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Back
in 1955-56 when Ken Kavanagh and Bill Russell owned Merrittville Speedway,
having purchased it from founders George Cullen and John Marino, a young
fellow by the name of Bryant Irvine took to the track along with his
friend Dave Boese to try the relatively new sport of Stock Car Racing.
Bryant’s first car was
fairly conventional and a winning car, the ex Murray Stricker 1933 Ford
Coupe powered by a flathead Ford V8, was the ticket. Bryant re-lettered
the car #99 with help and sponsorship from his father-in-law C. H.
“Shorty” York at York Electro Plating, the only thing was to decide which
colour. Wife, Marilyn wanted blue, but Bryant did not like the shade
and opted for black. So off went Bryant and Dave in their respective #99
and #98 coupes to conquer Merrittville’s 1/4 mile clay.
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Well week after week,
they cut their teeth in the stock cars, all the time thinking, what to do
next. During the learning process Bryant started to wonder how to improve
his cars. The first car he built was a 1934 Chevrolet Coupe again with
the #99 painted on it, but this time painted white. This car was the
first stock car to have centre steering. My guess is that it gave the
driver more safety, but centred the driver’s weight in the car. While
achieving some success, this car in Bryant’s words, was the first car to
have an overhead valved Chevy V8. This definitely was not low budget, for
those days, and without the help from “Shorty” York it wouldn’t have been
possible. Bryant’s next season, again brought a new car, this time an all
steel body and roof, a 1937 Chevrolet Coupe. This car not only featured
the same layout of the previous car, but the engine was set back, for
weight distribution. It was a beautiful coupe with its full fenders and
white paint job, with bright red #99 on the side and a cartoon of a bee.
Bryant Irvine became
known as Bee 99, winning races against the likes of Jerry Winger, Jeno
Begolo and Murray Stricker. The main race car was still the Ford with its
Thunderbird engines vs. the Chevrolet coupes with V8 or 6 cylinder power.
Bryant Irvine learned early that the Canadian competitors lacked a source
for speed equipment, so he set out to secure engine parts, as well as
machining and boring from his Ormond Street shop in Thorold. Ted
Kesslers’ in Buffalo was probably the only true source for speed
equipment, but Bryant Irvine opened his Sontario Speed Shop to offer
availability of parts and services from California, being his specialty.
During the 1960's,
Bryant and Marilyn Irvine continued to stay interested in racing, but now
were responsible for operating York Electro Plating in Thorold. Bryant
remained involved in the sport more and more as a spectator and in the
1960's and 70's, he attended races at Watkin’s Glen, Mosport,
Indianapolis, especially where road racing was concerned.
Bryant also has an
interest in the same hobby I love, that being antique cars. He still owns
his original Camaro convertible, as well as a 1940 Chevrolet pickup that
he has tucked away in a garage. During the late 70's and early 1980's,
Bryant’s interest in local dirt track racing circled, and he became
involved on the sponsor side with Ray Stevens on Brian Stevens’ #44
modified. Ray and Brian travelled the dirt tracks of Ontario and the U.
S. with primary sponsorship from Groff Tire and York Electro Plating. C.
H. “Shorty” York had been a strong advertiser at Merrittville Speedway
during the 1950's and Bryant returned as a sponsor during the 1980's. At
this point, he had came full circle, and during the 1987 season, he had an
opportunity to purchase Merrittville Speedway solely and did. It is hard
to believe that he is celebrating his 15th year of ownership.
While Bryant leaves
the office duties to his wife Marilyn, Jim and Kathy, their two children,
he loves to spend his time working on Merrittville’s clay surface.
Questions like, “how can I keep the moisture in and the dust down? Why are
there nights when the track appears to be pumping water?” Making sure
there are no ruts or rocks to bother the competitors. Bryant will
experiment, from adding organic matter, to wood chips to gypsum. He
routinely takes soil samples to test the PH and composition of the track
all without the use of chemicals, which would hurt the environment and
irritate the drivers. Merrittville Speedway’s oval has gone through many
transformations, but its surface is under the care and direction of
Merrittville’s master care-taker, Bryant Irvine.
