History Of BARC
Toronto roots. A connection beyond the British Isles.
The Ontario Centre’s story
Key moments in the club’s own history.
1959
The beginning
BARC Ontario Centre was founded by motorsports enthusiasts in the Toronto area.
A distinctive connection
The club is the only centre of the British Automobile Racing Club outside the British Isles.
Racing on ice at Minden
In collaboration with the Minden Kinsmen, the town’s fairground becomes a race track made of ice, ringed by 10-foot snowbanks where spectators watch the racing.
2011
An Indy milestone
In 2011, the club marked 25 years of involvement with Indy car racing on Toronto’s streets.
2026
Open-wheel racing at CTMP
The first BARC-OC Open Wheel Invitational ran at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park GP on July 25 and 26, 2026.
Names from the club’s story
Club alumni include:
- Paul Tracy
- Scott Goodyear
- Ron Fellows
- David Empringham
- Scott Maxwell
- Robert Wickens
- Kyle Marcelli
The British Automobile Racing Club in Britain
The parent club the Ontario Centre is named for.
1912
The Cyclecar Club
The British Automobile Racing Club was formed in 1912 as The Cyclecar Club.
1919
The Junior Car Club
After the First World War, with cyclecars in decline, the name changed to The Junior Car Club, for light cars.
After 1945
The British Automobile Racing Club
After the Second World War the Junior Car Club joined with the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club. Under its new name, The British Automobile Racing Club made its home at the newly opened Goodwood Circuit in West Sussex.
The story continues through participation.
Discover membership or ask how you can help at a race.