Being regular spectators at Western in the early 1960’s, Ross Surgenor and his pal Don Cummins decided upon hearing an announcement over the track’s PA system early in the 1963 season that “Jalopies” were going to be featured at future race meets that it was time to get involved and picked up a rules sheet from track owner Andy Cottyn who was spearheading the return of this former class of car. Joining the “Vancouver Island Track Racing Association” (VITRA), they chipped in $15.00 apiece and bought a 1938 Buick sedan. With the removal of the car’s glass and a few other minor racing upgrades which included a quick red paint job and some hand lettering on the number “17”, they had a racecar. Strapping on his helmet, Ross slid behind the wheel and it didn’t take long for Western’s fans to notice that this tall and lanky new driver was one of the standouts among his fellow rookies in this resurrected division. Ross guided the big Buick to a 2nd place finish in points and he and Don set about building a new car for the following season, a 1950 Ford.
Ross repeated his 2nd place points standing finish and also won the “Dick Willoughby Sportsmanship” trophy. In a similar Ford for 1965, Ross captured the coveted #1 spot in points and also scored a 1st in the season-end Championship race. 1966 saw him competing in Nanaimo with V.I.T.R.A and he was again crowned points champion and also won the Sponsor’s Trophy race. In 1967, Ross ended the year in 2nd place. He also repeated as the Willoughby Sportsmanship trophy winner, won the July Cup and was also the track record holder. Moving up to the new “Super Stock” class in 1968, Ross and his crew campaigned a 1958 Ford which carried him to first in points for the year. Continuing with the same Ford in 1969, Ross ran at Langley Speedway, Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington and Tri-Cities in Richland, Washington in addition to Western. Ross was overall Super Stock champion in 1970, winning many awards including the July Cup, Sponsor’s Trophy, the Corby Cup (most Main Event wins), the Championship race, was voted “Driver of the Year” plus he also held the track record.
Building a ’68 Ford Torino for 1971, Ross and crew had several “new car” problems which hampered their success but the following season, Ross won the inaugural “Canada 200” at Western. In 1973 he was 2nd in overall points in the Super Stock “International Drivers Challenge”and 3rd in season-end points in the NASCAR “Late Model Sportsman” division at Monroe, Washington’s “Evergreen Speedway”. In addition, he qualified for the “Permatex 200” in Riverside, California, won the “Rainier Sportsman 250”, the “Belmont Stakes” race at Langley Speedway and also the “BC Superstock Championship”. In 1974 he drove Dick Midgley’s #29 Chevelle in the “Canada 200” as well as in 6 NASCAR “Winston Cup” and “Winston West” races. His final seasons at Western saw Ross in a #58 Mercury Cougar.
Following a brief retirement, he came back out behind the wheel of an O.T.R.A. (Old Time Racers Association) car, competing throughout the Pacific Northwest for a couple of seasons and again winning his share of races.
Ross passed in January of 2020.
- 1964 at Western – #2 Ross Surgenor and #8 John Harris during a Jalopy main event (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1965 at Western – Ross on his way to a Jalopy main event win (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1966 at Nanaimo – Ross (at left) and Don Cummins with their #1 Jalopy (Ted Mackenzie photo).
- 1967 at Western – Ross and fellow competitors during a Stockcar main event (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1967 driver photo of Ross (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1968 at Western – Ross winning the very 1st Superstock trophy dash (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1968 at Western – Superstock main event with #64 Rollie Clarke and #22 Roy Haslam alongside Ross (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1970 at Western – #58 Superstock with (standing left to right) Frank Perry and Ross Surgenor and (below left to right) Gus Stanfield and Bob Crooks (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1970 at Western – Ross following a main event win (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1971 at Western – Ross in the 1st outing of the new ’68 Ford Torino Superstock (Terry Kirkbride photo for “Piston Post” magazine).
- 1973 at Western – Open Competition event with Harold Hardesty outside of Ross (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1973 promotional photo of Ross (photographer unknown).
- 1974 at Western – Ross in Dick Midgley’s #29 Chevelle battles with #32 Louie York during a main event (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1988 induction ceremony – Ross with “Hall of Fame” executive members Frank Kitto (center) and Ross Rockett (right) (Barrie Goodwin photo).
- 1990 – Ross and the OTRA car that he drove, which was owned by Vic Littleproud (Robert G. “Bob” Hunter photo).
- 1988 Inductee Ross Surgenor – artist’s portrait