this website is intended to be a continuation of the original Keystone / Bison site of 2004
expanded in scope to include early Winnipeg, MB area dragsters, hot rods and customs.
Modern era vehicles of interest to the enthusiast will not be neglected,
however, the focus will be on earlier examples
Please note:
This website is image intensive and will be frequently updated
we suggest you refresh your browser upon viewing to ensure the latest version
Also, if you took photographs at the track
we would be interested in seeing them
and don't be shy, they need not be of professional quality
by all means, please contact us
thank you in advance
and, there you have it
29 miles east of Winnipeg
Keystone / Bison Dragways
Dave Archer aerial photo looking south towards Trans Canada Hwy
looking north
in the tower lane we have Jim Hoglund leaving in his '60 Corvette
Takin' care of business as the flag starter, Freddie Turner, of BTO rock & roll fame
but who belonged to the fine Chevelle ragtop in the spectator lane?
couldn't have been that many SS Chevelles around at that time
Don Chapman and Jim Hoglund
Donnie Chapman up
no, really
Chapman and Hoglund Fiat pitside
Chapman and Hoglund Fiat pitside again
taking a page out of the Surfers handbook with '55 Chebby push car
early Chapman and Hoglund in sparse pit area
Dougie Curtis with inline six cylinder 4 speed combo Anglia
Winnipeg Roadsters car club's Willys coupe
well done Pasqaule', we knew you could do it
Bob Buccini
well deserved 2019 inductee into the Manitoba Motorsports Hall of Fame
Marquis Car Club
Cam McCallum and friends
in light of what this website is all about and the untimely passing of Brian "Softy" Buchan
we offer you this piece of history
originally built by Ken Murray and Dennis Neelin, known to his pals as Leroy Montana,
this was the genesis of the Thrushmobile gasser
the original engine was quickly pulled and sold to a local service station for their jeep
many variations followed but this is where it all started.
Sneaky Pete, right here in River City
set the track record, no less
Connie Kalitta caught wind of that and made an appearance
got rained out, I believe
proving that people actually read this website
Morley Last from Steinbach Mb sent in these images of his fine G/S 1970 Mach I
car ran a 351 Cleveland 4 speed combination and took home it's share of class trophies
nicely done and we thank you, Morley
that's how it's done, folks
anybody else?
early Tom Hoover, perhaps with a Rod Stuckey chassis
still don't know who this is or what province Winapeg was in
Softy would approve of the tow car, though
Early makings of a funny car
Jim Malstead turning wrenches, If we recall
Weight Transfer about to do battle with Ken MacKenzie's '55 gasser
remember dry hops?
We had our share of high winding small blocks
2 perfect examples right here
Len Penner's '55 Mauve Stove above
and Stan Neuman's '56 Little Green Bag
Warren Schettler, decidedly of blue oval persuasion
Hemi Cuda with a storied past
and,again
Hemi Daytona
Minnesota's Richard Charbonneau's Fairlane putting down a footprint
ever wonder how Strange Engineering came by it's name?
Now you know
Another fine example of a nito injected funny car from the Chicago area
The group put on quite an enjoyable show
Bill Schifsky fuel dragster from Minneapolis
smokin'
Bill Schifsky and associate making good use of a Windsor Park parking lot
photos courtesy of Al Chorley
this one's for McCallum
Scott Wilson SOHC Ford fuel car
Studebaker Hawk had a 409" W engine between the fenders? yes? no?
