Edmonton International Speedway
Encyclopedia
Edmonton International Speedway, also known as Speedway Park, was a 251 acres (1.02 km²) multi-track auto racing facility located in the present Cumberland
and Hudson
neighborhoods of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
. The facility featured a ¼ mile drag strip
, a 2.53 miles (4.072 km) 14-turn road course
, and a ¼ mile short oval. At its peak, it had capacity for over 30,000 fans.
In 1967, the 1/4 mile drag strip opened, and had a full length of 4350 feet (1,326 m). The following year in 1968, the road course opened in time for the first Can-Am race. Over the years, the facility also hosted Formula Atlantic
, Formula 1600
, Formula 5000
, Trans-Am
, as well as NHRA-sanctioned drag racing.
Qualico Developments was the track owner in the latter years, and closed the track in 1982 to convert the land to housing. Edmonton would be without any form of professional racing until Capital City Raceway Park
opened in 1991.
David Cronenberg
's 1979 movie Fast Company
was primarily filmed at Edmonton International Speedway.
Cumberland, Edmonton
Cumberland is a residential neighbourhood in the Palisades area of north west Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.According to the 2001 federal census, substantially all residential construction in Cumberland occurred during the 1990s. Single family dwellings account for approximately nine out of ten of...
and Hudson
Hudson, Edmonton
Hudson is a newer residential neighbourhood in north west Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Before development, the site was home of Edmonton International Speedway, a drive-in theatre, and a driving range....
neighborhoods of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The facility featured a ¼ mile drag strip
Drag strip
Drag strip may refer to:*Dragstrip, track used for drag racing*Drag Strip , Transformer character who is one of the Stunticons*Videocart-9: Drag Strip, drag racing videogame released in 1976-See also:*Dover Drag Strip...
, a 2.53 miles (4.072 km) 14-turn road course
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
, and a ¼ mile short oval. At its peak, it had capacity for over 30,000 fans.
History
In the late 1940s, the dirt-surfaced Breckenridge Oval opened on the site. In 1952, the oval was shortened and paved as a 1/4 mile asphalt oval, and the facility was renamed Speedway Park. The oval had seating for 8,000.In 1967, the 1/4 mile drag strip opened, and had a full length of 4350 feet (1,326 m). The following year in 1968, the road course opened in time for the first Can-Am race. Over the years, the facility also hosted Formula Atlantic
Champ Car Atlantic Championship
The Cooper Tires presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda was a formula race car series with races throughout North America. It is often colloquially referred to as the Atlantic Championship, Champ Car Atlantics , Toyota Atlantics , or just Atlantics or Formula...
, Formula 1600
Formula Ford 1600
Formula Ford 1600 is a number of championships which cater to 1600cc, Ford Kent powered Formula Ford racing cars. These are cars which were disbanded when the UK national Formula Ford category adopted the 1800cc Zetec engines in 1993...
, Formula 5000
Formula 5000
Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula...
, Trans-Am
Trans-Am Series
The Trans-Am Series is an automobile racing series which was created in 1966 by Sports Car Club of America President John Bishop. Originally known as the Trans-American Sedan Championship it has evolved over time from its original format as a manufacturers championship for modified racing sedans...
, as well as NHRA-sanctioned drag racing.
Qualico Developments was the track owner in the latter years, and closed the track in 1982 to convert the land to housing. Edmonton would be without any form of professional racing until Capital City Raceway Park
Castrol Raceway
Castrol Raceway, formerly known as "Capital City Raceway Park", "Capital Raceway", "Labatt Raceway", and "Budweiser Motorsports Park", is a multi-track auto racing facility located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Located on land leased from the Edmonton International Airport, the clay oval was built...
opened in 1991.
David Cronenberg
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people's fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the...
's 1979 movie Fast Company
Fast Company (1979 film)
Fast Company is a 1979 film by Canadian director David Cronenberg. It was written by Phil Savath, Courtney Smith, Alan Treen and Cronenberg, and stars William Smith, John Saxon, Claudia Jennings and Nicholas Campbell...
was primarily filmed at Edmonton International Speedway.
Can-Am
- The thunderous Can-Am series raced in Edmonton from 1968-1973, where the race was known as the Klondike 200, and the primary sponsor was Molson BreweryMolsonMolson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
. - Denny HulmeDenny HulmeDenis Clive "Denny" Hulme, OBE was a New Zealand racing driver, the 1967 Formula One World Champion for the Brabham team....
won all four races from 1968 to 1971, while Mark DonohueMark DonohueMark Neary Donohue, Jr. , nicknamed "Captain Nice", was an American racecar driver known for his ability to set up his own race car as well as driving it to victories. Donohue is probably best known as the driver of the 1500+ bhp “Can-Am Killer” Porsche 917-30 and as the winner of the 1972...
won the 1972 and 1973 races driving a Porsche 917Porsche 917The Porsche 917 is a racecar that gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. Powered by the Type 912 flat-12 engine of 4.5, 4.9, or 5 litres, the 917/30 variant was capable of a 0- time of 2.3 seconds, 0– in 5.3 seconds, and a top speed of over .There are 6...
for Roger PenskeRoger PenskeRoger S. Penske is the owner of the automobile racing team Penske Racing, the Penske Corporation, and other automotive related businesses. A winning racer in the late 1950s, Penske was named 1961's Sports Car Club of America Driver of the Year by Sports Illustrated...
. - Other well-known Can-Am drivers that raced at EIS included Bruce McLarenBruce McLarenBruce Leslie McLaren , born in Auckland, New Zealand, was a race-car designer, driver, engineer and inventor....
, Jackie StewartJackie StewartSir John Young Stewart, OBE , better known as Jackie Stewart, and nicknamed The Flying Scotsman, is a Scottish former racing driver and team owner. He competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Drivers' Championships. He also competed in Can-Am...
