Digney Speedway remembered

On any given day, cars lay rubber down on Rumble Street and McPherson Avenue racing for parking spots, but 60 years ago people raced there for cash, trophies and glory.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Digney Speedway, and to commemorate the birthday, a reunion of racers, fans and staff from the old speedway are meeting for the first time at the Spirit of Edmonds Show and Shine.

Event organizer Doug Harder said despite trouble locating people who raced or worked at Digney Speedway, he has had a great response.

"We've heard from at least 50 people that are coming, so when people say 'there's not many of those guys left,' everybody knows somebody," Harder said. "We just thought it would work well together because they'll come to (the reunion) and they'll see the cars."

The reunion will feature never-before-seen photos from the track as well as old trophies, racing programs and a collection of scrapbooks with news clippings from each year the track was open.

"It's absolutely amazing what's out there," Harder said.

Harder said some of the people attending include drivers who raced on opening night, the original ambulance driver and program vendor, mechanics and sponsors and a man who, as a boy, could not afford the 25-cent entrance fee so he would sneak under the fence to watch the races.

The paved, quarter-mile track was built in 1948 by Andy Digney, an English immigrant who also built Burnaby's first movie theatre and bowling alley. Digney bought the 10-acre plot of land from the City of Burnaby for $8,000 and built the track in six weeks. Opening night at the track on July 8, 1948 drew a capacity crowd of 4,000. The track remained open for 11 years, featuring weekly races of midget cars, jalopies, motorcycles and bicycles.

Harder said he hopes people will attend to share memories of the track or learn about its history. One of his favourite stories happened when he attended a race in the early 1950s when a racer lost control of his vehicle, smashed through the fence and was thrown clear. When the driver got back in his car and drove to the pits, race marshals wouldn't believe he was part of the race or let him back in until a lap counter ran down and told them.

• The Digney reunion is free and open to the public, and takes place Sunday, July 27 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Eastburn Community Centre.