11/30/2024
Thank you to all who attended VISSA's first-ever fundraiser. Our concert at Metchosin Community Hall, featuring Saxum and Mid Life Crisis was a great way to get together in an informal, Western Speedway reunion sort of way!
At the event, VISSA President Steve Copp shared an update on our search for a new speedway. We have a lot of work to do, but recent developments have given us cause for optimism.
Here is what Steve had to say in his address:
"Good evening, everyone. It's nice to see so many people at this VISSA fundraising Dance and Western Speedway Reunion.
My name is Steve Copp, and I’m here with Jason Frost, Daryl Crocker, Darell Midgley, Jesse Stamm and Todd Troyer, all directors of VISSA. We know it has been a while since we have updated everyone on the progress of finding a new location for a racetrack on southern Vancouver Island.
As most of you know, VISSA is dedicated to promoting and preserving stock car racing on lower Vancouver Island. We have been working hard since we learned that Westshore Motorsport Park was up for sale and that we needed to find a new home.
As I’m sure you all know, this hasn’t been an easy job, and we have had a lot of highs and lows along the way.
We have examined properties in Langford, Goldstream Heights, CRD, CVRD, Malahat Nation, Victoria Fish and Game Property, an industrial property in the Shawnigan-Mill Bay area, the Kinzett Quarry property, Cowichan First Nations Land, Youbou properties, the Mesachie Lake area, and many more. We have also learned about properties in North Saanich, the Saanich Peninsula, Sooke, and Jordon River.
During our travels, we have met or dealt with Mayors, Municipal GEOs, Business Development Groups, Councillors, Electoral Area Directors, past Directors, neighbours, Property Owners, CRD and CVRD staff and Directors, and First Nation Leaders and Administrators, to name a few.
As we examined and investigated these various properties, we found that each has unique problems, costs, and issues. Some are too small, rough and rocky, and costly to develop. Many have creeks, rivers, or riparian issues. Some are too close to residential areas or plainly could not work.
We have explored some of these properties further by researching surveys, plot plans, and corner pins, reviewing reports and history, drawing up plans and concepts, and having countless meetings and conversations to locate a new home.
As of this date, VISSA has not given up hope and is still united as a group. In the past month, we had a breakfast meeting with a prominent figure in the political arena to discuss our progress. We left that meeting with several new ideas and an ally moving forward with someone willing to join our team on an ongoing basis. As recently as Thursday this week, Daryl and I had a lunch meeting with the Chief Administrative Officer of one of the First Nations on the Lower Island. Our meeting was good. He asked us to provide details on land size, noise reduction plans, future expansion ideas, etc. Once he receives this information, he will help us find a property to accommodate our needs. He said that his board has been open and interested in us in the past and will work to find a location.
Another politician we have met with mentioned that he is willing to come to our next meeting to discuss things and that he has worked on several projects with this group. There is a lot of government money, access to funds, and government policies/ projects to help us go in this direction, and both parties have experience with this.
As we have always said, we move one day, one property at a time, and for every rock we move, we turn over another. This is a positive move. Our goal is not to keep anyone in the dark, but many of the moving parts and a lot of the workload is done behind the scenes. These discussions take time, and some things need to be kept quiet, as we move forward.
We at VISSA and the whole racing family want to thank everyone for their support. So many people have been working weekends on dismantling the racetrack, including removing the stands, concession stand, time clocks, block walls, trucking, rentals, crane work, and the Fundraiser we are all attending tonight. We can’t thank you enough. Without your support and hard work, there would be no hope that we could have a racetrack.
We also want to thank all the clubs: go-karts, motocross, rock climbing, drifter, drag racing group, safety council and others. Everyone has expressed interest in us and said that they will help in development and will be joining the new location. It is so amazing to see.
In closing, I want to thank all my Directors. The time and effort everyone has put into this is beyond words. We are all trying and hope to soon get some answers to keep motorsport and racing alive on Lower Vancouver Island."
We genuinely hope to share some great news in the very near future - we know we are headed in the right direction.
https://www.safespeedvi.com/
