Tony Morris of Port Moody is a pioneer in the greater Vancouver sports car and road racing community.

Tony was born in Scotland (he won’t say when, but is it known to be before World War Two), he grew up and received his education there ending up with a B.Sc. from Glasgow University.

 Young Tony had family connections with the Dunlop Tire and Rubber Company so he naturally went to work. At the time Dunlop were heavily involved in all kinds of racing right up to Formula One. Being a motor sport enthusiast from a very young age, Tony soon became involved in Dunlop’s racing activities and before long he was managing the racing program as well as doing some driving with his own cars.

In 1965, searching for new horizons, Tony and his new bride Gaye decided to come to Canada, Vancouver, and through his Dunlop connections, a job with Dunlop. The Vancouver position led to a more senior management role in Calgary for two years. Longing for the life style of the West Coast, Tony was soon back and opened the legendary racer’s tire outlet, Circuit Tire in Port Moody.

TONY MORRIS - Inducted 2006

Pioneer - Sports Car and Road Racing

Tony Morris in Heavy Chevy  (Morris Torlay collection)

By Tom Johnston, 2006

Tony Morris, 1967

Expecting to continue his racing career while in Canada, Tony brought from England a very potent Downton prepared Mini Cooper race car.

Discovering the local road racing circuit Westwood (“I couldn’t believe how dangerous it was”), Tony and his fast Mini showed the locals how it was done.

Minis like Tony’s are mighty fast but they couldn’t get that first overall in

the sedan races. So Tony bought Laurie Craig’s V8 Camaro and got the first position most of the time. Never satisfied, he and his trusty crew constructed a Trans-Am Camaro that they called the Heavy Chevy.

While all this was going on, Morris as he is known to his friends, provided a valuable service to the Sports Car Club of BC in driver training, running Westwood and other roles.

By 1987, a not so young anymore Tony linked up with his pal Frank Allers to run a pair of Camaros in the Player’s/GM Motorsport series with the backing of Canadian Tire. Allers won the western series every year but one and the old guy was right behind every step of the way (he won three races).

Now in 2006 he is not finished as he still provides driver training and is the FIA track safety inspector for Western Canada.