We are saddened to learn of the passing of 2015 Inductee Harry Roberts and offer our condolences to his family and friends.

HARRY ROBERTS 2015 INDUCTEE

We are very saddened to mark the passing of 1985 Inductee Dick Varley and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

https://victoriaautoracinghalloffameandmuseum.com/dick-varley-1985-inductee

We have only just learned that 2016 Pioneer award recipient Gary Haskell passed away in July of last year. Belated and sincere condolences to his wife Linda, son Kenny and brother Rick and their families.

Gary’s first active participation in racing was in 1965 when he crewed on the #66 Jalopy which was driven by Norm King. Gary stayed on Norm’s crew the following year when they ran a 1949 Pontiac in the Jalopy class. After the car was retired at mid-season, Gary built up his own car, a 1951 Chevy and competed for the remainder of that year. For 1967, he teamed up with Dave Ireland and with Gary behind the wheel they ran a total of three cars in the Stockcar division over the next two years.

Gary served as a VITRA Safety Man in 1969, tried his hand at “Figure 8” racing and then drove a 1955 Pontiac Super Stock in 1971. A 1964 Chevelle Super Stock was his ride in 1972.

Gary then joined OTRA (Old Time Racers Association) where he was assisted in the pits by his wife Linda and his son Kenny and then later spent several seasons in the Sprintcar ranks with Kenny as the driver.

We are very saddened to learn of the passing of 2009 Pioneer award recipient Lawrence Fox and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Lawrence began his association with auto racing in 1967 as a crew member on the #12 Dodge Stockcar driven by Fred Best and also that year served his first of what would be five consecutive terms as the Treasurer of the Vancouver Island Track Racing Association (VITRA).

Remaining as a crew member with Fred’s move up to Super Modifieds in 1968, Lawrence and fellow crew member Ken Holding formed “F & H Racing Enterprises” with Lawrence, who was now a full Chartered Accountant, keeping track of their #12 car’s expenses when they travelled to the many Canadian and US tracks on the CAMRA (Canadian American Modified Racing Association) circuit. Lawrence’s very precise bookkeeping was very much in evidence when at one point it was discovered that there was a fifteen cent discrepancy and it was later discovered that someone had purchased a package of chewing gum and hadn’t told Lawrence.

In 1975, Lawrence became the Treasurer for Western Speedway, a position he would hold until the track’s sale to Frank Willie in 1982.

Lawrence then later joined OTRA (Old Time Racers Association) where his involvement included being part owner of a car after which he stepped away into racing retirement.

In 2016, Daryl Crocker stepped into the role of General Manager at Western Speedway, quickly making his mark on the organization. He revamped the Speedway’s schedule, forged new business partnerships and strengthened car counts across all classes. That inaugural season featured exciting new events including the Opening Night of Mayhem, a three-day Monster Truck weekend with a Sunday matinee for children and the debut of the annual Crazy Train Stunt Productions car jump season finale. To support these developments, billboard advertising space was expanded and the Claimer class was reintroduced as a North American-made four cylinder option which provided an affordable entry point for new racers.

Daryl’s leadership fostered a noticeably-positive racing community, creating a welcoming environment where everyone felt at home. This sense of belonging resonated deeply, laying the foundation for lifelong relationships among racer, families and friends.  In subsequent years, Daryl continued to enhance the Speedway’s offerings. He further expanded billboard space and strengthened business relationships while also making substantial improvements to the facility. In 2018 he introduced “Hangover Breakfasts” for race teams during two-day events which fostered camaraderie among participants. The 2019 season season brought significant enhancements to the track’s infield which included new concrete pads throughout the pit area as well as the exciting debut of a racecar parade through the streets of Langford.

The 2020 season was marked by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the Reg Midgley Canada 200 becoming the only event of the year. Despite these difficulties, the race gained national attention through it’s broadcast on CHEK-TV. The popularity of this coverage continued to grow in the following years. With 2021 came further challenges including a shortened season due to the ongoing pandemic coupled with the heartbreaking announcement that the property Western Speedway occupied would be sold to a developer, signalling the end of an era for the beloved venue.  In response, Daryl took action by forming a non-profit organization, VISSA (Vancouver Island Safe Sport Association), dedicated to finding a new location for Langford’s cherished speedway. Following it’s closure, he organized the dismantling and storage of the grandstands, ensuring they could be reassembled at a future site.

Darryl remained actively involved in the racing community managing the Late Model class and providing trackside parts and tire sales to support racers at Saratoga Motorsports Park. His dedication and leadership have left a lasting impact on the Speedway and it’s community nurturing a spirit of connection that will endure for years to come.

Barb had always been a bit of an “adrenaline junkie”, a girl that liked powerful things. First with horses and later with guys who had hot cars. From the first time she went to Western Speedway at the age of fifteen, Barb was hooked. At the ripe old age of eighteen, she met Ken Jay who was competing at the track and in 1966 she married him.

Discovering that a lot of the wives and girlfriends of racers felt left out, Barb took that information to her good friend Susan Biggs and said, “What do you think about starting a club for the girls that makes them feel included, supportive and helpful but not interfering?”. Between Sue and Barb they phoned at least one girl on every pit crew and told them about the idea and when the first meeting would be held. There followed a meeting with Reg Midgley in order to run it by VITRA (the “Vancouver Island Track Racing Association”) and as of October of 1967 they became “VITRA’s First Ladies”. Barb was twenty years old. It wasn’t until 1970 that the new club was recognized at that season’s annual banquet at which their first three presidents (Sue Biggs, Eileen Currier and Barb Handysides (Jay) ) were presented with a beautiful bouquet of roses and also a gavel which Barb still has. With the help of Marion Currier, Barb designed the First Ladies crest and the membership voted to wear white pants and black jackets similar to the ones worn by VITRA members.

It was the purpose of the First Ladies club to plan dances and other social functions for the benefit of the racing clubs which they did, along with so much more. They held Tupperware parties and other fund raisers which went to good causes which included helping a needy family which was a member of the local racing community, decorating floats for the annual Victoria Day parade and driving the Speedway’s pace car in the Oak Bay Tea Party parade (which was scary as the car’s engine kept overheating!). In addition, the girls sold programs at the track as well as photos taken by Barrie Goodwin and racing publications including Racing Wheels and Piston Post (whom Barb later worked for) and also VITRA key chains. The club also held Christmas parties for the children of racers and made donations to the Colonist 500 club, the Salvation Army, Santas Anonymous and the Lions telethon. They also worked the Speedway’s back gate and some of the club’s members became Lap Recorders.

At one of the club’s meetings with Reg Midgley, they asked if Western could bring back the Powderpuff races which was something that Barb really wanted to participate in but by the time the track finally said, “Yes”, Barb found herself pregnant and not able to enter. But if she had been able to, she’s sure she could have beaten Wendy Surgenor.

In 2014, VTRA First Ladies were inducted into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame in the Pioneer category following which Barb spearheaded the group that designed and set up the club’s display in the Hall of Fame’s museum. She also found sponsors to help with some of the items needed for the display and said that it was great to be able to reconnect with so many people she had known back then.

On a more recent note, for the past three to four years Barb has been delighted to be part of the Silent Auction and Door Prize committee for the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and also for getting Rogers TV to record and televise the events.

In Barb’s words, “I feel very blessed and proud to have been a part of this amazing group of ladies and all that we have accomplished over the years”.

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.