When George Jenson is racing around the Western Speedway track, he treats every one of his opponents the same.
Even his daughter.
Kaylyn Jenson participated in her first race in the Old Time Racers Association series on April 22, the 40th season opener for the series, finishing in a very respectable seventh place in the feature main.
“To be able to get a chance to jump into one of those cars and go is so exciting,” Kaylyn says. “When you’re all lined up … there’s so much anxiety and excitement and adrenaline.”
The rookie driver – racing in a 1931 Ford sedan that originally belonged to the late Ron Simpson, a longtime racer and a 10-year veteran of the Old Time circuit – recalls the quick start that George had in front of her.
“The car in front of me was my dad … I tried to follow him but I looked down to shift, I couldn’t get it into fourth gear. As soon as I looked (up), my dad had already passed three cars,” she said, laughing.
George was quick to praise his daughter’s performance in her debut.
“It’s just a matter of her getting time in the car and me teaching her and everything. She’s willing to learn and she’s eager to learn,” he said.
The elder Jenson ended up capturing the 50th OTRA win of his career with the help of his son Chris, a member of his pit crew.
Racing in the series has certainly become a family affair for this Colwood clan, but that hardly makes them unique when it comes to the OTRA, with other family rivalries populating the grid over the years. Even those that aren’t related by blood possess a strong bond.
“It’s more of a family style of racing. They’ve always said racing is family, but I don’t think there’s anything closer than the family we have among fellow racers in the Old Timers,” George says.
“(OTRA) has had a pretty good following of drivers that have done it for a long time,” Chris notes.
George – now the club’s president – got involved in the series back in the 1980s, although it wasn’t until 1990 that he acquired his ‘33 Dodge and began racing. He notes that the OTRA’s regulations have stayed pretty much the same since he joined, a factor he thinks has helped the series stay successful.
“It’s (about) family, it’s affordable and it’s lots of fun … it’s just a really good club. Nothing’s changed … If something’s working, don’t break it,” he said.
The club was launched in 1977 when, according to the club’s website, racers Ross Rockett and Dave Ireland got bit by the “nostalgia bug.” They found a ‘32 Chrysler coupe in a wrecker’s yard in Cobble Hill, refurbished the body and rebuilt the original six-cylinder engine.
Meanwhile, Norm Wilcox purchased and restored the same vehicle model and the three friends decided to use the cars for shows and exhibitions. The club and the racing series grew from there.
George says the club doesn’t have anything significant planned to celebrate their 40th anniversary, although a lot of former members have returned to the series this year and everyone’s excited that they’ve hit the milestone.
And another Jenson could make his way to the grid next year, as the family is currently working on a ‘28 Essex for Chris as he eyes a spot in the series next year.
If the budding rivalry between father and daughter is any indication, adding son to the equation can only raise the stakes in Year 41.
The 2017 OTRA series continues May 20 with the club’s Victoria Day weekend race at Western Speedway. That will be followed by a Sunday golf tournament and the entry of many cars into the annual Victoria Day parade downtown.
