ROCKIE COLLINS 2006 INDUCTEE

Rockie Collins began his active involvement in racing in 1973 as a crew member on a Stockcar driven by Steve Morris. With a desire to then get behind the wheel for the following year, he fielded his own Stockcar, a 1956 Ford.

Making a move up to the Super Stock division in 1975, Rockie finished in eighth spot in the final points standings and continued to run in this class for the next several seasons, his best year being 1982 when he won two main events, finished in third place in season points and won both Best Looking Car and Best Looking Crew, also driving Dick Midgley’s car in that year’s Winston West Grand National race at Western where he finished fifth.

Rockie ran the Northwest Super Stock series in 1983 and the following season in the same series won three main events, set a new track record, was awarded Driver of the Year and was crowned the Season Points Champion and in addition placed fifth in that year’s Canada 200. In 1985 he won five main events including the Roy White Memorial, was voted Most Popular Driver and placed second in year end points, a finish which he repeated the following season which included three main wins including the Billy Foster 100, setting more track records and another Popular Driver award. He also garnered a fifth place in the Canada 200 Northwest Tour race and competed in the 7-Eleven Race of Champions held at Western.

In 1988 he raced in the Pro Stock class finishing in second spot in the standings which included top ten finishes at Yakima, Portland, Monroe, Tenino and also Port Angeles where he won two main events and yet again was voted Most Popular Driver. Rockie switched to IMCA Modifieds in 1991, winning championships in both ’91 and ’92. In 1993 he once again led the points race until the final event of the year where he ended up in third place overall. For 1995 he returned to the Pro Stock series, winning two main events, one of which was the Canada 200. Continuing on in this division, Rockie set a new track record and the following season was the fastest qualifier on three occasions, breaking the track record twice and scoring one main event win. In his final year behind the wheel, he fittingly finished as the Pro Stock points champion.

Throughout his career and on top of his ability in the driver’s seat, Rockie had excellent knowledge and skill in chassis setups and knew how to make racecars handle. In addition to Western Speedway, Rockie competed at Nanaimo’s Grandview Bowl, Cassidy, Saratoga, Vernon and Penticton plus US speedways including Port Angeles, Tenino, Skagit, Yakima, and Anderson, California. He drove for a number of car owners including Gordy Alberg, Skip Crawford, Larry Johnson, Roy Wilson, Butch Behn, J.R. Edgett, Dick Midgley, David Smith, George Kormandy, and Jim Smith. He also crewed for the likes of Dave Marcus, Janet Guthrie, Bobby Allison and St. James Davis.