"Canada Class" Racers?

[aeronca65t]

I wonder if any of you (especially Canadians) have heard of the old "Canada Class" of race cars? These cars originally raced in Canadian club races in the late 50s and early 60s. Today, they are seen racing at vintage events. The only limiting rule (apparently) is an engine size limit of 1 liter. There were many wild "specials" in this class and I have read about them, but there are few pictures available. The only decent picture I can find of a a Canada Class car is this '58 V.A.Y. Special (below: from the VARAC website). These things look keen to me...anyone know anything more about them?

 

[Sherlock]

Here is another picture of another Canada Class race car, built in 1956... The guy standing behind it is the person who built it back then (he no longer owns it, but someone else has restored it).

If I remember correctly from a conversation in June 2003... He told me that the Canada Class had a certain budget (fairly low), had to have parts off of production cars mainly (only?), the race car pictured here is powered by a Morris Minor engine. Although I seem to recall him telling me that the Canada Clas had died by the end of 1950's.

That's all I know, hope that helps...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sherlock77/2775804/

 

[Simon TR4a]

I don't know much about them except that the class was generally similar to Formula Junior in Europe, 1 litre or 1100cc. displacement and production mechanicals.
A series of "Chinook" cars were built to this rule, and the well known Bill Sadler built several, some still raced. The Sadlers I have seen use BMC A series engines and have one very short driveshaft to narrow the rear track so the diff is off centre and the prop shaft passes under the driver's seart diagonally.

I also know a little about the "Kiki", a special which looked like a big Lotus 7, powered by a Ford 260 originally, with a 3 speed Ford tranny and TRiumph front suspension. I have seen it many times at Mosport, but first learned about it from Dick Young, one of the 3 guys who built it; he and my son used to race slot cars together at a local hobby shop, very nice man!
Unfortunately he had a heart condition, and I believe has passed on.
The car in the first photo is actively campaigned and can be seen at US as well as Canadian tracks.
Simon.