Namao Airport (Edmonton)

The provincial championship drag race ran on the main runway of the Namao RCAF base on August 28, 1960. The Capital City Hot Rod Association put it on, with Air Force Police helping with the crowd. Thousands came to watch 150 cars, and Vic Kozak took top eliminator, three trophies and $150 in bonds with his 125 mph dragster. Highways Minister Gordon Taylor handed out the trophies. The association raced at the base on Labor Day in 1961 and 1962, and at the 1962 race more than 3,000 fans watched 85 entries, including cars from Vancouver, Spokane and Saskatchewan. Keith Woods of Calgary ran 172 mph in 1963. The 1964 race moved to Dominion Day and drew over 5,000. Joe Blaylock of Spokane had the meet’s top speed at 155.17 mph, and Edmonton’s Ross Chevelier took top eliminator with 10.56 seconds at 152 mph. In 1965 the race went back to Labor Day and used dual-lane electronic timers for the first time. Fifteen thousand people watched Phil Broderick take top eliminator in the Regals car club dragster. Another race was scheduled for Thanksgiving Day that year.