Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on surfaces composed of packed dirt or clay. It can be traced back to the early days of automotive racing, when drivers would race on whatever surfaces they could find, including roads, fields and even beaches.
The first recorded dirt track race in Canada took place in Hamilton, Ontario in 1904. The Hamilton Street Railway Company sponsored a race between two cars, with the winner receiving a $500 prize. This event is considered the birth of Canadian dirt track racing.
Over the next few years, races were held sporadically across the country on various makeshift tracks. In 1910, the first organized dirt track circuit was established in Quebec. This circuit included stops in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Hamilton.
Dirt track racing really took off in the 1920s, as more and more tracks were built across the country. By the 1930s, there were over 100 dirt track races being held annually in Canada.
The sport continued to grow in popularity through the 1940s and 1950s. Many of the country's top drivers got their start racing on dirt tracks.
Today, dirt track racing is still popular in Canada. There are dozens of tracks across the country, and races are held almost every weekend from spring to fall.
The Most Popular Types of Dirt Track Racing
The most popular type of dirt track racing in Canada is sprint car racing. Sprint cars are open-wheel cars that have high power-to-weight ratios and can reach speeds of up to 160 km/h (100 mph). They are typically driven by small-displacement engines that produce around 600 horsepower.
Other popular types of dirt track racing include late model, modified, and stock car racing. Late model cars are similar to sprint cars but have slightly different regulations.
Modified cars are purpose-built race cars that can be significantly modified from their street legal counterparts. Stock cars are production-based vehicles that have been modified for racing purposes.
If you're interested in experiencing the thrill of dirt track racing, there are several tracks across Canada that offer regular races throughout the summer months. So get out there and check it out!