| |
| Edmonton International Speedway | |
| Location | Edmonton, Alberta |
|---|---|
| Active from | 1953 - 1982 |
| Major events | Can-Am, Formula Atlantic, Formula 1600, Formula 5000, Trans-Am, NHRA |
| Surface | N/A |
| Length | 2.527 mi (4.067 km) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Lap record | N/A (driver, team, year, class) |
Edmonton International Speedway, also known as Speedway Park, was a Template:Convert/acre multi-track auto racing facility located in the present Cumberland and Hudson neighborhoods[1] of Edmonton, Alberta. The facility featured a ¼ mile dragstrip, a 2.527 mi (4.067 km) 14-turn road course, 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 ft (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.
Major Series[]
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 Brewery.
- Denny Hulme won all four races from 1968 to 1971, while Mark Donohue won the 1972 and 1973 races driving a Porsche 917 for Roger Penske.
- Other well-known Can-Am drivers that raced at EIS included Bruce McLaren, Jackie Stewart, Peter Revson, Jacky Ickx, and Danny Sullivan.
Formula 5000[]
- The Canadian Road Racing Championship raced F5000 cars twice at EIS:
- The Sports Car Club of America (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 Brabham, VDS)
Gilles Villeneuve and Keke Rosberg at Edmonton International Speedway Formula Atlantic race, 1977.
Formula Atlantic[]
- Formula Atlantic was originally called Formula B, and as FB it raced in Edmonton three times:
- The speedway brought in the Formula Atlantic series from 1974–1977, and again in 1981:
- June 2, 1974 (Winner: Bill Brack, Lotus)
- May 24, 1975 (Winner: Bertil Roos, March)
- May 16, 1976 (Winner: Gilles Villeneuve, March)
- July 3, 1977 (Winner: Gilles Villeneuve, March)
- August 15, 1981 (Winner: Tim Coconis, Ralt)
- Other well-known Atlantic drivers that raced at EIS include Bobby Rahal, Keke Rosberg, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Kevin Cogan, and Howdy Holmes.
Trans-Am[]
- The SCCA's Trans-Am series raced at EIS twice:
- June 20, 1971 (Winner: Mark Donohue, AMC Javelin)
- August 19, 1973 (Winner: John Greenwood, Chevrolet Corvette)
References[]
- ↑ "Hudson Neighborhood Structure Plan". September 2007. http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/Hudson_NSP_Consolidation.pdf. Retrieved August 28, 2010.