It鈥檚 a brotherhood, literally, and a unique quirk of Victoria sports history. The list of notable siblings is remarkable. Between them, the Patricks, Pedens, Chapmans, Courtnalls, Gaits and Nashes have won Olympic medals, Stanley Cups, Mann Cups, a CONCACAF Gold Cup and a couple of NBA MVP awards.
The uncanny tradition continues today with three sets of local brothers competing in the sa国际传媒 200 at Western Speedway (7 p.m. on CHEK-TV).
Rob and Mike Haslam, Brandon and Spencer Carlson and Geoff and Dale Robinson will be among the field. It will be the lone race of the pandemic year, but one that avoids having the first dark season in the 66-year history of the Western sa国际传媒鈥檚 oldest speedway.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to race against my brother Mike again,鈥� said Rob Haslam.
Rob has transitioned from driver more into his current role as race director of the speedway, but the chance to return to the track to race his brother, couldn鈥檛 be resisted.
Dad Roy Haslam is among the Western Speedway legends, along with the likes of Billy Foster, the first Canadian to race the Indianapolis 500, and three-time Daytona 500 driver Roy Smith. The elder Haslam has won the sa国际传媒 200 on five occasions and is working on both his sons鈥� cars this weekend.
鈥淚 think my dad has a little bit of mixed emotions,鈥� said Rob Haslam.
鈥淗e will be spotting for my brother Mike while also cheering me on.鈥�
No fans will be allowed for the sa国际传媒 200 but it is imperative to stage the race, said Rob Haslam.
The property on which Western Speedway sits was listed for sale in March with the deadline for bids June 18. The results of that process have not been announced. Whatever the future holds for the site, there will be a race tonight.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really important to let fans know the track is still here and that the sa国际传媒 200 tradition continues,鈥� Rob Haslam said.
This edition of the sa国际传媒 200 will, of course, be different than any other since the race began in 1972. Twenty-five of sa国际传媒鈥檚 top drivers have entered and their teams will be limited to the driver and one crew member working in the pits and another in the grandstand as a spotter. In normal times, there are about six people in each Western Speedway pit crew.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to stay out of trouble because any flat tire or fender bender is going to affect you more in this unique situation,鈥� said Rob Haslam.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to keep your tires underneath you for the first 150 laps and then go hard over the final 50 laps.鈥�
Because of the limited pit crews, several drivers are pooling resources, explained Rob Haslam.
Meanwhile, the Robinson clan is taking the familial angle to another level tonight. Not only are brothers Geoff and Dale racing but so is Dale鈥檚 son and Geoff鈥檚 nephew, Tyler Robinson.
The sa国际传媒 200 and the Daffodil Cup, the latter which began in 1961, are the two biggest annual races hosted at the Langford oval. The open-wheel Daffodil Cup, which had its 59th edition cancelled this year due to the pandemic, has featured Indianapolis 500 drivers Foster, Tom Sneva, Janet Guthrie, Art Pollard and Jim Malloy. The late-model stocks sa国际传媒 200 has featured Roy Haslam and Daytona 500 racers such as Smith and Bobby Allison over Western Speedway鈥檚 venerable 4/10ths-mile track.
But no previous drivers have had to race under the pandemic restrictions tonight鈥檚 drivers will be facing. So a little brotherly love could go a long way.