by Lois Pollard-Grant

When you've been around Western Speedway for as long as track photographer, Barrie Goodwin, there's not much that his eagle eye misses - whether it be a photo shot or the workings of the pit area.

His uncle Virg Lalonde, took Barrie at the age of 10, to his first race at the old Langford Speedway. "He was my first drug dealer," Barrie quipped. "Racing is a drug - and it's my drug of choice."

After a brief stint in racing at the old Colwood dirt track, which was fun, but after crashing a couple of times, Barrie decided to pursue a less expensive hobby.

Taking pictures is a labor of love for the Gordon Head resident, who began his photography career in 1955 at Western Speedway.

Barrie enjoys taking pictures of anything that's "interesting" - which could be a trophy girl or a crash. "At a ¾ midget race in California," he said, "14 different cars flipped in one race - and I caught them all."

Goodwin has captured history at close to 40 tracks in Canada and the United States including Ontario Motor Speedway in California, The King Dome in Seattle, and Evergreen Speedway.

Barrie's genius for picture taking is obvious in his numerous albums that date back to the early 1950's; and his photos have appeared in many international publications such as Stockcar Racing, Open Wheel Racing and Racing Wheels.

Auto racing photography can be a risky business.

"I've actually had (only) two accidents," Barrie said, - once in California during a Winston West race when a driver came right at me."

"The driver pointed the way he wanted me to go. It was so close that his tire rubbed against my battery pack."

And at Western Speedway, in the 1963 Daffodil Cup race, a harmonic balancer flew off a car, through the infield, and hit his leg - "That was my only real injury."

He said, "I'm taking a calculated risk, and I know it can be extremely dangerous - I put a great trust in the drivers."

"The only drivers that give me a little apprehension are the demo trucks and Big Rigs. But I feel I am still fast enough if I have to be."

Auto racing for Barrie who is 67 and single, is like a big family - "I enjoy seeing father and sons racing, and now the grandkids are racing. The Wades and the Zeinstra's - they are all neat people."

"Camaraderie among drivers is great," he said. "Generally you will see guys helping out other guys - then beating them on the track."

"A good example," he explained, "is Dan Fisher in demo cars. A whole bunch of guys (racing opponents) helped him to get back into the points."

"Racing, he added, "is a family affair, especially for boys, but now more girls are getting involved. It's a family outing. Racers together - stay together."

The perpetual Goodwin Cup for demo cars is named for Barrie Goodwin. He has a lifetime honorary membership in LITRA, as well as a Hall of Fame, "Pioneer Award".

Barrie not only takes pictures, but will be the first to arrive with a fire extinguisher in hand, to put out a fire or to the scene of an accident to help out.

And through his photos, auto racing history at many tracks will be preserved for years to come.