BILL DIACK

Pioneer - Oval Racing - Inducted 2008

By Brian Pratt from information from Les and Joseph Diack

Mechanics have always been a an integral part of all forms of motor sport. Their work week in and week out to prepare, and repair, the vehicles that their drivers go out and "use up" is the stuff that makes the sport happen.

Bill Diack initially worked on Joe Kafer’s Digney Speedway stock car and Bud figured, “heck you’re my brother you should be helping me out, not my brother-in-law.” And that began a decade long working relationship from about 1953 until 1964 when Bud stopped his involvement with oval track racing.

Bill, a heavy duty mechanic built up the engines and, with Bud, worked on the stock cars that Bud Diack drove, and won with. They chose a different way back in the Digney Speedway days by going with Chevrolet rather than Ford, the popular car of the day.

Their first years were with a Ford but then move was made to Chev. The initial effort was wrecked with the replacement 1935 Chev winning the 1955 100-lap championship race. The team won track championships at Digney from 1956 through 1958. In that time Bill Diack won at least one top mechanic award from the association at the season ending banquet.

They also traveled to Prince George, Edmonton and south to the US in those years doing well.

Bill and Bud put together a fast modified as racing moved to False Creek and Haney. One particular race got the team headlines as Bud held off a field of US cars at False Creek to win.

As with any racing endeavour Bill put in long hours to make it to the two racing nights a week schedule. With gas welders running quite often late into the early hours of the morning one neighbour eventually came over begging them to give him a chance to get some sleep for work.

Bill Diack has also been a lifelong member of the Royal City Rockets motorcycle club. Amazing he had the time.

Bill right