The Wine Country Racing Association is seeking a 10-year lease to host its events at the Osoyoos Airport, dubbed the Richter Pass Motorplex. Organizers want to invest in improvements to the racing strip. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)
By Dale Boyd
Osoyoos Times
The Wine Country Racing Association (WCRA) is aiming to help with improvements to the Osoyoos Airport, but are first hoping for a 10-year commitment from the town to host their drag racing events on the tarmac.
The non-profit society which has brought multiple drag racing events to the Osoyoos Airport since 2002 told council at the Dec. 2 committee of the whole they are hoping to invest in improvements to the airport strip where the 1/8-mile drag races are held — what the society has nicknamed the “Richter Pass Motorplex.”
The improvements would work in conjunction with the Osoyoos Airport Development Society’s plans and address airport layout changes, improve efficiency for race car parking, spectator parking and spectator viewing areas.
“However, it is difficult to commit to investing in such improvements when our lease is issued on an annual basis. So a 10-year agreement between the Town of Osoyoos and the WCRA would allow us to proceed with funding the proposed improvements,” said Blair Ogilvy, speaking on behalf of the association.
The lease would cover the event use and would not interfere with regular operations of the airport, as well as other local uses including the model airplane club.
• Read more: Wine Country Racing wraps up another season of drag racing
The non-profit, volunteer-run association who host the drag racing events has become a major seasonal attraction, bringing in over 4,500 fans per year.
The association has received estimates from a local business owner that the racing events held in early summer and late fall bring in $500,000 per year of spin-off revenue for the town, with no costs incurred to the town or emergency services to date. The association has paid $37,000 in track maintenance fees as well.
“When we first started out with Wine Country Racing we had up to 30 cars at some of our events and we were very happy with those turnouts, in the last couple years there are Sunday events that we’ve had over 120 race cars at the events,” said Dave Sabyan, who also spoke to council on behalf of the WCRA on Monday.
The event draws racing enthusiasts from Vancouver, Edmonton, Vancouver Island, the U.S. and more.
“It’s a huge draw. This year we actually did less advertising because we did not have the room for race car parking and spectator parking,” Sabyan said.
Mayor Sue McKortoff said town staff will compile a report regarding operations and future plans for the airport prior to making a decision.
“We would have to look into all the considerations that you have asked for and we would have to take into consideration everything else that is going on up there, and what might happen,” McKortoff said.
