and big cars in a separate heat. The 6 heat winners qualified for the big race. They could use a differnt car because the one they won the heat with wouldn’t be much good. The reason I say that is because if a guy sand bagged the crowd would boo him so that he wouldn’t win even if he was the alst car running. That was the rule on determining the winner, the last car running..the best show for the fans was seeing the last 2 cars being the ones who put on the best show, but a few guys who really put on a show were knocked out near the end…We got a sponsor New York Auto Wreckers who supplied me with 3 cars. The Hillman, a 52 Chev and a 56 Pontiac six cylinder. I tried to make sure I was in the feature, so Nonie and I decked this Hillman with stuffed annimals and tree branches and called it “Animal Kingdom”. I would have won in the 3 appearance awards if the winner of the first category went off after he won, but he stayed out. The announcer walked by the cars on parade and held his flag above each car to get the crowds response for the 3 category’s and he won every time. It didn’t seem fair. They changed that system in 1970. After the parade was over we went to the pits for a drivers meeting and the name draw. I did get my name drawn out of the hat so I was guaranteed a start in the feature.

Pinecrest Labour Day Wreck A Rama…$500 to Win

52 Chev

I decided to enter the races anyway even though I was qualified. I saved the Pontiac for the Feature. I took some nasty licks in this very rugged car. The steering wheel was jammed and I couldn’t steer or move. I limped out of it. I also entered the Hillman and didn’t fair good with it either, so it’s good I got my name drawn for a chance for the big one.

What A Day To Remember…We Win!!!

56 Pontiac

Twenty cars started this wreckem race and at the end it was me and Brian Hill. Brian had a 60 Chev. He was experienced at Demo Derby’s and won his fair share. Our cars were destroyed and we kept hammering each other to the delight of the fans. We were crawling around trying to find a way to deliver the fatal blow. He finally hit me so hard that the carb broke off the intake and was just hanging by the linkage. Every bash sent the fans cheering. My car quit and there was silence. I pumped the throttle and it started and a roar went up again as Brian and I faced each other. I was about to hit him again he put his car in gear for another blow, hoping to finish me off. I knew I was in trouble because I had a hard time pushing the throttle, my car was barely idling. Suddenly his car quit and a huge plume of steam came from his rad. That was it the starter waved the checker to me and at the second he did my car burst into flames. I litterally dove out onto the track and the safey crew put out the fire. What a day for us. Perhaps one of my most memorable ever…it would take a long time for my wide eyes and smile to subside. Nonie was very happy, it was a huge amount of money.

A Trophy, A Case of Oil and $500

Pinecrest

My Mom Shirley and Nonie

Pinecrest Win

Nonie was there as well as my mom and dad. What a day for them too.

My Mom Shirley and Nonie

Pinecrest Win

Big Win

Pinecrest Win

Horin Auto Wreckers Staff

Wreckers

We made a deal that Horin’s Auto Wreckers would give me the cars and if I won I would split the money with them. We took my costs off the top and split the rest. It was a good deal for me and them. They allowed me to work at the yard to strip the cars and get them ready.

Horin Auto Wreckers Staff

Wreckers

These cars likely never seen as much exceitement in their lifetime as they did on Labour Day. They sort of went out in a blaze, well the 56 Pontiac did for sure.

Horin Auto Wreckers

Wreckers

1970 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

Barrie Ice Carnival…1970

63 Ford

Nonie and i went to Barrie and entered this race plus a demo derby. I was miles out of their league. Every car but one or two had bolts coming through their tires. I had plain wore out snow tires. We had heat races on the ice and naturally I didn’t do well. I will say this dirtis better than ice and snow.

1971 Demo History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

We Make Front Page of the Pinecrest Program

Pinecrest

The 1971 labour Day Wreck O Rama featured me on this program. I would end up qualifying again in the appearance category but after a few minutes the gas tank was knocked out of my car.

Pinecrest Write Up

Won 6 out of 20

I had a great average in demolition derbys. I had won 6 of the races I was in and finsihed 2nd or 3rd in a few others. I had a 30% win ratio, and 50% in the money. I would have loved to take that winning ratio into stock car racing.

1972 CVM History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

1st Membership Card..1972

1972

<div class=”maint”> In the early years the Hobby Secretary and Treasurer position was comblined, also that committee member would sing our membership cards.Bill Wakish #23 was the Secretary/Tresurer in 1972, Bill Lyons #9 was the President.

1972 Stats

1972 Rundown

First Year In The Hobby Club

Dad’s Membership Card

1972

<div class=”maint”> Dad was my main man for as long as he could come out. He always wanted to race when he was younger but never had the chance. He took our family to Oakwood Stadium, Pinecrest and the CNE to watch. He liked the Super Modifieds, in the late 50’s, Ted Hogan, Jimmy Howard and the rest of the boys. I would love to go back to those days and watch a race with the Jalopy’s of late 50’s who became the Hobby’s and the Modifieds who became Super Modifieds. The Late Models showed up at the CNE and Pinecrest in the 64′.

My First Hobby Car May 1972

Model A Purchase

<div class=”maint”> In mid May of 1972 Ed Hennesey and I picked up my 1930 Model A from Jack Shields(pictured with Ed). I paid $1000 for both the car and trailer. Ed towed it home with his 1965 Plymouth Fury. This would be the start of 4 decades of racing.

In The Body Shop Waiting Transformation to #36

Coupe in paint shop

<div class=”maint”> The first place we took our car was to Sherwood Auto Body on Kipling Avenue in Etobicoke for repainting.

223 cu. in. Ford Inline Six

223 Ford Six

<div class=”maint”> I ran the 223 cubic inch for one year and replaced it in 1973 with a 240 cu inch.

David 6 Mths Old With Bob Komarowski & Ed

David and Bob

<div class=”maint”> Bob and I were friends. He helped me when he could. He held David in this picture in my garage. I tried using the underground parking as my garage but they chased me out to the parking lot. This picture is looking north west from 787 Jane Street in Toronto. Ed was always such a great help to me and dedicated much of his time in my early years with the Hobbys.

My First Feature Ends in Disaster

First wreck

<div class=”maint”> After finishing 3rd in my heat, I started 3rd in the feature. Before the end of the first lap I tangled with another car #66 Steve Barr and slammed into the fence. Steve rolled over at the same time. No garage, no parts and just like my friend Ray Hughes, no money. My dad and Ed Hennesey looked on. I was heart broken. It also looks like I needed a hair cut. It would be 3 weeks before we would get back out.

Repairing The Front End

Dad gets it fixed

<div class=”maint”> My dad used the welder from this man’s home in Toronto to get my Coupe race worthy once again. Since we didn’t have a place to put the car at night, needless to say we didn’t have a place to work on it. Where ever I could go, I went with much appreciation.

David Peaks Out Window

Baby David

<div class=”maint”> David peaks out the window of the Coupe. He’s 6 months old.

Pinecrest Pits

Tuesday Pinecrest

<div class=”maint”> We use to get to Pincrest Speedway early. We had to park our tow vehicles out in the parking lot because there was no room in the pits. The pits were in the middle of the track. You entered on the front straight and came off on the back straight.

Pinecrest Heat Line Up…Roll Over Story

Ready to go

<div class=”maint”> We use to line up in turn one at Pinecrest. The spots were numbered. That’s Rich Harris behind me, the 2004 Hall of Fame inductee. You can see his Flat Head V8. My roof is damaged from rolling over at Speedway Park under caution on a Friday night earlier in the season. Okay, how do you roll over under the caution? Fred Poets the Hobby Hall of Famer, and mega feature winner was dicing with Wayne Keeling while we were under caution. I was minding my own business, the track crew were cleaning debris off turn 4 when all of a sudden the two of them tried to go in front of me, one from the left and one from the right. Somehow I drove over one of their wheels, got air borne and did one complete roll over ending up back on my wheels. Fred came over to tell me it wasn’t his fault. I got out to look at my car and the tow truck came over. I waved him off, got in the car and drove into the pits to have it checked over, but on this particular night there was no crew, so I ran around the car twice, yelled a bit (probably still in shock) and went back out on the track. The race hadn’t restarted. On the last lap of the feature the wishbone came off and I ended up in the infield.

