British Columbia

All-Time Favorite British Columbia Track:

Interior Provincial Exposition Fairgrounds – Armstrong

Current lifetime trackchasing province rank:  1

Best Memories:

I first trackchased up in British Columbia all the way back in 2001. I made a visit to the Kent Raceways. I didn’t come back until 2005. For that adventure, we boarded a ferryboat to British Columbia. We were looking to see two different track configurations at the Western Speedway (above). The ferry boat was the scene of our, “accident” with another car on the ferryboat. It takes all kinds of people and some people are not worth meeting.

At Whispering Pines we ate, “bannock”. Then at the Sun Valley Speedway, I met the track announcer, “Smokin Bob”. He was quite a character and really appreciated my trackchasing passion.

In 2008 I saw my first ever ice racing in BC at the Barnes Lake Ice Track (above) in Ashcroft. Those races were promoted by the Western Canadian Ice Racing Association. I’m the only person to ever see an ice race in British Columbia. On this trip, believe it or not, we tied in a Trackchasing Tourist Attraction, which was a Mexican cruise seemingly an odd combination to be a TTA with a British Columbia ice track!

e)I’ve been to a few tracks in BC where I was able to see two different track configurations creating a “same location” trackchasing double. I did that at the Saratoga Speedway. When I visited Penticton (above) I also saw two tracks at the same location in one day. On this visit, the promoter told the director of competition to put the hornets on the road course despite the wet grounds. Honestly, he never would have done that if I hadn’t been there as a trackchaser. Nevertheless, I didn’t and don’t ever ask a promoter to do such a thing on my behalf. Other trackchasers have done that but I would never consider it. I think of that type of behavior as, “cheating”.

My visit to the Terrace Speedway (above) was marked by being able to meet several really nice people. The woman at the Budget Rental Car location told me there were no courtesy phones for me to use. However, she said, “You can use my phone. I’m going home right now but when you’re finished just leave it behind the counter. So, I stole her cell phone. Kidding! Wow. Folks don’t get any nicer than that.

I made it up to the AgriFair (above) in 2018. At this particular fair, they were holding five demolition derby separate ticket events in two days. They were also holding five separate figure 8 promotions in those two days. Only one of those five also featured oval racing. Of course, I showed up for the afternoon of activity which had both oval and F8 racing. The afternoon was marked by some great motorcycle jumping as well.

I made a special trip up to the Taylor Speedway (above), which is 1,113 km north of the U.S. border. What a nice promoter. He put me on the flag stand for the start of the big modified feature race.

The Pemberton Speedway was nestled in one of the most scenic places I’ve ever seen for a racetrack. It was surrounded by snow-covered mountains. This was one of the most rural tracks I’ve seen. Pemberton was notable for NOT having a track announcer. Then on the trip back to the U.S. the Canadian border agent left his booth and shook my hand. I’ve never had that happen before!

In 2019 Carol and I made a special trip up to British Columbia to see the West Coast Vintage Racers compete with their old-time sprint cars at the PGARA Speedway, the Gold Pan Speedway and at the Thunder Mountain Speedway. The big TTA for that trip was a visit to the old gold mining town of Barkerville.

Later in that year, I made it up to the Area 27 Motorsports Park. This is one of those “country club” type road courses that have popped up all over the United States. I received excellent hospitality. They could not have treated me better and gave me a tour of every nook and cranny of Area 27 including the women’s locker room!

The next day I made it to the Armstrong, BC demolition derby (Interior Provincial Exposition Fairgrounds). The weather was cold and rainy but it was one of the best demo derbies I’ve ever seen PLUS as a sideshow they featured some figure 8 racing. Again the hospitality of my British Columbia friends was outstanding. This might have been my most favorite demolition derby to attend of all. I believe this is the first time I have ever named essentially a demo derby track as my most favorite track in a state or provice.

As this is updated in late 2019 I have seen racing at 25 different British Columbia racetracks. Not a single trackchaser living east of the Mississippi has ever seen more than ONE BC track. Why would that be? Gosh, I would recommend you ask a trackchaser living east of the Mississippi. If these results don’t convince you that trackchasing really is a “counting” hobby more than a “racing” hobby (go somewhere once and never come back since the area is now “counted”) I wouldn’t know what would.

If you see a track link in the above list simply click on it to be transferred to my Trackchaser Report. Here you will be able to read about my adventure at this particular track. Not only will you learn about my time at the track but you’ll hear about all of the interesting people, places and things I encountered during the entire trip, coming and going, to that speedway. Most of my Trackchaser Reports will also include a photo album and YouTube video. Check it all out. Don’t be afraid to use the “search” box in the upper right corner of my website’s home page. Just type in the track name or whatever and you’ll be directed to the place you want to be.

Below is a key to surface types and track configurations so you can understand the above list just a little bit easier.

Surface types:  D-dirt; P-paved; M-mixed

Configuration types:  O-oval; RC-road course; F8-figure 8 track