The next two years of Sunshine Coast drag race events have been set.
In its regular meeting on Nov. 15, Sechelt council approved dates proposed by the Sunshine Coast Drag Racing Association (SCDRA) for its 2024 and 2025 seasons.
For more than 20 years, the SCDRA has held multiple events a year at the Sechelt airport. Currently, the SCDRA schedules its events with the airport annually but is now looking to coordinate a longer-term commitment. In October, it submitted a request to Sechelt with preferred dates for the next three years.
Beyond having more time to promote events, the association says a more long-term drag racing schedule would provide better information to flight operators who use the Sechelt Airport.
On days that drag race events are held, the District of Sechelt must coordinate with NAV Canada to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) in order to close the airport and helicopter landing area.
The SCDRA also requested council to consider overnight camping on the north side of the runway during race weekends – partially because of how many participants travel from off-Coast. Staff recommended against this request because of the significantly increased risk of an accident, saying SCDRA would need to address the liability and operational concerns before such a change could be made.
Council members voiced concerns over committing to a three-year schedule, saying it could potentially limit them from other projects.
“I would rather support having more commercial flights go through there,” said Coun. Dianne McLauchlan. “If we're going through lighting and putting money and effort into a plan for an airport, to me that implies a real airport that has more utilization and also opens the possibility for us to get federal funding.”
Coun. Adam Shepherd pointed to the airport committee work under way and suggested shortening the commitment to two years instead of three.
Mayor John Henderson said he would like to encourage staff and the drag racers to open up the airport for one hour around lunch each day.
“They did it in the September drag race and we had a couple of planes takeoff and land, which was a real treat for the audience, " he said. (This was not a formal motion.)
The association will still need to request special event permits every year, even if race days are reserved, staff told council. They added that this permit application is the best time to discuss minor changes, such as camping on the grounds.
The resolution to support two years of proposed drag race dates carried unanimously.
The proposed dates are as follows:
2024
• Saturday, May 25 – test and tune drag racing for association members only (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, May 26 – drag racing for association members and public (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 6 – test and tune drag racing for association members only (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 7 – drag racing for association members and public (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Saturday, Aug. 10 – test and tune drag racing for association members only (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, Aug. 11 – drag racing for association members/public (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, Sept. 8 - May 26, July 7, and Aug. 11 rain date only (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
2025
• Saturday, May 24 – test and tune drag racing for association members only (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, May 25 – drag racing for association members and public (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 5 – test and tune drag racing for association members only (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 6 – drag racing for association members and public (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Saturday, Aug. 9 – test and tune drag racing for association members only (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, Aug. 10 – drag racing for association members/public (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, Sept. 7 – May 25, July 6, and Aug. 10 rain date only (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