Unloading at Pinecrest

Pit crew Bob

<div class=”maint”> Bob carries some of our equipment, wait, I think that was all of our equipment, to our pit stall. Some of the other boys were unloading their cars. Orange was a popular color then. We ran every Tuesday night at Pinecrest, rain or shine, for about 7 weeks. We also ran Friday’s at Speedway Park. Flamboro was closed. Rocco Di Carlo closed it down for 72′ after the first 2 months of racing. The Casale’s would open it again in 1973. Harry Bow would end up buying the #46 in 1973.

Feature Race at Pinecrest

Hobby’s battle

<div class=”maint”> John Jarvis leads us out of turn 2 going down the back chute. Randy Thistle is #1 and the nose of Merle Godfrey’s #63 can be seen on the bottom.

The crew

Ed, Bob and Gary

<div class=”maint”> This picture was taken right after a fetaure race at Flamboro, early in the year. Ed is on the left, Bob in the middle. We were excited because we were in one piece after a night of racing.

Tom Shingler at Speedway Park

Speedway Park

<div class=”maint”> Tom Shingler #12 ran very good at times and helped me whenever he could. I was in trouble so many times that a little help from a lot of people was enough to keep me going.

Practicing at Pinecrest

Warm ups

<div class=”maint”> It was exciting just to get out on the track. Pinecrest was so much fun. A very tight short track like Barrie Speedway(the old Barrie Speedway). I struggled so much my first year. We use to count a victory by just getting to the track. Then if nothing fell off in the warm ups we would be high fiving each other. Surviving a heat was worthy of celebration and finishing a feature was a miracle. My dad use to say when I came in after a heat…”the only thing behind you was the next race”….He loved me just the same.

Planning something

Pit crew Ed

<div class=”maint”> Ed and I try to figure how to set up the car. The truth is Ed had some idea and I had none. I just wanted to race and hope we could finish. The young fellow beside the car is Greg Fitzpatrick. He was lead singer of a band I played in called Lords of London. Greg is still playing and I’m still racing. I wonder how many guitars he’s wrecked over the years? Probably none. Greg had a number one song in Toronto in 1967 called Corn Flakes and Ice Cream….Eds son, David pits for my son David on his Late Model. David also put David’s web site together. The Hennesey family were very good to us.

Pit Crew

Ed, Bob and me.

Ed and Bob were part of my pit crew in 1972. They were a big help, especially Ed as he towed me to and from the races with his car. We had fun and it appears we must have finished a race because the smiles tell the tale. Finishing races was a priority, but it wasn’t a given.

1973 CVM History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

1973 Membership Card

MembershipCard

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1973 Stats

73 Rundown

Our Second Season Was Better

1973 was very tough for us in many ways. We had some very serious wrecks. A roll over during practice at Speedway Park was a true character builder. The car rolled 4 times before stopping in the middle of the infield. All I could think of was how badly wrecked the car was. We worked hard on the Coupe to get it ready for the Conis and we made it, as well as the feature. That night was a true character builder for us and from that point on we never quit working on our race car until the gate was closed and we weren’t allowed on the track. In fact for years after, when we were in a wreck or broke a motor, our first extinct was..How long before the next race? A stuck gas pedal at Pinecrest Speedway was one of the hardest hits in our career. But we also made some headway on the track with 5 wins and an 8th place finish in the points. Our first win was kind of ironic. It came during our 36th Hobby race entered.

1973 Crew

73 Crew

<div class=”maint”> This was part of my crew in 73. From left to right, my dad Merile, Jim Bunting, me, Don Roth and Aubrey Harris. Ed Hennessey was missing this particular day. Ed, Diane,and their kids, Dave, Sherri and Johnny spent a lot of time each week end at Peterborough with his sister Ruby and husband Bob.

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Preparing for 1973

Going for bondo

<div class=”maint”> It was about 11 below zero, a very small space heater in the garage and we pulled out the engine and got the car primed for paint. Little did I know that my sponsor, Sherwood Auto Body, would sand everything away that I did.

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West Coast Mirrors

West Coast Mirors

<div class=”maint”> Waiting on Lydon avenue in the freezing cold, some items should be noted. We were allowed mirrors then. So I went to Canadian Tire and bought the biggest mirrors I could find. Most guys used the “wink” mirrors. They didn’t have West Coast mirrors at Canadina Tire, so I got the next best thing, East Coast mirrors. See the steering box, the specially designed sub frame under the chassis to stop flexing (like I would know that). Big heavy shocks and within a week 4 gallons of bondo…but it will look great. The steering box drag link must have came off at least twice at Pinecrest while in the front of the pack in the heat. After a 4 car pile up, someone picked up the tie rod, or idler arm and said “is this yours”?, I looked at it and said “I have no idea”! Not good.

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CAA Finally Arrives

David & the Coupe

<div class=”maint”> The tow truck picked up my car and took it to Sherwood Auto Body. David at 16 months makes sure everything is ok.

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Must Be Hooked Up Properly

Cold tow

<div class=”maint”> I’m sure the tow truck driver asked me about towing with the drive shaft in the car. After I asked how I would get it out, he gave up and towed it anyway. The tires were recaps, the left front was called a peanut wheel, if we had the space saver tire back then I’m sure we would have used it. The trunk was terribly wrinkled but the body shop will deal with that. New sheet metal? No! Tons of bondo. This is a nice shot of the mirrors. It would be hard to sneak up on a car with those monsters. In my case, they were used so I could figure out how to get out of the way.

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Fixing the body

Fixing body

<div class=”maint”> The following 3 pictures show the stages of the body work

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Just Checking

Checking it over

<div class=”maint”> I was on my way to work and had to see the progress. If you look close you can see the door handles on the car. They were original and the door opened. It was tied shut with a leather strap.

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Heading To The Paint Shop

Paint ready

<div class=”maint”> The car was moved to the paint shop. That looks like a Police crusier in front of my car.

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The First Coat Passes David’s Approval

David checks it out

<div class=”maint”> The green is on and the white is next. Who said don’t paint your car green?

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First Color

Green’s on

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Harry Helps Tune The Engine

Engine runs

<div class=”maint”> Just before the paint we put the engine in and got in running. The engine was built by Lothian Engineering and cost $1400. Harry Bow knew how to set up engines and he was a big help for me. In 1973 $1400 was 7 weeks pay.

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Two Tone

White’s on

<div class=”maint”> This car had an awesome high gloss paint job. They did an excellent job.

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Ready For Lettering

Ready to letter

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Beauty and The Baby Boy

Nonie and David

Nonie always supported my racing and we made it a family event.

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Norm Letters My Car

Final Touches

<div class=”maint”> Norm was a great sign letterer. He would do whatever I needed done and make the car look great. I was fortunate over the years in that area of racing.

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Plymouth Pulls Hobby car

Race day

<div class=”maint”> Ed used his 1965 Fury to pull my race car for my first season and part of 1973. We were on our way and it was opening day.

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First Pit Stop

Canadian Tire Stop

<div class=”maint”> On the way to the races we stopped at Canadian Tire to have the transmission level topped up. Any future racng pit stops would be for much more serious reasons. Imagine holding up the Pit Stop drive thru to get a picture.

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Entering Flamboro, The First Time In 73

Pit Gate

<div class=”maint”> It was a very narrow gate into the pits. It cost $5. John would tell us $5 was cheap. I asked him how come drivers had to pay, the Beatles didn’t pay to entertain the fans, so why should drivers pay to race? The debate continues.

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Don Roth Making An Adjustment

Don Roth

<div class=”maint”> Don Roth, who pitted for me for 3 years on my Mini Stock, hepled out whenever he could. Him and Ed kept me together. In the back ground is #80 Bob Kurtin. We became and still are good friends.

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Dad and Ed Fix The Car & I Watch

More Adjustments

<div class=”maint”> Dad came out opening day. He always wanted me to do good, but we struggled most of our early years, I’d say for the first 14. He was an excellent high pressure welder, a member of the Boiler Makers union. He usually did all my welding, and I kept him busy. Ed is pictured here also.

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Heading Out For Practice

Warm ups

<div class=”maint”> Late Models can be seen in the back ground. I was heading out for warm ups. They may have been heading for cover….okay it wasn’t that bad, well not always.

