Auto racing

Bill Okell of Saanich navigates a turn on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during a past Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs race. Okell had a career-best fifth place overall finish in the F Production class on the SCCA’s Super Tour for 2022. (Photo by Mark Webber)

Saanich driver winds up No. 5 nationwide on sports car racing series

Bill Okell posts best-ever overall finish on SCCA Super Tour with 2022 results

 

In 1986, Rocky Horne became the full-time track announcer, kicking off an impressive 23-and-half-year announcing career. Rocky ‘silver tongue’ Horne coined many nicknames. (Contributed)

Nicknames part of racing legacy at Langford’s Western Speedway

From Len ‘Digger’ O’Dell to ‘Smokin’ Joe Liberatore, drivers have long attracted monikers

 

Saanich driver Bill Okell rolls into the pits after winning the sprint race at the Sports Car Club of America US Majors Tour event at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway on May 14. (Photo by Leigh Urquhart)

Saanich racer moves up in national standings, despite more mechanical woes

Bill Okell drives to a first and second in SCCA races in Portland

 

Kart drivers round a turn at the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit during races hosted by the Vancouver Island Karting Association on May 8. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Provincial series revs up near Duncan as part of karting’s Vancouver Island revival

Motorsport circuit in Cowichan is ideal for kart racing

Kart drivers round a turn at the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit during races hosted by the Vancouver Island Karting Association on May 8. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
President Dave Ferguson of the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame said the museum will have to leave its current home at the Westshore Motorsports Park in September and is currently searching for space to store its artifacts. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame hoping to preserve artifacts before fall closure

The museum is looking for storage space until a new permanent home is found

President Dave Ferguson of the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame said the museum will have to leave its current home at the Westshore Motorsports Park in September and is currently searching for space to store its artifacts. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Saratoga Speedway 2022 racing season kicked off Saturday, April 30. Photo by Doug Waller

Hornets create a buzz at Saratoga Speedway for 2022 season opener

By Pat Monsigneur Special to Black Press Saratoga Motorsports Park kicked-off the…

The Saratoga Speedway 2022 racing season kicked off Saturday, April 30. Photo by Doug Waller
Jim Laird #52, Howie Bianchi #2, and Jimmy Wilburn prepare for their race in 1935 in front of a capacity crowd at Willows Speedway in Oak Bay. (Photo contributed)

Speedway Spotlight: Langford had a speedway many years before Western

A look at the tracks around Greater Victoria

Jim Laird #52, Howie Bianchi #2, and Jimmy Wilburn prepare for their race in 1935 in front of a capacity crowd at Willows Speedway in Oak Bay. (Photo contributed)
Crash to Pass is a fan favourite at Saratoga Speedway. Douglas Waller photo

Owners of Vancouver Island racetrack withdraw controversial expansion plan

Public hearing for Saratoga Speedway withdrawn after community backlash

Crash to Pass is a fan favourite at Saratoga Speedway. Douglas Waller photo
A competitor navigates an obstacle with the help of a spotter Saturday during the Island Cup extreme 4x4 competition at the Westshore Motorsports Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Island Cup 4×4 competition brings mud and rocks to Westshore Motorsports Park

Custom vehicles competed by driving over extreme obstacles Saturday and Sunday

A competitor navigates an obstacle with the help of a spotter Saturday during the Island Cup extreme 4x4 competition at the Westshore Motorsports Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Saanich auto racer Bill Okell (car 7) leads a line of cars through a downward curve in the Sports Car Club of America racing at Buttonwillow Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif. Okell won both the F Production class sprint race Feb. 19 and the 25-lap race on Feb. 20. (Photo by Cali Photography)

Saanich driver muscles his way to second win of weekend in California

Wrecked gearbox on second day doesn’t prevent Bill Okell from sweeping national tour races

Saanich auto racer Bill Okell (car 7) leads a line of cars through a downward curve in the Sports Car Club of America racing at Buttonwillow Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif. Okell won both the F Production class sprint race Feb. 19 and the 25-lap race on Feb. 20. (Photo by Cali Photography)
Shawn Driver proudly stands next to his in Sooke shop. (Bailey Moreton - Sooke News Mirror)

Fast enough for you? Vancouver Island racer hits record speed of 468 km/h

High-speed driver Shawn Driver is breaking records, but still wants to go faster

Shawn Driver proudly stands next to his in Sooke shop. (Bailey Moreton - Sooke News Mirror)
Bill Okell of Saanich (77, left) is edged for fifth place by Jason LaManna of Rochester, N.Y. in the H Production class race Friday (Oct. 1) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, during the 2021 Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs. (Photo courtesy of Mark Webber)

