
March 2022
On the edge of the forested Limehouse Conservation Area, hidden by young and old forest growth, lies the remains of a long-abandoned and forgotten go-kart racing track.
This race track in the former village of Limehouse, not part of the Town of Halton Hills, Ontario, was once the home of the North Halton Kart Club. From 1959 until 1987, the North Halton Kart Club held weekly races held mostly on Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon, and sometimes on weeknights, throughout the summer months, racing go-karts ranging in power from 2.5 to 12 horse power, some that could reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
Founded in 1959 with just three members, the North Halton Kart Club rented a small plot of land from a local farmer and built their oval-shaped track on which to race. By the time the second racing season came about in 1960, membership had risen to thirty members and the racetrack was paved.
Facilities at the racetrack included lighting and sound systems, added in 1961, along with a concession stand, a small wooden grandstand for viewing the races, a timing and scoring booth, a flag marshal tower and a maintenance shed.
In 1965, a new half-mile “L” shaped track was built, encircling the original 1/10 mile track oval track
After a 27-year run, the North Halton Kart Club was forced to shut down the racetrack in 1987, when the property owner demanded the club increase their liability insurance beyond what the club was able to afford.
The North Halton Kart Club no longer exists, but the ruins of their former racetrack remains, slowly being consumed by forest and vegetation. The small wooden buildings once used by the club are slowly collapsing and the crumbling asphalt racetrack is being consumed by vegetation.
Some light and sound poles remain standing, with speakers still attached, as does the flag pole from which the Canadian flag once flew and the scaffolding that was used as a flag marshal tower.
- Maintenance Shed. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Maintenance Shed. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Maintenance Shed. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Grandstand. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Snack Shack. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Snack Shack. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Snack Shack. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Snack Shack. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Snack Shack. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Remains of a swing set. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Hydro pole laying on the ground, with the flag marshal tower in the background. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Flag Marchall tower and concession stand far left. Photo: Unknown.
- The flag marshal tower. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Down the hill, past the flag marshal tower. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Around the corner and up towards the scoring booth. Photo: Terry Dalton
- Approaching the a timing and scoring booth from the west. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Original track in foreground, with the second track in the background. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Approach to the timing and scoring booth from the east side. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Photo: Unknown.
- Timing and scoring booth. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Timing and scoring booth. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Timing and scoring booth. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Looking away from the timing and scoring booth towards the forest loop. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Going into the forest loop. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Approaching the earth berm at the top of the forest loop. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Coming out of the forest loop. Photo: Terry Dalton
- Coming out of the forest loop. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
- Overview of the club property.
Sources: North Halton Kart Club | Hiking the GTA, MPL002493949pf_0181.pdf (ourontario.ca), MPL002496076pf_0798.pdf (ourontario.ca) North Halton Go-Kart Club (thegeorgetownvault.com), .