The Concrete Bankings of Woodbridge

by Michael Barry

In the early 1970’s Woodbridge Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, had its own outdoor velodrome. A 254 meter concrete oval, with 45 degree bankings large enough for a car, the track was built beside a park frequented by the Italian community, many of whom were cycling enthusiasts. They would sit in the grandstands from June to October cheering on the riders. Racing was weekly through the warmer seasons and some of the best in the world, including World Champion sprint champions Hugh Porter and Robert Van Lacker,  were invited to the bigger meets. Top American racers, Jack Simes and John Vande Velde came north for the races. For those events, the stands were packed, drawing a crowd of over 3500, made up mostly of first generation European immigrants. In Woodbridge, local racers hoped it would be their springboard to a higher level. For Jocelyn Lovell, Canada’s top track cyclist, who was a regular at the track, it was a way to build his skills and fitness for the international stage. It was where 1982 World Pro Sprint Champion, Gord Singleton, rode his first track race, the Ontario Junior Sprint Championship.

Cycling in Ontario, and through much of North America,  was a sport that was rooted in immigrant communities. The cycling club system was built around nationalities. Mostly Europeans, who grew up watching bike races, they were fervent and knowledgeable cyclists. There was Italia CC, Britannia CC, Berolina CC, etc. Clubs would organize races, rides, and social events. There were road, cross and track races every weekend from the moment the snow melted in the spring until it fell again in the late autumn. At the time, Toronto was smaller and less chaotic and, without Sunday shopping, the streets were easier to close for bike racing. With a vision to grow cycling in Canada, an Australian, an Italian Canadian, and two Germans got together to build a track large enough to hold international competitions. Jim Miele, later known for starting a prominent Canadian bicycle company, was the force behind funding and building the track. My mother remembers Ziggy Koch and Marilyn Freeman, working late nights at the track, and hundreds of hours, to build it and then maintain it. For them, passionate cyclists, it was a project of love for the sport and a hope that they could help it grow again. Bike racing’s heydays, when arenas around Canada were filled to the rafters were over, but in the 70’s an emergent scene was again developing.

An indoor velodrome did already exist in Delhi Ontario, a small town in southern Ontario populated by a small Belgian community of tobacco farmers. The track was small enough to fit into a hockey arena and steep enough to scare even an experienced cyclist.The racing drew international cyclists and was a thrill to watch but due to the length, was unable to host Olympic distance events. The Woodbridge track would allow those events to be held in Ontario.

A young Peter Junek, who is now a renowned track builder, having designed dozens around the world, raced on Woodbridge soon after emigrating to Canada from Prague after the Russians invaded in 1968. When the track opened in Woodbridge, he was the only Canadian Professional cyclist at the time. Money for racers was tight and he had another full time job to pay the bills. Always inspired to grow the sport, he built a small board track in Fonthill Ontario in the early 90’s. From there, he honed his knowledge, and now builds some of the best tracks in the world.

Local Toronto racer, Marc Polsinelli, recalls racing with the top elites who were much older than him, when he was 14 years old. Against some of the best in the world, and certainly the best in Canada, he sat nervously on the start line waiting for the pistol to fire. He immediately attacked, forging a gap. The crowd of Italian Canadians rose to their feet, chanting “Marco, Marco…” As the race wore on he fatigued and was caught by the peloton and was bounced and pushed around among the elites.

Like the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, the track was a place for young riders to watch and learn from the best, testing their own abilities and seeing what was possible. But unlike the MNCC, which is a multiuse facility,  it was unsustainable.

Despite the small passionate communities of cyclists around North American, velodromes are hard to maintain. Their use is limited to cyclists and their footprint large, so unless they can be used year round by the entire community in a multitude of ways, whether it’s kids playing basketball in track centre or adults using a walking track around the outside of the oval they become white elephants and close down after a few seasons. And of course, outdoor velodromes are even harder to sustain in climates where they are unrideable through the long winter. Sadly, this was the case for the Woodbridge track and it was only open for a few years. The harsh Toronto winters cracked the concrete making the surface rough and hard to ride. The track was closed, it was ploughed under and the  land was sold for development. Regardless, it was an attempt that helped develop some top cyclists and was a template for how to make future velodromes successful in a country where cycling remains a burgeoning sport.

Canadian ace, Jocelyn Lovell.

Lovell in the match sprint