Jim Steen has been racing since he was 16. He raced at the opening event at what is now called Westshore Motorsports Park in Langford back in 1954, and he had the honour of driving the last lap of the track on Saturday (Sept. 17) as the checkered flag waved, and the track closed.

B次元官网网址淔or myself, IB次元官网网址檓 going to miss it but IB次元官网网址檓 turning 85 next month, so itB次元官网网址檚 about time for me, I need to start relaxing, but wow am I going to miss this track,B次元官网网址� Steen said ahead of his race. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been my whole life really.B次元官网网址�

Steen has raced nearly continuously since that first race, competing in almost every category the track has hosted. He never considered stopping, even after some pretty serious crashes he wasnB次元官网网址檛 expected to survive, because the track and the community which called it home for so long were just to special.

In fact, he nearly wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to race on Saturday as he blew an engine during qualifying on Friday. His crew worked through the night to rebuild it, getting it race ready just hours before the green flag.

READ MORE: The Final Lap: Best in Class for the 2022 season with Cole Sorenson

B次元官网网址淢yself and my cousins, we just went for it, you know,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always exciting, but when you are in the car, everything is calm.B次元官网网址�

For Brian Wakelin, competing in the bombers category on Saturday, the fact his race is among the last held at the track had been on his mind for weeks as he reflected on the friends made along the way.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e raced here since 1974, steady now from B次元官网网址�92 until now,B次元官网网址� said Wakelin. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun, and everyone feels good helping someone else get their car going when something goes wrong.B次元官网网址�

In one race in particular, Wakelin recalls finding the solution to another racerB次元官网网址檚 problem allowing them to keep on racing that night, eventually claiming the pole position.

That special community spreads far beyond the pit lanes and into the grandstands. Keen on helping the track get the send-off it deserves, the racing community easily filled every seat in the house on Saturday.

Spectators cheered nearly constantly, but there were also plenty of wet cheeks knowing this would be the last race they would be able to take in on the West Shore.

B次元官网网址淗eartbroken, I think thatB次元官网网址檚 the only word to describe how IB次元官网网址檓 feeling tonight,B次元官网网址� said general manager Daryl Crocker. B次元官网网址淭he turnout from the crowd has been unbelievable, and we just had every class of car come out tonight because I couldnB次元官网网址檛 decide which people got to be here tonight and which did not, so we just scheduled everyone and made it work.B次元官网网址�

Crocker said he heard from racers and fans alike how sad they are it is all coming to an end, but he feels the community has given the track the send off it deserves.

B次元官网网址淓veryone is holding back tears, and they are not doing a very good job of it, myself included.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: Sellout crowd takes in final demo race at Westshore Motorsports Park

justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
Like us on and follow us on .