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David Wants To Drive

David

<div class=”maint”> David is a little small for the jacket and helmet, for now. Our driveway was adjacent to 5 Italian neighbours who were more into gardens, vegetables and wine, than cars. I usually woke them up with the noise, in fact some times we greeted them in the morning after working all night. We tried being quiet but it was tough. One night we were working late on the car in 73′. It was the 3rd week in a row that we got wrecked on Friday night at Speedway Park and had to race the next day at Flamboro. We closed the garage to reduce the noise but that meant nothing when we upset Eds entire tool box on the garage floor at about 4 in the morning. We turned out the garage lights and peaked out a crack as lights in their houses came on. It was a bad deal, but we had to get ready.

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Daddy I Want To Drive

Driver David

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First Win May 19th

First Win

<div class=”maint”> On May 19th at Flamboro I finished 9th in the heat and did not qualify, so I ran the consi. I won this race and you can see my finger held up proudly with my first win. Here is a coincidence that I never realized until recently. I ran 30 races in 1972. Up until this race we ran 2 races on May 5th (heat & feature), 2 races on May 12th (heat & feature) and this was my 2nd race on May 19th. It was my 36th race entered and my first win. What’s amazing is I never knew until one day I decided to count how many races it took me to win my first win. I was surprised that it was 36….but I don’t what it means?

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Harry’s First Car

Harry #35

<div class=”maint”> There’s a lot in this picture. Harry is out with his first car, a Ford coach #35. Beside him is Bill Lyons the President of the Hobby club. After removing the door strap I was able to open my drivers door. A Late Model heads out to practice. This is the same parking area the Hobbys used for years.

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Fred Poets Buys Harrys Car

Speedway park

<div class=”maint”> After only a few nights of racing the Coach, Harry traded the car with some cash to Fred Poets who had at that time proven the car was the fastest on the track. Fred was winning features in bunches. When Fred bought the Coach he primed it, but was very unhappy with it’s performance, unlike Harry who was very happy with his new quick Coupe. Harry would win his heat, trophy dash and feature within two weeks of buying the car. It was fast and he was a good driver, and Harry, I never won a hat-trick.

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Harry In Warms Ups At Speedway Park

Speedway Park

<div class=”maint”> Harry wanted more than anything to beat me. Once he bought this car it was a done deal. The car was super quick, and he could get around. There was no weight rule at that time and many of the fastest cars weighed under 2100lbs. Most of us who were showing up just to race were scaling in at 2500 plus. Parity came later when we lightened our cars.

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Team Hillmack

Team shot

<div class=”maint”> I was sponsored by Hillmack Services in 72 and 73. Harry was a broker for a company that did business with Max Hiltz, the owner of Hillamck, for carrying freight. Harry worked a deal with Max to sponsor him too. We painted both cars the same. Max also owned race horses so we put horses on the trunk.

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Grassy Pits at Speedway Park

Pits

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1966 Galaxie 500 Crew Cab

Tow vehicle

<div class=”maint”> Nonie and I bought this beauty, a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500. We used it to tow to the races. One day I was towing it in Toronto near our home and came to a qucik stop. There was a loud bang and when I looked in the mirror my race car was tipped down. The rear frame rails broke on the Galaxie right at the wheel well area. Dad ended up welding it back together and we got the rest of the year out of it…you can see Ray in his Coach. Ray and I started at the bottom of the ladder and fought for many years to keep racing close and fair. We always had in mind the importance of the first heat runners. Many other drivers felt the same.

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Flamboro Win

4th win of 73

<div class=”maint”> This picture was taken on September 1st at Flamboro. It was my 4th win of the season, a consi win. Check out the packed grand stands. Also you can see my helmet is red. Bill Lyons landed a sponsorship for us with Carlings and we called the Hobbys the Red Cap Racers. Part of the sponsor agreement was to have all the drivers paint their helmets red. Imagine now a days asking racers to do that. We were proud to run under the Carling banner and did what it took to keep them as a sponsor….thats Harry Clark the head starter for Flamboro. He was a gentleman and always had something nice to say when he gave you the flag. Bill Fewson is the same way.

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Westgate Ad

Red Cap Ad

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John Hasselfeldt

Rookie John

<div class=”maint”> John Hasselfeldt takes over the ride for Steve Barr in the #66.

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Flamboro Pits

Race team

<div class=”maint”> Harry ran so good when he bought this car that almost overnight he went from the fist heat to the fast car heat running with Lyons, Dickenson, Godfrey, Nicholson, Fields and other top runners.

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The Big One!

Huge wreck

<div class=”maint”> This is the original 5 wide…Bob Field #2 is the only car to get by this 8 car pile up. Don Cockburn #73 appears to have come to a stop. I’m not sure who the car is that spun(#75), that’s Max McKee #44 (Dave McKee’s dad) and #64 is George McLeod with me beside him and John Hasselfeldt on the outside of my car. There’s a car in the fence it looks like #63 Merle Godfrey.

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Pinecrest Speedway July 2 Gas Pedal Sticks

Dan Shirtliff #39

<div class=”maint”> This was the 3rd race of the weekend for us. We ran Saturday night at Flamboro and I took 2nd in the feature. We ran again on Monday afternoon at Flamboro and I finished 4th in the feature. We changed our gears and headed to Pinecrest Speedway, which was perfect, not only because we raced twice in one day, it was also heading back home to Toronto, home. After finishing 3rd in the heat, I had a lot of confidence. However only 15 laps into the feature I would have my worst wreck to date. Going into turn one the gas pedal jammed and even with both feet jammed to the floor I couldn’t slow the car down. I went in almost straight and hit so hard that I thought I was going right over the wall. Danny Shirtliff was behind me and is shown here passing on the low side. I thought I was clever by running fine small steel line as a throttle cable. The line was secured to the gas pedal and went through a plastic tube in the firewall. I got the plastic tube from the Canadian Tire sports department. It was used for drinking through water bottles. The wire was secured to the carb. It worked great for the first 2 months of racing. We found the cause when we got home. At some point the wire started to unravel. Finally when the gas pedal was right to the floor the frayed end of the line came through the plastic tube and when I let off the gas the frayed end jammed in the plastic tube keeping the gas pedal to the floor. I was 26 years old, yet the impact almost knocked me out. Fred Poets would go on to win the 50 lap feature. Bill Lyons also wrecked earlier in the race when he tangled with #8 Rich Harris. Later on in my career, some of my peers will get upset with wanting to run so many races (over 20), but I was raised on 30 plus race nights a season.

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Harry Bow Battles On The Outside

Last lap

<div class=”maint”> What a battle this was. Harry Bow started last on the big 1/2 mile oval and on the last lap he caught up to me. With the East Coast mirrors polished to the max I could see him coming. He got into 2nd place as I took the white flag. He closed the gap quick on the back chute and I thought there is no way I can keep him back. Even though we didn’t have radio’s I could hear my dad saying “keep down”!! Coming off turn 4 I stayed low and he went outside and I beat him by half a bumper at the finish line. He wasn’t happy and reminded me that in another 20 feet he would have had me. I didn’t care because it was my first win ever at Speedway Park and my 3rd of the season. But if he was mad then…oh, oh,!!…In the feature Harry and I tangled going into turn one. He went outside of me and I didn’t see him and I moved up. He went over my right rear wheel and flew not into the fence but through the bottom of the guard rail. He slid out of his seat belts and had to be rushed to the hospital. Nonie and I followed Ding and Mike DeLeeuw to the hospital. Harry was okay but he wasn’t happy with me. I can still picture me telling him I didn’t know he was there. Imagine, not knowing he was there with those monster mirrors. His car took a beating and in 1973 the emphasis for drivers was more on the car than our well being. Dumb? Oh yea!, but our Angels watched over us. I wonder if Harry’s Angel was mad at me too?

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David

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First Speedway Park Win

3rd win of 73

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1974 CVM History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

1974 Membership Card

OARC Membership Card

<div class=”maint”> Bill Wakish was the Secretary Treasurer in 1974. Bill Lyons was the President.

1974 Stats

1974 Rundown

3rd Year In The Hobby Club

David and I Backing Up The Driveway

Kids ride

<div class=”maint”> Our home property on Lydon avenue was 25′ wide, that’s 25′ including the driveway. I could barely get the car up the driveway, but both the trailer and tow vehilce wouldn’t make it. Here David comes with me as I back up the car to the garage. He looks quite concerned. Nonie took this picture from our living room window. Those East Coast mirrors came in handy for backing up a narrow lane.

Ready To Start Rebuilding

Rebuild

<div class=”maint”> My sponsor Hillmack Services Limited allowed me use the truck garage to rebuild my car. I also drove one of their 5 ton straight job trucks, picking up local freight. Max Hiltz was very good to me.

