In 1951, Bunk went to Seattle to Aurora Speedway, and then to Digney Speedway in Burnaby. The racing bug took hold. So, in 1957, a local, eastern Fraser Valley group who called them-selves the Piston Pilots built a dirt track, where Bunk raced a 1938 Dodge Coupe.

Bunk MacKay was instrumental in establishing the original Kent Raceway track near Agassiz and was an impor-tant part of forming the Kent Raceways Society. During the early days of the dirt track, watering the track was a full time job in itself. Bunk was always ready to drive the water truck and then grade the track.

In 1970, Bunk built a 1957 Pontiac Safari station wagon with a 283 engine. It was all fun in those days. Old cars, including station wagons, were easy to find, and one could go racing for little cost. Bunk says that his number 40 was called the Old Warrior as he bought it from a native friend who suggested the name.

The next year, he repowered it with a 270 GMC and 4-speed truck transmission as V8s were not allowed. Bunk held the dirt track record in 1974

BUNK MacKAY - Inducted 2003

Pioneer - Oval Racing

Bunk MacKay at Kent Raceway, 1970  (Bunk MacKay collection)

by Pat Schepanowsky, 2003

Bunk McKay

with a time of 18.0 seconds. Then, in 1978, after the track was paved, Bunk set the track record again with a time of 15.4 seconds.

In 1972, even though V8s were allowed, his truck running gear was outlawed, so he went to a l956 Chev with 265 ci and raced in low gear. After that 1957, Chev Bunk ran various engines sized from 302 to 350 ci

In 1988, a 100 lap main event was run in the rain, and Bunk had lapped the entire field two or three times. Late in the race he decided to take a quick pit stop and lost the race due to a technicality. He exited the pits through the entrance instead of the exit and was disqualified.

Bunk always enjoyed racing for the fun of it and never worried about whether he would win or not.

Bunk traveled to other tracks, racing at Langley, Penticton and Lillooet. He was always willing to help his fellow racers who needed parts to keep going on race day. Bunk’s name can be found on the Flag Cup (1978, 1987) and the Freeman Award (1971, 1973, 1976, and 1989). Both of these are service awards given to the person who has donated the most of himself, his time and support to the track. Bunk never won the High Points Awards, but he was always a crowd pleaser to all who attended the races.

Bunk MacKay was Track Manager at Kent Raceways for 20 years. A true pioneer from the eastern Fraser Valley.