Pinecrest Speedway was born in
1946 when property was purchased at the south-east corners of
Hiway 7 and Jane Street. In what is now known as Vaughan, owner
Charles Greenly allowed it to be developed into a 1/2 mile dirt
oval for racing sprint cars (also known as "half milers").
The track was flat, un-banked and appealed to drivers across the
province.
On the half mile dirt oval of Pinecrest
Speedway sometime in 1951 is the 1937 Ford Coupe of Dave Boone. Ontario's
Sunday Blue Laws prevented racing on Sundays, so races would take
place Saturday afternoons. Lack of a lighting system also prevented evening
races in the early days.
Originally a dirt track when
first purchased and layed out by Charles Greenly in 1946, Pinecrest
soon attracted drivers from Canada and the United States.
The
half mile dirt oval was developed into a quarter mile paved track
in the early 50's and had seating capacity reaching 10,000. Seating
was three-quarters around the oval, with fifty percent of that being
covered and twenty-five percent open.
Aggresive promotion of the track
meant bringing in the spectators. One way to do this was to promote
spectator racing in between heats and features. Fans could race
their own cars for fun, but no cash. But a 40 cent admission price
didn't hurt either.
Track photographer Ian K. Woods
captures on film a photo-finish at Pinecrest Speedway in the 1950's.
By the length of a wheel #63 Merle Godfrey takes the checkers
over #64 Terry Dickinson. 1951 is considered the true birth year
for Pinecrest because at this time the track was converted into
a 1/4 mile oval, paved, and aggresively promoted as a track for
international racers.
Over the years, Pinecrest would indeed
attract stock car drivers from across North America. Pinecrest was the
first race track to be paved in Ontario. The promotional flyers [above]
and [below] tell the story well - best drivers in Canada - biggest event
there is - largest purse available. Many of the drivers listed above
also raced in the early days of Sunset Speedway. Notice the event goes
Rain or Shine [upper flyer].
Battling for position in the 60's at Pinecrest
Speedway are Barry Stather in the 16 car and the #4 of Bob West. These
were the years of un-regulated racing. No seat belts, no roll bars or
cages. Rarely seen was a crash helmet. Seat belts in those days were considered
a hazard. It was thought that the driver was better off to be thrown from
the car than to be tied down in it.
Packin' the seats and stackin' the cars.
Daredevil Ken Carter in his Suicide Bus Jump in the late 1950's. Carter
jumped two buses [right - not shown] and landed on the two junkers for
what the reporter described as "a cushion".
The track could hold 10,000 fans
on a Saturday afternoon (no lighting meant daylight racing only).
Later, lightning would be installed for summer evening racing
with action begining at 8:30pm. During the 50's and 60's, Pinecrest
was considered the top draw and hottest sports attraction on a
Saturday, in the Toronto area.
A portion of the property where
the track sat is now owned by Kay and Bill Nikolakakos, who own
and operate Pinecrest Restaurant & Truck Stop. Kay and Bill
have an extensive collection of memorabilia which includes posters,
flyers, wrtie-ups, photos and original score cards.
One of the last (if not the last) pace cars
to circle Pinecrest Speedway now sits at the Pinegrove Shell station on
Islington Ave. in Woodbridge. This 1973 Stingray is owned by former Pinecrest
race car driver Rocco DiCarlo.
Photos Courtesy Kay & Bill Nikolakakos, Ian K.
Woods
Researched Material Courtesy Toronto Telegram, Toronto
Star, Ted Woloshyn
Official Soft Drink at Sunset Speedway
