Geoff Vantreight (1998)

Geoff Vantreight contributed a huge amount of time and effort to keep the sport of auto racing alive and well in Victoria. He sponsored two of the major annual trophy races at Western Speedway - the Daffodil Cup and the Strawberry Cup. Started in the 1960's, they are still being competed for in 1990's. Geoff also served as Speedway president for 16 years. From the early days at Western Speedway, Geoff always seemed to have cars competing at the track carrying his name as sponsor. Some years he sponsored as many as three cars during the season. Some of the drivers he has supported over the years reads Iike a Who's Who of Victoria racing: Mike Newton, AI Smith, Albert Smith, Ron Hancock, Mike Currier and three-time Daytona 500 racer Roy Smith. Geoff was also generous in his sponsorship of a number of sports teams ranging from Little League Baseball to soccer. He never said no when teams needed help and was inducted into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1986.