IMPRESSIONS of the SPORTS CAR TRACK at MISSION RACEWAY PARK From the first visit of someone who spent many summers helping run and maintain Westwood. WHAT SPECTATORS SHOULD EXPECT: - Open (so you get sun, rain, wind). - Toilets are portable construction type. - Concession stand is basic with one portable hand wash station, otherwise seems well run. - While course is by the river you cannot walk on that side of the track. (But you could joint META and work on the course during the race, or join SCCBC and work on track maintenance and improvement. :-) - Three grandstands give good views of corners and the end of the straight, though the view of the west end is foreshortened by the viewing distance. - There is more announcing today - interviews, background, commentary. - Cars range from the little Ford Fiesta passenger car to a custom V-8 powered Camaro look-alike (fast!), closed and open wheel, vintage to new. - Typically mixed classes on the track at the same time. - To reach the two west grandstands you have to go past the open pit area, thus you can get a glimpse of race car team activity. (The area closest to weigh scales and worker building is restricted - be careful where you wander for your own safety and that of the racers and workers.) - Typical admission price $8. for one adult; usually open 9-5 Saturday and Sunday of race weekends but actual racing may only be on Sunday afternoon - the rest of the time is practice, testing and qualifying activity, perhaps with novice races on Saturday. (Apparently improvements to spectator facilities were made during the 2002 racing season. I have not seen those.) RACING EQUIPMENT Electronics were limited to a wire-phone system in my time at Westwood, today are everywhere and mostly wireless. Noted: - transponder on each car for timing - car to team radio links are common - weigh scales are portable electronic - credit card terminal for racer fee payments. Racers put more money in trailers and awnings today. Teams ranged from small family operations (hello, Al Ores :-) to dealership teams with ample staff, checklists, etc. At least once a year old race cars are featured, by the Vintage Motor Racing Club of BC. http://www.vrbc.ca. THE TRACK - Flat, unlike Westwood. - Open, whereas at Westwood the corner safety workers had to watch cars at all times due to the risk of one going into the bush without being noticed.. - Modest straight section, many corners. - The sports car facility needs better buildings and fencing. (It is effectively separate from the drag race facilities, sharing only the entrance gate, spectator parking, and runout area of the drag strip.) - I have not been there for a few years, I understand vegetation is growing up - to the extent they've had to cut some down to get good sightlines - and some improvements such as shelters for corner works and wheelchair ramps for the refurbished grandstands are in place. THE OPERATION - Entry to pit area and security seems casual, spectators should be careful where they wander. (SCCBC plan to have a members and visitors "Resource Centre" at the track this year, hopeully that will help orient people new to the track. - Workers always welcome - call numbers on the web site, www.sccbc.net. - Typically the race weekends are run by either the ICSCC (International Conference, long-established in OR-WA-BC area) or the current incarnation of the CASC (Canadian sanctionning body). - ICSSC is happy with SCCBC management of track and races. - Unfortunately SCCBC are only tenants in a facility run by the drag racers, thus their potential is limited. (I do not know who actually owns the land, which is a key consideration given its proximity to retail business areas (just across the highway) thus value of the land. (A common problem with facilities that require space and are not in full time use (from racing to ballroom dancing). Perhaps they could add a small water slide or other activities, though space may be limited.) - In any case, the dedication of members of SCCBC and associated clubs is commendable. PS: META=Motorsport Emergency Turnworkers Association. Info on SCCBC and the Mission track can be found at http://www.sccbc.net, the turnworkers directly at http://www.meta.bc.ca/ . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright Keith Sketchley 2009.07.18 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BACK in your browser should return you to the page you came here from.