The Sunshine Coast, much like many communities its size, benefits from a plethora of community events, activities, festivals and organizations.
Without festivals and events, activities and service clubs, we wouldn’t be much of a community, would we? It would be pretty boring.
One such group who gets the community’s engines roaring several times every year is the Sunshine Coast Drag Racing Association (SCDRA).
The SCDRA has been running successful events at the Sechelt Airport for years, attracting thousands of tourism dollars in the process. In August, along with the SCDRA, the Coasters Car Club (many residents in this community belong to both organizations) hosts one of the largest motorsports weekends in the Pacific Northwest. The popular rod run, show ‘n’ shine and drag races bring race enthusiasts from around the province, Washington and Oregon to our community, filling up our motels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants and shops. The economic spin-offs are a huge part of the summer tourism season for many.
Now comes word through a recent District of Sechelt committee of the whole meeting that the airport advisory committee is not in favour of drag racing continuing at the airport after this year.
According to the District, the SCDRA has been put on notice, and if and when the District gets the funds it has been seeking to finally complete its airport expansion plans, drag racing will be shut down and the engines will cease.
What is the District thinking?
Do they not realize what the SCDRA does in this community? Are they that short-sighted? And what about the Lions Club, which provides the concession every race? No races means this service organization will have to come up with yet another fundraiser or risk taking a hit financially.
Cancel one event, and it has major repercussions for other folks in this community.
According to several members who have written to us this week, the District doesn’t seem too keen to enter into discussions with the SCDRA to see what can be done to make this work, where changes can be made and races can continue.
And what about all the work that volunteers from the SCDRA have done up at the airport? It’s not like they just head up there on a race weekend, tear the place up and then leave. No, they spend hundreds of man-hours ensuring that the venue is in tip-top shape when they leave.
This also sends a very bad message to our Coast high school students at Elphinstone and Pender Harbour who have successful drag racing programs and have built cars specifically to compete in SCDRA events.
A common phrase coming out of council during this term in office is that Sechelt is open for business. What message does it send when the District is looking to cancel events that bring tourism and business to this community?
We hope the District reverses course. It would be a shame to see these events spin out.
