As close as can be determined all these years later, Stock Car racing in the Ottawa area began in 1949, on a flat track cut out of a farmer’s field near the hamlet of Carsonby, approximately 30 miles south of the capital. Public interest then was light however, so this track was abandoned after only one season. A second attempt to bring this increasingly popular sport to eastern Ontario was undertaken a year or two later, in another field just west of the village of Bell’s Corners. It was also a dirt track, constructed this time with banked corners, and operated as Meadow Park Speedway. But it too did not garner sufficient support to stay in operation.
It became obvious that for Stock Car racing to be truly accepted by, fans, drivers, and sponsors, a more central, easy-to-get-to location , with large-capacity bleachers, floodlights, a PA system, and convenient public parking was required.
By 1956, there were more than 40 local cars and drivers registered with the Lansdowne Park Stock Car Racing Club, and local businesses, mostly from the local automotive trade, eagerly sought to sponsor a car, so that their name would gain the prominent exposure offered at Lansdowne’s weekly races, every Wednesday evening.
For three more
summers. Lansdowne Speedway continued to be one of Eastern Ontario’s
top Stock car racing venues.. And, as the popularity of stock car
racing increased, additional races were scheduled for Fridays and/or
Saturdays, drawing competitors from as far away as Montreal, and
from upper New York State as well. Their mounts were mostly well-used
1930s coupes and coaches whose next owner would be a local wrecker.
But the entertainment value provided by the drivers in their rather
simple cars was undeniable. And, the local stock-car promotion business
was lucrative
This growing
enterprise faced one major problem, however. Lansdowne Park was,
and still is, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods whose residents
eventually became irritated by the noisy activities each race night
from May through to the end of September. Public pressure was mounting
to end the races at this location. In addition, the Rough Riders
and the CCEA were developing plans for the construction of south-side
bleachers, and for the replacement of the ageing grandstand, with
what was to become the Ottawa Civic Centre. A race track for cars
would no longer be accommodated, despite the regular, weekly income
generated for the CCEA by track revenues.
Lansdowne Speedway hosted its last evening of racing on August 17th, 1960.
Mr Bisson then undertook the construction a new, state-of-the-art racetrack, on Hwy 7, near the town of Stittsville, west of Ottawa. Back in a rural area again, but with the Capital area’s interest in stock car racing now firmly established, Capital City Speedway opened for business, in 1961, where the Ottawa Valley’s stock car tradition continues to this day. It continues to operate as the Ottodrome International Speedway, which now also includes a drag-strip, in addition to the familiar oval.
The Ottawa Civic Centre was eventually completed in 1967, with Lansdowne Park continuing as the home of the Rough Riders until 1995. For several years, the stadium sat vacant most of the time, until the CFL’s new Ottawa Renegades appeared .
Unfortunately, few people remember, that for six years, this site was also
one of Ontario’s most popular, and prosperous, stock-car race tracks,
known as Lansdowne Speedway!
 1956 Driver Listing |
|
Points
Champions
|
||
| 1955 | Gerry Weatherdon | "A" Class |
| 1956 | Keith James | "A" Class |
| 1957 | Keith James | "A" Class |
| 1957 | Ivor Williams | "B" Class |
| 1958 | Buck Holliday | "A" Class |
| 1958 | Ron Wild | "B" Class |
| 1959 | Keith James | "A" Class |
| 1959 | John Derby | "B" Class |
| 1960 | George Bowers | "A" Class |
| 1960 | Gerry Weatherdon | "B" Class |
| 1960 | None named | Jalopy |
Photo gallery at the Lansdowne Speedway track database entry.