Les McIntyre had aspirations of one day competing at the Calgary Stampede rodeo as either a tie-down roper or a bronc rider.

Little did he know that he would instead become the voice of the Rangeland Derby, calling all 10 nights of chuckwagon racing action for fans in the stands at GMC Stadium.

After life threw some curveballs his way, McIntyre wound up hitting it out of the park when he took over from the legendary Joe Carbury as the Stampede’s track announcer in 2009.

“I’m fortunate because I was blessed with a strong voice,” said McIntyre, who’s also celebrating his 40th anniversary as a track announcer on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association circuit. “I try to make it entertaining and exciting. Wagon racing can make itself exciting. I’ve been at shows where the power went off and (fans) didn’t hear me at all and it was still exciting. I’m fortunate to be involved in the sport.”

Growing up east of Vulcan, Alta., McIntyre has vivid memories of watching rodeo events and chuckwagon races at the Stampede with his family.

“We, as kids, got to go to the Calgary Stampede maybe every other year, every third year, or whatever,” McIntyre recalled. “We watched it back in the old wooden grandstand with the pillars up the middle.”

Although his vantage point may have been skewed, he envisioned one day following in the boot prints of the cowboys he gazed down upon.

“I always wanted it to compete at the Calgary Stampede,” he said. “I was thinking more rodeo than wagons at the time.

“I would like to have been a tie-down roper. I would like to have been a bronc rider, but when you’re 14 years old and you’re six foot two, that’s not happening. And when you’re 18 years old and you’re six foot four, it’s really not happening. I would like to have gone down that road just because I grew up at home riding and ranching and stuff.”

Although his rodeo aspirations didn’t pan out, McIntyre turned his attentions toward the chucks, travelling down the road with the likes of Ross Nelson and Ward Willard.

“Everything happens for a reason and when I got to be older, I got involved in the wagons with a couple of neighbours of mine and then they give me the opportunity to drive a little bit,” said McIntyre, who unfortunately suffered a bad back injury in the mid-1980s that derailed his driving desires.

His announcing career started in 1984, when he called accepted the opportunity to call some races at a fundraising show in Vulcan.

“I did this little fun show at Willard’s place down here,” said McIntyre, while noting he must have done something right because he was asked to work at a show in Trochu. “So anyway, I started there in ’85 that spring in Trochu and then over the summer High River got a hold of me and wanted to come do the High River show.”

Eventually, McIntyre was a regular calling races on the WPCA Pro Tour and also worked as a radio and then television announcer at the Calgary Stampede before eventually taking over from Carbury in the Eye In The Sky.

“I thought someday Joe will probably retire and I would like to be in a position to take that job,” he said. “It’s pretty special to me because it’s been a dream of mine. I was fortunate enough to have it come into fruition.”

After Chad Harden won it all in Calgary in ’09, McIntyre called Kelly Sutherland’s record-breaking 11th Rangeland Derby title the following year.

“Dick Cosgrave held that record and then when Kelly broke it, I was fortunate enough to be there,” said McIntyre, who described the action when the King (one of Sutherland’s nicknames) claimed his 12th crown in 2012.

Without the endeavours of the drivers thrilling the fans below him, McIntyre wouldn’t be able to do what he loves.

“Every time somebody wins that Calgary Stampede, it’s a challenge,” he said. “The hardest cup in sports to win in my opinion is Stanley Cup, and I don’t know anything about hockey, but as far as wagon racing goes, this is the toughest one to win just because of the level of competition that’s here and the pressure that’s on you.

“It’s a 10-day endurance test and it takes some horsepower and some skill at managing a business and driving and all the rest of it. There’s a lot of things that you have to be on top of if you’re going to be successful in Calgary.”

Top 10 Les McIntyre calls, which you may hear during Rangeland Derby

10. He’s rounding the fourth turn on a burn.

9. Are you ready for another thriller from Bensmiller?

8. Rein to rein, like a runaway freight train.

7. On the homestretch drive, Calgary it’s your turn to come alive.

6. Outriders, hit the showers. Mothers, hide your daughters.

5. Let ’er rip chip dip.

4. Quiet on the set.

3. There’s the horn and the charge is under way.

2. Wire to wire with his wheels on fire.

1. The louder you cheer, the quicker they’ll get here.

Honourable mention: If you slow down, you’ll be first in the next race. (To a late wagon or outrider.)