Biggest races of the year

Photo: Mike Biden

The Penticton Speedway is hosting its biggest event of the year this weekend with the Gordy Mannes Memorial weekend.

Two days of racing kick off Saturday at 7 p.m. with Hornets and the Street Stock Invitational. Sunday, also a 7 p.m. start, sees Hornets, the Street Stock Invitational and the Hit to Pass Eve of Destruction.

"When we decided to have a memorial weekend, it was an easy decision to name it the Gordy Mannes Memorial,” said Speedway owner Johnny Aantjes.

“Gordy was the most successful driver at Penticton Speedway through the 70s, 80s and 90s. As a driver, he was the guy everyone wanted to beat, he won more championships than anyone. He also was involved with building cars, helping others, and there was also a period of time that he managed the track - he has done it all. Gordy was known to work hard and play harder, a tradition that lives on at the Speedway.”

How good is the competition in the Gordy Mannes Memorial Weekend?

“You better have a good race car. Let’s put it that way,” says Dick Parker, a close friend of the late Mannes. “There are a lot of cars that come from out of town. There is some very fast cars. For spectators, it’s probably the best race of the year. That’s what Gordy liked, a good race. I’m sure he’s looking down on us smiling when that race is on.”

Parker raced Mannes hundreds of times, adding, "he was the top driver, there’s no doubt about that.”

He described the Speedway legend as a very competitive driver who didn’t lose very often.

Mannes was born in Holland, and moved to Penticton with his wife Ange from Langley in the early 1970s. The big impression Mannes made on Parker was his ability to build a race car and a motor out of parts and pieces of junk, then go out and win. He was always great with that kind of stuff.

“A lot of his motors didn’t last a long time, but they won,” says Parker.

The weekend is sponsored by Underwriters Insurance. Tickets are $20 for adults at the door.