Gord Homles Still Lines Up The Bumper

Gord Holmes

Dad Welds The Bumper

It will hold

<div class=”maint”> Dad did most all of my welding in my early years. He had to because the stuff I did usually fell off. Dad was an expert welder with the Boiler Makers Union. He was on a list with other welders and only worked when there was a shut down at a refinery, like Shell Oil or Texaco. Every time the union sent him, he had to do a welding test before the refinery would keep him (all the welders had to be tested) and they would stress bend or exray his work. He never failed a test. Some of his welds were on display at the union hall. I remember one time dad welded a piece of steel and when he was done he got up and looked at his work and said to me and my crew, as we looked on in amazement…”only two people can weld like that”…and about the time we thought about what he said he answered quickly…”and I’m both of them”.

Dad Welds…Look Ma No Glasses!

Welding Flash

<div class=”maint”> I often watched dad weld, sometimes without safety goggles. I often woke up at night with what seemed like sand in my eyes. dad would say “I told you”. Eventually ‘welding watching’ came to an end unless I wore glasses or held another shield.

The Body Gets Repairs

Brazing

<div class=”maint”> We removed the body once the frame welding was done so we could repair the tons of cracks. It was easier for dad to braze flat. In less than 24 months this Ford Coupe had 3 body and paint jobs.

Body On

Door missing

David at 2 1/2 yrs old

David

<div class=”maint”> David came with me most times. Shirley was 8 months old.

Almost Ready For Paint

So far so good

<div class=”maint”> We always wanted our cars to look good. My passion for racing was derived from watching lots of fast good looking cars. When I was little my dad and mom would take Bev and I to the CNE races. I usually picked the best looking car. Terry Dickinson was my favourite Hobby driver when I was a teen. Glen Schurr was my favourite driver of all. I put on my car “#36 for Schurr”, a play on words that worked because there was no doubt he was my favourite.

David’s Excited

David

Practicing

Flamboro

<div class=”maint”> Practice was always like a race to me. It was another chance to get on the track. That philosophy would change in 20 years because I didn’t want to wear out my car. Perhaps in 74′ I needed all the practice I could get.

No More Guard Rail

Practice

<div class=”maint”> No more guard rail…John and Frank Casale removed the guard rail and put up a cement wall. It was very tough on those of us who would hit it coming off the corner. I had my share of appointments with the cement, and it usually wasn’t nice, ‘damage city’. To make us feel better, we were told that when we hit the wall our cars would get sucked into the wall and stay there where it was safe. Somehow bouncing off the guard rail out into the traffic seemed safer, at least there was a chance you might not get hit, and if you did get hit, you had enough momentum to send you to the infield…after slamming the wall a bunch of times that logic seems to make sense….well to me it did.

New Tow Vehicle

Camper

<div class=”maint”> This was Nonie’s dream. We could go to the races and stay over night, plus if the kids got tired they could go to bed early. Sometimes they would watch the races from the top of their bunk. Our little gas stove would heat the camper and keep us warm. The red on the truck would have to go.

Trophies and Headlights

Trophies

<div class=”maint”> These were the trophies that I won to date after 2 and 1/2 seasons. Notice the headlights in this picture and the 2 above. They were functional, but not as lights. I had a 3″ hose going to the carb and one inside to cool me off. I was told to remove them after a couple of race nights, they were not legal according to the rule that stated “no accessories”…but they were cute. I got them from Ken Jorgenson, he was going to use them for a project and through them out.

Now We’re Looking Good.

Hauler

<div class=”maint”> Once I got the truck painted (with a roller) and lettered, we were quite proud of how it looked. Now we were a complete race team. We had our own truck and trailer plus a place to eat and sleep.

Car and Truck

Street Shot

Coupe in Play Pen

Ed’s Trailer

<div class=”maint”> We used Ed’s trailer once in a while, it was handy for carrying extra parts. I should have known that even before the other racers had a chance to say something, dad would make a joke…he said “here comes Ed with a play pen”.

First Win Of 74′ …With Headlights

1st Win

<div class=”maint”> It was June 22nd, my first win of the season. David is wearing the jacket Grandma Bow made for him and he’s holding the plaque I won spnsored by Hillmack Services. They were called Hillmack Awards. This would be one of the final races I would be allowed to run the imitation headlights…come to think of it, no one in modern history of the Hobby’s had headlights on their cars. I wonder why?

It’s My Hobby

Pits

<div class=”maint”> At the Speed-O-Rama car show I asked Tex Swiston, the editor of C.A.R. Weekly why the Hobby’s didn’t get very much exposur, adn he said because no one sends him any stories. After some discussion, he came up with the column title and I started submitting stories.

The Chase Story

Single axle

<div class=”maint”> Our first trailer was a single axle. Not good if you had a flat tire. Nonie and I were coming back from Flamboro on a Sunday afternoon. Heading east along the QEW we had a flat on the right rear of the trailer just before highway 10. I decided against continuing along, something I had done previously in Mini Stox in 1971. That’s a crazy story, you’ll find in the Mini Stock section (one for Ripley’s)…on this day we got off the highway and got on the South Service road. I came to a stop, and after checking our parts supply I discovered we did not have a spare for the trailer. It was a 15″ tire so I figured I would go to the Esso station about 2 miles up the road and buy a used tire. I went back to the pick up and explained to Nonie that I was going to unload the race car and then take the trailer to the gas station to get a spare tire. She said okay. I backed the car off the trailer and got out and put the ramps back on the trailer. As I looked for a safe spot to park the Hobby car, I noticed something very shocking…Nonie was pulling away in the camper truck with the trailer. I watched for a few sceonds thinking she was moving to the side of the road but no, she was on her way to the gas station and I was standing on the side of the road beside the Coupe with it idling. I waved frantically but she was long gone. I don’t know what the neighbour’s thought, or the people driving along the QEW as they watched, but I had no choice, I had to chase Nonie, and my only means of transportation was the race car. I caught her just as she pulled into the gas station. Half nuts with unbelief I ran up to her and said “why did you leave me on the side of the road”?, Nonie replied “I thought you said we were going to the gas station, so hear I am”…”that’s pretty funny” I said. What was amazing is that I didn’t get caught, there was a Police station on highway 10 right on the corner. By the time we got it fixed and headed back home it was impossible not to laugh when we talked about it, and of course she asked me why did I not have a spare, and if I did there was no place to put it….I’m glad we weren’t in Michigan on I-95.

We Needed A Way To Get To The Track!

Flat bed

It seemed so good to load up at work and use the straight job flat bed truck, a brand new 1974 International…that is until we got to Flamboro and had to find a hill to back up to so I could unload the car. Whatever it took we did it to get to the races.

Heat Win July 6th…No Headlights.

2nd win

<div class=”maint”> I won my 2nd race of the season at Flamboro. You can see the headlights are no longer on the car….The night before at Speedway Park some Hobby drivers led mainly by Harry Nicholson were up set by the fact that we were not guaranteed our purse. I decided to support them and when Clair Button, who was the pit steward, asked me to line up I refused because of the money situation..guess what..I got disqualified for the night and no one else supported me. I learned a lesson from that experience. Later on Claire and I would become good friends and he would become President of the OARC in 1975.

Practising With the Limited Sportsman

Wayne Howden

<div class=”maint”> Milton driver Wayne Howden #37, is seen here leading some Limited Sportsman and Hobby cars in the warm ups. Thats #56 Brian Book behind Wayne, then me and Danny Shirtliff….Brian Book was a steady runner and on June 28th slid off the track in the feature and took out the light pole between turns 3 and 4. The lights went out immdeiately and that is a weird feeling when you’re racing…the show was done for that night.

Stopping For A Fall Picture

Autumn

<div class=”maint”> The leaves were so beautiful this day, Nonie and I had to stop to get a picture. Maybe we should have stood back further, somehow we missed most of the trees…This photo proves though racing was the key, we still had time to focus on other great moments in time, like God’s creation.

Truck and Trees

Camper

3rd Win September 14th

Little Feature Win

<div class=”maint”> In 1974 our car count was getting much higher. If you were in the first heat and didn’t finish first or second you automatically ended up in the Little Feature. I finished 6th in my heat and staretd pole in the feature and won…still no feature win….I’m holding a Hillamck Award for the win…every week I painted my rims (that’s why I was so glad chrome wheels eventually became available in a racing rim, it would be 10 more years). I also painted the tires to make them shine. Perhaps I wasn’t worried about things like stagger or wheel nuts being hard to get off with paint on them. I had Gord, he was 6′ 240 pounds. No painted wheel nut was to hard for him to handle.

