SAME GREAT FLAVOUR...       SAME GREAT TASTE




the original Keystone - Bison site can still be accessed by clicking on the above pit pass
where you're certain to find pictures of cars whose drivers carried one of these below





Shockingly, we received news of the passing of Brian Hansell , a well respected
and storied early competitor who successfully kept his hand in the game in later years as well

Brian's good nature and concern for his friends and associates were legendary

He will be missed


In what is fast becoming a most disturbing trend
we have received more news of the passing of yet another early Keystone alumnus


Sadly, Dennis Neelin , who partnered with Ken Murray on Keystone's most memorable Willys has passed on.
In recent years, he had found and restored the Willys, racing it at nostalgia meets
across Canada and the USA to the delight of young and old alike.
Dennis (l) with friend, and also early Keystone legend, Warren Schettler
finding some shade in the staging lanes @ Gimli a few years ago.
Dennis maintained older friendships and made new ones readily...
always willing to help an old friend or mentor a new one.
He will be sorely missed

Godspeed, Leroy Montana, Godspeed


Identifying the players in some of these older pictures can be an adventure
especially visiting fuel cars
our best guess here was Tom Hoover by the fence
Dave Dewars, through Ron Johnson, chimed in by IDing the (likely) Bill Schifsky driven, St. Paul MN based
Auto Repair Service sponsored car of Ted Johnson on the left

thank you kindly, gentlemen


this would appear to be the Roadsters Car Club dragster, but it is not
We have it on good authority this is actually a Buccini Brothers (Fred & Bob) mutual effort circa 1966
in the photo, Fred Buccini is steering the car into the pits while being pushed by Kenny Bell's '57 Chev wagon
Bob Buccini is not in the picture here, nor do we know who that is beside the cars
We do know Fred Buccini owned the chassis and Bob Buccini the engine
Bob was also the designated driver
thanks, Fred


Sadly, the local community lost Bill Wakeman , an early competitor at Keystone, in the spring of 2009

Godspeed, Bomba



the Hurst Hemi Under Glass was one of many historically significant cars to pay a visit
Dale Olnick graciously offered the use of some of his keepsakes and personal photographs
this webmaster is in his debt and cannot thank him enough

nothing like an autographed handout from a legend


unless it's one of your own snapshots


the office


the motivation


a fish in water
go figure


big doin's 29 miles east of town attracted contestants from far and wide


Scott Wilson, from down East, latched onto a Ford of Canada deal
SOHC fuel car was one of the results


jumping over a dragster could have embarrassing results when not perfected
don't ask me how I know this


Tom Hoover with his Minneapolis version of the new Ford powerplant
It's amazing when one thinks of it, but most all of the original SOHC heavy hitters,
save for Prudhomme's dragster, seem to have visited Winnipeg at some point


and now, for something completely different

try these on for size




Winnipeg's own Don Berthman , now a professional photographer, used his
considerable artistic talents in a variety of ways not the least of which being air brushed T-shirts
it was not uncommon to find Don, aka "Donut", slaving away at local events
above we have some of his caricatures of local cars and below Donut still hard at it
go ahead and click on him, you won't disturb him


to find more of Mr. Berthman's auto related work while at his site
click on Showcase, then scroll down to click on Slicks Autografix and finally click Nostalgic Hot Rod Folk Art

thanks, Don


of particular interest to this webmaster is Ken Murray's '40 Willys "Thrushmobile"
Ken was recently inducted into the NHRA Division 5 Hall of Fame
an honour well earned ... congratulations, Murph

of course, winning awards is nothing new ...

...Ken has been doing it for years

we would be quite remiss if we did not mention another local award winner

Bill Balicky, himself, was recently inducted into the Manitoba Motorsports Hall of Fame
congratulations and well deserved
that's Bill with the rolled up sleeves and executive tan standing between his '51 Monarch and dragster
inset, taken from a Dragstrip reunion photo by Al Swanke


Again sadly, June 2009 saw the passing of another well respected Keystone competitor

Al Delaine will be missed
photos courtesy of Rick and Helen Delaine

Rest easy, Big Al


Jim Offord was bemoaning the fact there were no bike pictures on the site
well Jim, we can't put up what we don't have




Jim remedied the situation nicely with 2 Richard Wood snaps of his own Kawasaki triple
the upper photo shows a pretty much stock bike taken in 1973
Jim proudly tells us he won that day running 12:56 at 106MPH
the lower photo shows a somewhat modified version the next year
with the bike now running to the tune of 11:70s at 110MPH

well done, Mr. Offord... and, thank you


actually, we lied
we did have 2 other bike related items
and now seems the appropriate time to put 'em up


Dale Olnick had sent this blurred image

so, if you were on a bike @ Keystone prior to May of 1966, that could be you

and then there's this mishap caught by Richard Wood

we'll leave the caption to you


noted local artist, Roger Lusty, was known to frequent the track with camera in hand
Roger was kind enough to share some of his imagery

could this be storied local talent, George Brazier ?


Len Penner dry hopping his fine mod prod


John Hagen's Pro Stock Barracuda with some interesting background
anyone care to elaborate on the "littleoldschevy" ?


a well timed shot of John Dubois about to put daylight under the front tires
look for more on Mr. Dubois coming soon

honest


pretty little injected funnycar likely from Midwest circuit


dual quad 3 window street coupe with choice '56 lurking on spectator side


another fine example of a Bantam altered
this one has a different roll cage, at first glance, than one previously featured
any ideas as to ownership ?


of note here are the redlines and whatever that is wrapped around the rear leaf spring
nice local mod prod is exiting the pits from first turn off road aka hot car staging
Johnny K's Frustration Falcon strikes a pose in background


this website has been blessed with fantastic contributions from it's viewership
one such individual is amateur photographer / enthusiast Glenn Dickson who not only keeps great records
but tells us prints are available should there be an interest
contact this webmaster for further info


look familiar ?


I wonder how many mental images this is triggering ?
ain't that neat when that happens ?


that "other" Bantam... this time with paint to go with the fall colours


we have much more of Glenn's handiwork, but these seem to fit in at the moment


is this soon enough ?

Dale Olnick captured John Dubois exchanging staging lane dry hops with the Kerr & Bodnarchuk Hemi 'cuda
makes for a great image, I'd say

You'll find much more on John's automotive endeavours here


Gordie Bonin boiling the hides on the borrowed Hawaiian
it wouldn't surprise us if that wasn't "Hop Sing" himself, owner Roland Leong, giving chase


so, if that's 240 Gordy in the other pic... who's steering this Vega ?
there were a few renditions of the Pacemaker / Automatic Radio car
this one has slightly different markings than the previously shown Mike Lycar version
it also has the roll bar through the rear window and I can't recall if that makes it
the future car of local Gord Forman, or not
Gord Forman, hisself, tells us this is the second version and not the one he ran


again, we thank all contributors

... to be continued

comments may be directed here

red67@mts.net


Click on the pit passes to access the original Keystone Bison site




or the Firebird for the John Dubois page




hosted by


thank you, Raymond