GEORGE JENSON 2020 INDUCTEE

George first became involved in local auto racing in 1967 when at the age of 10 he began cleaning and packing wheel bearings for the 1949 Ford #25 stockcar which was driven by his sister Carol’s boyfriend John Currier and maintained by John’s brothers Mike, Bill and Pat.

In 1970 he had the good fortune to win a Grant King-built GoKart in a CKDA radio station draw held at the track which he later sold to purchase his first road car, a 1963 Chevy Nova. He continued helping on the Currier racecars through 1972, but being under 16, still had to sit in the stands on race days.

In 1973, George finally became a crew member, along with his Dad George Sr., on the Currier brothers’ Ford Torino Super Stock which won “Best Looking Crew for All Classes”. He later crewed for other drivers including Dave Dalby, Rob Scott and Roy Haslam.

George’s driving career began in Demo Cars and Claimers with him then moving up to Stockcars plus also later getting behind the wheel of an IMCA Modified. In 1990 he got his 1^st ride in an “Old Time Racers Association” car, the #21 Oldsmobile sedan owned by Mike Currier and finished 3^rd in his first race. Five races following this, he scored his first victory in his first appearance at Stateline Speedway in Idaho.

In 1991 George got his own car, a black 1933 Dodge sedan which carried, in honour of the Currier brothers, the number “25” which is the car he still races to this day. It has carried him to a host of trophy dash and heat race wins and a total of 56 OTRA main event victories. Winning 6 main events in a row in 1995 got him the nickname of “The Jet”. His local major OTRA main event wins have included the “Ron Mayell Memorial”, the “Jim and Lorraine Haslam Memorial” and the most important one of all for George, the “Denny Rand Memorial” as Denny was a close and respected brother-in-law. He has held track records at multiple tracks and still holds the one he set at Yakima Speedway. His two appearances at Cassidy Speedway’s dirt oval resulted in his winning the trophy dash, heat and main event both times.

With the full support of his wife Vee, George has made his love of racing a family affair. As well as his own car, he has purchased and helped maintain cars for both his daughter Kaylyn and his son Chris with the three of them being known as the “Jet Black Racing Team”. And assisting fellow OTRA members as well as other classes of cars during and in-between race meets with help gained from his many years of racing experience is totally within George’s character.

In addition to his driving career, George has been president of OTRA for 6 terms and won countless club awards including 6 times “Member of the Year”, 3 times “Mechanic of the Year”, “Best Appearing Car”, the “Extra Mile” award and many others. He was the 1^st official “President” of the “Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame” and is still a much valued executive member today.

George Jenson’s 52 years of racing involvement and his dedication, commitment and contributions to OTRA, the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame and the local auto racing community would be very hard, if not impossible, to match. He is respected by fellow drivers and club members, loved by race fans and a hero to many.