Stockcar Champ Happy Just To Win At Western

- by Lois Pollard-Grant

Winning the stockcar championship on Oct. 2 this year was unquestionably the highlight of Mike Dibblee's 15 year racing career.

Over the years, Mike has earned his fair share of accolades, such as Sportsman of the Year awards and Most Improved Driver, but until this year, he has never won a championship.

"To win the championship and to almost win the championship race, was the biggest highlight of my career," he said.

And to finish the race in second place, after having to start from the back two times during the course of the race, certainly added frosting to the cake.

Mike, driver of the #14 stockcar, believes that in order to have any measure of success in auto racing, you have to do your homework and car maintenance, and you have got to have good luck.

"We were really lucky a few times this year," he commented.

The past two years were disappointing ones for the Dibblee team, and receiving a hard luck trophy (in 1997) can only serve as a reminder of a year that would perhaps just as soon be forgotten.

"It's hard to stay motivated sometimes when things aren't going your way."

The 44 year-old Colwood resident, unlike many race drivers who dream of advancing to the higher ranks of auto racing, is apparently content to race at the local level and has no plans to move up.

"I've always ran stockcars," he said. "And I'm happy running stockcars. I just like to go out and have fun. I realize it's a hobby and I won't spend a family fortune doing it."

Mike works on the car and is assisted with the engine building by Dan McAmmond. Jeff Yoell and Fabian Desgagne complete the crew. Sponsors of the 1981 Malibu (owned by Linda McAmmond) are Save on Gas, Ellice Automotive and Goldstream Electric.

Mike is married to Sharon and has two grown daughters Kristen and Karyn, who are loyal supporters of his favorite sport. The quiet spoken graduate of the 1973 class of Belmont High, would like to be remembered in racing simply as a nice person who helped out around the track.

- as printed in the Goldstream News Gazette - October 18, 1999