Terry Dickinson

Play with the best

<div class=”maint”> No one could get more out of a car with a zero budget than Terry Dickenson. He was a big help to me. Helping me to set up my car…coming off turn 4 is #71 Don MacDonald.

Our Last Race Ever At Pinecrest October 14th

Shirley

<div class=”maint”> This was the Octoberfest of yester year. Pinecrest had a big race week end on October 14th and we ran a 50 lapper. This would be the last time the Hobbys raced at Pinecrest. Shirley is seen here looking out the window.

George Gordon #6

Pinecrest Pits

<div class=”maint”> George Gordon was always a lot of fun to be around. He bought the marron and white coach from Doc Cockburn. We are waiting to go out for our heats.

Heat Race

George & Harry

<div class=”maint”> George McLeod #64 is inside pole with Harry outside pole. Paul Ortman #45 is 2nd row inside with Bob Field 2nd row outside. Behind Paul is Roger Cochrane from Peterborough. There were a few Westgate Hobbys to race against us this day. I am behind Roger…there were 2 distinct Hobby clubs. The Flamboro group and the Westgate club. It was illegal for us to run our Hobby cars with them. It didn’t matter whether or not the OARC were running that night. You were not allowed to run in a class, or a race that was not sanctioned by the OARC. (that’s one rule that has contributed to the OARC/Hobby’s/CVM longevity). They could run with us if they bought a membership but could lose it if they ran again at Westgate, they would be disqualified from the OARC. So the Westgate boys and Ruth Trotter always came to race with us once their season was done, because Flamboro ran longer than anyone else, (although Pinecrest on this day was late into the season) but they were always trying to talk some of us to go to Westgate against OARC policy. Many guys did it and got away with it. I didn’t want to take the chance.

Coming Off Turn 4 In The Feature

Fetaure

<div class=”maint”> Danny Shirtliff #39 leads a pack of cars off turn 4. He won the points in 1974, so I would guess this is further back in the pack, although we may have used a different system for qualifying for this race. Can’t tell who is behind Dan, #47 Roger Cochrane is on the outside, then me, #45 Paul Ortman and #35 Harry Bow. I mentioned earlier that Ed Hennessey and his family use to go to Peterborough to spend time with his sister Ruby and brother in-law Bob. That’s Bob’s car #94, and he is standing on the rear wheel. Bob is looking towrds turn 3 so maybe the cars on the front chute were mid pack. He was #9 at Westgate but since this was an OARC sanctioned race, and Bill Lyons was #9, he had to change his number,he added the #4 and you can see it’s a different style than his #9. Check out the track grandstands, covered all the way around for rain or shine racing. You can see the main fan entrance right in front of my car.

Back Straightaway

Alone

Hall of Famers

Lee and Bill

<div class=”maint”> Rookie Lee Jerome #57 holds off #23 Bill Wakish. Bill was a hard worker for the OARC for many years. He always built top quality cars and was a serious points contender. Bill was inducted into the Hobby Hall of Fame in it’s inaugural year 1984 with Bill Lyons. Lee Jerome would join in 1993 with Jim English…I bought the #23 in 1981 for the 1982 season. Bill Wakish helped me quite a bit too(as I’ve mentioned,lots of members did). But one time he fooled me in a way like never before or since. It was late 78 and he was leading the heat and I was 2nd. A caution came out and on the white flag lap going into turn 3 Bill put his finger out the window indicating one more lap. I figured something must have happened for us to have to go another lap…guess what, nothing happened! As I slowed down to prepare for another white flag lap I was shocked to see him speeding away, “what’s he doing”? I thought to myself, “the white flag is out”, but it wasn’t the green was waving and by the time I came to my senses,he was gone and won the race. In the pits after we had a good laugh but I never was caught again with that one…I’ve never used it yet either.

Slant Six Explodes

7th blown motor

<div class=”maint”> What a wild ride for most of us that were close to Bill Wakish in this picture. Bill’s 225 engine blew to pieces and some drivers were hit with flying cast iron. Roger Cochrane tries going around Bill, I am completely sideways, but incredibly I kept going like that half way through turn 3, got straight and didn’t stop. Paul Ortman #45 is also sideways and Bob Kurtin #80 is trying to get out of the way by heading for the infield, which was by the way slightly up hill. All of us escaped this incident and it was crazy.

Hit The Dirt

No oil up here

<div class=”maint”> Bob Kurtin was still flying when he got off the track. Terry Dickenson #92 avoided the spinning cars and oil on the slick track but then had to manouver around the cars off the track. Paul Ortman also headed for dry land. Imagine what went through our minds in this mayhem for 6 seconds…what was funny was guys were saying that once Bill got the lead in a race, he likely wouldn’t lose because none of us wanted to get near him knowing that at any time his engine would explode. This was his 7th blown motor and he would be the unwanting recipient of the Hard Luck trophy at the banquet…Hard Luck?!!..I say, look at this sequence of pictures and tell me who’s hard luck…just kidding Bill.

Paul Leads Us Down The Back Chute

Restart

<div class=”maint”> Paul Ortman leads Dave Barry #43, me and at the back Terry Dickenson down the back chute.

Dave Berry #43

Side by side

<div class=”maint”> Dave Berry #43 and I battled for quite a few laps.

It Wasn’t To Be My Day

Crunch

<div class=”maint”> Battling with Rod Rashleigh #62 was never one of my favourite things to do in a Hobby car. I just seemed to always get in trouble with Rod. He was agressive, fast and since I was too stuborn to move over, quite often I’d get bit, also Pinecrest was a narrow track and side by side racing was touchy at the best of times. Here we both take the hit hard into the wall and I’m out of the race, but judging by his car, I’d say Rod was finished also. Paul Ortman squeaks by, he must have thought to himself, “I survived again”. Paul was a gracious driver, but I just sort of wonder if he thought what some of us did when drivers wrecked or spun out…”oh goody I move up a spot”…no, not Paul, would he?

Rebuild It ForNext Year

Seasons over

<div class=”maint”> We took the car home after this wreck and would spend all winter getting it ready for 1975. We have all winter to prepare.

Quaker State…Our First Year!

Flamboro

<div class=”maint”> Bill Lyons helped me get a sponsorship from Quaker Sate Motor Oil Company. I was very excited to have the big oil company sponsoring me. Hillmack Services was my primary sponsor and Sherwood Auto Body did the paint. The key fact in this photo…I was 27.

Harry Clark

Heat win

<div class=”maint”> Harry Clark presented me with the plaque from Hillmack Services. My sponsor supplied plaques for the Hobby’s for every heat, consi and feature winner for the 1974 season.

1975 CVM History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

1975 Membership Card

1975

1975 Stats

75′ Rundown

4th Year Hobby Club…Milestone Season

We hit a couple of milestones in 75, won our first feature at Speedway Park. We also had perfect attendance, and picked up 6 checkers for the season.

Preparing for Motion Car Show

Nonie and I set up

<div class=”maint”> This was the first Motion Car Show. Nonie I were happy to be in it.

!930 Model A

Old Mill Pontiac

4 Hobby’s in Premier Show

Nonie

<div class=”maint”> Nonie stands in our display. The white car on the left is LeeRoy Hillis. He bought Danny Shirtliff’s car for 1975. The blue #23 is Bill Wakish. Rookie Don ramage was the 4th car in the club display.

Rookie…Don Ramage

Don Ramage

<div class=”maint”> Don and LeeRoy were friends and they were a great addition to the Hobby club. They were friendly and always helped wherever they could.

Rookie…Don Ramage

Don Ramage

<div class=”maint”> Don and LeeRoy were friends and they were a great addition to the Hobby club. They were friendly and always helped wherever they could.

The OARC Took The Car Show Serious

Coupe

Best Appearing Car Was Always Something To Try For

Show

<div class=”maint”> Harry Nicholson doninated the Best Appearing car award for many years, but his immaculate paint jobs, chrome and incredible workmanship only inspired most of us to try harder. Since I knew very little about the mechanical aspect of racing I had no excuse but to bring the best looking race car possible to the races. I always felt that sponsors and especially fans liked race cars to be painted and lettered nice and besides, that was the tradition of the OARC…behind my car is a small tractor with a V8, check out the headers.

