Street racers in Calgary say they will continue to get their fix on local roads until a suitable, safe racing course is built.
Following the official closure of Race City Speedway in 2011, Calgary has been without a recreational race track. Self-proclaimed adrenaline junkies have taken their passion to streets in-and-around Calgary’s city limits.
“It’s a breakaway,” said an unnamed racer during a Saturday night of racing east of Calgary. “You go to work every day and you function as a normal member of society. You just need some kind of outlet.”
CTV Calgary has agreed to withhold the racer’s identity.
During Saturday night’s races, cars and bikes faced off with some reaching speeds nearing 250 km/h. The racer says he’s been blowing off steam racing his motorcycles and cars over the last 11 years and has no plans to stop racing.
“If we don’t have a place to go to, we’re going to find one,” said the racer. “I would love it if there was a track here.”
“I probably wouldn’t be on the street at all.”
At present, the closest legitimate racing facilities for recreational drivers and their vehicles are in Edmonton and Medicine Hat.
In 2015, Rockyview Motorsports’ proposal for a racing facility in Rocky View County was denied over zoning concerns.
Inspector Ken Thrower of the Calgary Police Service traffic unit says the number of tickets issued for racing and stunting in Calgary has decreased of late but he's well aware street racing continues to exist.
“Either they are getting better at what they are doing or it’s not in the public eye,” suggests Thrower.
Thrower says a proper race track will likely reduce, but not alleviate, the issue of street racing.
“It’s something I think would help but I don’t think, by any stretch of the imagination, that it would be 100 per cent. I still think you’re going to have street racers.” Thrower believes the thrill and excitement of illegal racing would remain a draw for some.
A new racing facility would not cater exclusively to illegal racers.
Members of Menace Rides, a group of car enthusiasts, say they do not condone street racing.
“If they do get caught doing something like that we usually just give them the boot,” said Ty Jackson, a self-described ‘pretty heavy car enthusiast’. “It’s really not worth the risk. Everyone’s heard of someone that’s died in some sort of accident.”
Jackson, 25, is without a ride at the moment after a recent non-racing crash where his 2008 BMW 135I hydroplaned off the road.
Kyle Lyth of Menace Rides admits to having participated in street racing before realizing the folly of his ways.
“It’s not safe,” said the 20-year-old. “You don’t win anything. If you get hurt or if you hurt someone else that’s a really negative impact on your life.”
“There’s no benefit and there’s so many risks.”
Lyth is one of many car enthusiasts in Calgary clamouring for a racing facility.
“There needs to be a track,” said Lyth. “It will bring us all together again. It keeps us all of the streets and in a safe environment where we can’t hurt anyone else and where help is ready if we do hurt ourselves,”
Rocky Mountain Motorsports, previously known as Rockyview Motorsports, has submitted a proposal for the construction of a track near Carstairs and is meeting with the county to review the application.
The county says it plans to discuss the proposal with council by the end of the summer or early in the fall.
With files from CTV's Jamie Mauracher
