by Lois Pollard-Grant

Many who were at the first Daffodil Cup race in 1961, found it hard to believe.

The seating capacity was around 3500, but an incredible 8200 plus crammed their way into Western Speedway. Traffic was backed up as far as Burnside Road at times - and people converging on the speedway, had to be turned away.

A total of 32 cars qualified for the race which offered a purse of $3,000, and was billed as the Western Canadian Driving Championship. Eldon Rasmussesn, of Edmonton, was the winner.

Billy Foster, Ray Pottinger and Dick Varley, were the local favorites and although they were driving suped up stockcars against the modifieds, they didn't disappoint the fans - Pottinger finished third and Foster fourth.

The Daffodil Cup trophy, donated by Geoff Vantreight, has been contested 31 times since its creation.

Foster won it in 1962 and 1963. Roy Smith, driving Vantreight's, "Daffodil Special", won the cup four times (1969, 1971, 1975 and 1976).

The Daffodil Cup, then under the sanction of the Canadian American Racing Association (CAMRA) went through a few lean years when many drivers, including Smith, made the switch to stock car racing.

The NSRA Daffodil Cup event continues today and recent years have seen Trevor Montgomery joining the elite list of Daffodil Cuppers, with wins in 1997 and 1999.

The 32nd running of the Daffodil Cup comes to Western Speedway on August 23.

Daffodil Cup Winners 1961 Eldon Rasmussen Edmonton, Alberta 1962 Billy Foster Victoria, B.C 1963 Billy Foster Victoria, B.C. 1964 Jim Malloy Denver, Colorado 1965 Eldon Rasmussen Edmonton, Alberta 1966 Norm Ellefson Spokane, Wash. 1967 Norm Ellefson Spokane, Wash. 1968 Roy Smith Victoria, B.C. 1969 Bud Gorder Spokane, Wash. 1971 Roy Smith Victoria, B.C. 1972 Norm Ellefson Spokane, Wash 1973 Don McLeod Tacoma, Wash. 1974 John Tharp Lynnwood, Wash. 1975 Roy Smith Victoria, B.C. 1976 Roy Smith Victoria, B.C. 1977 Blaine Sneva Spokane, Wash. 1978 Doug Larsen Quesnel, B.C. 1979 Doug Larsen Quesnel, B.C. 1980 Don McLeod Tacoma, Wash. 1985 Dave Fitzgerald Salt Lake City, Utah 1988 Vern Church Seattle, Wash. 1989 Davey Hamilton Boise, Idaho 1990 Marty White Kamloops, B.C. 1991 Rebel Jackson Jr. Seattle, Wash. 1996 Rick Brown Springfield, Ore. 1997 Trevor Montgomery Victoria, B.C. 1998 Rick Brown Springfield, Ore. 1999 Trevor Montgomery Victoria, B.C. 2000 Craig Deaver Sumner, Wash. 2001 Craig Deaver Sumner, Wash. 2002 Craig Deaver Sumner, Wash.