Best Appearing Car Was Always Something To Try For

Show

Practising at Flamboro

Relaxed

<div class=”maint”> I can’t be going to fast here, my left arm is laying out the window and that’s a thing I’ve been doing for ever, always under caution. It was a way for me to relax….relax? Me?

Speedway Park Pits

Pits

<div class=”maint”> We parked on grass at Speedway Park. That’s Jim Cowan standing by his #15 orange Coupe.

Speedway Park Warm Ups

Waiting for green

<div class=”maint”> I’m going down the front chute at Speedway Park waiting for the green to let us start practising. In this picture my right arm is laying on the window sill. This car was narrow enough that I could put both arms on the window sills on each side. We use to sit in the middle of the car with the transmission shifter between our legs. It was weird at first, by now in my 3rd year I’m use to it.

John Hasselfedt and Jimmy Smith at Speedway Park

Speedway Park Pits

<div class=”maint”> John Hasselfeldt #66 parks behind us and beside one of the DeLeeuw cars. Also to the right is Jim Smith who was part of the DeLeeuw race team that year. All 3 DeLeeuw cars were painted the same.

Speedway Park Pits

Pits

<div class=”maint”> Another shot of the pits with John and to his right #17 Mike DeLeeuw in the Frontenac.

Paul Otrman and Brian Atkinson at Speedway Park

Heat Race

<div class=”maint”> Paul Otman #45 battles with his friend #10 Brian Atkinson. Brian ran webber carbs for years and was very successful with them.

Homewrecker

#40 Coach

<div class=”maint”> Competiton at Speedway Park. I don’t know who #40 is, but I do remember across the top of his roof above teh windshield was written “Homewrecker”.

Unknown Driver

Who is he?

<div class=”maint”> I knew almost everyone I raced with, but I don’t know who #40 is. If you do let me know and I’ll give him his due recognition.

Jim Pinder and I Battle

Heat Race

<div class=”maint”> Not a good picture, but this is Jim Pinder #29 and I at Speedway Park.

Back Chute at Speedway Park

#40 Ford

<div class=”maint”> Speedway Park was a fast track and very smooth, except for the bump between 3 and 4. You can almost see his name on the side of the car on the roof of the mystery driver car #40.

Practising with Late Models

Warm Ups

<div class=”maint”> Here our friend, the unknown driver leads a pack of Hobby’s (and I don’t know any of those cars at the back) beside a Late Model who stays low and let’s the Hobby’s past.

Paul Ortman Get A Touch Up

Touch Up

<div class=”maint”> Cartoon characters have been common on race cars throughout the years. Even during the 2nd World War pilots had cartoons on their fighter planes…Snoopy is seen on Pauls hood, but also notice the size of his engine…4.1 Liters..(that’s unique..he was 6 years ahead of his time for using metric measurements in Canada, but even today we still refer to engines as 250 cu in or V8’s as 350’s.

Paul Jorgenson and the Ant Eater

Paul Jrogenson

<div class=”maint”> Paul Jorgenson and I were very good friends in our early years racing. He was straight man and I was the comic. Paul was also years ahead of his time with his design engineering skills. Here is the car he built in his basement and then had to disassemble it to get it out, he was the comic that day.

Feature Race at Speedway Park

Racing

Harry Nicholson at Speedway Park

Harry Nicholson

Sexy Six

Original

<div class=”maint”> Harry’s cars were the bench mark for appearance and workmanship. If he crashed he wouldn’t race again until the car was 100% with original parts. One time he waited three weeks to get a door from the U.S. but that was in 79’…his cars took on the name Sexy Six and each year would be added Phase One, Phase 2 etc….he won Best Appearing Cars 11 years in a row, an incredible feat.

Hobby Heat

Flamboro

<div class=”maint”> I wish this pciture was clear. We use to buy throw away cameras and the quality was always brutal. The pictures were bad enough up close and this one is taken from far…anyway, enough of the Kodac moment…here George McLeod is leading a pack of vets into turn one at Flamboro, there is someone in front but not in this picture. Behind him is #53 Rich Farraway, a champion in the future, Keith Barton is outside of Rich in his little brown rocket named “Thud”. Behind Keith is me, I’m sure that’s #31 John Jarvis in the blue and white coupe, Paul Ortman #45 runs beside #16 Bob Ball.

Coming Off Turn 2

Back Chute

<div class=”maint”> The next few pictures are a series of shots on the back chute in this heat race at Flamboro won by Keith Barton. Keith Barton is high in 2, then John Jarvis, me, Paul Ortman, Bob Ball and Dave Berry in the black and red car #43.

Keith Closes In

Flamboro

<div class=”maint”> Tery Dickinson enters turn 2, Keith goes outside of the leader.

Keith Setting Up the Leader.

Action

Where Did You Get The Drain Pipe Jack

Spot Check

<div class=”maint”> Jack Fisher #50 gets stopped on the front chute by starter Harry Clarke. (Harry!! he’s in the back seat). This monster Buick was the biggest sleeper in the club. It was 3 football fields long and you could put Keith Bartons little coupe in the exhaust, but could it get around the track. It was incredibly fast and Jack could drive.

Coasting Coach

Jack Fisher

Flying on the Front Chute

Flamboro

<div class=”maint”> Jack was a great guy and so was his crew man and builder Joe Nagy. They always had fun and sure kept us amazed at the power their car put out.

High Tension

Crusing

<div class=”maint”> High Tension across the visor was a clothing company that sponsored me. Check out the little wheel on the left front. We called it the peanut wheel. You can see the brake drum. In this picture it looks like Ding DeLeeuw behind me and Bill Wakish #23 is coming off turn 2. We use ot sit in the middle of the car, not to the left. In todays rules you have to mount your tachometer below the windshield, that’s so you can’t use it as a mirror. I had panoramic vision with the 2 East Coast mirrors and the tach right in the middle so I could see over the seat. But to be honest, some of us needed every advantage we could get. Keith Bartons coupe weighed about 2100 pounds or less, mine weighed about 2550 (ok 45 of that was mirrors). Imagine the advantage of 400 pounds. Today the cars are within 50 pounds of each other.

Keith Barton, Hall of Famer Won 4 Features in 75

Thud

Ralph Farraway #51

Flamboro

<div class=”maint”> It appears we are under caution. My hand is out the window and that’s the only time it would be. Ralph Farraway, Rich’s brother, ran a few years and this was his rookie season.

Bill Lyons President of the OARC & Brian Atkinson

Vet and Rookie

<div class=”maint”> Bill Lyons #9 was a true champion, a hard worker and dedicated many hours to making sure the OARC business was alway run in a professional manner. He laid the gruond work and set the example for other Presidents to follow. Brian Atkinson came on the scene with some new ideas. Brian was always into new things like side draft webber carbs (the first to run them) and trying to get rid of my mirrors. Brian would become a very good runner in his youth and later as a grand dad.

Bill Lyons President of the OARC & Brian Atkinson

Vet and Rookie

The Neighbours

High Rider

<div class=”maint”> My neighbours were very upset with me most times, even though my car looked better than their gardens. When I backed up the driveway I would pass 5 homes. None spoke english, but they all said the same thing….also in this picture I know now why I never used a jack. You could get under the car quite easy, plus the one we had was a stand up bumper jack, and that was usually used for moving the car sideways a foot or so every time we used it and usually the sideways movement was unintentional. When the floor jack was invented (and it probably was long before this pciture) we were amazed that technology had come so far. I realize when I say “we were amazed” that may include me and a very few others. I use to park beside the guy who had the most tools, and sometimes I remembered to give them back. Hey, as it is written, no one is perfect. I think I may have entertained them and so for most it was okay to lend me tools. I changed a few years later and got my own stuff.

Shirley at 2 Years Plus

Powder Puff

<div class=”maint”> Shirley loved to be around the car and when she was we’d get a picture of her…here is a good shot of the door handle still on the car plus all the hinges. We kept the cars as orignal as we could until time, evolution and the door opened to lighten the cars, and then the doors closed shut for good, litterally. The first place many started was on the body from the window sill down…but not yet it would be a year or so.

Paul Ortman Wins At Speedway Park

Heat Win

<div class=”maint”> Paul Ortman always gave his best and was rewarded here with a heat win.

