Ross began his very long association with auto racing in 1958, first as a spectator and then as a member of the Vancouver Island Track Racing Association (VITRA). He first became a crew member in 1962 on the #56 1934 Ford Stockcar which was driven by Jim Gallaugher and in 1964 he again assisted Jim, this time on a B class Modified Sportsman and also helped out Jim Malloy for a few years whenever there was a CAMRA race at Western.
In 1965, he crewed on the #16 1939 Chev Jalopy which was driven by Ken Jay and then on a second Chev Jalopy the following year which was owned by Ken and driven by Bill Smith. For 1967, Ross joined the crew of Tony Mortel’s 1955 Chevy Stockcar. Tony’s move to Super Modifieds the following season saw Ross remain with him until Tony retired from active competition in August of 1971. The following year, Ross became an Assistant Pit Boss, a position he would hold until 1976 when he became the Head Pit Boss.
In 1977, he was a co-founder of what would soon become the “Old Time Racers Association” (OTRA). His participation included arranging race dates at Island tracks, creating and sending out newsletters to club members and submitting racing results to the West Coast racing publication “Racing Wheels” as well as his ownership of three cars at various times including a 1932 Chrysler coupe, a 1934 Dodge coupe and a 1929 Desoto coupe. Ross occupied OTRA’s leadership post from the club’s formal creation in 1980 until 1994 with his work behind the scenes earning him a Life Membership. In addition, he was also twice voted VITRA “Promoter of the Year”.
A conversation between Ross and Norm Wilcox on an idea put forward by Norm in 1983 resulted in a meeting with four other racers at Ross’s home in 1984 which culminated in the formation of the “Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame”. This was followed by the opening of the Hall of Fame Museum under the grandstands at Western in 1991 with Ross becoming it’s historian and media consultant. In addition to joining the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa, Ross also joined the executive of the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame as a Director in 1999 which helped to ensure that the sport of auto racing would be represented. In 2000, he and Norm Wilcox started the WILROC Sprint Car and Super Modified racing series which carried on for a number of years following Ross and Norm stepping away in 2006.
Ross continued to be involved with the Hall of Fame in later years as a Director as well as sending Western Speedway’s race results to thirty-seven media contacts plus continuing to maintain historical records.
Ross passed in 2016.
- 1962 – The #56 1934 Ford Stockcar with (left to right) Jim Steen, Charlie Kiers, Jim Gallaugher, unknown and Ross Rockett (Ted Mackenzie photo).
- 1965 – The #16 1939 Chev Jalopy with (left to right) Ross Rockett, Hugh Humphries, Ken Jay, Murray Smith and Bob Palmer (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1966 – The #16 1963 Chev Jalopy driven by Bill Smith which Ross crewed on (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1967 – The #15 1955 Chev Stockcar with (left to right) Ross Rockett, Glen Walkey, Tony Mortel and Ken Jay (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1968 – The #45 CAMRA Super Modified with (left to right) Glen Walkey, Tony Mortel and Ross Rockett (photographer unknown).
- 1971 – The #45 CAMRA Super Modified with (left to right) Ross Rockett, Glen Walkey, Tony Mortel, Ron Vincent and Pat O’Connor (possible Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1978 – The #32 1932 Chrysler OTRA car with Ross Rockett (left) and Dave Ireland (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1982 – The #66 1934 Dodge OTRA car co-owned by Ross Rockett and Dave Ireland (Robert G. “Bob” Hunter photo).
- 1990 – The #2 1929 Desoto OTRA car with (left to right) owner Ross Rockett, crew members Frank Cordiero and Frank Morris and driver Tony Johnson (photographer unknown).
- Possibly taken at the 1990 Hall of Fame induction ceremony – Left to right are Barrie Goodwin, Ross Rockett and Tony Mortel (photographer unknown).
- 2011 Inductee Ross Rockett – artist’s portrait.