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History Canadian Drag Racing History

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Fitnessguy, Nov 2, 2020.

  1. Here's a cool original O.T.A. (Ontario Timing Assoc.) track program from the 1958 Canadian Championships at the old Kohler Airstrip. Great to also see some early Rossini's Hot Rod Shop ad on the back.



    1e32a9b5-13eb-45da-8288-b7292ce15b71.jpg
     
  2. One of my favourite early pictures of the Tecumseh Valve Lifters club built dragster out of Tecumseh Ontario (near Windsor). They were one of the early OTA member clubs that help run Kohler Airstrip around 1956. It ran a Packard V8. If you look close.... check out where the battery is placed....lol.
    43635-1232903891-61041b17e1dddc62ba699ab9eac62e87 (1).jpg
     
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  3. Another classic early Ontario drag racing picture from 1957 at Kohler AirStrip that was photographed for the Toronto newspaper to show case the new sport of drag racing. They had a number of car club's line up to show off their club jackets. The 8th person from the left in this picture is Andy Marsh of the Galt Strokers and who was the driver of their streamliner dragster the "Purple People Eater" which I'm restoring at this time. Andy is still going at 85 years old. The 7th person from the left in this picture is Gray Yanocko of" Grays Power House " fame and was one of the early drivers to start to using nitro. He's also the only guy in that picture wearing his racing overalls instead of his club jacket..... just another fact. Gray is considered in many circles as the founding father of Ontario drag racing starting back in 1953 at Edenvale Airstrip. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the 10 person from the left, Harvey Finch from the Brantford Piston Pushers (my old club) who is still going at I believe 88 and living out in B.C. today.

    1425253_10152575781681175_7703938622445590091_o.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2020
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  4. Here's the great Charlie Haviland from Wilsonville Ontario back in the early days of racing at Kohler. One of the first Canadian builders and drivers to get international recognition . Before Charlie switched to hemi's and set time and speed records at the Winternationals in 1968 with a home built altered in AA/A class...he started out in the late 1950's running Caddy power. NHRA's National Dragster stated in the early 1960's Charlie Haviland was the quickest caddy powered altered in the world. I had the privilege to write a book on Charlie in 2016 which today is a part of his history in the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame in Montreal. God Speed Charlie.
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  5. Fitnessguy
    Joined: Sep 28, 2015
    Posts: 2,020

    Fitnessguy
    Member

    Great pics and history boys! Let’s keep them posts with cool stories and killer pics comin!!
    Here’s a random parking lot pic from Mission raceway back in the day.
    IMG_1409.JPG


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  6. RmK57
    Joined: Dec 31, 2008
    Posts: 2,659

    RmK57
    Member

    I think this was taken on the Island...

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    That looks like the one that used to hang out at the BA station at Rupert and 29th Ave. in Vancouver when I was a preteen...
     
  8. Offset
    Joined: Nov 9, 2010
    Posts: 1,871

    Offset
    Member
    from Canada

    Bruce Wilkes B/SR out of the Toronto area. Bruce was a mechanic for Ryder Machinery. I took this pic at St. Thomas Dragway around 1964. Apparently the car is still around.

    ud3Rl9jl.jpg
     
  9. Fitnessguy
    Joined: Sep 28, 2015
    Posts: 2,020

    Fitnessguy
    Member

    It’s a cool car. What I love about that generation, just so many types of builds and creativity.


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  10. Penetrator
    Joined: Aug 25, 2011
    Posts: 514

    Penetrator
    Member
    from SK CAN

    Roller starter @ S'toon
    qcr sir roller.jpg

    .
     
  11. PoTaToTrUcK
    Joined: Oct 5, 2013
    Posts: 418

    PoTaToTrUcK

    The Fairlane was originally campaigned by Bob Nottingham, he sold it to George Davis. It is still around the Maple Ridge area. Bob's son Mike runs a similar Fairlane, but a couple seconds quicker.
    Mike.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2020
  12. SD Tempest
    Joined: Mar 25, 2008
    Posts: 6

    SD Tempest
    Member

    Correct, The '57 belongs to Bob Dixon and the '58 Ranchero belongs to Al Dixon (my father) Both restored to how they were campaigned back then.
     
  13. SD Tempest
    Joined: Mar 25, 2008
    Posts: 6

    SD Tempest
    Member

    Also, it is so cool to see all this race history, especially for those of us not fortunate enough to have lived through it !!! :)
     
  14. St. Thomas Dragway (SW Ontario) early days....

    119523249_2787266031502321_419905164945188467_n.jpg
     
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  15. eaglebeak
    Joined: Sep 17, 2007
    Posts: 1,269

    eaglebeak
    Member

    Chilly Willy from Kitchener. Quite likely painted by Ken Kay.
    Charlie Haviland... Chicken Farmer.
    Then there was Mike Smith from Stoney Creek.
    Later on, Tony Martino from east end Hamilton.
     
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  16. upload_2020-11-12_22-25-35.jpeg
    A Saskatoon legend - Ian McDonald's 55. A friend of mine still has the car, still sporting this same paint job from the early 60's.
     
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  17. Fitnessguy
    Joined: Sep 28, 2015
    Posts: 2,020

    Fitnessguy
    Member

    Mike’s Fairlane is killer! Love when it packs the wheels


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  18. Fitnessguy
    Joined: Sep 28, 2015
    Posts: 2,020

    Fitnessguy
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  19.  
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  20. ramblin dan
    Joined: Apr 16, 2018
    Posts: 3,609

    ramblin dan

    Windsor Dragway. windor 55.jpg
     
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  21. eaglebeak
    Joined: Sep 17, 2007
    Posts: 1,269

    eaglebeak
    Member

    Rodger Miller? from London with a Fiat with front mounted blower, Chev power.
    Later owned by the Brothers Brown from Roadmates.
     
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  22. Offset
    Joined: Nov 9, 2010
    Posts: 1,871

    Offset
    Member
    from Canada

    Eaglebeak I don't think the Miller Gregory Fiat and the Brothers Brown Fiat were the same car. Brothers Brown did run the front mounted blower motor out of the Pack Rat 1 in their Fiat.
     
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  23. PoTaToTrUcK
    Joined: Oct 5, 2013
    Posts: 418

    PoTaToTrUcK

    Some more heroes! Abbotsford Airport 1956.jpg Abbotsford-1956-Bayview-c-1-800.jpg
     
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  24. PoTaToTrUcK
    Joined: Oct 5, 2013
    Posts: 418

    PoTaToTrUcK

    Jim Grant's line up. The 32 ran a flathead and a hemi, on the street.
    Canadian I.jpg Canadian II ..jpg Canadian II.jpg Canadian III.jpg
     
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  25. PoTaToTrUcK
    Joined: Oct 5, 2013
    Posts: 418

    PoTaToTrUcK

  26. PoTaToTrUcK
    Joined: Oct 5, 2013
    Posts: 418

    PoTaToTrUcK

    This 32 was already chopped when Ed bought it in 1962.
    In the quarter mile, the street legal car has run a 8.988 ET @ 146.55 mph
    Ed Loewen.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2020
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