Stampede Speedway Calgary (1982-1987)

Stampede Speedway Calgary operated in the 1980s and in the blink of an eye was gone. A 3/8 of a mile dirt oval, it was located well away from any neighbourhoods at the time and while that’s still the case, the city is rapidly approaching.

The people behind it picked this spot so noise from racing wouldn’t be a bother to neighbours…they had none! Back then the track was surrounded by nothing but fields and pastures, with Calgary proper some distance away.

Today, there’s development nearby and it’s good bet this land will see the same eventually. There’s a big industrial park just to the west and it’s ever growing. The oracle predicts warehouses and things like that will be seen here in the years to come.

Almost four decades after it closed, there’s still remains left behind to reminded us of what was. Given Calgary’s explosive growth and insatiable appetite for vacant land, that’s downright incredible.

The banked oval, while grassed over, is still recognizable. Giant tires line the perimeter of the track, along with some concrete walls and these acted as crash barriers. There’s a section of sidewalk and other concrete bits scattered about. Berms and embankments speak of something once here. It’s all easy to picture.

There’s household junk here and there too. Empty lots like this often double as illicit late night dumping grounds and it’s safe to say that old couch is not a left over from racing days.

The track operated briefly from 1982 to 1987 and only used sporadically for the last couple years at that.

Stampede Speedway might be one of the more obscure race tracks in the Calgary area, but it’s understandable given it existed for such a short period. The better known tracks were around longer and had a bigger following. These include Race City (paved oval, road course and drag strip), Circle 8 Speedway (paved oval) and Calgary International Raceway – Shepard/Shephard Speedway/Dragway (drag strip).

This one flew under the radar, so it’s likely that only a few folks remember it. Old timers and hard core racing historians, but not the general public.

Interestingly, Circle 8 used the name Stampede Speedway for a short time before 1970, but that ended when they changed hands. Calgary is the Stampede City and lots of businesses or attractions have incorporated Stampede into their name.

Stampede Speedway is the only race track in Calgary left where the land is still untouched and with obvious remains. Any traces of the the others have been obliterated by development. Or mostly so, but if one looks hard, there’s the occasional little hint of what was for some. It’s never much though.

Race City, incidentally, was the largest of Calgary’s race tracks, the longest in operation (1980s-2011) and the last in the immediate Calgary area. Stampede Speedway, in comparison, seemed quite tiny and insignificant.

The infrastructure at Stampede Speedway was minimal and outside the grandstands and track itself, there was little else on the property. Various aerial photos show a couple small buildings here perhaps, but they could be trailers. Incidentally, some of those same photos show the track under construction in 1982.

One online source mentions the grandstands burned down sometimes after closing. Another goes on to say that someone expressed intent to reopen the track in the 1990s, but who knows if it was more talk. Operating a small race track is sure fire way to go broke and be miserable, so few take the plunge.

In spite of searching high and low, we’ve only ever seen one photo of the track when it use. That very image appears in our Then and Now and is unattributed. At this point the photographer is unknown and the image comes thanks to a admin friend at CanadianRacer.com.

We lined up our Now shot using the same aerial photos spoken of earlier. It’s a rough guess, but still pretty close to the same position as the original photographer. We broke out a protractor triangle from school, dusted it off, and did our math teacher proud. Hopefully…finally we put that schooling to use!

In that shot (also undated) we’re witnessing the end of a race and it was a close one too. A second car is only a length behind. The photo caption reads: “Roger Bonneville takes the checkered flag.”

Note there’s a fair number of people in the stands, but we’re not sure if a good crowd was the norm or an exception. That the track didn’t last long suggests attendance was low overall, but other reasons may have been in play too. It’s not an easy game to play and the endless list of closed race tracks across the city/province/country is testament.

Many of the Then photos used in this series come from readers and if you have something similar to this one, send it our way. Images must be yours or come with the okay of who ever you’re sharing from, or be in the public domain. We can help you along. Everyone involved gets credit and we’ll sing their praises.

Photos can show a street scene, something like this or darn near anything. Reach out and we’ll fill you in. We’ll visit the site and shoot a similar photo from the same angle and of the same composition. Then we’ll babble on about it here and share some Dollar Store history.

Mallett Motorcycle Raceway used to operate directly west of Stampede Speedway but it’s not clear if the two were in any way connected. That they both opened and closed about the same time, suggests it’s a possibility. That raceway had a motocross track and a flat oval.

We walked about that site and saw nothing much of note to report on.

While Stampede Speedway property is empty, it’s hardly quiet. Din from the Calgary Ring Road, nearby Peigan Trail and activity from Foothills Industrial, all blend together into a pronounced background hum.

If you listen a bit more closely, however, you can also hear the faint roar of engines and the cheers of a crowd. It’s easy to imagine it’s race day once again, even if the current view belies the fact. The racers are gone and it’s sobering to think it all happened a generation or two ago. Yet, it seems like yesterday in some regards.

We have visited the site several times and it’s little changed from then to now. Next time that may not be the case.

Know more (new tab): Former Race Tracks in Calgary.

They’re saying…

“Thank you so much for your fantastic articles and photos…I could spend 24/7 here with you…especially love the before and after articles. Keep up the great work guys!!” Byron Robb.

Random fun…
Robsart Saskatchewan 61 Years Apart.
Ghosts of the CPR’s Southern Mainline.
Calgary Transit #1046 Fantrip.

Something to say and no one to say it to? Go here: Contact Us!

Date of adventure: 1980s (original) + December 2015 and July 2024 (us).
Location: Calgary, Alberta.
Article references and thanks: City of Calgary Records & aerial photos, CanadianRacer.com and Medicine Hat & District Genealogical Society (old phone books).

Stampede Speedway Calgary in the 1980s and 2024.

The track was in business for only a few short years.

It’s a sometimes dumping ground for household waste.

The bleachers were located here.

The site has yet to be redeveloped but the city is fast approaching.

Old tires mark the outline of the track.

It’s all grassed over, but still recognizable.

There must be hundreds of them here.

They’re heavy machinery tires.

A broad view of an obscure and short-lived track.

From 2015…

A former walkway between the bleachers.

Concrete barriers were used to protect the pit area.

Looking down a straightaway.

“S P I Mar 16.”