It’s hard to believe
that some of the improvements are all due to one person’s foresight to
improve the facilities for the spectators. The tower with it’s novel,
for the time, suites, tower for officials and scorers, and down below
track office and concessions is now 10 years old, having been unveiled for
the 40th Reunion.
The overhead lighting
was improved when Eric Tomas and Raceline telecast the Trevor Wilkens
Qualifier. The go-kart track where many a young racer, can dream of
becoming the next Pete Bicknell. The latest addition of trialing the
scoring transponders, to aid officials with scoring and line-up can only
be a plus for the sport.
So next time you are
walking around Merrittville and you spot a tanned fellow watching the
action in his soiled shirt and jeans, quietly taking in the evening,
either from turn four, or the infield, say “Thanks”.
Bryant Irvine is
carrying on the tradition of family involvement and dedication in trying
to bring fast family fun to the residents of Niagara, first started by
John Marino and George Cullen and family, to Ken Kavanagh and Bill Russell
and family, on to Stan Friesen and Kurt Uhl and family.
The next 50 years of
Merrittville Speedway’s Saturday Night Racing Tradition is in good hands.
PART 2
Update “2003 and Beyond”
Stock car racing is not only a business
but becomes a lifetime passion, that involves commitment. At the end of
2002, Bryant, Marilyn and Family had nothing left to prove and the
pressure of track ownership and balancing the business commitments of York
Electro Plating in Thorold were high. In order to own and operate a dirt
speedway, with the reputation and Saturday night tradition of Merrittville
Speedway, coupling that with the growing go-kart racing on Tuesday nights
required an immense commitment of time and money. So for only the fifth
time in its long history Merrittville Speedway was put up for sale.
During the fall/winter of 2002-2003,
there was a lot of speculation, as to what would happen and without
getting into details, the Irvine Family sold to the Bicknell/Williamson/Freisen
families, quickly to become Peter and Nancy Bicknell and Randy and Tracey
Williamson, but Bryant and Marilyn and Jim Irvine were still in the
picture.
Anyone who knows Bryant as I have, knew
that even though he had spent a lot of money improving the facilities,
including new concessions, the new tower complex for the 40th,
building a go-kart track, with new lighting, that his passion was chasing
the ever elusive solution to give the competitors a dust free, fast,
multi-grooved racing surface.
Even though the Bicknell/Williamson
families have taken Merrittville Speedway to the next level, where are the
Irvine Family members?
Since 2003, Bryant Irvine can still be
found tirelessly working on track preparation, Jim can be found working
along side Erica Bicknell, in the office and performing daily chores and
duties on the premises. Marilyn can be found working alongside Tracey
Williamson on race nights in the ticket office.
Merrittville Speedway’s success
story,today, is due to a combined effort by all of these families, to make
the facilities both for the fans and competitors, the best on the D.I.R.T.
circuit. My involvement in coming back to Merrittville where many
memories exist for me personally, resumed just after the 40th
anniversary reunion and I thank Bryant for allowing Jim Irvine, Bruce
Swartz, Ted Renshaw and myself to organize and form the “Reunion
Committee.” It’s hard to believe that we have just completed the 60th
season.
In the last 9 seasons, I have been very
fortunate to get to know and become friends with the Bicknells,
Williamsons and Irvines, as well as current committee members Terry and
Wendy Huffman, Jeno and Shirley Begolo and Mark Swartz.
Through all of the changes that we have
seen evolve in the sport and especially at Merrittville Speedway, as the
Oldest continuous running dirt track in Canada, there is one constant, for
Bryant Irvine that is his passion for track preparation. So next time you
look across the track, from dawn until dusk, and spot a gentleman doing
laps on the tractor, grooming and watering the track, along with Sarge and
Howard, it’ll be Bryant Irvine trying to give the competitors the best
racing surface possible, just wave or tip your hat and say “Thanks.”
The hours are long, the commitment is
huge, but we all do our part, because we love the sport and the tradition
of Merrittville Speedway. While Peter Bicknell is known as” Mr.Smallblock”,
Bryant Irvine is the true” Dr. of Dirt”.
“Happy 60th Birthday
Merrittville” and Thanks Peter, Nancy and Erica, and Randy, Tracey and
Bryant and Marilyn and Jim for allowing me to come along for the ride, for
the past 20 years..
Sincerely,
Rick
Kavanagh
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