Arleigh Pilkey's career began in 1918 aboard a Special concocted from Dodge, Maxwell and Earl-Cooper Indianapolis car parts. “In those days”, Arleigh recalls, “we were just kids and used to drive like hell. There were dirt track races at fairs and each fall at Seattle, Spokane and Idaho, and Hastings Park dirt track in Vancouver”. After three years of skidding around dust bowls for meagre winnings, Arleigh abandoned the sport with his wife’s whole-hearted support.

In 1948, the lure of a bright new MGTC called Arleigh back. Almost indirectly as a result of Arleigh’s search for people of similar interest, the Sports Car Club of British Columbia was founded in 1949, and Arleigh was one of the charter members of the club. The club’s first race, held on an airport circuit in Abbotsford, drew seven cars and no spectators. Pilkey was in the thick of it as the sport grew and flourished in the area.

Arleigh’s North Vancouver garage was paneled in photographs, trophies, dash plaques, cups and the assorted bric-a-brac given to race winners from time

ARLEIGH PILKEY - Inducted 2003

Pioneer - Sports Car and Road Racing

Pilkey Electron Special, 1960  (SCCBC Archives)

 

Arleigh Pilkey

Excerpts from articles by Fred Hyde, Tom Constabaris, The Province Newspaper, edited by Tom Johnston, 2004

immemorial. One could see photos and trophies from Abbotsford, Westwood, Ellensburg, Deer Park races at Spokane, Kent, Shelton, Portland, the Annual Rose Festival and Seafair. Hillclimb victories were duly recorded with a batch of further kudos.

On October 17, 1963, an article appeared in the Victoria Daily Colonist:

For him is a good life. He moves freely wherever he wants to go and his hawk-like face-lined with wrinkles right up to the thinning grey hair on top of his head-is deeply browned by sun and wind

He doesn’t believe he will die at the wheel “I have sort of a safety valve that won’t let me drive beyond where I'm happy”.

He isn’t certain why he races, except “I just love getting out there on the track with some good competition. I like cars all around me”.

“You know, no one should ever feel sorry for a guy who falls down a moun-tain or dies parachuting or in a race car. Those guys are doing what they want. They know they’re taking risks and that's what they enjoy”

Pilkey built and owned a number of racing cars including an MG based special that was originally intended to compete at the Pikes Peak hill climb

On May 3, 1964 Arleigh’s number 5 raced its last race at Westwood when it was driven by future Canadian driving champion, Bob MacLean. Arleigh was there, and he was honoured with a plaque and the position of Honourary Course Marshall.

Arleigh Pilkey was truly a pioneer in motorsport and we are pleased to honour him.