I was a regular at Grandview Bowl in Nanaimo for many years. My Grand Parents were the care takers of the bowl and would keep the keys to the gate. This allowed me access to tuesday nite practice as well as entry to every race.

I remember well the concession stands with their plywood windows which would drop down when they were open and the chip trailer. The Smugglers Hill crowd who sat on the hoods of their cars rather than pay to see the race.

I would love to find a few pictures of the track and events myself. There has to be several still around as there was a booth where pictures of cars and drivers were sold as well as other item.

Good luck, I hope you find enough to write about. I was considering collecting info and pics myself for an atricle, which is how I found your site.

Mike Muntain

themuntains@aol.com

Think these are some pictures of the Grandview bowl with bikes racing on it in 2004. Find it on Google while trying to find some pictures of the bowl, i could be wrong though.

http://barnlive.com/photos/index.php?folder=/Cyclocross/Vancouver%20Island%2004/

Quote: Originally posted by Guest on 22 June 2005

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Think these are some pictures of the Grandview bowl with bikes racing on it in 2004. Find it on Google while trying to find some pictures of the bowl, i could be wrong though.

http://barnlive.com/photos/index.php?folder=/Cyclocross/Vancouver%20Island%2004/

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  I raced at Cassidy Speedway and won Rookie of the year honors there. the reason Cassidy closed was not financial but Political. As Vvce president of MIARA I learned that much available money that should have gone to the club was being diverted into the pockets of crooked politicians.

One example of the inequities observed: The Deep sea diving Club on the Island, (I forget their actual name.) Received enough Money to buy some old war ships, have them enviromentally cleaned, and skuttled in the ocean so that they would have something to look at when they went diving.  At that time their club had about 35 members. MIARA at that time had around 500 members and was blocked from receiving any of the same such funds we were entitled to as a non-profit organization.

  Retroactive Zoning laws were passed to kill Cassidy Speedway and so eventually the track was forced to close. I recall Crowds of over 10,000 people often at Cassidy.  In Canada Auto racing is Hated By political types.

 I recall Many great times there. Many racers I have met since then all say Cassidy was their favorite Dirt Track!

Quote: Originally posted by Guest on 20 September 2005

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  I raced at Cassidy Speedway and won Rookie of the year honors there. the reason Cassidy closed was not financial but Political. As Vvce president of MIARA I learned that much available money that should have gone to the club was being diverted into the pockets of crooked politicians.

One example of the inequities observed: The Deep sea diving Club on the Island, (I forget their actual name.) Received enough Money to buy some old war ships, have them enviromentally cleaned, and skuttled in the ocean so that they would have something to look at when they went diving.  At that time their club had about 35 members. MIARA at that time had around 500 members and was blocked from receiving any of the same such funds we were entitled to as a non-profit organization.

  Retroactive Zoning laws were passed to kill Cassidy Speedway and so eventually the track was forced to close. I recall Crowds of over 10,000 people often at Cassidy.  In Canada Auto racing is Hated By political types.

 I recall Many great times there. Many racers I have met since then all say Cassidy was their favorite Dirt Track!

 

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Dave,

Thanks for the info. I'll update the Ghost Track page and the track database. The weird thing about politicians and racing is their short-sightedness. In your case, Cassidy Speedway probably brought in more money to local businesses than a diving club.

Its a shame that Cassidy speedway shut down... I also won a track championships their...

dwntownmrbrwn@hotmail.com

I raced at Cassidy Speedway for 3 years until it closed. We all loved the track and hate that it is closed. In my opinion, anytime a viable track is shut down because of poitics or NIMBYism, it is a huge loss to thousands of people from the drivers and fans to the businesses and their patrons that support them. I hope for the day that racing in canada gets more respect, especially from the people that have the power to keep these tracks open.

wher is barry chamberlin bob desormeaux frank mc cabe len bacelo they raced at digney false creek haney langley they were fan faverites and good drivers bob i belive went on to be starter for langley also for camra races it would be nice to have you print something on them thanks

t

Barry Chamberlain's son (Cory) is still racing at Skagit, he raced with my nephew Tyson Cross.  As far as I know Barry is still living in Coquitlam.  You might be able to do some research about Chamberlain's on the fogg restoration website. 

Good Luck!

Quote: Originally posted by Guest on 31 January 2006

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rumour has it that shareholders are reapplying to get zoneing bylaws changed to open it up for races again!

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Were are these rumours coming from? if they are true i would like to help.

dwntownmrbrwn@hotmail.com

I have been involved in racing since i was six years old the reason why the track my father raced at in Ontario closed was some people who did not have a life and lived a couple of miles from the track complained to the township about the noise. It is people like that along with politicans that are killing small track racing The track that my father raced at is still there it was forced to close around 1970. Have some great memories though