-Was this track just North of Highway 7
-Yes and there is large houses on that site now.
-Wasn't there another track at hwy 24 and I believe hwy 25 on the south east side.
-yes your correct , you can just see an outline of the oval track.
-Do you recall the name of that track
-Chris that was Acton Speedway in Osbringe just up from where 24 highway & 25 met. raced there from about 1966 to maybe 72 Sunday afternoons. Started off as a dirt track & was paved maybe 1969.Guy named Ron White ran the track lived in Spey side..Ran three cars there one year..
-, that picture was taken in 1967 at Acton Speedway which was near the corner of highway 24 &used to be highway 25 out of Acton.There are some people on this site that are mixing up this track with the dragstrip that was over near balinafad.I remember this because I was 16 at the time & was the first year I was allowed in the pit area.We had a good day that Sunday afternoon .Larry had won all the qualifying races & the feature race in the 57 chev that Dad Larry & uncle lorne had built & I had a small hand in.you were just a little girl then I don't know if you remember any of those sunday afternoons. But they are very fond memories to me......
- ,that picture was 1967 I can still remember your mother holding you in her arms & all of us covered in dust,those days it was still a dirt track, it wasn't till 1968 that Ron White got enough money together & paved it. I'm pretty sure but you might want to ask Larry I'm sure he remembers......
-Yes, closer to Acton than Georgetown. Used to love to watch the jet cars. Saw Mongoose and Snake race each other.
-Cool
-We had our house across from the motel at silver Creek on hwy 7, we could hear them every weekend.
-Could hear them in Georgetown
-Oh the memories...not just of the drag strip but those times. I worked as a car hop at the A & W and so many beautiful cars from the car clubs would come in on Friday nights. Not that I am a car nut or something (or maybe a little ;)) I too saw the jet cars at the strip. So Cool! Keep meaning to get to the drags out here and just never seem to find the time
-Got my first taste of drag racing there. Shirley Muldowny and Gary Beck ran top fuel.
-I raced my mustang there late 70s
-OMG, we lived there most weekends, our claim to fame was Brooksie in his mini, broke a lot of hearts when they closed cuz we had to go back to 10 SR!😉
-I remember that.
-Ron and I spent a lot of time there, remember the noise
-Why hadn't anyone thought of opening one again?
-Insurance.....and because of complaints of noise ....traffic. Not profitable
-How long was it in business?
-If memory is correct....60s and first few years of 70s
-That's a long time before complaints. Fact is they received permits etc. Nothing should stop someone from doing so once again. If Sauble Race Track can remain profitable way up north....then no reason a drag strip with new start up can't here
-Good luck with that
-insurance is a KILLER. I have talked to the guy that runs the drag races here and I think he said the insurance runs around a thousand dollars an hour.
-Insurance companies and Granola munching Tree Huggers run the world now LOL!!
I hear Grand Bend may be sold to developers also. They have a hard time attracting spectators, even to the big events. Was there a while ago to watch a friend race and it was only racers Families in the stands...
-Race tracks are almost always run as tax write offs for profitable business. Track expenses outweigh profit at over 90% of the still operating race tracks in North America. I worked with Race City Speedway in Calgary from opening until track closed a few years back. Interesting business
-Was there it it's hay day and the last weekend of illegal drags after it closed and before it was tore up.
-I worked sat the concession booth...lived on the 6th line.
-My brother Al Walker and I worked there. Fun
-Remember it well....SOOOO LOUD!!!
-Well Gerald, I didn't know if you remember, but as dad worked for Fred Tolton and was on the Volunteer Ambulance at the time, either way, come the weekends I was in the pits getting autographed pics from allot of the big names! There was Cha-Cha Maldowney making her first return from 3rd degree burns after a blower blew up in the states, she wore sunglasses but her face was still marked, the car had new panels but they were in primer, a very polite and down to earth lady and never brushed you off as a child and would fully explain what happened one on one, she was amazing! Got to meet "Miss Hurst" Linda Vaghn got her autograph!
There was "Big Daddy" Don Garlites, the Hot Wheels Team, Don "Snake" Purdome Tom "Mongoose" McKewan?.... the back up pickup truck, Hemi under glass, the Boothill Express, all wheel stander's, all the jet cars, slingshot's, alter's, probably missing some, there was one local woman who drove a Chevelle I believe, but she'd pull those slicks out of the truck by herself, disconnect the exhaust and fill her ice bucket under the hood, on the trunk it read; "if you can catch me you can eat me!"
I was so in love with that woman! Lol
-My room was plastered in posters autographed by the driver's, only wish I had those today!
-Loved going to the quarter mile drags , I also saw the green monster there cha cha mulldownie first women driver on top fuel dragster
-I lived at 7 Guelph Street at the time and watched all the cars being towed to the strip......never actually went though....
