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Rockyview Motorsports Park, a much-needed road course and training facility to replace Calgary’s defunct Race City, could soon be under construction.
A four kilometre European-style track and driver training facility complete with a unique skills pad is planned for 640 acres of land just northeast of Airdrie, a small city very close to Calgary. The company behind the proposal recently filed an application for approval to Rocky View County. If approved — hopefully within the calendar year — work on RMP can begin in earnest.
We recently caught up with Dominic Young, president and chief executive of RMP, and asked him some questions about the project (www.rockyviewmotorsports.com).
Q: When did you begin planning RMP?
A: This has been in the works for just a bit more than two years. We were aware of the impending Race City closure (in the fall of 2011), and that would leave the region without a safe place for folks to enjoy motorsports. A few guys came together and put together a simple business plan, and we had some ideas about how this could work. First, it had to be in a sparsely populated area. Second, it had to be accessible for use on a daily basis and it had to be close to major population areas – Airdire and Calgary. Third, the land had to have contours that were interesting – elevation changes make a track much more enjoyable.
Q: What has RMP done so far?
A: We were aware of the land northeast of Airdrie through some other projects, and we engaged some local road racing experts for their input. We’ve done all of the water and storm water management plans, a traffic and noise study – that all has to go into the master site development plan, and the facility has been designed. We have also raised the initial equity for the project. Now that we’ve filed an application for approval, we can engage the public in a meaningful way.
Q: Early in April you held an open house in Airdrie; what kind of response did you get?
A: There were about 200 people there, and a large part of the response has been positive. There are, of course, some questions and concerns, and they mostly concern noise and traffic, but there seem to be three popular misperceptions about what we want to do here. First, there won’t be much more traffic, because this isn’t going to be a big spectator type venue – that’s not what we intend this to be — there won’t be any bleachers. Instead, one of the 30-plus car and/or motorcycle groups around the region would rent the facility for lapping days. They could get out in a safe environment and enjoy their cars or motorcycles, and on a daily basis that could mean 30 to 50 extra vehicles. Second, noise. The track will be centrally located on the property, and the noise is between 60 to 65 decibels (when measured) at the edges of the land. Third, this isn’t for just a bunch of rich guys. Our mandate is for the region to use this facility, and it doesn’t matter whether you drive a Camaro or a Mustang or a Porsche or a Ferrari – so long as it passes a safety inspection, it’ll be allowed on the track.
Q: There are some unique aspects to RMP. What else, besides the track (which has been designed by Tilke GmbH), is planned?
A: There’s a skills pad that will have slippery surfaces similar to ice or water with built in kick plates that will put a vehicle into a skid – that will allow a learner to experience an emergency situation in a non-emergency environment. The Calgary Police Service are working with us to set up a training facility out here with them as a full-time tenant. We would like Olds College (an agricultural institution) to set up a research project to enhance wetlands on the land and determine which plants have better carbon absorption properties with a view to working towards being a carbon-neutral track. Our road safety aspect of the project would be used to help upgrade drivers’ skills across the region. We also have plans for recreational and competitive karting; auto-oriented services; car condos; and other recreational facilities.
And, Young adds that if approved, shovels could be in the ground early in 2015 with construction taking the rest of the year.
Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have an auto related item to share? Contact him at 403-287-1067 or gregwilliams@shaw.ca.
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