I'm sure most of you are unfamiliar with the happenings of Langley, but bear with me here.
Quote:
A Metro Vancouver committee is considering a proposal to reopen the Langley Speedway that closed almost three decades ago.
The Langley Speedway was once a crown jewel of car racing in the area, hosting events as big as Nascar.
But the track now sits empty, having closed in 1984 due to failing popularity.
"We think that if we partnered with Metro Vancouver and the community, it could again be a significant revenue generator for the community and for the parks," said Murray Jones, President of the Langley Speedway Historical Society.
The group has put forward a proposal to bring back racing every second Saturday during the summer.
Since the track closed, walking trails have sprung up in the surrounding Campbell Valley Regional Park. Some park users say a return to racing would result in too much noise pollution and disruption.
"I can't see how having Langley Speedway will do anything but negatively impact every other user of this park," says Shelagh Niblock, who rides at the equestrian park 600 metres from the track.
Metro Vancouver's environment and parks committee has not made any decision on the future of the track, but is planning an extensive visit before deciding its fate next month.
Bid to reopen Langley Speedway - British Columbia - CBC News
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Some of you older members are probably familiar with my old Racetracks of BC thread from a few years back and one of the tracks I showcased in there was this very oval. Over the past couple years, a historical preservation group has restored much of the old track and cleared out most of the bush that had grown over the old slopes where the stands once stood. Recently, as mentioned in the quoted article, there have been talks about reopening this track which, naturally, has created a fairly strong outcry from equestrian owners and hikers alike, citing noise pollution wreaking havoc on the park.
I live a few blocks from this place and while I understand the worries people have about hearing an unmuffled Stock car spoiling the tranquility of their morning weekend walks, even bringing up the suggestion that introducing a specific DB restriction in order to pass Tech has been met with scorn.
My family is divided on this topic. Well, I should say my parents are all for keeping racing out while I, naturally, want to allow it again. Despite many people's understanding that car enthusiasts need a place to race their cars, no one is willing to allow it to happen in their own backyard. I've pointed out numerous examples showing tracks that once existed and then shut down for development reasons, existing locations that were shut down (ie: Boundary Bay), and proposed tracks with heavy backing that were never given the green light due to NIMBYism. And yet here we are, with an existing track that needs little more than rebuilding a grandstand and it's ready for racing.
I realize that since this is a 3/8th's oval, very few of you would ever be interested in making use of this track, but what this ultimately is about is allowing proper auto racing back into the Lower Mainland. Mission is "too far" for many of you to visit (not to mention Ashcroft, Agassiz or Saratoga), but the potential exists that should this track be approved to be reopened, perhaps the chance of another track closer to Vancouver being built becomes just slightly stronger.
Thoughts?