By Laura Pollard

There is no such word as can't…. And what ever you do, do it to the best of your ability.

These were words of advice that auto racing legend, Gary Kershaw, heard many times as he grew up, from his father, Tom Kershaw.

And the advice didn't go unheeded.

Kershaw went on to establish a racing career so rich in successes that he is well remembered today, even though it has been close to a quarter century since he retired from active competition.

It all began for Kershaw in go-karts where he excelled as a many time champion.

Then it was on to stock cars for rookie of the year honors, followed up by a modified championship.

In 1968, Kershaw won almost every prize in the book: the driver's title, the competition sportsman award, most popular driver, car and crew award, and the Corby Cup (symbolic of the most main event wins).

He also ran in the NASCAR Sportsman circuit in 1968 and 1969, winning a whopping 10 of the 14 events he entered in 1969.

By now, the Kershaw team had become one of the most successful combinations in the Pacific Northwest.

Gary (then a logging truck driver-owner) was now setting his sights further a field, and that was to be the Permatex 200 at Riverside International Raceway, in California in 1970.

His hopes for completing his first Permatex 200 event went up in flames when his car was damaged by fire in the pits.

But the following year, when the checkered flag fell on the Permatex 200, Kershaw had raced to victory for the biggest win of his career. He had qualified fourth from a field of 95 who had timed in, and he taken the checkered flag with a lap on all but the second place car.

Kershaw brought much recognition to auto racing when he was named "Male Athlete of the Year" by the Greater Victoria Sports Council in 1971.

The selection of Kershaw, marked the first time an auto racing figure had been honored.

"The only thing," he noted, "the crew didn't get recognized."

He was also inducted into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame at the Hall's inaugural ceremonies in 1984.

The year 1974 saw Kershaw winning so many races that Western Speedway officials created a special bonus fund of $100 for each main event, and the driver beating Gary would take the accumulated bonus.

Many tried.

Kershaw was finally stopped by the famed U.S. driver, Hershall McGriff, who collected the $500 bounty for stopping Kershaw's 13 straight main event wins.

By years' end, he had chalked up a record 16 of 19 main events.

Gary is quick to give credit to his crew for his successful career - "without my crew," he said, "my successes would have been nothing - and that's the truth."

"When I won a race it wasn't just me, it was the crew and me."

Kershaw's last big race before he retired was a return to Riverside International Raceway in California. He finished ninth, competing against such names as Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Ricky Rudd and Daryl Waltrip.

Today, Gary has only a handful of trophies left as reminders of his outstanding career. In appreciation, he gave them, on a rotating basis, to his crew as well as to his sponsors and car owners. The rest went to the Capital City Go Kart club where he got his beginnings.

The highlight of Gary's racing career?

Without hesitation, he replied, "That would be the time I visited the G.R. Pearkes Clinic. (for handicapped children).

"After the visit, I received thankyou letters and invitations to come back, from the children - it was a big thing for me."

Shortly after Gary retired from Dock Yard last year, he was approached by Dale Arden, of Dale Arden Log Hauling, to drive as a fill in.

Now 65, Gary is enjoying his occasional logging truck drives, and at the same time, is living his retirement to the fullest - "everyday," he said, "is like a Sunday."