Will the sweet sounds of revving car engines replace propeller plane whines at the Sechelt airport for a few days this summer? That's still up in the air.
Representatives of the Sunshine Coast Drag Racing Association (SCDRA) and District of Sechelt staff are set to meet March 17 to discuss options and impacts of drag racing on the municipality's new and improved airport runway. At council’s March 2 meeting, the association received no answers to their request for racing days this summer, except it looks like the group can expect a maximum of three racing or event days this summer.
Association vice-president Colin Stracker told Coast Reporter about the meeting with staff. He is hopeful that the talks will lead to an update at the April 6 council meeting that will allow for decisions on the potential return of Motor Sport weekend to Sechelt in August. Up to 2019, the weekend included drag racing at the airport, as well as the Coasters Car Club’s Sleepy Hollow Rod Run and classic car Show ‘N Shine. Both sets of events have been on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Coasters are scheduled to meet on March 15 to discuss club events for the 2022-23 season.)
The drag racers put a request to use the airport for six possible dates between July 9 to Sept. 11 to council in November of last year. Almost five months later, a ten-page report from the municipal director of engineering, described a range of additions that may be required to allow racing at the recently upgraded facility and repairs related to potential damages that racing could inflict on the new runway. If items, from alternate road access to scrubbing burnout rubber marks from the runway were charged for, the total would reach over $135,000.
“Realistically, those costs are not a club issue, all those things are the responsibility of the city or the airport, except maybe clean up,” Stracker said. Although the club is not backing away from any of the dates it has requested, “the August date is our main focus right now.”
In his report received at the council meeting, director Kirn Dhillon wrote “airport user groups and council have raised concerns about aspects of drag racing activities at the airport. Some of these concerns are beyond the scope of engineering and operational considerations and will not be discussed in this report.” He outlined the engineering and operational concerns as pavement surface distresses, post event clean-up of rubber and debris, impacts to pavement markings, damage to lighting, and timelines around moving concrete barriers during events. His analysis did not touch on considerations such as the tourism, community spirit or youth engagement benefits of allowing the sport group’s use of the airport facilities.
Along with looking for more detail and options related to those costs, council expressed concerns with the requested July and August dates, due to the delayed installation of upgraded lighting at the airport. The call for tender for that project closes March 14. Dhillon estimated that the project could be completed by late July, noting that timing would need to be confirmed with the successful contractor.
Worried that supply chain disruptions may delay the completion of the lighting past the end of July, Mayor Darnelda Siegers said “September racing dates may be possible.”
Another issue raised by council members was what fee the District would charge the association if use of the airport is granted. Coun. Alton Toth said, “It will cost more this year than in the past as we have new assets in place”. Staff noted that changes to charges may require amendments to Sechelt’s fees and charges bylaw.
Stracker told Coast Reporter that the maximum damage deposit paid by racing groups elsewhere in Canada for temporary use of an airport is $500.
Council asked staff to investigate and report back on issues related to the possible alternate road access and the Crown lease on lands surrounding the airport, as well as related runway protection measures.
As the discussion at the meeting came to an end, former association president Wayne Taylor expressed his views to council. Commenting on work done by the association in past years to improve the airport, he challenged the $100,000 estimate provided by staff for the construction of an alternate access road on the north side of the airport.
“Give me two days and I’ll get it done,” he said. “This club is very, very good at what they do, if they say they are going to do it, it will get done. End of discussion.”
.png;w=120;h=116;mode=crop)