'He will turn the last lap': Langford race car driver reflects on 68 years at Western Speedway
It’s the end of an era.
This weekend, Westshore Motorsports Park, formerly known as Western Speedway, will hold its final event in its current location. The hope is to find a new location, but so far, that hasn’t happened.
In 1954, Jim Steen – or "Gentleman" Jim Steen, as he’s known – was supposed to drive in the first race ever at Western Speedway.
“The second practice I went to, that’s when I had my accident,” said Steen.
His car flipped in a corner, ejecting him. He spent the next eight months in the hospital.
“I had a broken back, broken hip, pelvis, broken ribs,” said the driver.
Eleven months later, he was back on the track.
“Once I get inside the car, I feel great,” said Steen.
Over the past 68 years, Gentleman Jim has raced in every season at Western Speedway. Three years ago, he was about to retire.
“When I had heard they sold the race track to this development company, I said, ‘Well hell, I’m not going to quit now. I want to be out there for the last race,’” said Steen.
"Gentleman" Jim Steen in his younger years.
The land that the track sits on was sold. It is being redeveloped under the name "Langford Heights" and will include a business park and 50 homes.
“It’s just truly heartbreaking that we’re not going to have this place,” said Daryl Crocker, general manager of Westshore Motorsports Park.
This weekend will see the last race ever on the iconic track.
“We’re going to make it a two-day event,” said Crocker. “We’re going to include everyone who wants to be involved … Basically everyone who races out here is going to get to be involved in the last weekend.”
That includes 84-year-old Gentleman Jim Steen, who will be racing his number 34 car for the last time.
“We’re all just going to try to soak it in and give this place the sendoff it deserves,” said Crocker.
On Saturday night, after the last race is over, Jim will get a sendoff as well.
“He will turn the last lap here, which I think is very fitting,” said the general manager.
“(Crocker) said to me, 'After the last race is over for the night, I want you and me to go out and do the final lap around the track,'” said Steen. “I get to go out on the final lap. That’s quite good, I like that.”
Jim Steen holds up two pictures, one of himself and the other of his cousin Billy Foster.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.