We are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of 2015 Pioneer award recipient Basil Wells and we extend our sincere condolences to his wife Carole and family.
Basil began his racing involvement at Western in 1968 when he first got behind the wheel in a white #18 1952 Ford Stockcar. Competing in that class the following year in a ’55 Pontiac as well as in a 1952 Buick in the Figure 8 class, he moved up to Late Model Stocks in 1970 with a 1956 Pontiac, recording a heat race win in only his second appearance in this faster division on May 2nd. Basil drove a ’55 Chevy in the now-renamed Super Stock class in 1971 and retired from active competition at the end of that season. In 1982 he joined the Old Time Racers Association (OTRA) where he ran until hanging up his helmet in the mid 1990’s. As well as donating his #4 OTRA car to the Hall of Fame, he also sourced and donated all of the Museum’s black and white tile flooring.
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- 1968 – 1952 Ford Stockcar #18 with (left to right) crew member Bill Friend, driver Basil Wells and crew member Harold Corbett.
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- Year unknown – Pontiac Stockcar #12 with (left to right standing) Harvey Hincks and two unknown crew members and (below l to r) Fred Ford and Basil Wells.
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- 1970 – 1956 Pontiac Late Model Stock #12 with (l to r) Basil Wells, Harvey Hincks and Pete Sargent.
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- 1971 – 1955 Chev Super Stock #12 with (l to r) Pete Sargent, Harold Corbett, Harvey Hincks and Basil Wells.
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- 1971 – Basil’s #12 car following a main event last lap accident on June 5th.
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- 1971 – A fast exit for Basil above the backstretch wall.
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- Aug. 29th 1982 – Basil’s #4 car in a trophy dash lineup along with fellow competitors #75 Wayne Morton, #71 Dave Gill and #98 John Currier at Nanaimo’s Grandview Bowl.
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- Approx. 1990 – #4 OTRA 1934 Ford with (l to r) Mike Wells, Carole Wells and Basil Wells.
