Ivan Little (racing driver) explained

Ivan Little
Birth Name:Donald W. Little
Birth Date:February 23, 1938
First Year:1955[1]
Car Number:61
Championships:4
Wins:200+
Last Finish:1986
Titles:1970 Southern Tier Open

Donald "Ivan" Little (February 23, 1938 – October 25, 2023) was a Canadian dirt modified racing driver from St. Catherines, Ontario. He competed in the Niagara Falls regions of both the United States and Canada.[2]

Racing career

Ivan Little began racing cutdown roadsters on asphalt in the mid-1950s, but by 1965 had focused on running stock cars on the Ontario dirt ovals of Merrittville Speedway in Thorold and Speedway Park in Hamilton. He claimed the 1966 and 1983 track championships at Merrittville as well as the 1970 divisional champion at Humberstone Speedway ON, and the 1971 Modified champion at Ransomville Speedway NY.[3] [4] [5] Little would also compete on the Syracuse Mile, and won the inaugural Southern Tier Open at Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood NY.[2] [6]

Ivan Little retired from racing in 1986 with over 200 feature wins to his credit.[2] He was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 1996 and entered the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.[7] [8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Donald "Ivan" Little. St. Catharines Standard. ON. October 26, 2023. May 5, 2024.
  2. News: Petty. Steve. Drivin' Ivan Little, Canadian Legend, Passes Away. October 27, 2023. Dirt Track Digest. May 5, 2024.
  3. News: Little, Spiece take Merrittville titles. St. Catharines Standard. ON. August 6, 1968. 24. Newspapers.com. May 6, 2024.
  4. News: Ivan Little is leading. . Niagara Falls NY. June 24, 1971. 24. NYS Historic Newspapers. May 6, 2024.
  5. News: Wertman. Mike. Auto Racing. . Medina NY. September 8, 1993. 8. NYS Historic Newspapers. May 6, 2024.
  6. News: Canadian cops $1500 first prize. Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton NY . October 25, 1970. 56. Newspapers.com. May 6, 2024.
  7. News: Gateliff. Jack . Ivan Little enters racing Hall of Fame. St. Catharines Standard. ON . May 24, 1996. 22. Newspapers.com. May 6, 2024.
  8. Web site: Sports Hall of Fame - St. Catharines. May 6, 2024.