-It was first called Golden Horseshoe drag strip later Toronto International drag strip.
-My brother used to race my Moms car there after it closed.
-Ya the good old days, won a trophy there with my 70' Mustang 👍 a lot of fun!!!
-I remember that car .Tom Martin had one also.
-yes Tom's was a Mach 1. Mine was a 4 speed std. With shaker hood scoop 351 Cleveland. 1970 Ordered new with the help of Walt Dixon at the local Ford dealer !!!
-It was a nice car I remember seeing it around town and always watched hoping you would let go. Those were the days indeed.
-ya tried to go easy in town, but there was always someone who wanted to test you. Yes some great memories for sure haha 👍
-Could here the jet cars all the way over in Erin ???
-Dickie Harrell
Born: October 4, 1932
Died: September 12, 1971
Buried: Carlsbad Cemetery, New Mexico
Age: 39
Full Name: Richard M. Harrell
Nickname: "Mr. Chevrolet"
Drag Strip: Toronto International Raceway, Ontario, Canada
Accident Date: September 12, 1971
Car: Chevrolet Vega FC
Biographical: During an elimination run, his right front tire blew at the finish line. He was unable to deploy his parachute and crashed into a light pole at the end of the drag strip at a speed estimated at about 200 MPH. He was survived by his wife, Elaine, and two daughters. He had been active in drag racing since 1961 and was nationally renowned
-I was there and seen the crash.
-I also remember seeing the Green Mamba there. Also saw a jet car wreck the same night. I cant however remember the name but it looked more like a dragster than a regular jet car.
-I used to work there for. 25 a hour lol
-I hated it. I went to see Jet Cars and I don't like loud noises. I lived on the 8th line, and could hear the jet cars from home... but live they made me cry.
-I was on the 9th. Balinafad. I could hear them really well
-I went there all the time before they closed it
-My Dad use to race his Javelin there.
-Is there any picks of uncle Henry’s car or him racing ?
-No. But if you ask Aunt Jessie, she might have some.
-Wasn’t there also a oval track there as well or close by ?
-It was north of Acton.......was shut down by then I believe
-It was at hwy 24 and 25 on the south east side. Does anyone remember the name of that track.
-Acton Speedway My family raced there
-yep remember it well SE corner. Ospringe
-Use to fly radio controlled planes there after it was closed down. Drag strip made for a great runway!!
-Yes and there is large houses on that site now.
-Wasn't there another track at hwy 24 and I believe hwy 25 on the south east side.
-yes your correct , you can just see an outline of the oval track.
-Do you recall the name of that track
-Chris that was Acton Speedway in Osbringe just up from where 24 highway & 25 met. raced there from about 1966 to maybe 72 Sunday afternoons. Started off as a dirt track & was paved maybe 1969.Guy named Ron White ran the track lived in Spey side..Ran three cars there one year..
-, that picture was taken in 1967 at Acton Speedway which was near the corner of highway 24 &used to be highway 25 out of Acton.There are some people on this site that are mixing up this track with the dragstrip that was over near balinafad.I remember this because I was 16 at the time & was the first year I was allowed in the pit area.We had a good day that Sunday afternoon .Larry had won all the qualifying races & the feature race in the 57 chev that Dad Larry & uncle lorne had built & I had a small hand in.you were just a little girl then I don't know if you remember any of those sunday afternoons. But they are very fond memories to me......
- ,that picture was 1967 I can still remember your mother holding you in her arms & all of us covered in dust,those days it was still a dirt track, it wasn't till 1968 that Ron White got enough money together & paved it. I'm pretty sure but you might want to ask Larry I'm sure he remembers......
-Yes, closer to Acton than Georgetown. Used to love to watch the jet cars. Saw Mongoose and Snake race each other.
-Cool
-We had our house across from the motel at silver Creek on hwy 7, we could hear them every weekend.
-Could hear them in Georgetown
-Oh the memories...not just of the drag strip but those times. I worked as a car hop at the A & W and so many beautiful cars from the car clubs would come in on Friday nights. Not that I am a car nut or something (or maybe a little ;)) I too saw the jet cars at the strip. So Cool! Keep meaning to get to the drags out here and just never seem to find the time
-Got my first taste of drag racing there. Shirley Muldowny and Gary Beck ran top fuel.
-I raced my mustang there late 70s
-OMG, we lived there most weekends, our claim to fame was Brooksie in his mini, broke a lot of hearts when they closed cuz we had to go back to 10 SR!😉
-I remember that.
-Ron and I spent a lot of time there, remember the noise
-Why hadn't anyone thought of opening one again?
-Insurance.....and because of complaints of noise ....traffic. Not profitable
-How long was it in business?
