Flamboro Speedway community celebrates life of late longtime member Doug MacLean

The racing community is remembering a longtime member of Flamboro Speedway, who died in a tragic incident at the track Saturday.

Doug MacLean, 79, spent decades at Flamboro, as a racer, an official, and eventually its head starter.

The racing community is still reeling from the death of one of its most beloved members.

MacLean was a familiar face at Flamboro Speedway for decades as the man in the starter’s stand, with the flags in his hands and a front-row seat to the sport he loved.

But long before he was waving the flags, MacLean was behind the wheel.

His connection to Flamboro Speedway began as a racer in 1979 driving car number 53.

WATCH MORE: Flamboro Speedway employee killed after collision sends car airborne

In 1986, he drove to victory on the very track that would become such a big part of his life.

After his racing days, MacLean joined Charlie Beck’s put crew, before starting work at the speedway in 1991 as a turn official — eventually becoming head starter.

Last year, after decades as a racer and official at Flamboro, MacLean was inducted into the speedway’s hall of fame — a recognition of a life so closely connected to the track.

“It hasn’t sunk in,” said John Casale, the co-owner of Flamboro Speedway. “I still think that he’s still here — I think he’s gonna show up Saturday to do the races.”

But when the racing returns to Flamboro this weekend, the man who spent so many years in the starter’s stand won’t be there, and his loss is being felt far beyond the track.

Messages of support came from across Canada and the U.S.

“As a matter of fact, some of them said to me, the next race event that they’re gonna have, there’ll be a moment of silence for Doug,” said Casale.

READ MORE: Man riding skateboard hospitalized after collision with vehicle in Dundas: police

Chris Bishop, the publisher of the Michigan-based racing Pro Media, also posted a tribute online.

In a statement to CHCH News, he said in part, “Doug was a respected person not only at the track but in life as well. The racing family is one regardless of borders… We truly are a family and we hurt when a member of our family… is lost.”

MacLean’s impact was also felt by some of the youngest fans at the track.

His wife Donna said in an email that one of his favourite events was kids night, when he would invite children into the starter’s stand and let them pretend to wave the flags.

Away from the speedway, MacLean found another community at Echo Bowl in Brantford, where he spent nearly 30 years coaching young bowlers there.

“There’s nothing but good things you can say about Doug — his positivity, encouragement… he’s that kind of person that’s always there to lend that kind of support,” said Adam Kowalyk, a fellow youth coach at Echo Bowl.

MacLean’s family says a celebration of his life will be held later this fall — a chance for family, friends and the racing community to remember the man who spent so much of his life in Flamboro.

READ MORE: Local farmers donate over 1,500 kg of chicken to Hamilton Food Share