Emo Speedway is a , high-banked, dirt oval racetrack located in Emo, Ontario, in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located right inside the town on Colonization Road. Behind the racetrack is the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Society Fair Grounds. The track is located 30 km west of Fort Frances, and 52 km east of Rainy River along the border of Northern Minnesota, US.
The speedway was built in 1954 and hosted its season opener on July 30 of the same year. The original name for the track was Emo Speedway (According to the Fort Frances Times), although the name Emo Raceway(s) was also used.
Currently, Emo Speedway runs three divisions (classes) of cars. They include WISSOTA Modifieds, WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, and Street Stocks. The season runs from mid-May to mid-September.
The Borderland Racing Association (BRA) is the Promoting Body of Emo Speedway. The BRA is a non-profit organization that operates under volunteer support and monetary sponsorship.
The beginning
The idea of building a racetrack in the Rainy River District happened in 1949 after Lyle Busch and Bob Oak went to Florida to watch the stock car races there. When they brought the idea of a track back to the area, they were unable to find suitable land. In 1950, Asselin went to Winnipeg to discuss the building of a track with the owner of Brooklyn Speedway. After long conversations, the owner of the Winnipeg track gave Asselin his technical information. In May 1954, Sid Asselin and Bob Oak had meetings to organize a construction of the track with the District Fair Board. It was decided in those meetings that it was to be built inside the already built horse track which is approximately 1/2 mile long. With help from the Emo Chamber of Commerce, the track became a reality.
The track was built as a fifth of a mile oval dirt oval. The decision for using clay instead of paved asphalt was due to the softer compound. This allowed the track to be more advantageous for drivers and spectators. There would be a less chance of serious accidents and the loose dirt would allow more skidding which let the cars permit more bumping and nudging while fighting for position. The track was not banked, but the idea of raising the banking in the future was brought up.
The original organizing body for the Emo Speedway/Raceway was the Borderland Stock Car Racing Company (BSCRC) which was created by Sid Asselin and Bob Oak.
History
1950s
Stock Car Racing opened up at the Emo Speedway on Friday July 30, 1954. Thirteen competitors showed up for the first night and included drivers such as #8 Sid Asselin, #60 Don Marsh, #100 Maurice Frenette, #5 Lyle Busch, Bill Benniger, #37 Raoul Cayer, Tom Hardy and others. Training had started the Sunday before and enough cars were ready by the 30th. A lighting system was built (The original blueprints have recently been discovered), and training took place under the lights during the week of the 23rd.
An estimated 2 500 spectators showed up to the first event (standing room only).
The races were featured for the first time at the Emo Fall Fair on August 14, 1954.
In 1955, the BSCRC was merged with the "International Driver's Club" (IDC).
The Emo Speedway continued racing until 1959, when diminishing crowds caused the IDC to run out of funds to continue.
It was $1.00 for Adults (Approx. $8 today) and .50 Cents for Kids (Approx. $4 today) for grandstand entrance.
1960s
The 1960s represented a golden age in racing. With the help of Glen Jackson and George Oltsher and others, the interest and support of racing in the community of Emo and surrounding area was on a large high during this period. The track had its reopening race in the summer of 1965.
Famous drivers such as #33 George Oltsher, Mel Jack, #1 Larry Jack, #38 Mike Andrusco, #25 Richard Visser, #7 Gary Reid, Gordie Lancaster, and Larry Long raced during this time.
1970s
The decade started out very well, still running off the great seasons of the 1960s. However, strife between the involved organizing bodies at Emo Raceway became a forefront in politics. People from one group wanted the rules and regulations a certain way, and a struggle between who should have control, organizing etc., occurred.
This led to a shutdown of the racetrack at the end of 1975. With the exception of a couple races during the Emo Fall Fair in the mid 70s, the track lay dormant from 1977 to 1982.
Drivers from this period were #6 Gary Wilson, #9 Ken Anderson and others.