Ray got involved with motorcycles and cars in 1945. He raced his motor-cycle at TT races, in field and hill climb events in South Vancouver with Trev Deeley and the gang. He put on motorbike stunts during Rodeos at Callister Park.

Ray's first car was a white Model A Ford roadster with a ‘32 grille, and 1940 Ford 16" disc wheels and hydraulic brakes. The next one was a ‘36 Ford coupe on which he chopped the top.

In the late 1940s, Ray hung around Fraser and Kingsway, as did most hot rod and custom car enthusiasts of the time. His car then was a 1940 Mercury convertible which he customized by re-moving the running boards and extend-ing the doors and quarter panels to match the lower fender line.

Ray put in many hours doing the custom bodywork on another well known car from that era, Bob Phinney’s prize wining 1940 Mercury convertible. All of his custom bodywork was metal

RAY McBRIDE - Inducted 2003

Pioneer - Hot Rod, Custom Car and Drag Racing

Ray McBride left, Larry McBride in car  (GVMPS collection)

McBride left, with driver Frank Kratzer

by Larry Braine, 2003

and lead; there was no Bondo in those days.

Ray’s first body shop was at 18th. Avenue and Fraser Street. The next one was on Hastings Street.

In 1949, Ray was the first president of the British Columbia Roadster Racing Association (BCRRA) which raced at Digney Speedway in Burnaby. These roadsters were generally 1932 to 1934 Ford hot rods, stripped down for racing. At the same time, he owned a midget racer, driven by his brother Larry, who also raced a roadster. The brothers continued to campaign midget racers in BC and Washington until 1959.

In the mid 1950s, Ray got involved with airplanes and owned a Cessna Amphibian and a Mooney twin-engine.

Ray continued rebuilding older cars until the last one, a Mustang, in 1997.

Ray passed away in early 2004.