1975 Membership Card
1975 Stats
Preparing for Motion Car Show
<div class=”maint”> This was the first Motion Car Show. Nonie I were happy to be in it.
!930 Model A
4 Hobby’s in Premier Show
<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
<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
<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
Best Appearing Car Was Always Something To Try For
<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
<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.
Practising at Flamboro
<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
<div class=”maint”> We parked on grass at Speedway Park. That’s Jim Cowan standing by his #15 orange Coupe.
Speedway Park Warm Ups
<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
<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
<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
<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
<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
<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
<div class=”maint”> Not a good picture, but this is Jim Pinder #29 and I at Speedway Park.
Back Chute at Speedway Park
<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
<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
<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
<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
Harry Nicholson at Speedway Park
Sexy Six
<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
<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
<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
<div class=”maint”> Tery Dickinson enters turn 2, Keith goes outside of the leader.
Keith Setting Up the Leader.
Where Did You Get The Drain Pipe Jack
<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
Flying on the Front Chute
<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
<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
Ralph Farraway #51
<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
<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
<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.
The Neighbours
<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
<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
<div class=”maint”> Paul Ortman always gave his best and was rewarded here with a heat win.
Heat 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
Pace lap
Mixed Practice
<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 #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
<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
<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?
<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
Front Chute Flamboro
Front Chute Flamboro
Turns One and Two Flamboro
Jim Pinder at Flamboro
<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
<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
<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
Coming Off Turn Four
My First Feature Win
<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?
<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
<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
Quaker State Product
<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
<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
Ding DeLeeuw Outside and Bob Kuritn Behind
<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
<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”
<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