-If memory is correct....60s and first few years of 70s
-That's a long time before complaints. Fact is they received permits etc. Nothing should stop someone from doing so once again. If Sauble Race Track can remain profitable way up north....then no reason a drag strip with new start up can't here
-Good luck with that
-insurance is a KILLER. I have talked to the guy that runs the drag races here and I think he said the insurance runs around a thousand dollars an hour.
-Insurance companies and Granola munching Tree Huggers run the world now LOL!!
I hear Grand Bend may be sold to developers also. They have a hard time attracting spectators, even to the big events. Was there a while ago to watch a friend race and it was only racers Families in the stands...
-Race tracks are almost always run as tax write offs for profitable business. Track expenses outweigh profit at over 90% of the still operating race tracks in North America. I worked with Race City Speedway in Calgary from opening until track closed a few years back. Interesting business
-Was there it it's hay day and the last weekend of illegal drags after it closed and before it was tore up.
-I worked sat the concession booth...lived on the 6th line.
-My brother Al Walker and I worked there. Fun
-Remember it well....SOOOO LOUD!!!
-Well Gerald, I didn't know if you remember, but as dad worked for Fred Tolton and was on the Volunteer Ambulance at the time, either way, come the weekends I was in the pits getting autographed pics from allot of the big names! There was Cha-Cha Maldowney making her first return from 3rd degree burns after a blower blew up in the states, she wore sunglasses but her face was still marked, the car had new panels but they were in primer, a very polite and down to earth lady and never brushed you off as a child and would fully explain what happened one on one, she was amazing! Got to meet "Miss Hurst" Linda Vaghn got her autograph!
There was "Big Daddy" Don Garlites, the Hot Wheels Team, Don "Snake" Purdome Tom "Mongoose" McKewan?.... the back up pickup truck, Hemi under glass, the Boothill Express, all wheel stander's, all the jet cars, slingshot's, alter's, probably missing some, there was one local woman who drove a Chevelle I believe, but she'd pull those slicks out of the truck by herself, disconnect the exhaust and fill her ice bucket under the hood, on the trunk it read; "if you can catch me you can eat me!"
I was so in love with that woman! Lol
-My room was plastered in posters autographed by the driver's, only wish I had those today!
-Loved going to the quarter mile drags , I also saw the green monster there cha cha mulldownie first women driver on top fuel dragster
-I lived at 7 Guelph Street at the time and watched all the cars being towed to the strip......never actually went though....
-It was first called Golden Horseshoe drag strip later Toronto International drag strip.
-My brother used to race my Moms car there after it closed.
-Ya the good old days, won a trophy there with my 70' Mustang 👍 a lot of fun!!!
-I remember that car .Tom Martin had one also.
-yes Tom's was a Mach 1. Mine was a 4 speed std. With shaker hood scoop 351 Cleveland. 1970 Ordered new with the help of Walt Dixon at the local Ford dealer !!!
-It was a nice car I remember seeing it around town and always watched hoping you would let go. Those were the days indeed.
-ya tried to go easy in town, but there was always someone who wanted to test you. Yes some great memories for sure haha 👍
-Could here the jet cars all the way over in Erin ???
-Dickie Harrell
Born: October 4, 1932
Died: September 12, 1971
Buried: Carlsbad Cemetery, New Mexico
Age: 39
Full Name: Richard M. Harrell
Nickname: "Mr. Chevrolet"
Drag Strip: Toronto International Raceway, Ontario, Canada
Accident Date: September 12, 1971
Car: Chevrolet Vega FC
Biographical: During an elimination run, his right front tire blew at the finish line. He was unable to deploy his parachute and crashed into a light pole at the end of the drag strip at a speed estimated at about 200 MPH. He was survived by his wife, Elaine, and two daughters. He had been active in drag racing since 1961 and was nationally renowned
-I was there and seen the crash.
-I also remember seeing the Green Mamba there. Also saw a jet car wreck the same night. I cant however remember the name but it looked more like a dragster than a regular jet car.
-I used to work there for. 25 a hour lol
-I hated it. I went to see Jet Cars and I don't like loud noises. I lived on the 8th line, and could hear the jet cars from home... but live they made me cry.
-I was on the 9th. Balinafad. I could hear them really well
-I went there all the time before they closed it
-My Dad use to race his Javelin there.
-Is there any picks of uncle Henry’s car or him racing ?
-No. But if you ask Aunt Jessie, she might have some.
-Wasn’t there also a oval track there as well or close by ?
-It was north of Acton.......was shut down by then I believe
-It was at hwy 24 and 25 on the south east side. Does anyone remember the name of that track.
-Acton Speedway My family raced there
-yep remember it well SE corner. Ospringe
-Use to fly radio controlled planes there after it was closed down. Drag strip made for a great runway!!
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