In the 1920’s, George Graham went to the Ascot Speedway in California and came back inspired by what he had seen. His passion for auto racing had begun.
He subsequently bought a Curtis aircraft engine powered racecar from a car owner at the Tacoma Washington race track. A machinist by trade, George worked on his car in Victoria, often trying it out on Shelbourne St. It was a very large and heavy car which had run on the very dangerous board tracks and dirt ovals of the times.
Later George teamed up with Jack Smith and they built another racer with Jack as the mechanic and George as driver which they ran at the exhibition fairgrounds in Vancouver. Following his getting married and starting a family, George was unable to continue racing but his love of the sport continued undiminished and was passed on to his son Richard who grew up listening to stories of his Dad’s racing days, thus a second generation of Graham racers was born.
Richard owned cars which won many championships as well as the 1971 “Permatex 200” race at Riverside California with Gary Kershaw behind the wheel, a feat which added their names to the list of successful Vancouver Island racers who competed in the U.S.A..
Richard’s son, George Jr. then developed the family racing passion and father and son raced together for many years winning many events and championships. This carried over to yet another generation with Jayce Graham who currently races with his Dad, George Jr.
As the founder of this four generation racing family legacy, George Graham is a true pioneer.
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- George Graham (photographer unknown).
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- George at the wheel of his first racecar which had previously run on board and dirt tracks in the USA (photographer unknown).
