Gordon Head resident Reg Midgley began his many years of racing involvement in the mid 1950’s. During his long and varied career, he did everything but the obvious, he never got behind the wheel of a racecar. Like many of his fellow racers, Reg was employed in the auto business, selling new and used cars for over 50 years.
Along with his younger brother Dick, the two of them entered a car in Western’s new “Jalopy” class in 1958 and enjoyed a very successful season with their driver Dave McClelland emerging as #1 in the season points standings.
The following year, they moved up to the “Stockcar” division with a 1934 Ford coupe and had Dick Willoughby as their driver. With Dick’s untimely passing in July of that year, they got their former driver Dave McClelland to finish out the season and ended up 5th in total points.
For 1960, they fielded the same car with Dave Cooper behind the wheel. In 1961, Reg was the successful candidate for the Presidency of the “Vancouver Island Track Racing Association” (VITRA) and also served a 2nd term the following year. In 1963, he started “Reg Midgley Promotions” in which he took over as the promoter of Nanaimo’s “Grandview Bowl” track. He also became associated with the newly-formed “Canadian American Modified Racing Association” (CAMRA) in 1963 with Nanaimo hosting CAMRA’s very 1st race meet.
In 1966, Reg served a 3rd term as VITRA President and later that season, with the forming of “Western Speedway (1966) Ltd”., he became it’s 1st promoter. In 1970 he was one of the driving forces behind a new Canada/US racing series, the “International Driver’s Challenge”, which ran for several years. During his tenure, he also brought in many “name” drivers to Western including Bobby Allison, Roger Ward and Janet Guthrie.
With the retirement of long-time track announcer Bing Foster in 1977, Reg took over the microphone and spent a good deal of time there for several seasons. Reg headed up the “International Pro Stock” series in the late 1970’s, was also President of the “Western Auto Racing Promoters Association” for a time and was awarded Victoria’s “Sportsman of the Year” in 1983.
His involvement later extended south of the border when he became the owner and promoter of “South Sound Speedway” in Port Angeles, Wash.
In addition to his induction into the “Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame” in 1987, Reg was also inducted into the “Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame” in 2006. Here is a link to his page on their website: https://www.gvshof.ca/inductees-2/all-inductees/11-builders/124-reg-midgley-2006.html
Reg passed in 2010.
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- 1958 at Western – Reg and Dick Midgley’s #65 “Jalopy” with driver Dave McClelland (Ted Mackenzie photo).
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- 1959 – Reg and Dick’s #9 Stockcar which was driven by Dick Willoughby and Dave McClelland (Midgley family photo).
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- 1959 at Western – Reg (at far left) watches as his brother Dick holds the flashlight for a radiator top-up on their #9 Stockcar (Barrie Goodwin photo).
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- 1960 at Western – Reg and Dick’s #5 car with driver Dave Cooper (Barrie Goodwin photo).
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- 1961 VITRA executive members with Reg as President (Ted Mackenzie photos).
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- 1962 VITRA executive members with Reg as President (Ted Mackenzie photos).
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- Feb.1963 in Spokane, Washington – CAMRA formation meeting with Reg in back row 5th from the left (photographer unknown).
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- 1966 at Western – Reg making a presentation to track owner Andy Cottyn at “Andy Cottyn Nite” (Rick Saunders or Barrie Goodwin photo).
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- 1970’s at Western – Reg behind the mike as Track Announcer (Barrie Goodwin photo).
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- 1973 at Western – Reg (at far left) at trackside with Jim Steen at celebration of Jim’s 20th year as a driver (Barrie Goodwin photo).
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- 1987 – Reg speaking at his “Hall of Fame” induction ceremony (Barrie Goodwin photo).
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- 1987 Inductee Reg Midgley – artist’s portrait
