By Roy Wood, Special to the Times Chronicle
The group that brings drag racing to the Osoyoos Airport every summer has asked the town to change the term of its usage contract from one year to five years.
The Wine Country Racing Association (WCRA) also requested the town allow participants in the events to stay overnight at the airport on race weekends.
The association holds five Saturday-Sunday events each year. This year they are scheduled for May 3-4, May 24-25, June 14-15, September 20-21 and October 4-5.
WCRA director Gary Dell, supported by a sizeable group of association members in the council chamber, addressed council at this week’s committee of the whole meeting.
In a written submission, the association pointed out that over the years since racing began in 2006 the annual usage contracts were reasonably simple and not time consuming. “However, in recent years, the process has become increasingly demanding for both town staff and WCRA. volunteers.”
Switching to a five-year term would alleviate pressure on town staff and allow the WCRA to “effectively plan and finance enhancements to its thriving racing program.”
During discussion following Dell’s presentation, there was no mention of the usage contract term other than two councillors indicating support for the idea. But there were several questions around overnight parking.
Councillor Johnny Cheong pointed out that during race days there is about $2.5 million worth of equipment at the site and that overnight security is an issue.
Cheong said that in a recent conversation with Osoyoos RCMP Sgt. Jason Bayda, the detachment commander said having more people staying on site overnight would act as deterrent to theft or vandalism.
Dell said that last year the town agreed to two RVs overnight to provide some security. “(It) always made us comfortable that somebody’s not just going to come up in the middle of the night and slink around … because they know there’s people there.”
Aside from the security issue, the WCRA would like to allow overnight camping for the convenience of participants. Dell said some participants who travel in RVs would decide to simply not come to Osoyoos if there is no on-site camping.
Among the attachments to the association’s presentation was a letter from an Enderby couple who are regulars at the Osoyoos races and who travel by motorhome to the events.
“If the Town of Osoyoos will not allow us to stay (in our motorhome) with our cars at the track, we will not be able to race here anymore. We are not leaving our race car behind. We have too much invested in the car,” wrote Don and Oliver Almaas.
The WCRA submission included a proposed “Overnight Parking Policy Agreement and Waiver,” which any race participant intending to park overnight would be required to sign.
Some of the provisions are: Overnight parking is available only Friday and Saturday nights; the entrance gate would be locked from 8:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.; race entrants signing the agreement would be responsible for the actions of crew members; RV parking only in the designated paddock area; race engines must not be started between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.; and no open fires.
The racing association ran afoul of town regulations prohibiting overnight camping during the 2023 racing season when 25 RV/trailers camped overnight during a Sept. 23-24 event. This saw them before council just over a year ago protesting a $2,500 fine for the violations.
Mayor Sue McKortoff thanked Dell and the group for the presentation and said council will study the issue and get back to them at a later date.
