It took 40 years to lose the B次元官网网址渋tch,B次元官网网址� but Roy Haslam created a life away from the race track.
It wasnB次元官网网址檛 long into his second life, when one of HaslamB次元官网网址檚 sons, who also races, offered up his race car to dad, who was there to watch.
B次元官网网址淚t was all prepped and ready for me to take one more spin around Western Speedway,B次元官网网址� said the former racing great. B次元官网网址淚 said B次元官网网址榥o way.B次元官网网址� It was only a few years ago and I told him, B次元官网网址榠f I get into that car, the itch will start all over again.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
The 66-year-old hasnB次元官网网址檛 raced competitively since the 1990s. His accomplishments as a super stock driver, open wheel and off-road made him an automatic for the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame, which inducted him in 1999. This weekend HaslamB次元官网网址檚 success transcends auto racing, as he joins the 2012 class of Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame inductees.
HeB次元官网网址檚 one of the few motorsports men to do so, as he enters with a list of national-level athletes and legendary builders. All will be celebrated at the annual banquet, Saturday night in the Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence. (See list below.)
ItB次元官网网址檚 a return to the glory years of racing for Haslam, though he isnB次元官网网址檛 a stranger to the race track these days either. His sons Mike, 41, and Robbie, 42, continue racing. Mike in the K & N series and super late model stock cars, and Robbie in a sprint car.
Today Roy is a shop foreman at the Alpine GroupB次元官网网址檚 Langford facility, where heB次元官网网址檚 been for 17 years. He still uses some of the skills he honed at the speedway in 1961, when Roy joined the crew on a car owned by his dad Jim.
B次元官网网址淚 think they let me hold a rag, wipe the wheels,B次元官网网址� Roy chuckles.
More and more often though, Roy held a wrench, and it didnB次元官网网址檛 take long to learn his way around. By 1965, at 19-years-old, he got his own jalopy (stockB次元官网网址檚 predecessor), a B次元官网网址�49 Ford. In 1967, he was approached to drive a car owned by Harvey Chipper, and became that yearB次元官网网址檚 points champion.
B次元官网网址淚t was different then. You made your own parts. You could buy some stuff, but now itB次元官网网址檚 all bought,B次元官网网址� he recalled.
By the 1970s, he and his crew were traveling to one race after another in Washington, Oregon and California, and working on the car when they got there.
B次元官网网址淲e were weekend racers, back by Monday morning. We all had jobs to be at. We slept in the truck at the ferry terminal, or sometimes threw our sleeping bag down in the bushes.B次元官网网址�
There were long hauls, too, regular jaunts out to Illinois and Minnesota.
B次元官网网址淣ow in life, IB次元官网网址檝e been going back and looking at places I raced. IB次元官网网址檓 smelling the roses, so to speak,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚 can tell you what the local restaurants looked like, but weB次元官网网址檇 be at the race track all day and leave at midnight without really knowing what the place was like.B次元官网网址�
The mobile crew continued their travels into the 1980s until Haslam finally quit in the 1990s.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been married 16 years (to my wife), kind of my second life, and the race track isnB次元官网网址檛 running my life anymore,B次元官网网址� Roy said.
B次元官网网址淣ot that I would change anything. The camaraderie with all the drivers, you canB次元官网网址檛 beat it. Getting in and driving something you and your crew worked so hard on, you have a smile on your face, even on the bad days.B次元官网网址�
RoyB次元官网网址檚 parents Jim and Lorraine entered the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1985 and 1996, respectively, and his ex-wife, Angie, was also inducted in 2000. Jim was part of Langford Speedway in the 1940s and helped found Western Speedway in 1954. And now the next generation of Haslams haunt the track, RoyB次元官网网址檚 granddaughters, seven-year-old cousins Courtenay and Peyton.
Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame 2012 Inductees
induction ceremonies and dinner, Oct. 27 at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence.
Alan Wills B次元官网网址� Athlete (Archery) Canadian Archery Champion in 1980 and an exemplary, long standing career as competitor, coach, judge and member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Canadian Archers for the past forty years.
Roy Haslam B次元官网网址� Athlete (Auto Racing) Haslam won dozens of championships throughout the 70s and 80s in the Super Stock series including the I.D.C. Championship (Open SS) in 1978 when he was named winning driver of the year.
Tracie McAra B次元官网网址� Athlete (Basketball) McAra helped the Vikettes to three CIAU Championship titles in 1980, B次元官网网址�81 and B次元官网网址�82. She was named CIAU First Team all-Canadian in 1982-83 and she played for the Canadian National Team for 6 years. She also played in the B次元官网网址�84 Olympics
Whitey Severson and Archie Browning B次元官网网址� Athletes (Lacrosse) The duo of Archie Browning and Whitey Severson played for the Victoria Shamrocks in the 1950s and they were often referred to as the "Gold Dust Twins" for their blond hair.
Gorge Hotel (1954 B次元官网网址� 59) B次元官网网址揟eam (Softball) Beginning in 1954, the legendary Joe Bryant led the Gorge Hotel men to a then-record six straight B.C. championships.
- Builder. From a career playing pro hockey during the 40s and 50s to a three decades long contributor to local sports at the Archie Browning Arena, Iannarelli had a positive impact on dozens of young skaters who went on to careers in the NHL.
George Jones B次元官网网址� Builder. Jones has made significant contributions to the local rugby scene for more than forty years. He was a founder of the Braefoot Athletic Centre Association and he was founding member of the Victoria Commonwealth Games Society, as well as being an ongoing influence with Velox Rugby Club and the local rugby scene.
