Hamilton Beach C , Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Jimmy Howard
Photographed By Tim Boyd, November 3, 2023
1. Jimmy Howard Marker
Back in the days when the Beach Strip was more isolated from the heart of the city, motorsport legend Jimmy Howard (1920-2015) made a name for himself with a ratchet in his hand and a cigar in his mouth. His iconic shop in a garage at 147 Beach Blvd. was a fixture on the street, overflowing with engine parts, tools and jerry-rigged innovation. He worked so intently in the noise and the exhaust that his wife Annette relied on a fire alarm bell to summon him for dinner. But Jimmy was most known for his talents on the oval track.
With a souped-up Dodge coupe "38," using a black-and-yellow colour scheme inspired by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, he became one of the country's top stock car drivers. His come-from-behind style of victory thrilled racing fans in both Canada and the United States. He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Flamboro Speedway Hall of Fame in 2012.
Jimmy Howard is remembered as a racing icon and self-taught mechanical wiz, a Beach original and someone who helped give the strip its unique personality.
Erected 2023 by City of Hamilton.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is December 15, 1920.
Location. 43° 15.985′ N, 79° 46.416′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 'Mr. Hamilton' Reg Wheeler (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Government House (King’s Head Inn) (approx. one kilometer away); The Hamilton Waterworks/ La Station de Pompage de Hamilton (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); The Woman and the Bay (approx. 1.4 kilometers away); Hamilton & Scourge (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); Hamilton - Scourge Project (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); Discovery of Hamilton and Scourge (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); Architectural Heritage (approx. 2.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.
Also see . . . Yesterday’s Speedways - Jimmy Howard.
The racing career of Jimmy Howard started in 1950 at the Ancaster Fairgrounds in Hamilton. Jimmy ran into a friend of his who told him about the exciting night he had the night before at the car races in Ancaster. Jimmy was intrigued. He decided to go and see a race. He enjoyed the speed and excitement of the race and thought to himself “I think that is something I could do”.(Submitted on November 7, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)
Photographed By Tim Boyd, November 2, 2023
2. Jimmy Howard Marker
3. Jimmy Howard marker photo detail, left side
4. Jimmy Howard marker photo detail, right side
Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 59 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 7, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