, Peter RevsonPeter RevsonPeter Jeffrey Revson was an American race car driver who had successes in Formula One and the Indianapolis 500.-Background:Peter Revson was born in New York City, the son of Julie and Martin Revson....
, Jacky IckxJacky IckxJacques Bernard "Jacky" Ickx is a Belgian former racing driver who achieved 25 podium finishes in Formula One and six wins in the 24 hours of Le Mans.- Racing career :...
, and Danny SullivanDanny SullivanDaniel John "Danny" Sullivan III is a former racing driver from the United States. He is best known for winning the 1985 Indianapolis 500.-Before racing:...
.
Formula 5000
- The Canadian Road Racing Championship raced F5000 cars twice at EIS:
- June 22, 1969 (Winner: Eppie WietzesEppie WietzesEgbert "Eppie" Wietzes is a former racing driver from Canada.-Formula One:He participated in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 27 August 1967 in the inaugural Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport. He retired on lap 69 with wet electrics. He scored no championship points...
, Lola) - June 14, 1970 (Winner: Eppie Wietzes, McLaren)
- June 22, 1969 (Winner: Eppie Wietzes
- The Sports Car Club of AmericaSports Car Club of AmericaThe Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
(SCCA) raced F5000 cars three times at EIS:- May 24, 1970 (Winner: Ron Grable, Lola)
- August 1, 1971 (Winner: David Hobbs, McLaren)
- June 4, 1972 (Winner: David Hobbs, Lola)
- When the SCCA put full-bodies on F5000 cars and called them Can Am cars, this series raced once at EIS:
- August 16, 1981 (Winner: Geoff BrabhamGeoff BrabhamGeoff Brabham is an Australian racing driver. He is the son of three-time Formula One World Champion Jack Brabham. Brabham spent the majority of his racing career in the United States. He raced successfully in CART early in his career. In ten appearances in the Indianapolis 500, with a best result...
, VDS)
- August 16, 1981 (Winner: Geoff Brabham
Formula Atlantic
- Formula Atlantic was originally called Formula B, and as FB it raced in Edmonton three times:
- June 20, 1971 (Winner: Jacques CoutureJacques CoutureJacques Couture is a Canadian auto racer. He is known for opening North America's first racing school in Quebec. He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2000. He has been credited as the "instructor who taught the young Gilles Villeneuve how to race."-References:...
, LotusTeam LotusTeam Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
) - June 25, 1972 (Winner: Ric Forrest, MarchMarch EngineeringMarch Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,...
) - July 3, 1973 (Winner: Alan Lader)
- June 20, 1971 (Winner: Jacques Couture
- The speedway brought in the Formula Atlantic series from 1974–1977, and again in 1981:
- June 2, 1974 (Winner: Bill BrackBill BrackWilliam Brack is a former racing driver. He originally became involved in auto racing in the early 1960s, in the form of ice-racing Minis in Huntsville, Ontario...
, Lotus) - May 24, 1975 (Winner: Bertil RoosBertil RoosBertil Roos is a former racing driver from Gothenburg, Sweden. He participated in a single Formula One Grand Prix, his home race in 1974, from which he retired with transmission failure....
, March) - May 16, 1976 (Winner: Gilles VilleneuveGilles VilleneuveJoseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve , was a Canadian racing driver. An enthusiast of cars and fast driving from an early age, he started his professional career in snowmobile racing in his native province of Quebec...
, March) - July 3, 1977 (Winner: Gilles Villeneuve, March)
- August 15, 1981 (Winner: Tim Coconis, RaltRaltRALT was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the RALT name...
)
- June 2, 1974 (Winner: Bill Brack
- Other well-known Atlantic drivers that raced at EIS include Bobby RahalBobby RahalRobert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
, Keke RosbergKeke RosbergKeijo Erik Rosberg , nicknamed "Keke", is a Finnish former racing driver and winner of the Formula One World Championship. He was the first Finnish driver to compete regularly in the series. Rosberg grew up in Oulu and Iisalmi, Finland...
, Elliott Forbes-RobinsonElliott Forbes-RobinsonElliott Forbes-Robinson is a road racing racecar driver. He is known for his race wins and championships in many different series, including the American Le Mans Series , Super Vee, Trans-Am Series, CanAm, IMSA GTU, and the World Challenge. He is known in NASCAR circles as a road course ringer...
, Kevin CoganKevin CoganKevin Cogan is a former racecar driver who drove in Formula One from to . Driving a RAM Williams in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix, he failed to qualify, suffering the same result driving for Tyrrell at the 1981 US GP West...
, and Howdy HolmesHowdy HolmesHowdy S. Holmes , is a former driver in the CART Championship Car series. He began racing in the early 1970s and was based in Stockbridge, Michigan, about northeast of Chelsea....
.
Trans-Am
- The SCCA's Trans-Am series raced at EIS twice:
- June 20, 1971 (Winner: Mark DonohueMark DonohueMark Neary Donohue, Jr. , nicknamed "Captain Nice", was an American racecar driver known for his ability to set up his own race car as well as driving it to victories. Donohue is probably best known as the driver of the 1500+ bhp “Can-Am Killer” Porsche 917-30 and as the winner of the 1972...
, AMC JavelinAMC JavelinThe Javelin was a production version of one of the AMC AMX prototypes shown during the 1966 AMX project nationwide tour. Intended to rival other pony cars such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. American Motor's Javelin debuted on 22 August 1967, for the 1968 model year...
) - August 19, 1973 (Winner: John Greenwood, Chevrolet CorvetteChevrolet CorvetteThe Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
)
- June 20, 1971 (Winner: Mark Donohue