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July 17, 2008

Legal Street Racing Circa 1975

Editor-in-Chief

This was posted recently by FlyByNight over at OntairoStreetCar.com.

1975 on a section of old highway between Osoyoos and Keremeos BC. A bunch of guys got together and made arrangements with local authorities to close it off a few times that summer for drag racing. Word got around and it was pretty well attended. Cars from the southern interior of BC, and a few Okanagan County, Washington cars ran there. No timing equipment at first, but a good time was had by all. I did relief flag starting duties, but mostly took photos. I did run my 4 spd W31 there for the one time it was open in 1976. It shut down after it was determined that the insurance that they had wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. The local RCMP constable fully supported this as well. You’ll see his police car in the background of a couple of the photos. (454 Biscayne ) Of course there was an ambulance and tow truck there too.

That green Road Runner looks tough! More pics after the jump!

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Posted at 10:01 am in 1975, street racing

Comments

Fay
Feb 25, 2009 at 9:50 am

Wow ! What a surprise ! The 69 Z28 Camero was my car !
It was only this pale blue for one season and then Black with gold stripes. Most of the racers were from Osoyoos, Oliver, Oroville,WA,
but some as far away as Vancouver, for Sunday afternoon racing only.
The reason we were “allowed” to race here was the cops were sick of us racing on the hwy every weekend ~ however it only lasted a couple of years, and someone complained, so that shut it down
The model T street rod ( in the 6th picture) belongs to Lawrence Usher, who still has it and lives in Osoyoos.

Dean
Sep 22, 2008 at 11:33 pm

I don’t believe this! I was at one of these races as a ten year old spectator!!!` This is on Barcelo Road in Cawston, just outside Keremeos. This road joins the highway about 150 yards behind the cars. As I remember, the GTO wasn’t all that quick, and my grandmother’s ‘70 Swinger 340 (driven by one of her sons)kicked ass on most of these cars, including the 396 Chevelle. Thanks so much to whoever posted these pics. It really takes me back!
Dean (in Keremeos)

brady bushby
Jul 18, 2008 at 5:20 pm

so i guess its true- we did have hippies in canada….motor head hippies…lol

Smith
Jul 18, 2008 at 4:12 pm

How funny that, 40 years ago they were doing the same thing we do now… But iligal way. lol…

Ed
Jul 18, 2008 at 4:09 pm

I wish we could do that this days… He have faster cars, but NO WHERE TO RACE!

Jim
Jul 18, 2008 at 3:22 am

I am partial to the Ford powered digger.

Mon
Jul 18, 2008 at 3:14 am

Are those pictures really of the ’70’s? Then why wasn’t the flagman wearing flare pants?…lol. Nice nostalgic pics!!!

Jas
Jul 18, 2008 at 2:38 am

only in canada baby,damn thats so close to my city too

RICO Laws
Jul 18, 2008 at 1:27 am

u dont ask permission to street race.
nice pics tho

elcamino-dude
Jul 18, 2008 at 1:24 am

thats so sweet, i love the pic of the 70 and 71 chevelle lining up, and espeically that 65-ish el camino

Cody
Jul 18, 2008 at 12:52 am

looks like what we do now, but illegally. oh and the hair cuts are different

Steve
Jul 18, 2008 at 12:32 am

sweet mullets. i think you had to have one to race in those days.

Jeff
Jul 18, 2008 at 12:22 am

Awesome pictures and great history!! I like the picture of that red 65 chevelle!! Since i have 4 of them lol

Nav
Jul 18, 2008 at 12:00 am

It looks like these races took place just beside the McCurdy Ranch in Cawston on Upper Bench Road (Barcello) There is actually a ‘cow underpass’ where these guys were racing. Now the Ironman Canada Triathlon runs past this area. This is great stuff.

alex
Jul 17, 2008 at 11:48 pm

how times have changed, and how we still race like this..haha

MoparRob07
Jul 17, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Great pics and history!

Oafman
Jul 17, 2008 at 3:02 pm

I love seeing vintage racing pics. If you go to the site there are even more nice cars. I especially love the el camino and the green GTO. That year fo the GTO is one of my favorites, those stacked head lights are cool. My cousin had one in burgandy, at least he did until he fell asleep at the wheel late one night and rolled it into a ditch and took out a few trees. (he pulled through but the car sadly had to be sent to the junk yard.

danielle
Jul 17, 2008 at 2:45 pm

Thats awesome! Ive driven that highway plenty of times, but never knew the history of it until now! thanks for the story!

MAFFEW
Jul 17, 2008 at 2:39 pm

yeah, cuz ‘bags were all the rage back in ‘75……….

Josh
Jul 17, 2008 at 2:03 pm

Talk about 4×4 stances.

MAFFEW
Jul 17, 2008 at 12:40 pm

holy hell, those are some wicked pics. that green road runner in the first pic looks like it would beat you up for your milk money!

Tony
Jul 17, 2008 at 11:56 am

Wonderful photos. And how good is that T-bucket. Great!