The Canadian Automobile Sports Clubs – Ontario Region (CASC-OR) sanctions road racing in Ontario, and holds a series of race events from April through October at tracks like CTMP, Shannonville, and Calabogie. The wide variety of race groups includes open-wheel cars like F1200 and F1600 as well as closed-wheel cars like GT Sprints. To compete in sanctioned events, a CASC Race License is a requirement.
But what exactly is CASC and how did it come to regulate racing in Ontario?
Before World War 2, there was little in the way of organized auto racing in Ontario. There were stock car races held on a board track at Oakwood Stadium in Toronto and some dirt track racing as well as motorcycle races held on Wasaga Beach and in the Bridal Path area off Bayview Avenue in North York.
Auto Racing as we now know it did not start until 1950, when races were held at Edenvale Airport (near Stayner, Ontario). Races were organized by the early clubs without a sanctioning body or standardized rules. Sports cars were driven to the track, stripped of some ancillary equipment, and marked with a car number. Times certainly have changed.
In order to move toward standardized sporting regulations, three independent car clubs got together in Kingston on June 17,1951 to found the Canadian Auto Sport Committee. There were many aims and objectives detailed at this first meeting, but the primary reason was to organize competitions in Ontario and eventually, throughout Canada. The name was changed to the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs in 1958, when regions across the country were developed. To get permits for international races, CASC was affiliated with the Royal Automobile Club of Great Britain until 1967, when we were recognized by the FIA as the governing body of motorsport in Canada and became a full member of the FIA (Federation International De L’Automobile).
The sport grew continuously into the 1980’s, with national amateur championships as well as a healthy national pro racing scene. In 1991, however, the administration of the sport underwent a complete re-organization as a result of the 1987 Labatt Grand Prix of Canada boycott by FOCA. National motorsport is now sanctioned by ASN Canada FIA. The five regions of CASC (renamed in all regions besides Ontario) continue to administer regional championships. There has been no amateur national championship since 1991.
Today, CASC is an association of over 30 member clubs within Ontario. CASC sanctions events, licenses competitors, sets safety standards and handles administrative matters. Associate clubs organize amateur road races at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Calabogie Motorsports Park and Shannonville Motorsports Park, as well as rallies, ice-races, time trials and auto-crossing. In addition, the majority of the timers, corner marshals and safety personnel at events such as the Honda Indy Toronto are members of CASC clubs.
To learn more about road racing, ice racing and the variety of motorsports disciplines under the CASC, check out their website at https://www.casc.on.ca/road-racing-about
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