Kingston Speedway

Last updated
Kingston Speedway
Location Kingston, Ontario Canada
Coordinates 44°16′58″N76°29′33″W / 44.2828°N 76.4924°W / 44.2828; -76.4924
Opened1952
Closed1976
Oval
Surface Clay
Length.4 km (.25 miles)
Turns4
BankingSemi-banked
Turns4

Kingston Speedway was a quarter-mile dirt oval raceway located in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario, Canada.

Contents

Overview

In 1951 Rod Cutway organized a group of racing enthusiasts and roughed-out a version of a three-eighths-mile racetrack on his father-in-law’s land. [1] Final construction took place in the spring of 1952 with Tony Blake claiming the first official feature win on June 28, 1952. Blake went on to capture six track championships. [2]

Lawrence Craven began a decade long stretch promoting the facility in 1955, during which he added banking and shortened the track to a quarter-mile. [1] Multi-time track champion Fred Gibson then took over operations along with his brother Bud. In 1967, Bud Gibson bought out his brother and also announced jointly with the Watertown Speedway a rule change to allow overhead valve V8 engines and to increase engine displacement from 250 to 310 cubic inches. [3]

The facility continued operations with several other promoters, including Fred Gibson's return from 1971-1973, closing after the 1976 season when the property was sold to a neighboring limestone quarry. [4]

Track Champions

Year [1] ModifiedLate ModelMini Stock
1976 Doug Carlyle Jack TheoretKen Pugh
1975 Ovide Doiron Jack TheoretJohn Kuipers
1974Norm DaveyDan CorcoranDenzil Coughlin
1973Denzil BillingsDanny ReidDenzil Coughlin
1972Walter PennockAl Bissette
1971Walter Pennock
1970 Tony Blake
1969Tony Blake
1968Barry Poitras
1967 Fred Gibson
1966 Gary Reddick
1965Fred Gibson
1964Tony Blake
1963Tony Blake
1962Fred Gibson
1961Woody Van Order
1960Tony Blake
1959Woody Van Order
1958Woody Van Order
1957Woody Van Order
1956Tony Blake
1955Woody Van Order
1954
1953Ernie Lindsay
1952Andy Rae

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Track Database – Kingston Speedway". Canadian Racer. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  2. Kennedy, Patrick (April 17, 2003). "Tony Blake 'a Class Act'". The Kingston Whig-Standard . Ontario, Canada.
  3. "Stock car speed is increased". Watertown Daily Times . NY. November 29, 1967. Retrieved May 6, 2025 via NNY360 Archives.
  4. Kennedy, Patrick (March 12, 2021). "Kingston Speedway still holds special memories, 45 years after the end". The Kingston Whig-Standard . Ontario, Canada. Retrieved May 6, 2025.