guardrails? we don't need no stinking guardrails
with apologies to Treasure of the Sierra Madre
no words here, great image
up close and personal with the Colour Machine
Roadsters Car Club dragster
Ernie Willms standing behind, on the left
Jed Ladin launching factory 427 '69 Camaro
Hot Sauce push car
DuWayne Engness from Fargo
also owner of Taco Shop restaurant hence the name
many of the previous images courtesy of Dale Olnick
again, my thanks, Dale
-Greg
C/MP designation tells us there is more than a stock 283 under the hood of this '59 Chevy
Ken MacKenzie getting angry
A fine example of Imperial Customs paintwork out of Tulsa
ala Minnesotan John Hagen
John Hagen had excellent taste
altered from out Alberta way, we believe
the time honored (and time wasting) dragster push start & turnaround
fondly remembered by some of us
all leading up to something like this
but before they could do that, they had to do this
smoke 'em if you got 'em
the original Chi-town Hustler
Austin Coil, hisself, in house and turning the wrenches
the not so original Jungle Jim
JJ was so popular he contracted others to run in his colours to make all his bookings
Sadly, never did see Jungle Pam nor even a reasonable facsimilie
Marc Sussman was the designated driver here for JJ
still no Pam but we do have Bill Balicky's well optioned wagon in the background
Frank Ogelsby showin' them both how it's done
More quality from Jim Swedberg
Lorne Cameron's take on a car with a storied past @ Keystone
and yes, Virginia, it is still around
the late Dennis Neelin (standing), aka Leroy Montana, who partnered with Ken Murray on the original car
kept up the tradition with help from folks like Warren Schettler
photo was taken @ Gimli
car is still here
yet another rendition
photo courtesy of Glenn Dickson
bantam altereds were a popular item
Bob Forzley, the man to see for chassis work in this town
I do hope I spelt his name right, he does swing a mean hammer
don't ask me how I know this
Gopher State Timing Association
no, you are not seeing double, there really are 2 Chrysler hemis in that car
another Glenn Dickson photo
might fit better in the big door at the end
more images from Glenn Dickson
Gary Beck boiling the hides
Len Penner now with "Blue Lightning" Camaro
Warren Johnson launching
we still don't know where Winnepeg is
regardless, local competitors could hold their own on a national level
still can
Bob Bueckert's fresh Duster pro stock car
get your groceries delivered in a hurry
'63 Plymouth about to chase what appears to be City Radiator's '59 Chevy stocker
your basic 427" Fairlane
Minnesota's Richard Charbonneau paid a visit
some things never change
hurry up and wait
yes,the lettering says Keystone
but that is Joe Amato's top fuel car @ Brainerd
a little Altona landing strip action
and some Gimli pit imagery for good measure
Scott Murray guiding the family dragster
and, then some
street driven '69 Firebird TA
"67 Chevelle definitely involved with the program
not all that nostalgic 20 year old pic from Brainerd
catchy name, though
it'll come to you
Rick Domanski's Chevelle not only launches just right
but it appears Rick would have the after race libations covered, as well
Al Chorley / Brad Kendal's '33 Ford coupe?
we believe this is the coupe in question under Al Chorley ownership
but, we could be wrong
flathead powered here
this would be the Double Four's shop in south St. Vital
Gary Rozmus' roadster pickup in back, the shiny 427 Chevrolet engine on the far left
found it's way between the '33 coupe's framerails
Brad Kendal with the coupe now under big block Chevrolet power
and, what might that be on the spectator side?
a poor scan of local artist, Don Berthman, aka Donut's caricature
anybody have further history on the Chorley / Kendal car?
it is our understanding the coupe made it's way out west
we have had contact with Brad's nephew, Keith, and yes the coupe did end up in BC
more details to follow
We believe this to be Dave King's dragster
just an educated guess, could be wrong
before we had the rug pulled out from under us we had asked for info on this '60 Corvette
Jim Hoglund tells us the car belonged to Dave King before he built the dragster
King Texaco rings a bell
in another long lost e-mail we were told it has since been fully rebuilt,
finished in yellow and was again attending local events
a local construction company comes to mind
hmmm... one wonders
it should come as no surprise former drag racers returned to street rods, note plate
another case in point below
Winnipeg's answer to "the Surfers"
Timers Car Club dragster
Gord Forman, Bob Sterner and Ron Vincent having fun
Timers alumni Gord Forman and Bob Sterner gathering items after a bit of agricultural racing
"We were having the time of our lives and we didn't know it!" - Bob Sterner
Bob Sterner's '49 Ford coupe
Gord Forman's 38 (?) Pontiac sedan
want anything done right, gotta do it yourself
contact us
Bill Balicky's Monarch
Bill Balicky Part Two
Rods & Customs
John Dubois and Towne Pontiac