by Lois Pollard-Grant

The tradition of auto racing in the Haslam family has been on-going for the past 65 years.

The long and colorful career of the family began with Jim Haslam in the late 1930's, as a crew member, car owner, and wrecker operator at the old Langford Speedway.

His cars were driven by Billy Foster in the early 1960's, with Jim going on to the Indianapolis 500 with Foster in 1965.

Jim's son, Roy, when in his early teens, worked with his dad as crew member on Foster's modified, which was owned and sponsored by the senior Haslam.

After Roy's debut into the jalopy class at Western Speedway in the early 1960's, he went on to become a preeminent driver at his home track and throughout the Pacific Northwest for four decades.

Roy had won championships in each of those decades - from the 60's through the '90's; and is perhaps best remembered for his unprecedented eight Pro Stock titles.

Roy's sons, Mike (33) and Robbie (31) grew up surrounded by the lure of auto racing, and didn't need any encouragement from their dad to go racing.

"It was just a natural process" - from watching their dad race when they were kids - to traveling with their parents to races - then finally to climbing behind the wheel of their own race cars.

Mike launched his racing career in the bomber class at Western Speedway in the mid 1980's. He had used his winnings from an Enduro race to buy his first race car.

Progressing to stockcars then on to the sportsman series, he established a reputation as one of Victoria's top drivers. Today Mike races in the States, in the NASCAR Winston Weekly Racing Series.

Robbie got his first taste of racing in go-karts. He then ran stockcars for several years at Western where he consistently won his share of races. Currently, he is making waves in the hit-to-pass demo car camp.

"Blood is thicker than water" comes through loud and clear in the Haslam family.

When Roy was once black flagged from a race over a window net incident, his sons came in force onto the speedway front stretch - Robbie, with shirt removed and ready to duke it out on his dad's behalf.

While Roy may not condone this sort of action; he affirms "whatever issues came up at the track, that was where they were left."

Mike and Robbie, who were both BMX racers in their youth, agree the role of family in racing is important.

"Because you are always doing things together, it keeps you as a close family," Mike said. "I wouldn't have been able to do it (race) without my family."

"The only thing I wished, is that my grandfather (Jim Haslam) could have seen me race."

Mike then recalled what his grandmother (Lorraine Haslam) had once said - "even though he is not here, he knows and he is watching."

The Haslam matriarch holds a keen interest in the racing careers of her boys, yet she never watched her son, Roy, race in the later years of his career - "it just made me too nervous," she said.

Now 83, she makes an annual appearance to Western Speedway for presentations to the winning driver of the Jim Haslam Memorial Race.

The racing highlight of her life, she said, came two years ago when she presented the Haslam trophy to her grandson Robbie.

She penned "Lorraine's Scrapbook," in the early years of Western Speedway, and is a Hall of Fame "Pioneer Award" recipient.

Angie Haslam (mom of Mike and Robbie) is a long time supporter of auto racing, and she has seldom missed a race of the Haslam men. Angie also received a Pioneer Award in recognition of her contribution to the sport.

Now that Roy has retired from racing, he can rest on his laurels, knowing that his sons will carry on the family tradition - for perhaps another 65 years?