“Inductee” trivia tidbit

At the Friday night Stockcar races at Nanaimo’s “Grandview Bowl” on May 22, 1959, 1984 “Hall of Fame” Inductee Dave Cooper again found himself following the pre-time trials hot laps with a car that refused to run, a similar problem having happened at the previous Grandview Bowl show. Again forced into the role of spectator, Dave watched his fellow competitors time in which included Nanaimo driver Red Burke setting a new track record of 19.56. Red was subsequently forced out of the 2^nd heat with a radiator leak. Offering his services as a very qualified plumber who could wield a mean soldering iron, Dave Cooper went to work on the leak’s repair which enabled Red to compete in the 4^th heat which he won. Just before the main event, Nanaimo owner/driver Art Clarck approached Mr. Cooper and offered him a ride in his #44 car. Dave readily accepted and quickly showed why he was at that time a four-time Island track champion as he proceeded to run on leader Red Burke’s heels for almost the entire race. A red flag caused by the #80 car of Paul Willis blowing a radiator and Victoria’s Bill Temple rolling his #10 in an attempt to avoid Paul’s car was the only interruption and on the restart it looked like Dave would at least lock down a second place finish. But 2 laps before the checkered flag, the “44” car blew a radiator hose, putting the “Flying Plumber” out. Red Burke grabbed the win thanks to Dave Cooper’s good deed with Dave the victim of another type of racecar “plumbing” failure!