Toronto, Ontario
Oakwood Stadium Track Facts
Back in 1951, two young men, Joe Cappy and Norm Smith, began promoting Stock Car racing in the city of Toronto. At the time, there was no other stock car racing venue within the city limits.
The track was known as Oakwood Stadium and it was located at Oakwood Avenue and St. Clair Avenue. These are the same two men that purchased and built the legendary ¼ mile oval we all knew and loved, Pinecrest Speedway.
The majority of the drivers and owners could get there much easier than driving all the way up to Speedway Park, North of Toronto, so they started racing at Oakwood Stadium instead. This racing facility was fan friendly as anybody could get there on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). On occasion, the promoters Joe and Norm were turning people away at the gate as the stands were full and there was no more room to watch the races safely.
The biggest problem facing these two young promoters were the noise by-law, Oakwood Stadium backed directly onto a subdivision. The city was giving them fines of $25.00 a night but they were seating thousands of race fans at $1.00 per adult and $0.25 per child. The $25.00 fine was the highest the city could enforce in those days for the noise by-law infraction.
The attendance and the monetary gain per race event did not go unnoticed. Rumour has it that the head honchos down at the CNE wanted to close Oakwood Stadium so as they could open a new race facility of their own down at the CNE Stadium in 1952. Others said no, Oakwood was closed strictly because of the noise by-laws. Either way, there was a restraining order set to keep Joe and Norm from promoting races at Oakwood Stadium or anywhere in Toronto. If they ignored this restraining order, they would be imprisoned so Joe and Norm closed down a little earlier than expected in 1951, sold the property on Oakwood and went to find a new race facility outside the city limits leading to the legendary ¼ mile Pinecrest Speedway in 1952. The CNE Stadium also conveniently opened in 1952.
While 1951 was not great year for racing due to the weather. It was very wet but as the advertisements said, Oakwood Stadium would race rain or shine therefore most of the 1951 season was run in the rain or just after a heavy rain leaving mud to race on. Joe and Norm were trying to get the track paved and the paving company came and paved the corners first. Then the skies opened up and they couldn’t get back to do the front and back chutes so the drivers were racing on mud on the straights, then racing into a corner on asphalt and trying to turn, yes it was interesting to say the least. The Toronto Telegram had a photographer in turn one each week taking pictures. This made it even more interesting because now the drivers were momentarily blinded from the flash as well. It was great entertainment for the fans.
Many drivers raced at Oakwood Stadium including: John McGiffen, Ted Hogan, Jack Frazier, Ben Lalomia, Jim Hallahan, Ed Tardiff, Len Hurley, Norm Morton, Dave Boon, Wallie Branston, and many more.
Oakwood Stadium Racing Action 1951
Oakwood Stadium Program Cover 1951.
Courtesy of Jack Frazier
Oakwood Stadium 1951.
Courtesy of Dave Boon
Oakwood Stadium 1951.
Courtesy of George Ryland
Jack Frazier and Gord Bugie at Oakwood Stadium in 1951.
Courtesy of Jack Frazier
Ted Hogan at Oakwood Stadium in 1951.
Courtesy of James Conrad
Oakwood Stadium 1951.
Courtesy of Ernest Fisher
Dave Boon and his Mechanic at rear is Fred Temush.
Courtesy of Dave Boon
Oakwood Stadium 1951.
Courtesy of George Ryland
Tom Forbes #5 at Oakwood Stadium 1951.
Courtesy of George Ryland
