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Denny, Don and Larry
When tracing the racing
history at both Merrittville Speedway and Speedway Park it is hard not
to recognize the competitive spirit of these three brothers during the
1960's and 1970's in not just one division but all three divisions of
racing at Merrittville Speedway, but how did they all end up in dirt
track racing.
During the late 50's
early 1960 season, Denny and Don were racing at the now defunct CNE
grounds in Toronto and then when Speedway Park was built in 1961, these
Hamilton natives built or converted their cars to race on the new 1/3
mile oval in Hamilton on Friday nights, because the cost of racing on
asphalt was becoming too expensive even in 1960, according to Don Deagle.
The pair then migrated
to race not only on Friday nights at Speedway Park, but also at
Merrittville Speedway on Saturday nights.
Denny was the most
prevalent driver who competed with his #88 stock car, but soon moved in
to very unique full fendered sportsman. Denny would stand out as his
1955 Ford Victoria #7 owned by Toronto’s Stan Miskin, winning his share
of sportsman events. All the while, Don and brother Larry, would
compete successfully in the new late model division. Don drove a #77
white Buick, while Larry drove a #23 Ski-doo Ford. All three brothers
were successful in their respective divisions.
During the mid 60's,
Ken Kavanagh, Bill Russell, John Marino and George Cullen, the owners of
both Merrittville Speedway & Speedway Park adopted a totally new
division featuring foreign cars. The mini-stock division was born and
the Deagle brothers followed suit. At this time, Denny now driving Stan
Miskin’s #7 Ford Fairlane in the modified super stock division continued
his winning ways, while brother Don now drove his own #77 1950 Chevrolet
Aerocoupe, now in the modified superstock division. Larry Deagle moved
on from the late model division and built a wickedly fast silver
Volkswagen bug #77 for this new mini-stock division. Not only did the
mini stock division flourish, but brother Denny built a #78 Gulliver
Motors mini-Cooper. It was quite a sight to see brothers Denny and
Larry go head to head for the feature wins, racing as deep as four wide
in the corners in a field of over 30 cars, against the likes of Stan
Pochupec, Bob O’Hara, Larry Benjamins and Harry Vanderzanden.
It was super
competitive and super fun to watch these miniature race cars speed
around Merrittville’s oval. It was common to see Larry and Denny race
each other and then have Denny climb right back into his #7 modified and
race against his brother Don and his #77 modified for another feature
race.
Don would build a super
fast #77 Acadian superstock and Denny would move over to a Chevy 11
superstock modified #22, owned by Bob Hill of St. Catharines. These two
modified pilots would find success in no matter what they drove, and
would always finish in the lead pack.
During the early
1970's, Don would move over to Tom Mallory’s #20 and Denny continued at
the wheel of the #22 modified. Both retired from racing by the mid
1970's.
The Deagle Brothers
were unique to the stock car scene at Merrittville and Speedway Park,
since the three brothers were the only ones to compete regularly in all
three divisions, all in one night.
Tonight the
Merrittville Speedway Reunion Committee would like to recognize the
careers and contribution that Denny, Don and Larry Deagle made to dirt
track racing, and helping to make the modified superstock, late model
and mini-stocks grow in popularity with the fans and keep racing fun.
We are pleased to have
Don and Denny here with us tonight, however we will honour brother Larry
posthumously.
Welcome to the Wall of
Fame!
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