The old Western Speedway operation is actively looking for a new home, but a potential move over the Malahat does not appear to be close.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District has, to date, not received any applications to move Langford’s West Shore Motorsports Park to the Shawnigan Lake area.
The 81-acre parcel of land the track sits on was sold to developers earlier this year, so the long-standing facility is eyeing four options to move its operations; which include two sites in the Greater Victoria area and two still unidentified sites in the Shawnigan Lake area.
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Sierra Acton, the CVRD’s director for Shawnigan Lake, said the district has received no inquiries so far from the West Shore Motorsports Park or the non-profit Vancouver Island Safe Speed Association, which is working to help find a new location, nor has anyone contacted her personally on the issue.
“I contacted the CVRD and there is nowhere in Shawnigan Lake that has zoning for this type of business,” Acton said. “I think a large part of the community would value an establishment like this nearby, but I don’t think anyone wants it right next door to their house.”
As well as the familiar oval track at West Shore Motorsports Park, approximately 33 hectares of land would be required for the operation to add tracks for drag racing, go-karting, mud bogging, rock climbing and potentially motor-cross biking, as well as building a new home for the Victoria Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Neither West Shore Motorsports Park nor the Vancouver Island Safe Speed Association could be reached for comment.
Lori Iannidinardo, chair of the board at the CVRD, said at this stage, she’s only heard about the fact that the motor-sport operation is considering Shawnigan Lake as a possible new home through the media.
“I’m not exactly sure what would be involved in such a move,” she said.
“I know that motor sports have caused a lot of controversy recently in the Cowichan Valley, but I’m looking forward to see what is being proposed, if they really are considering coming here at all.”
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The Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, located on Highway 18, and the Municipality of North Cowichan have been going through legal proceedings for years after North Cowichan refused to allow the facility to expand its operations.
Neighbours of the facility had complained about the noise since the VIMC opened in 2016.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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