Time to rev it up!
The Prince George Auto Racing Association (PGARA) is flagging a milestone this year, gearing up for what should be another busy season.
The Speedway Park along Highway 16 east opened 35 years ago in 1984 and has stood the test of time since as the premier power playground of the north, bringing in thousands of spectators to several racing competitions.
PGARA itself has been a club in B.C.’s northern capital since 1952, showcasing mini-stocks, hornets, street-stocks, monster trucks, and the ever-so-popular hit-to-pass races.
However, the start of Spring was one to forget as Speedway property was vandalized, a common problem the association has dealt with for years.
"It seems like something is always getting broken or vandalized," PGARA Vice-President Aaron Conn told PrinceGeorgeMatters in April when he discovered broken fences, windows, and the track’s timing booth door. "Especially during the season when we have our events, people will go in there and plug up the sinks and the toilets for no particular reason, they just want to wreck something."
Since the damage was made public, an overwhelmingly positive response came to PGARA as businesses offered to help pay for repairs or replace broken equipment entirely, getting them one step closer to fully preparing the facility.
The 2019 schedule has been released and has something for every racing fan, starting with the annual Turgeon Memorial Opening Night Race on Saturday, May 25.
Events on the docket include:
- June 1 = Wescar PGARA 100
- June 15 = Hit to Pass
- July 6 = Malicious Monster Truck tour
- July 21 = Wescar Cariboo Gold Rush Race
- Aug. 17-18 = PGARA Invitational Weekend
- Aug. 21 = West Coast Vintage Racers and local classes
- Aug. 31 = Labour Day Weekend Hit to Pass
- Sep. 7 = PGARA Championship Finale
More information is available on PGARA’s website.
- with files from Jessica Fedigan, Prince George Matters
