Ron Hackett owned and drove a variety of cars and a Harley motorcycle in the late 1940s. Ron’s first car was a white 1936 Ford Coupe. In 1949, he bought a 1949 2 door Meteor off the showroom floor at Clarke Simpkins. It wasn’t long before he started to modify and customize this car, which he drove until the mid 1950s.

His favourite hang out was the Aristocrat at Kingsway and Fraser where he associated with a group of like-minded car enthusiasts including Chuck Robinson and Bob Phinney.

Ron joined British Columbia Custom Car Association (BCCCA) and served as Vice President in 1952 and 1953, and as President in 1954. He is a life time member of BCCCA. He also joined the British Columbia Hot Rod Association (BCHRA) and is a current member.

In 1955, he completed the unique hot rod he had created from a street driven 1923 Model T coupe. Ron cut it down to roadster shape and channelled

RON HACKETT - Inducted 2001

Pioneer - Hot Rod, Custom Car and Drag Racing

Hackett at Abbotsford in his 1923 T roadster  (Larry Braine collection)

By Larry Braine, 2001 – Edited by Tom Johnston, 2004

Ron Hackett, 1955

it over the frame. To complete the body work, he moulded a fibreglass nosepiece (similar to a midget racer). He then installed a 3/4 race GMC 270 ci. 6 cylinder. He raced this hot rod to several wins at Abbotsford Airport in 1955 and held the track speed record until late in the year. Ron also entered this car in several local car shows.

Ron partially left motorsport activities in the 1960s to start his own business and to begin a new hobby - boating. Ron and his wife, Betty, enjoy RVing and have converted a bus into a motor home.

In the 1990s, Ron built a specialty car called a Gatsby from a kit which came only with the fenders and instructions. He has hand built a beautiful 1930s style convertible on a late model Ford chassis with a 351 engine. He also owns a 1968 Ford Falcon 2 door with a V8 engine.