Larry lived near Fraser and Kingsway during the late 1940s. His interest in cars was influenced by the many early hot rodders and custom car enthusiasts who hung out at the corner and the Aristocratic Restaurant (the “Crat”). Larry's first car was a 1936 Ford he bought in 1950, and his second was a customized 1940 Ford coupe which he bought in 1951.

On January 24, 1952, Larry, along with several of his friends, attended, at 546 Kingsway, the first formative meeting of what was to become British Columbia Custom Car Association (BCCCA). After becoming a member, Larry bought a 1941 Chev Custom Coupe and began to customize it. One of its features was a modified GMC 270 engine (which was unique at the time). In 1953, Larry entered this car in the first Pacific International Motorama at Kerrisdale Arena. He also drag raced it in 1954 and 1955 at Abbotsford and Bellingham.

In 1957 Larry raced a 1954 Chev at Abbotsford Airport. In the same period, he raced the Sasquatch dragster at Abbotsford with partners Jim Cain and George Duncan. In 1958 and 1959 he raced his 1956 Chev Bel Air at Bayview, Washington.

LARRY BRAINE - Inducted 2002

Pioneer - Hot Rod, Custom Car and Drag Racing

1941 Chevy-GMC and Larry

Larry Braine, 1959

By Mitzi Braine, 2002

Larry was active in BCCCA though the 1950s and 1960s. He served on several committees, including the Clutch Chatter, club art, and the exec-utive. He served as President in 1965 and contributed to the opening of the first Mission Raceway Park and was awarded Member of the Year. Larry's wife, Mitzi, was a member of the BCCCA Ladies Auxiliary, serving a term as President and working in the

time slip booth and trophy presentations at Mission Raceway.

During his drag racing career, Larry raced at strips in British Columbia and Washington. In 1964, he was NHRA Division Leader in Class
L/Stock with his 1964 Corvair Monza. Larry's brother, John, joined him in building a 1955 Pontiac 283, and in 1966 they held several E/Gas class wins at Mission.

Larry is a lifetime member of BCCCA and a member of the Grand National Racing Association. He re-mains active in the sport by serving on committees of four BCCCA reunions, the British Columbia Hot Rod Assoc-iation (BCHRA) 40th reunion, as well as detailing, tuning and occasion-ally drag racing his late model collector cars - a 1965 Corvair and 1987 Buick Turbo.

 

Chevy Custom Coupe  (Larry Braine collection)