Coming round the bend could be good news for racing fans still lamenting the loss of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Westshore Motorsports Park.

Once known as the oldest auto-racing track in Western Canada, the arena B次元官网网址� previously called Western Speedway B次元官网网址� entertained crowds for almost 70 years until it fell silent in September 2022 after the waving of the final checkered flag.

B次元官网网址淚t held a very important place in the heart of the community,B次元官网网址� said Steve Copp, president of the Vancouver Island Safe Speed Association (VISSA). B次元官网网址淭here were a big swath of things that were being done at the racetrack, that just all of a sudden stopped.

B次元官网网址淚t was a spot for everybody to come and go to,B次元官网网址� he adds. B次元官网网址淎nd it didn't matter whether you had $2 to your name or $2 million, everybody was equal out there.B次元官网网址�

Set up in response to the news the track was closing, the small group of volunteers known as VISSA have been searching for a new location for the speedway on southern Vancouver Island.

In late 2023, the group said they had five possible locations identified for a new home, with one looking more hopeful than the others.

But since then, information about their quest has been scarce. 

Hope was reignited in November last year when an update on the VISSA website hinted at a potential deal between the group and one of the First Nation communities on the lower Island.

B次元官网网址淭hey have expressed huge interest,B次元官网网址� said Copp speaking to Goldstream Gazette.

And locals wonB次元官网网址檛 have to travel far, says Copp, as the potential site is B次元官网网址渨ithin 15 minutesB次元官网网址� of the former location.

The group are now readying themselves for more meetings with a representative of the First Nation community; the identity of which Copp is keeping under wraps for now.

B次元官网网址淥nce a business plan is up, and if they're good to go, then they want to move quick,B次元官网网址� said Copp.

Plans for the racetrack could include a campsite and parking, possibly more depending on space, says Copp.

B次元官网网址淭he sky's kind of the limit with the property we're talking about right now,B次元官网网址� he said.

Funding for the project has not been finalized explains Copp, with priority given to securing a location first.

B次元官网网址淎nd then we'll put all those other pieces of the puzzle together,B次元官网网址� he says.

But Copp is confident when the time comes, he can rely on the community to help push the project forward.

B次元官网网址淲e've had lots of out crying from people that said, let us know what you need B次元官网网址� some of it is financial, and also equipment and volunteer hours B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 all over the board,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was a big family B次元官网网址� it still is.B次元官网网址�

Currently, racers and their supporters make a six-hour round-trip to Saratoga Motorsports Park to satisfy their need for speed, but the hunger for a track closer to home remains strong says Copp.

B次元官网网址淓verybody you talk to who you ran into at the racetrack, they feel lost, they need something to do, they need a place to go on Saturday night or a reason to stop by somebody's race car shop and see how they're making out,B次元官网网址� he said.

If successful, the new location will feel like a home away from home, with VISSA having rescued and reclaimed equipment, building infrastructure and racing memorabilia from the former Western Speedway.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool,B次元官网网址� says Copp, who says reusing the former spectator stands could save over $2 million.

Whatever the outcome of the current negotiations, Copp says VISSA are just as determined as ever and wonB次元官网网址檛 give up their search.

B次元官网网址淲e're still united as a front and pushing forward,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淎ll we can do is keep our fingers crossed and keep pushing. 

B次元官网网址淭he current site weB次元官网网址檙e looking at seems to have the least amount of resistance so far B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檒l just see where it goes.B次元官网网址