Marcel LaFrance (August 12, 1940 – February 19, 2022) was a Canadian dirt modified racing driver. His racing career spanned two countries and 38 years, winning 268 feature events and claiming five track titles.[2]
| Marcel LaFrance | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1940 St. Albert, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | February 19, 2022 (aged 81)[1] |
| Retired | 1999 |
| Modified racing career | |
| Debut season | 1962 |
| Car number | 15 |
| Championships | 5 |
| Wins | 268 |
Racing career
editMarcel LaFrance began racing at the Casselman Raceway, ON in 1962, but left the sport when that racetrack closed a year later. He resumed racing in 1967, but still had a frustrating career, not winning any feature over his first 17 years driving.[3]
After the first win, LaFrance was routinely victorious at race venues on either side of the St. Lawrence River, including, Black Rock Speedway NY, Can-Am Speedway NY, Capital City Speedway ON, Frogtown Speedway NY, and Watertown Speedway NY. He won the 1980, 1982, and 1983 Brockville Speedway ON track titles, and claimed the 1981 Cornwall Motor Speedway ON and 1986 Autodrome Eldeweiss ON track championships[1][2][4][5]
Marcel LaFrance was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2001.[1][2][6]
References
edit- ^ a b c "French-Canadian Racer Marcel Lafrance, 81". Speed Sport. February 21, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c O'Donnell, John (May 31, 2001). "Longtime Canadian racer honored by Hall of Fame". Watertown Daily Times. p. 19. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via NNY360 Archives.
- ^ "Stock Car Race Feature Frustrating to LaFrance". Post-Standard. August 7, 1978. p. 33. Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "LaFrance wins memorial race". Post-Standard. July 2, 1979. p. 42. Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "LaFrance snaps McCreadie's streak". Watertown Daily Times. June 30, 1980. p. 17. Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via NNY360 Archives.
- ^ Boggie, Tom (April 6, 2001). "Coville to enter Dirt Hall of Fame next month". The Daily Gazette. p. D7. Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via Google Books.