Calgary Race City Demise

[Farr-Stang]

As some of you might already be aware, Race City will be shutting down.

The City of Calgary wants to put an end to Steet Racing, yet the city is the one that is putting Race City of out business. The people that are serious about racing will go to other tracks. But what about the people that only go for Secret Steet on Fridays? Most likey they will take it to the steets.

Does anyone know about any pentions going about?

A city the size of Calgary should have a motor sport facility.

[PJSaleen]

I am very sorry to hear that..I read in the Calgary Sun while on business that might have been happening. Sounds like the lefties are taking over their too..we used to have a fantastic race site here called "Westwood" racetrack..I am sure many of your remember it with great fondness..

[John6T6]

I can't believe they are shutting that down, that's brutal. There could be more potential for street racing which is what they should avoid isn't it? That's what the race tracks are for.

[swbrown]

The city needs the land, so it was not unexpected, but they should be trying to relocate the track to a new location. Bad news for Calgary.

Good news for Fort McLeod though, because we hope to have the track open in 2009. My son and I just signed as members - my son is almost 14, and I want him to take it to the track where it is safe and controlled, instead of what I did which was race street light to street light.

[Fosters82GT]

Originally Posted by swbrown

The city needs the land, so it was not unexpected, but they should be trying to relocate the track to a new location. Bad news for Calgary.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here but who exactly is they when talking about relocating the track? Race City is a privately owned facility on leased land from the City. The City of Calgary is really under no obligation to provide another track and even if they found a suitable location, who exactly is going to spend the tens of millions of dollars to build a facility that can be NHRA or IHRA sanctioned? Anyone who is familiar with Race City can tell you that the demise of this track has been coming for a while now. I think it pretty much started when we lost NHRA sanctioned events.

Instead of petitioning the City to keep Race City alive (which isn't going to happen by the way), people should be looking at ways to raise the capital to build a new track in an area where it'll be around for the next 50 years. But that's just my .02 cents.

[swbrown]

You are right, the city has no obligation to do anything, and it has been expected because the land was LEASED.
I am also sure they more than have their hands full just keeping up with basic infrastructure.

It just seems from what I have read in the paper, that the city is trying to push the track out early and wipe their hands clean of it. The track brings in lots of $$$ and give a place to safely race, instead of on the streets.

I wouldn't expect the city to give them the land and pay for the new construction of a track. It may be that there is no one interested in setting up a track.

[5.0 Fugitive]

I beleive there is a group of people looking to get another track set up. Unfortunately this isn't going to happen overnight. Building a track really takes a couple of years. Couple that with the fact that land is stupidly expensive and many people don't want a track anywhere near them and it becomes a difficult task.

Right now Castrol Raceway in Edmonton needs to get their act together and get that road course built that they have been promising. For drag racing the Calgary folks will need to head up to Edmonton or over to Medicine Hat. Both are good tracks.

[drhoward]

Does anyone actually know for sure that it is closing this year?

They are still having that Vans Warped tour festival there this summer, and their web page was recently updated for a swap meet out there

It will be closed for sure in 2009 for 114th street expansions though

[Stang5.0co]

Just heard that Race City will open this year! May 16 is the first date for Secret Street. Apparently they came to a resolution with there property tax/Insurance issues for this year.

[camunaro]

Originally Posted by Stang5.0co

Just heard that Race City will open this year! May 16 is the first date for Secret Street. Apparently they came to a resolution with there property tax/Insurance issues for this year.

+1....i heard this too. will be a real sin if it closes

[drhoward]

awesome! Whos going to be there opening night?


I am really looking forward to running on my new tune....unfourtunatly I haven't got the nitrous tune done yet but it will be nice to get some NA runs in first

[oh7gt]

There is a new track opening in Rimbey just out of reddeer too.
Its called central alberta raceways been a circle track and mud bogs there for awile and are working on 1/4 mile track now.
as well they have a 100' side by side shootout on main street of town around 12 of july was at last years and was nuts lol

[Fosters82GT]

There has been talk about a track being built at Rimbey for the last three years or so but so far it's not materialized. Do you have a reliable source on this?

[Matthew]

Some guys from Rimbey were at Tecmotion the other day and told me that their track would be open in October. I'm not kidding.

-Matthew

[oh7gt]

Ya my bro lives there and races the circle track they were hard at it when i visited him last and that was in march you can visit there web site (centralalbetaraceways.ca )