Saanich’s Bill Okell posts career best sixth at Indy in sports car nationals

Late charge after crash halts race leaves Okell a whisker away from fifth at SCCA championships

  • Oct 2, 2021
Bill Okell of Saanich (77, left) is edged for fifth place by Jason LaManna of Rochester, N.Y. in the H Production class race Friday (Oct. 1) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, during the 2021 Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs. (Photo courtesy of Mark Webber)
Bill Okell of Saanich navigates a turn on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during Thursday qualifying for the Oct. 1 Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs race. Okell qualified 11th in the 44-car H Production class field. (Photo by Mark Webber)

Saanich sports car driver to start 11th in 44-car field at Indy

Bill Okell making his second national runoffs appearance at the famed U.S. track

Bill Okell of Saanich navigates a turn on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during Thursday qualifying for the Oct. 1 Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs race. Okell qualified 11th in the 44-car H Production class field. (Photo by Mark Webber)
Sports Car Club of America U.S. Majors Tour second-place finisher Jerry Olsen, left, joins H Production class race winner Bill Okell on the podium at High Plains Raceway near Denver on Aug. 22. (Photo courtesy Bill Okell/Colorado Region SCCA)

Saanich sports car driver qualifies for Indy, and then some during Denver races

Bill Okell chalks up a first and a second, needing only to complete 50 per cent of laps

Sports Car Club of America U.S. Majors Tour second-place finisher Jerry Olsen, left, joins H Production class race winner Bill Okell on the podium at High Plains Raceway near Denver on Aug. 22. (Photo courtesy Bill Okell/Colorado Region SCCA)
The late Neil Montgomery stands proudly with a motor he built in his shop behind Malahat Auto Parts. The longtime supporter and participant in auto racing at the former Western Speedway will be memorialized there on Aug. 20. The service coincides with Daffodil Cup weekend at the track, one of Montgomery’s favourite events of the season. (Photo by Donna Rand)

Longtime friend to Vancouver Island auto racers to be memorialized Aug. 20

Neil Montgomery wore many hats in his race career: builder, hall 0f fame president and more

The late Neil Montgomery stands proudly with a motor he built in his shop behind Malahat Auto Parts. The longtime supporter and participant in auto racing at the former Western Speedway will be memorialized there on Aug. 20. The service coincides with Daffodil Cup weekend at the track, one of Montgomery’s favourite events of the season. (Photo by Donna Rand)
Bill Okell manoeuvres his MG Midget around a corner at Buttonwillow Speedway in Bakersfield, Calif. during a February 2020 race. Okell will be in Denver this month attempting to qualify for the Sports Car Club of America nationals in Indianapolis this fall. (Photo by Cali Photography)

Dream to race at Indianapolis one last time close to reality for Saanich driver

Bill Okell aims to be in the U.S. auto racing mecca this fall

Bill Okell manoeuvres his MG Midget around a corner at Buttonwillow Speedway in Bakersfield, Calif. during a February 2020 race. Okell will be in Denver this month attempting to qualify for the Sports Car Club of America nationals in Indianapolis this fall. (Photo by Cali Photography)
Canadian driver Paul Tracy pulls out of the pits during the morning session at the Molson Indy in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, July 26, 2003 (CP/Richard Lam)

Vancouver is considering hosting a Formula E race using electric cars

The race would be part of a three-day event focused on climate and sustainability

Canadian driver Paul Tracy pulls out of the pits during the morning session at the Molson Indy in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, July 26, 2003 (CP/Richard Lam)
Former Highlands resident Josh Reaume was suspended by NASCAR last fall for a social media post and was recently reinstated. (Black Press Media file photo)

Former Greater Victoria racer welcomed back to NASCAR after suspension

A toaster strudel got Josh Reaume disciplined last year

Former Highlands resident Josh Reaume was suspended by NASCAR last fall for a social media post and was recently reinstated. (Black Press Media file photo)
Former Highlands resident Josh Reaume was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR following a social media post that breached members’ code of conduct. (Black Press Media file photo)

NASCAR suspends former Vancouver Island resident for insensitive social media post

Josh Reaume ‘sorry’ if food photo ‘taken out of context’ offended anyone

Former Highlands resident Josh Reaume was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR following a social media post that breached members’ code of conduct. (Black Press Media file photo)
Bill Okell captured two first-place finishes and a second-place finish at the Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs Championships on Sept. 26 and 27. (Brent Martin/Martin’s Action Photography)

Saanich race car driver nabs GTU title, new hardware at Mission Raceway Park

‘Satisfying win’ on Canadian circuit after U.S. season cut short for Bill Okell

Bill Okell captured two first-place finishes and a second-place finish at the Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs Championships on Sept. 26 and 27. (Brent Martin/Martin’s Action Photography)