We are very saddened to learn of the passing of 2019 Inductee Robert Pallister and extend our condolences to his entire family and many friends.

http://victoriaautoracinghalloffameandmuseum.com/robert-and-melvin-pallister-2019-inductees

Tickets are now available for the the 2025 induction ceremony which will take place at the “Elements Casino” in Colwood on April 12th with doors opening at 1:00. 

The cost is $65.00 each and they can be obtained from members of the Executive Committee: http://victoriaautoracinghalloffameandmuseum.com/committee-members

The 2025 Inductees include Darrell Midgley, Lance Wade and Rick Cudby along with Barb Handysides as the Pioneer category award winner. 

History:

At the annual pre-season press banquet in advance of Western Speedway’s twenty-fifth year of operation in 1978, the track’s founder Andy Cottyn was honoured with a commemorative plaque along with a new award, the “Andy Cottyn Appreciation Trophy”, which would be be given each season to the winner of a special main event. Following it’s awarding in 1990, it was retired to the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame’s Museum under the Speedway’s grandstands where it resided until the track’s closure in 2022. For the 2023 induction ceremony, the trophy was brought back by the Hall of Fame’s Executive to be given each year to an individual for their commitment to Island auto racing.

2023 winner – Rob Leighton

Rob Leighton always had an undeniable love for the sport of auto racing. Saratoga Speedway was a big part of his life from 1998 through 2008 and when the opportunity came a few years ago, it wasn’t difficult for him to transition back into the world of motorsport with the purchase of the track.

Although he finds that owning a racetrack has it’s challenges, it has been a huge success and Rob truly feels like it is where he and his family are supposed to be.

Rob Leighton was humbled to be chosen as the first recipient in many years of the Andy Cottyn Appreciation Trophy for his commitment to Island auto racing.

2024 winner – Dave Ireland

Dave Ireland has been a part of the racing community for many years starting with his active involvement in 1966. He is now and has been the name behind so much of the information and history of racing on Vancouver Island posted on the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame website and the Hall of Fame Facebook site. The web page was started in 1991.

The racing community is truly grateful to Dave for his dedication and hard work keeping us all up to date on current events and also making us aware of how important the past accomplishments were so that there will always be a future for racing on the Island.

Chuck Gust’s “Mid Island Engine and Machine Ltd.”, located on Pokey Road in Duncan BC, has been helping the auto racing community since 1986. Chuck and his staff have built and dynoed (being one of the few shops in the area equipped with an engine dyno machine) many of the race engines used not only on the Island, but also the Mainland. Chuck’s shop also works on domestic, import, industrial and marine gas and diesel engines. In addition, they are a full service Machine Shop.

We are pleased to welcome Chuck Gust’s “Mid Island Engine & Machine Ltd.” as one of our 2024 Pioneer award recipients!

https://midislandengine.com/

After a few years as an avid spectator and a fan of Stockcar driver Phil Lambrick, Mike, the eldest of the four Currier brothers, began his active participation in local auto racing in 1958 as a Stockcar owner with a 1935 Ford sedan driven by Wally Lum and was soon followed by his three younger brothers. Youngest brother Pat crewed for Bob Bissenden on a “Road Stock” in 1960 and later with Bob on Jalopies and Stockcars as well as partnering with Albert Smith on a Jalopy in 1964. Third eldest brother Bill took to Western’s oval in a Jalopy in 1961 finishing eighth in that season’s points standings and was also behind the wheel in 1965 and 1966 with Mike and John on his crew. John, the second eldest, became a crew member on the red #42 Dodge Stockcar driven by Barry Bissett in 1963 which included his first appearance behind the wheel in it at one race meet that year. John started driving full seasons starting in 1967 with Mike and Pat as members of his crew.

Mike continued into the late 1960’s and ’70’s as a car owner with brother John and Ronnie Hancock as his drivers as well as Ernie West who piloted Mike’s Open Competition Super Stock. Bill became an Assistant Pit Boss in 1967, an infield official’s position that Mike and Pat also occupied during different seasons including 1969 when Mike, Bill and Pat all worked under Head Pit Boss Frank Kitto. The brother’s involvement also spread to the Executive of the “Vancouver Island Track Racing Association” (VITRA) with Mike as Vice-President in 1969 and 1974, Pat as Back Gate and Membership Chairman in 1968 and Secretary in 1970 and John as a Director for a number of years starting in 1973. Mike and John were also were involved with the “Old Time Racers Association” (OTRA) in later years, Mike as a car owner and John as a driver.

Mike became an Executive member of the “Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame” shortly after it’s formation in 1983 and was inducted into it in 2000. Bill moved to the Kootenays where he was involved at the Cranbrook racetrack with Pat moving to Kelowna while John remained in Victoria. Mike is currently living in Oliver BC.

We are pleased to welcome the Currier brothers into the “Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame” as recipients of our 2024 Pioneer award!

Here is a video recorded by Sean Morris of the final lap at Western Speedway which was taken by Jim Steen at the track’s grand finale on Saturday, September 17th, 2022.