Heat Battle

Tight Battle

<div class=”maint”> Terry Dickinson #92 and Paul Otrman #45 battle side by side. Dave Berry #43 follows close behind.

Just A Blurr At Flamboro

Flamboro

Pace lap

Flamboro

Mixed Practice

Rich #53

<div class=”maint”> Paul Ortman practicing with some of the boys. Rich Farraway #53 comes off turn 2 and in front of him you can just see Keith Barton. Notice in this picture a Limited Sportsman is on the track with his 10″ slicks. We use to practice with other classes.

Speedway Park

Don MacDonald

Don MacDonald #71 comes off turn 2 at Speedway Park in front of Bob Kurtin #80, me and #11 Jim Atkinson. Jim didn’t race much, but he was good guy to talk to and always liked to race with us. This is the only picture I have of him. Don MacDonald would have a serious wreck at Flamboro where his front axle including both wheels wound up under the engine. He was okay. Don raced for a few years and always had a great looking car.

Speedway Park Wreck

Bob Kurtin’s House

<div class=”maint”> We raced at Speedway Park and on a few occasions I got wrecked. Carol and Bob would invited us over to there home and Bob and Johnny (his long time dedicated friend and crew chief)would help fix my car. Danny Bow is under the front of the car, he was helping me in the pits. Our wrecks usually involved bending the axle, shocks, breaking break lines, somes times the exhaust rad and other parts. We use to repair them, hardly ever did we replace any…why? We didn’t have any spare parts.

Putting The Axle And Spring Back In Place

Danny Reed

<div class=”maint”> Danny tightens up the spring u-bolts as Bob holds the axle in place. Check out the square bumper with it’s sharp corners. Eventually in a few years we would adapt a rule that would require the bumpers to be rounded.

Bob Shows Us Why?

Bob Kurtin

<div class=”maint”> Bob was such a great friend. He kept me racing many times by helping me get out for the next race. He knew I loved to race and would do anything to get on the track. But without a place to work, the equipment to fix the car and the know how, I would miss a race, especially if it was the next night. Maybe when I wrecked I always had such a sad face that Bob felt bad for me. We appreciated both him and Carol for their help and hospitality. Sometimes we would stay all night and Carol would find a place to put the kids while her and Nonie visited. Starting at about 2 am they would ask “how long are you going to be”?..Bob would say, “awhile, he wrecked it good this time”! In the morning it was bacon and eggs and back in the garage. The next day we were ready for Flamboro and if I wrecked then I had all week to get it fixed. I have 25 perfect attendance seasons as of 2004 and Bob was instrumental making some of them happen…thanks again to our friends.

A Smile Cause It’s Going To Get Fixed

Final Inspection

Front Chute Flamboro

Old Mill Pontiac

Front Chute Flamboro

Old Mill Pontiac

Turns One and Two Flamboro

Jim Smith

Jim Pinder at Flamboro

Jim Pinder #29

<div class=”maint”> Jim Pinder was another all round great member of the OARC. He always ran well, his cars were excellent and he should have been a politician because everything he said made sense. He was a very good negotiator and reconsiler, perhaps because he was a trucking company owner. Jim was put in the hall of Fame in 2001 and he was very deserving of that honour.

David and Shirley

God’s gift

<div class=”maint”> The Bible says kids are a gift from God, Psalm 127 vs 3 and we loved our kids and took them to most every race.

Sammy Taylor #25

Flamboro

<div class=”maint”> Sammy Taylor was a lot of fun. He always tried his best, and like most of us, got so excited if and when we won a race.

Back Chute at Flamboro

Flamboro Pit Gate

Coming Off Turn Four

Hold On!

My First Feature Win

Satellite Park

<div class=”maint”> It was June 27th at Satellite Speedway that I wrecked badly and Bob kurtin helped me get back out for the next night at Flamboro. Then on July 18th I wrecked again at Satellite when Ray Hughes and I tangled and he got black flagged for rough driving. I was beat up again and in the infield Ray never stopped yelling at me because he got the black. He wasn’t a dirty driver and likely didn’t deserve the black, but I didn’t call it, plus I had enough worries. The next week July 25th I got wrecked coming off turn 4 in the heat, again at Satellite and this time #19 Bob Hosford was penalized. I missed the consi and Bob was running for me(but he didn’t know it). If he qualified I was in trouble because my cross member, spring and axle (same as the week before, same as 20 times before) were bent and I could not get ready in time. Bob ended up finishing 4th in the consi and the track officials told him he raced for me so I ended up with 6 points for 4th in the consi and $30. The top 3 in the consi got 1 point each..we worked all night and made it out to Flamboro and won the consi on July 26th….the next week August 1st the car was running great. I led for 10 laps in the feature and a huge wreck brought out the caution. Paul Ortman moved into 2nd and hounded me every lap. I held on for the next 5 laps to win my FIRST ever FEATURE!! We were out of our minds for the next week. There is a great feeling by winning a heat but there is no comparison when the checker is the feature and that feeling is still the same today.

The Problem Now ? How Do We Get Any Sleep Tonight?

Satellite Park

<div class=”maint”> Sleep tonight?? Who cares!! I watched for 3 and 1/2 years as my top running peers hashed over their feature wins over and over, week after week as we stayed and talked after the races around a camp fire. Now it was our turn…and we did, at the track, on the way home, in our garage, and in our sleep!

Don Ramage Spins

Flamboro Action

<div class=”maint”> Don Ramage #74 spun going into turn one. Sammy Taylor #25 and I get by as does #4…and I’m not sure who he is. Let me know.

Shirley’s 2 and a Bit and David’s 4

Gems

Quaker State Product

Our garage

<div class=”maint”> Our garage has a wooden floor. It was an old horse barn, so the good thing was that it was a little winder than a normal city garage. I got 4 cases of oil from Quaker State (24 in a case then) and it was neatly piled on the bench in the corner.

Coupe Surrounded By Laundry

Nearing the end

<div class=”maint”> Leaves are gone and fall is coming. We would still have a few nights left and the car has survived.

The Kids Ready To Go

Family racing

Ding DeLeeuw Outside and Bob Kuritn Behind

Heat race

<div class=”maint”> Ding DeLeeuw runs outside of me. He ran awesome in 75 but also suffered a huge wreck when he had a wild flip right in front of the starters stand at Satellite Speedway. Bob Kurtin #80 follows close behind.

David and Shirley

God’s gift

<div class=”maint”> The Bible says kids are a gift from God, Psalm 127 vs 3 and we loved our kids and took them to most every race.

“Give’er”

Racing hard

<div class=”maint”> 75 was the last year for Satellite Speedway. The owner wanted the property for home development. If you go there today you won’t find Satellite City, the intended name, but you will find what’s left of the ends of the track. It was a great track to race on and we would miss it very much, me especially because it was where I won my first feature. In 1975 Ed Hennessey, Danny Reed, Stewart Pitchford and of course my dad helped in the crew. They were committed. In this picture I’m driving hard, concentrating and struggling to be competitive, and will for many years to come because even with the help from all my friends I still did not find the time to learn about akerman, stagger, camber, caster, roll center, valve lash,cam timing, distributor timing and so on…but I loved to race and that kept me going inspite of the the technical short comings, and of course I always the time to go racing…thanks Nonie for allowing me to do what I love and being there with me.

Reclaim Enterprises

John Saucier

John Saucier…Big Race Fan…Great Sponsor

1976 CVM History

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Gary ElliottJuly 16, 2015

1976 Membership to OARC

1976

<div class=”maint”> Bob Kurtin was the Secretary Treasurer in 1975 and 1976

1976 Rundown

76 Stats

Flamboro Only

The Hobby’s only ran Flamboro Speedway in 76′. Pinecrest and Satelite Speedway were both closed. We had engine trouble and missed 2 nights. The inline would become my biggest and most frustrating cost in racing.

Getting Ready for 1976

Model A

Preparing the Chassis

Chassis

Preparing the Chassis

Chassis

Preparing the Chassis

Body Work

Race Ready

New Scheme

<div class=”maint”> The only difference from 1975 to 76′ was white wheels. The gold wheels, in order to look good, had to be painted every week (spray cans every week from Canadian Tire add up) There were no racing chrome wheels then either. These wheels were spray painted in the booth and had a baked finish. Old Mill Pontiac was our sponsor again in 76′, this would be their last year with me. They helped get me with paint and some product and Nonie and I bought a 1976 Grand Prix from them.

