Reg was interested in cars since he started driving his dad’s grain truck back in 1942. He changed the exhaust system, adding straight pipes to the box. At age 16, he had saved enough money to buy a 1928 Chev coupe, which he al-tered. His next project was a 1937 Ford pickup, which he chopped and put in dual exhaust. Then came a 1946 Plymouth coupe. He lowered it and put in Fenton headers and dual carbs.

Reg traveled to the Bonneville Salt Flats back in 1946, before it was offi-cially opened and became a fan for life. In later years, Reg and friends Ken Boleen and Carl Tjorhom volunteered to work at the Salt flats. This was main-ly sitting at the 7-mile marker in the baking sun from 7:00 am until quitting time. Reg finally quit working at the Salt but continued to attend as a specta-tor every August. In almost 50 years of Bonneville he only missed 11 races.

In late 1949 and early 1950, he got himself a job as a driver for Joey Chitwood. Reg became a Thrill Driver, traveling the countryside, put-ting on Figure 8's, driving cars on two wheels and many other insane stunts.

REG BROOKSHAW - Inducted 2002

Supporter - Hot Rod, Custom Car and Drag Racing

Left:  Brookshaw, ambulance driver                               1951 Mercury Sedan  (GVMPS collection)

Reg Brookshaw

 

By Doreen Brookshaw, 2002 - edited by Larry Braine, 2004

from Tijuana. American Mags and a Fred Welsh candy green paint job com-pleted the job.

He belonged to the Road Gents Car Club in Bellingham in the early 50s before he joined the British Columbia Custom Car Association (BCCCA). He worked and drag raced at the Bellingham track. At Mission Raceway he was head of security and drove the ambulance for several years.

Reg was a 50 year member of BCCCA and over the years held various positions on the Executive, including membership and entertainment. He and wife Doreen worked on the committee for several BCCCA reunions.

After his retirement, he continued to work on restoring and customizing his own vehicles, and doing automo-tive repairs for friends.

Sadly, Reg passed away in April, 2004.

 

During the years of raising a fam-ily, he used to chop and lower cars for friends. Reg bought a 1951 Mercury sedan and customized it. He installed an Olds engine and a white upholstery job