Motorsport in Canada

Since the invention of the contemporary automobile, the first recorded instance of motorsport in Canada was a sixty-kilometre race dubbed as a ‘speed trial’ from the cities of Toronto to Hamilton in 1900.

During this period, smaller, unofficial clubs were formed by locals who were interested in the auto racing industry that was developing in Canada.

[1] In the post-war economy present at the time, activities of leisure came to be and people utilized their technical skills learned from the war in regard to this.

Individual vehicle ownership rose within the middle-class population, so self-repairs on one's car for the purpose of improving performance whilst saving costs became the norm, which eventually evolved to a hobby for many.

[1][2] Jim Gunn, one of the CASC's founders, played a vital role in its early development, through promoting the club and working to have it involved in the first Trans-Canada Rally.

Due to this change, members of the CASC came into conflict regarding the club's ideals, and eventually, it lost its influence and position of leadership.

From its involvement in founding the Can-Am series to continuous years of hosting professional races and the like, it was decided that Canada would become the home of the newest Formula One Grand Prix.

[6] In 2004, the American-based National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and CASCAR collaborated, in an effort to increase interest of the sport.

In 1985, after decades of protest from locals and some city councillors, the proposal for a major, more significant IndyCar race was approved, with the condition that certain noise and crowd-control restrictions were met.

They included a traffic plan, noise control, an authorization of event overseers, as well as a maximum of sixty-thousand guests who could attend.

Such as how the CASC aided in founding Canada's motorsport industry, many nationally recognized clubs relating to auto racing still exist today.