Motion Car Show

Harry Nicholson

<div class=”maint”> This shot is from the Motion Car Show hosted by Dizzy Dean. Harry Nicholson has his mint coupe #14 in the show.

Motion Car Show

No Floor

<div class=”maint”> The OARC took car shows verys serious and so did I, but as you can see in this picture I didn’t get my firewall or floor installed in the car in time for the show. There was quite a bit of controversy and complaining about that. One thing that use to happen, especially at the car shows, was a few members would always point out what was or wasn’t legal on the race cars, making other members upset. In my case it wasn’t finished, but some guys had new chassis ideas etc. We found eventually that our inovators would avoid the car shows so they wouldn’t give away any inventions. This way they had didn’t get caught until a few nights into the schedule.

Motion Car Show

Keith and Bill

<div class=”maint”> Keith Barton is in front of me and Bill Waksih is beside him.

Car Show Engine Damage???

Damaged 240 head

<div class=”maint”> We started the car up a few days before opening day and we heard an awful noise. This picture shows the damage to the cylinder head and the piston from a lock washer smashed into the piston and head. How did it get there? If you look back one picture to the car show, you can see I didn’t put a breather on my car for the show. I wanted to show the carb, it was a new 650 cfm. I have no idea who did it, anyone could have come into our display while it was unattended, but I am postive it happened at the car show. I was planning to run every night in 76 but I missed opening day after this incident. It could be said that I was dumb for not putting a breather on my carb, I never dreamed anyone would do such a thing. What words would you use for the person who dropped the lock washer into the carb?…you won’t find them here.

Back Together

Complete

Toronto Star Picture

Back Chute

<div class=”maint”> Len Coates from the Toronto Star came out to do a story on the Hobby division. This was the picture from the article.

Pit Crew Members

Paul and Frazer

<div class=”maint”> Paul and Frazer were the main part of my crew in 1975. Dad and Ed were there also. I remember after this brutal season with so many bad finishes and DNFs that they were both exhausted by the years end. For my birthday they chipped in and bought me my first set of headers. Great guys, but I burnt them out in a short time.

Shortest Season Until 2001

Pits

<div class=”maint”> 1976 only had 19 nights total. It was the lowest race night in the Hobby’s until 2001 and 2003 with 17 each. There was no more Speedway Park or Satellite Speedway, no more Pinecrest, they would become history. I ran every night (no kidding) all but opening day. That was because of the engine problem with the lock washer in the engine, or I would have had my 2nd season with 100%. My points finishes were very bad even with only one night missed. We had 2 points standings and one was dedicated to Gallinger Motors (a Ford Dealership). We set aside a few nights that were considered Overall Points…I don’t know who #27 was.

Terry Dickinson #92

Dickinson

Thumbs Up..No Gloves

Practice

<div class=”maint”> I knew somene was taking this picture. I am giving a thumbs up, but more importantly you can see I was not wearing racing gloves because they weren’t mandatory at that time. They were an option that cost money. Some guys wore them and even fire underwear. I did have a firesuit.

Brian Atkinson #10

Flamboro Back Chute

Turn 3 & 4 Action

Whats happening

<div class=”maint”> I realize there are a few versions of how this seqence went down. One, I just passed Brian and was going under Terry, or two, I’m about to pass Terry and Brian is following…Terry will say he just past Brian and is passing me on the outside (it was safe to do that) and Brian who was rarely wrong (just kidding Brian) will say he is lapping us. We will all wind up in the Hall of Fame, Brian will be a little while yet.

Dave McKee #37

McKee and the boys

<div class=”maint”> Dave McKee started in 74 and didn’t take long to become one of the clubs best. The many top cars of the club knew Dave would be a threat week after week. Pictured here is also Brian Atkinson and it looks like Ding DeLeeuw beside him and I’m right behind.

Terry Leads the Way

Terry Dickinson

<div class=”maint”> Terry was a great guy in many ways. He was a top driver with a low budget, he did all his own work and much of mine at times. Terry was so smooth, he made it look easy. Terry along with Bill Wakish, George McLeod, Bob Field, Keith Barton, Harry Nicholson, Don Cockburn, Jim Pinder were the veterans we looked up to, the men who kept our club together. Now the transition of the vets and new comers was quite an overlap as the new warriors came on the scene McKee, Hughes, Rashleigh, Jerome, Atkinson, Book, Kurtin and others. Terry Dickinson was a man of grace and stature that always got respect from his competitors. He is another worthy member of the Hobby Hall of Fame, along with McKee, Hughes, Jerome, Pinder, Barton, Cockburn, Nicholson, Field, and McLeod.

Terry Dickinson Playing Alone

Terry Dickinson

Where’s the Mirror’s

Practice

<div class=”maint”> Maybe you didn’t notice before but we went to smaller mirrors in our cars. We weren’t allowed the East Coast mirrors anymore. Also my exhaust pipes would instigate a rule that made them dump behind the drivers seat. We spent a few weeks trying to comply with that rule. During our blueprint process, and engineering strategies, we tried to figure out which was less expensive..lengthening the exhaust or moving the seat forward!

Did Someone Call for the Wright Brothers?

Engine Trouble

<div class=”maint”> A young Jim Bunting stands beside me as I work with 2 men in white coats. (easy now). The boys in white were Paul and Frazer. Beside me is Ray Hughes. Look at how low his car is to mine. Now, unless he has 3 flat tires I don’t understand how my friend got so low to the track. I figured I had the advantage on him because I could see what was happening on the track by looking over his car. George McLeod is beside Ray and in the back ground is Dave McKee and beside Dave is Ken Jorgenson’s red and white coupe.

We Got It

Engine Fixed

Going Out for Practice

Flamboro

Dedicated Crew

Frazer and Paul

<div class=”maint”> These guys, along with my dad and Ed were very dedicated to me in 1976 and would do anything to come home with a good nights racing. We struggled badly in 76′ and if we came home without any trouble we considered it good. I appreciated all they did and still think of them and thank them all in my heart. Frazer would come out to a race in 2004 and it was Barrie Speedway. We won that race by 3/4 of an inch over Steve Lyons. Frazer was pumped but I couldn’t get him back out again, he’s still recovering from 76’….but what a reunion at Barrie.

Milton Parade

Me and McKee

<div class=”maint”> Dave McKee and I went in a parade in Milton on a Saturday afternoon. Gord Haselfeldt had something to do with it, but I’m not sure if he organized it or just had me and Davey McKee in it..that could be a song.”me and Davey McKee”…what’s awesome about a parade, especially this one, you get to stay within a car length of one of the fastest cars in the club for almost 25 minutes. I rarey saw Dave this close.

A Barrell of Fun

Parade

First Flamboro Feature Win

Feature #2

<div class=”maint”> I finally won my first feature race at Flamboro on June 15th the night before Nonie’s birthday. The timing was excellent because she knew I’d be happy for a week. In my first 5 years I won 2 features. It was not an easy venture, however we loved the sport, being a part of racing was always the most important aspect and winning was a bonus.

Narrow Driveway

Home

<div class=”maint”> Our driveway was so narrow the trailer would only go to the edge of the house. Our property was 25′ wide including the driveway. The neighbours hated the race car and I wanted a bigger place to work. I’m sure they all yelled…”well then move”!!!…but we needed to be patient and so we raced from this locaton from 1973 until 1986. Ken Jorgenson even shared the garage with me for a while. He needed a place to keep his car and he taught me a lot of good stuff and I taught him how to understand some Italian.

David and Shirley

Kids

David and Shirley

Kids

David and Shirley Loved to be Involved

Kids

Twin 25 Heat Win

2nd win of 76

<div class=”maint”> A night to remember. This was the 2nd annual Twin 25’s. They were always a favourite of mine. To win this event was special. I got off to a good start by winning my heat. In the first feature I was spun out running 3rd coming off turn 2. This would end up being one of the biggest wrecks in Hobby history. At leat 10 cars got towed off the track. Terry Dickinson came out with a jerry can for a fuel tank but they would let him run because it was only held in by a bungy strap. I would end up 9th and 6th in the 2 features

Can You Guess How Old Shirley Is?

Shirley

<div class=”maint”> We’ll close 1976 with this picture of Shirley. This was her birthday so she stood in front of the 6 to reveal her age.