Frank Kitto started his many years of involvement with Island oval track racing in 1952 when he joined the “Vancouver Island Track Roadster Association” and became a crew member on the #13 Stockcar which was driven by Phil Hendry at Shearing Speedway.
The following year he partnered up with Dave Francis and with Dave behind the wheel they ran the #22 car, a 1934 Ford coupe in the Stockcar class.
Moving to Western’s Speedway’s newly completed oval in 1954, Frank and Dave’s car won the inaugural Stockcar main event on May 29th and they went on to place 3rd in the points standings at season’s end.
In 1955, They built a new 1933 Chevy coupe powered by an inline 6 cylinder “GMC” engine and the following year finished 9th in points.
In 1958, Frank and Dave fielded a 1934 Ford coupe.
Frank ran the track’s “back gate” from 1959 to 1963 which involved controlling the pit entrance, checking club memberships and issuing pit passes.
In 1967, Frank became the head Pit Boss at Western, a position he would hold for the next 9 years. He soon gained a reputation for level-headed decisions, fairness and congeniality which earned him the respect of competitors, fellow club members, Speedway officials and fans alike. During this time, he also designed a new time-in sheet which made setting up race lineups much more streamlined and efficient. In 1968 he was the recipient of the “Dick Willoughby Sportsmanship Trophy” and was later honoured with a Life Membership in VITRA.
In 1984, Frank was one of the founding members of the “Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame”.
Frank Kitto passed in September of 2020.
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- 1952 at Shearing Speedway – #13 Stockcar with (left to right) Frank Kitto, Bill Sim and driver Phil Hendry (photographer unknown).
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- 1953 at Shearing – #22 Stockcar with Dave Francis in car and Frank Kitto (l) and Dick Willoughby (r) (photographer unknown).
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- May 29, 1954 at Western – Dave Francis on his way to winning 1st Stockcar main event ( Dave Orrick or Bud Glover photo).
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- 1955 at Western – GMC powered 1933 Chevy coupe with (l to r) Frank Kitto, Dave Francis and Wilf Gooch (Dave Orrick or Bud Glover photo).
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- 1958 at Western – #22 Stockcar with (l to r) Frank Kitto, Lorne Kidd and Dave Francis (Bud Glover or Ted Mackenzie photo).
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- 1961 Speedway program writeup on Frank.
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- 1967 at Western – Frank in his positon of Head Pit Boss (Barrie Goodwin photo).
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- 1973 at Western – Frank as Head Pit Boss (Ted Mackenzie photo).
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- 1985 Inductee Frank Kitto – artist’s portrait.
