{"id":192,"date":"2026-05-03T16:57:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T20:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.formulafour.com\/?page_id=192"},"modified":"2026-05-03T17:00:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T21:00:56","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.formulafour.com\/?page_id=192","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"
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History of Formula 4 in Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n

Formula 4\u00a0 (F4) in Canada is a story of ingenuity, speed, and a “built-not-bought” spirit. For over half a century, the Three Quarter (3\/4) Litre Association (TQLA) has provided a home for racers who combine high-performance engineering with the heart of grassroots racing.<\/span><\/p>\n

1967: The Arrival<\/span><\/h1>\n

The story began in January 1967, when Bob Long of London, Ontario, traveled to Europe in search of an open-wheel car that could be raced inexpensively. He discovered Formula 4 and realized it was the perfect “poor man\u2019s” racing class for novices who wanted to race competitively without spending a fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

In June 1967, the first F4 car competed in Canada at Harewood Acres, Ontario. It was a Walker imported by Bob from Johnny Walker Racing in England. Driven by Jim Johnston, this pioneer machine initially arrived with a 250 cc Suzuki engine. It quickly became clear on the sweeping Canadian circuits that the 250 cc motor was underpowered. Following that first appearance, the engine was swapped for a 650 cc unit, which became the standard for F4 in Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Triumph Era and Early Imports<\/span><\/h2>\n

During this transition, the Triumph Bonneville 650 cc engine became the power unit of choice. Bob Long notably campaigned a Triumph-powered car in Formula Libre to prove the concept’s viability. Alongside the Walkers, other English chassis like the Vixen F4 began appearing on grids. These early cars turned lap times roughly equivalent to a Formula Vee.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 1970s: Growth and Formalization<\/span><\/h1>\n

The 1970s saw the class transition into a pillar of Canadian club racing:<\/span><\/p>\n