Dedicated to the preservation of the history of Southern Ontario Short Track competition, Yesterday’s Speedways is a labour of love for Rick Sharples and Ron Moulds.
Both men are long-serving veterans of the stock car racing scene in the province, Sharples as an Official with the Can-Am Midgets touring series and Moulds as a mechanic for such notable drivers as Doug Warnes and Tom Cuzzilla, both Senior and Junior. Moulds continues to spin wrenches for the third generation Cuzzilla racer, Alex.
A part of the Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo since its inception, Yesterday’s Speedway will again have a large display of photographs, historic memorabilia and vintage race cars at the sixth edition of the Motorama show, running March 13, 14 & 15, 2020 in Toronto’s International Centre.
Moving into Hall 1B as part of the Inside Track Racing Zone presented by Stoneridge Specialty Insurance, the Yesterday’s Speedways presented by OMRS – Five-Zero Racing display will not only showcase a history of the Hobby (now Canadian Vintage Modifieds) Cars through photographs and automotive examples, but will also highlight the life and career of Tom Cuzzilla Sr. who passed away on January15, 2020.
“Tommy Jr. and Alex will be at the show for the entire weekend,” said Sharpless. “And the rest of the family will be in and out. I think that being able to reminisce with old friends and fans at the show will give them some comfort.”
One of the true legends of early Ontario stock car racing, over his career in Super Modifieds, B-Modifieds, Diamond (Late Model) and TQ Midget cars, Cuzzilla recorded a total of 121 feature race victories and garnered four Canadian track championships. His opposition in those events came from such fellow legends as Don Biederman, Earl Ross and Howie Scannell.
Cuzzilla’s grandson Alex will carry the family’s traditional number 50 into battle on this year’s Ontario Modified Racing Series tour. The car of the 2019 OMRS Rookie of the Year will bear the OMRS-Five-Zero Racing logo and young Alex will run this year’s campaign as a tribute to his grandfather.
As part of the 2020 Yesterday’s Speedways display, Sharples stated there will be over 100 previously unseen photographs from the earliest days of Ontario stock car racing on display along with a number of vintage presentation trophies and related memorabilia from the world of the Hobby Stocks. The Gary Morton / Dave McKnight Sprint Car will be on the show floor and Rodney Rutherford will be using the Motorama Show platform to unveil his new No. 24 Hudson Canadian Vintage Modified mount.
ABOUT YESTERDAY’S SPEEDWAYS: Begun in 2012 following the success of Sharples’ book, ‘Remember When-The Early Years of Stock Car Racing in Southern Ontario’, Yesterday’s Speedways has grown in popularity with a well-visited website and numerous appearances at local short track and automotive gatherings. Their biggest support comes from the fans who continue to offer stories, old photographs and classic memorabilia. Dedicated to preserving the history of Ontario racing, Sharples encourages anyone to call him should a collection become available, so that, rather than dispose of it, the history can be shared among fellow vintage racing fans. Details can be found on the website, www.yesterdaysspeedways.com.
