Dundalk, Ontario
Dundalk Speedway Track Facts
Dundalk Speedway was a 1/4 mile dirt oval on the south side of Victoria Street, just west of McAuley Street. This racing facility was operational only a few short years from 1952 through 1954.
A Little History about Dundalk Speedway
Back in 1946, the old Dundalk fair grounds on the south side of Victoria Street West were sold, including all the buildings on the 8.5 acre property.
In 1951, Wilfred Galbraith, the owner of the local hardware store, a young entrepeneur decided to build a stock car track. After the property was cleared of all the old buildings, Wilfred had the 1/4 mile dirt oval harrowed by a team of horses and then scraped down smooth and level with a road grader.
Many bales of hay were placed around the oval track as a safety barrier.
The first stock car races on Wilfred Galbraith’s were conducted on the evening of July 16th, 1952. There were cars and drivers from Owen Sound, Orangeville, Tera, Wiarton and Alliston. On this first night of racing, Wilfred had a spectator crowd of over 900 race fans which was unheard of in the area.
There were no grandstands. The spectators sat on the car or truck roofs or car trailers which were only a few, (most of the racers flat towed their race cars and a few locals drove their race cars to the track).
The following week, the stock car races were back at Dundalk Speedway, this time with Bill How as the starter, Jack MsKenzie as the announcer and Jack Weir as the Handicapper.
Ted Rich, a local driver that often raced Elmer Langdon’s car #999 on occasion would roll the car on its side, just to get the crowd fired up.
On May 30th, 1952 the there were no races in Dundalk as the racers were going to a race in Owen Sound. The Dundalk drivers brought home the top four positions in prize money and Awards. Back in the day, Dundalk was known for its local racers such as; Elmer Langdon, Ted Rich, Glen Martyn, Stan Chapman And Bert Duncan to name a few. They were tough to beat.
Courtesy of Doris Langdon
Dundalk Speedway Photos
Waiting their turn to race at Dundalk Speedway 1952.
Courtesy of Doris Langdon
Ted Rich rolls Elmer Langdons Car #999 at the Dundalk Track back in 1952.
Courtesy of Doris Langdon
