In the 1950s, Larry rode a Harley with his friend Ron Hackett. He also owned a 1932 Ford roadster which was probably the first modified street automobile which we now would call a hot rod. Larry hung out with other hot rodders at Kingsway and Fraser where the Aristocrat restaurant was located.

When Digney Speedway in Burnaby started encouraging the local street racers to get organized, Larry was there. He ran a track roadster in 1951 and won the class. He also ran a midget car at various tracks including one in Penticton. But he was really known for his Ford coupe stock car with the number 8 on it, which affectionately became known as the 8 Ball. Larry was stock car champion at Digney Speedway in 1952 and 1954 and also won the year end 100-lap championship race in 1952 and 1953.

At the end of the 1955 season, sitting

LARRY McBRIDE - Inducted 2002

Pioneer - Oval Racing

by Brian Pratt, 2004

Larry McBride at Digney Speedway, 1953 (Brian Pratt collection)

Larry McBride

out much of it and not scoring many points at Digney Speedway, Larry was asked to go to Edmonton with the 8 Ball and try his

luck at the second annual Gold Cup race. Larry qualified third, along with fellow Digney Speedway drivers Mel Keen and Don Bennett, and was running second at lap 55 when he lost a wheel and was forced out of the race.

Larry never raced again but his short time behind the wheel of a race car no doubt inspired many to want to drive as hard as he did, and also be as successful.