Jim Marchant’s AMC powered Modified

01/19/2023

A great new action photo has surfaced.

Vancouver's Larry Sproule (Alan McCormick photo).

10/17/2022

Not much progress of late but we finally located the correct 9000 RPM tach to replace the damaged original one.

09/06/2022

Another step closer, side stripes.

09/05/2022

Thanks to all who stopped by yesterday and checked out the ongoing restoration. It was great to hear stories of those who watched this car race back in the day and learn more details about it and all those involved.

09/03/2022

Tomorrow is the Charlotte Rd Block party / Car show. Rain or shine we will be here. The Jim Marchant car will be on display in its unfinished state. Stop by check it out and say hi.
1409 charlotte rd noon till 9pm.

06/23/2022

This sent to us from Jim Marchants daughter, Diana Marchant.

Jim Marchant restored this 1956 Ford Victoria car for his grandson, Trevor (pictured here).

A dear family friend bought the car from Trevor to help him with his college tuition - with the plan that Trevor would buy it it back when he returned from school. As Trevor doesn’t yet drive and he now plans on staying in LA to pursue an acting career, he has advised our friend to go ahead and sell the car.

The car will be going to auction later this summer, but first it will be on display at the Peach City Beach Cruise this weekend. It’s at Rotary park near lakeside hotel in Penticton on Saturday June 25 (all day) Sunday June 26 (morning only). If you are in the area, check it out!

05/15/2022

A little Colour but a long way to go.

04/17/2022

04/15/2022

Gordon Reelie and his welding and fabrication business ( Weldco) assisted in building many local race cars including Jim Marchant’s AMC Super Modified.

Gordon Reelie represents a sub-culture of automobile racing that often goes unnoticedt: that of the car owner. Gordon Reelie was such an owner. From B.C. to California, his midget race cars were instantly recognized and admired for their preparation and presentation. In fact, one was once displayed at the Vancouver Art Gallery. His infatuation with motorsport began in the 1920s when he first heard the roar of racing engines at Vancouver’s Hastings Park while standing in the backyard of his family’s North Burnaby home. But it wasn’t until after World War II that his career took off. Gordon tried driving once, won and promptly retired. From then until his death in 1994, Reelie’s cars were always contenders for feature wins, if not season championships. He was instrumental in laying out the dimensions for both the Digney and False Creek Speedways – he patterned them exactly after Seattle’s Aurora Stadium – and he was president of the B.C. Midget Auto Racing Association (BCMRA) for several years. He raced up and down the west coast, winning as far south as the famed Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles with Hank Butcher driving. Other famous drivers like Rich Vogler took turns behind the wheel of Reelie’s cars. Palmer Crowell drove for Reelie for 20 years and racked up more than 50 Washington Midget Racing Association victories and several WMRA championships. Dennis Kitts, who wasn’t born when Reelie started racing, won him his last championship, in 1992. Over the years, his cars were powered by Ford V-8-60s, Offenhausers, VWs and whatever else would get them around the track and to the front, including – on the odd occasion – a little nitro.

04/12/2022

A blank canvas! Thanks to Albert at Still Creek Autobody for the fresh coat of white.. time to start laying out stripes.

04/12/2022

Thank you to Diana Marchant Walls for entrusting us with many of Jim’s trophies from his early days of racing. This one is from BCSCA in 1956.

04/10/2022

The Jim Marchant modified. Dennis Goldstraw (1968 BCTRA A modified points champion) at the wheel. Some sort of memorial lap? People are standing. Note the 68 grad graffiti painted on the track as well.