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Digney Speedway
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark693
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- MacPherson Avenue
- Irmin Street
- Associated Dates
- 1948
- Heritage Value
- Andy Digney built the speedway in South Burnaby in 1948. He was approached by the B.C. Midget Auto Racing Association, who were looking for a good location to race the smaller, racing cars, popular at the time. Digney owned property in the vicinity of present-day Metrotown that was centrally located and easily accessible via the interurban railway. Motorcycles were also raced in the early days of the track. In 1949, when the popularity of midget racing declined, Digney started racing roadsters. However, he struggled to find local drivers, and it was expensive to bring in drivers from elsewhere. In 1951 Digney found a winner: jalopy racing. Local men would buy 1930s cars and strip them down, remove the glass, and weld the doors shut. By early 1952 over forty cars were showing up for jalopy races. By the early 1950s the Speedway was well established, with coverage in the sports pages and on radio. The track closed down in 1958 when Andy retired.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Alta Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Clinton-Glenwood Area
Images
George Derby Centre
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark705
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Cumberland Street
- Associated Dates
- 1947
- Heritage Value
- The George Derby Centre was opened in 1947 as a rehabilitation Centre for young disabled veterans returning from the war. The centre was named after George Cleveland Derby, a World War I veteran who was injured in the Battle of Vimy Ridge and later went on to become a District Administrator in the Department of Solders’ Civil Re-establishment, the forerunner of the Department of Veterans Affairs. His work took him to wartime England where he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1943 for patriotic and philanthropic work.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Cariboo-Armstrong Area
- Street Address
- 7550 Cumberland Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Images
