Toronto International Drag Way - Golden Horseshoe Drag Way
The "old drag strip", once located on the 5th Line. It opened up for operations, in 1970, by Carl Bristow under the name 'Golden Horseshoe Drag Way'. This drag way was built on the former Matthews Farm, where the current Bridlewood Subdivision is today. There was a small oval track built prior to this, but the property became official grounds in 1970. According to the Acton Free Press, despite protest from the community in regards to noise and safety concerns, on January of 1970 the Esquesing Council approved the go ahead for the new track with the promise, by the owner, of holding responsibility in keeping the noise and venue-goers under control. It is also stated that Bristow was seeking a building permit for the construction of a control tower, which was approved. Within the first year, the drag way consisted of nothing more than a small track and a new control tower which allowed racing officials to have a good view of the races. Following the first season, in 1971, improvements to the track were made and along with other improvements to the venue, including a name change to the 'Toronto International Dragway'.
Once word started to spread about this new track, vehicles from all over would line-up all the way up and down the 5th line awaiting to enter the drag way each weekend throughout the operating season. Business started to boom for this drag way and even with success, unfortunately, came tragedy. On June 5th of 1971, George McIntyre died of injuries following a drag race accident. This would not be the only fatality to occur during the 1971 season.
On September 12th, thousands of horrified spectators watched as 38-year-old "Mr. Chevrolet" Dick Harrell's "funny car" blew up and he was instantly killed. For those who do not know the term "funny car", it is a type of race where cars are modified to perform at higher speeds, far beyond the manufacture's recommendations. Harrell, from East Beverly Mission, Kansas, was known as "Driver of the Year" and left behind a wife and family. Following these tragedies, thankfully, there were no more reports to follow throughout the rest of the drag way's existence.
More changes to the drag way came in August of 1971, when it was sold to Ed Rachanski and Tom Reid; they would remain as owners until the drag way's closure. The drag way continued to have success for the next few years until the announcement was made that 1975 would be it's last season and in January of 1975, it was announced that the Town had plans on the land to build a subdivision. Ted Bosma was manager of the track during the final year.
Following the closure of the drag way, it was suppose to go into housing development. Instead, it sat vacant for the next 23 years. It soon gained the notoriety of a place for dare devils to trespass and race down the old track. The Town of Halton Hills, on a number of occasions, used multiple tactics to try and keep people from entering the property including the use of soil mounds to block the entrance. Along with trespassing dare devils, it also became a popular site for vandalism. Firefighters were called out to the site to extinguish a fire at the control tower. Eventually the ruins of the tower and the track were removed for safety concerns.
As of 1999, the property is now the Bridlewood Subdivision, consisting of a number of country estates. For legacy sake, there is a Facebook page dedicated to the defunct drag way. Despite being short-lived, the "old drag strip" still continues to be strong in memory to those within and well beyond the Acton area.
History Credit: Acton Free Press / HHPL Newspaper Archives / Friends of Toronto International Dragway Facebook Page
Once word started to spread about this new track, vehicles from all over would line-up all the way up and down the 5th line awaiting to enter the drag way each weekend throughout the operating season. Business started to boom for this drag way and even with success, unfortunately, came tragedy. On June 5th of 1971, George McIntyre died of injuries following a drag race accident. This would not be the only fatality to occur during the 1971 season.
On September 12th, thousands of horrified spectators watched as 38-year-old "Mr. Chevrolet" Dick Harrell's "funny car" blew up and he was instantly killed. For those who do not know the term "funny car", it is a type of race where cars are modified to perform at higher speeds, far beyond the manufacture's recommendations. Harrell, from East Beverly Mission, Kansas, was known as "Driver of the Year" and left behind a wife and family. Following these tragedies, thankfully, there were no more reports to follow throughout the rest of the drag way's existence.
More changes to the drag way came in August of 1971, when it was sold to Ed Rachanski and Tom Reid; they would remain as owners until the drag way's closure. The drag way continued to have success for the next few years until the announcement was made that 1975 would be it's last season and in January of 1975, it was announced that the Town had plans on the land to build a subdivision. Ted Bosma was manager of the track during the final year.
Following the closure of the drag way, it was suppose to go into housing development. Instead, it sat vacant for the next 23 years. It soon gained the notoriety of a place for dare devils to trespass and race down the old track. The Town of Halton Hills, on a number of occasions, used multiple tactics to try and keep people from entering the property including the use of soil mounds to block the entrance. Along with trespassing dare devils, it also became a popular site for vandalism. Firefighters were called out to the site to extinguish a fire at the control tower. Eventually the ruins of the tower and the track were removed for safety concerns.
As of 1999, the property is now the Bridlewood Subdivision, consisting of a number of country estates. For legacy sake, there is a Facebook page dedicated to the defunct drag way. Despite being short-lived, the "old drag strip" still continues to be strong in memory to those within and well beyond the Acton area.
History Credit: Acton Free Press / HHPL Newspaper Archives / Friends of Toronto International Dragway Facebook Page