Davey Moore “The Canadian Blast”
David Nelson Moore grew up on his family’s homestead in St Ann’s, Ontario. While Davey was growing up, he knew that although he had to go through the rigors of helping run the Moore Dairy Farm, he had his eye on one prize, and that was to become a professional race car driver.
In 1970 Davey took a small loan out from the bank and expressed that its purpose was to purchase new farm equipment as an investment, instead Davey marched up to one of Merrittville Speedway’s top runners, Ivan Little and purchased Ivan’s #61 Modified.
Little did anyone know or even believe that when Davey painted that car bright yellow and left the #6 on the side would it only take a few short races to win his first feature in blue jeans, running shoes and a bandana.
Success was attracted to Davey, wins came streaming in, fans were divided, they either hated him or loved him, both groups helped fuel his desire even more.
In 1971 storied racer, come race car owner Ray Steven’s gave Davey his first ride. This was the start of many future winning partnerships for Moore from both sides of the border.
Davey could be hard headed, as were many of his car owners, sometimes it worked, sometimes it did not. There were times over his career, when Davey and his team broke up and then got back together. Davey, his crew, and his car owners all knew that they would not always agree on how to set up a car, or what the car needed but that as long as Davey was in the car, they had a winning combination, a little colorful sometimes, but a winning combination.
Over the course of three decades Davey grew from winning races and track championships at Merrittville Speedway and Ransomville Speedway with owners Ray Stevens, Fred Coe, Mike Cudeck, Bill Morden, his brother Lawrence Moore, Terry St Amand, and Neil Sharpe before travelling further into the
American North East DIRT playground where he took up residence in Rochester, New York to race for the Cliff Barcomb in the #11.
It was with Barcomb when Davey went on to be the first Canadian to win a race at the historic Syracuse Fair Grounds, and where Davey landed one punch at another driver in an altercation that ultimately ended up in him serving a short suspension causing him to just miss out on the Mr. Dirt title.
As one American announcer expressed Davey is “The Canadian Blast”.
Throughout the years “The Canadian Blast” suffered massive injuries, he has broken his back and neck twice, experienced repeated concussions and suffered numerous internal injuries that caused him to briefly retire due to doctor’s orders in the late 80’s.
Davey came back to fix his racing needs by joining the York 611 team and scoring multiple victories, before joining with Mike Maroney and the Transaction Group for the early part of the 1990’s. Davey’s last victory, was one of his most memorable winning the final race of the millennium in 1999, driving Terry St Amand’s Harvey’s/Swiss Chalet #6 at Merrittville Speedway dominating most of the 100 lap event.
Davey Moore “The Canadian Blasts” Racing Achievements:
- 10 Track Championships
- 11 Syracuse New York Fair Grounds Super Dirt Week 100 Lap Qualifying wins
- 13 Feature wins in a row at Merrittville.
- Davey was awarded the Ontario Athlete of the Year by Premiere Bill Davis.
- City of St Catharines Hall of Fame Inductee
- City of St Catharines Athlete of the Year
- The Four Score Fan Club Most Popular Driver Award
- The Four Score Fan Club Hall of Fame Inductee
- Dirt Car Racing Hall of Fame Inductee and Gold Card Member holder.
Davey still attends every race he can at Merrittville Speedway, often active in the pits, sometimes signing autographs for fans in the stands but always with a competitive glint in his eye.
Courtesy of Kelly George
