Judy Taylor has been a dedicated race fan and an avid supporter of auto racing for most of her life.

Living in Langford as a child provided Judy the opportunity to frequent the old Langford Speedway and develop a fondness for racing. When Western Speedway first opened in 1954 she started going to the races there and continued to do so until the final checkered flag fell in 2022. On a few occasions back in the day she even graced the track as a Trophy Girl.

Judy was, along with her husband Stewart, an active member in the Victoria Motor Sport Club (VMSC) for many years with the two of them driving in various classes on the Island with Judy always being a fierce competitor. Weekends were filled with mud, gravel and parking lots as they travelled around with the Trials car,VW or Dune Buggy in tow.

At Western, Judy spent countless hours in the grandstands cheering on all the various classes that raced which included her son Dale’s racing career which started in 1978.

For the past twenty-plus years, Judy was a loyal Speedway employee as the smiling face at the Back Gate window. She greeted each driver and crew member in her friendly manner and wished them all good luck. Judy thoroughly enjoyed working at Western Speedway and seeing her racing family every weekend.

Judy Taylor (photographer unknown).

Mary Collier soon became somewhat of a fixture at Western Speedway following her first time as a spectator in 1983,

She had many active roles over the years starting with assisting the Cement Crew and being a crew member for drivers including Gary “Mad Dog” Madden, Ray Bowen, Dale Taylor and the Haslam family just to name a few. Mary was also a Trophy Girl, 50/50 Ticket Seller, Assistant Pit Boss, sign painter, party organizer and volunteer for anything that was happening.

She helped in many classes starting with the Demo club when it was VISDDA and later after it became LITRA. She also took to the oval in Powderpuff races along with Shelly Hampton and Sharon Constantine and in 1990 joined the Vancouver Island Track Racing Association when Bill Price was the President. Mary owned and volunteered in classes including Claimers, Stockcars, Thunder Cars and the “Ensign Motors Travel Series” Sportsman division.

At the end of the 2000 season, Mary took time away from the track but returned in 2019 as a spectator and was thrilled when Starter Ron Tytgat asked her to flag her first-ever race. In 2021 and 2022 she joined “Force Two Racing” with the Haslams and at the end of the track’s final season she worked every weekend helping with the dismantling and preservation of everything possible that could be saved for the new speedway.

Mary Collier (photographer unknown).

Former racer and 2008 Pioneer award recipient Chuck Horne has passed and we extend our condolences to his family and friends.

Chuck first took to Western’s oval in a Stockcar in 1955 and saw his race win and good finish record in his #31 car increase over the next three years which culminated in a first place finish in the 1958 season opener main event where he was followed by second place Dave Cooper and third place Nanaimo’s Hank Neilson.

In the years following his racing involvement, Chuck kept in touch with former fellow racers including Doug Rose.

The executive members are very pleased to announce that we will be honouring the following Inductees and Pioneer award recipients at the 2024 40th anniversary induction ceremony.  Inductees will be Jeff Montgomery and Don Cummins with Pioneer award winners including Chuck Gust of “Mid Island Engines” and also Currier brothers Mike, Bill, John and Pat.  In addition, 2003 Inductee Larry Pollard will make the trip from his home in North Carolina to be present as a guest speaker.  The ceremony will be held in the upstairs banquet room of the View Royal Casino on Saturday April 13th 2024 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  Tickets will go on sale January 8th 2024 at a cost of $60.00 each.  At this time you may reserve yours by responding to George Jenson’s post on the “Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame” Facebook site.  Here is a link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/475464265853239/

We are saddened to learn of the the recent passing of former Western Speedway Track Security Officer and 1998 “Pioneer” award winner Milt Schop.

Beginning in the late 1960’s and for many years thereafter, Milt ensured that Western Speedway’s patrons didn’t have to put up with fellow fans who were being overly loud and/or annoying, as well as pursuing and apprehending those freeloaders who sought to avoid paying admission by attempting to watch the evening’s races from the track’s first turn hill or other non-grandstand locations. He carried out his duties with dead seriousness and extreme dedication, but also with a heart of gold. Those few “extreme case” individuals who sought to physically challenge Milt’s authority quickly paid for their indiscretion with a quick and decisive blow from his large and very heavy metal flashlight which he always carried. Living a short distance away from the track on Millstream Road, he was always the last person to leave after making sure that all fans had left and that the entire property was secure. He was well liked by Speedway officials, fans and competitors alike.

We extend our sincere condolences to the entire Wade family following the passing of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Ruby, who along with her late husband Les, was inducted into the Hall of Fame’s Pioneer category in 1997.

As long-time residents of Jordan River, Ruby and Les began taking their sons to Western Speedway in the 1950’s where they all cheered on their favourite drivers Dave Cooper and Billy Foster. This instilled a love of auto racing in the five boys who went on to not only compete in the Speedway’s Stockcar, Super Stock and Open Competition classes but to also serve in various Vancouver Island Track Racing Association (VITRA) and Western Speedway official’s and executive’s positions 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.