Boys In Blue Race Against Speedway Closure
Blue Line Racing Association, a non-profit organization formed by a volunteer group of Edmonton Police Service officers, will drag race their high performance police cars at Calgary's Race City. The event is part of an initiative by the Motorsport Council of Calgary to illustrate the benefits of the speedway to the community and the potential negative impact the proposed closure of the facility might have if displaced racers take their cars back to the streets.
Calgary, AB (September 22, 2009) - Friday night at Race City law enforcement officers from Edmonton and the Calgary area will be competing for the title of “Alberta’s Fastest Cop” to help publicize the perils of illegal street racing.
The impending closure of the Calgary motorsport facility will mean the end of the Friday Night Secret Street program, which for many years has provided a safe and legal outlet for drivers wanting to race their street cars.
The Motorsport Council of Calgary (formerly the Calgary Motorsports Association) and Race City Motorsport will host “The Battle of Alberta, Law Enforcement Style” on September 25 at 7 p.m. at Race City, 1150 – 68 Street S.E.
The Blue Line Racing Association, a volunteer group of officers from the Edmonton Police Service and teams from the Alberta’s Sheriff Department and the RCMP will be competing against each other and talking about the dangers of street racing and the likelihood that it will grow with the closure of Race City.
The City of Calgary claims Race City defaulted on its lease in 2000 when it was several weeks late providing a notice of renewal, which is required every five years. The City has told Race City it must vacate the property by March 31, 2010. The City plans to use the 160 acres to expand the Shepard Landfill.
In addition to the demonstration races by law enforcement officers, the weekly Friday Night Secret Street program will be run. The event sees over 175 racers and hundreds of their friends fuel their passion for racing in a alcohol and drug free environment. The competitors race in a safe and controlled environment with emergency personnel in attendance and on a racing surface separated from the spectator area.
Also in attendance will be youngsters that participate in their various forms of organized Motorsports, from Miniature Nextel Cup Cars, Mini Road Racers, Junior Dragsters to Karting Racers. Other members of Calgary's diverse racing community of drag racers, oval racers and road course racers will be showing their cars along with business from the automotive after market.
Gates open at 6:00PM. Action gets underway at 7:00PM and admission is $5.00.
About Blue Line Racing Association: Blue Line Racing Association is a non profit organization formed by a volunteer group of police officers who are all members of the Edmonton Police Service. The association aims to promote traffic safety, responsible driving and strives to reduce illegal street racing by providing heightened awareness and safe racing alternatives while cultivating positive relationships between young drivers and police.
Blue Line Racing is funded solely by community partners without the support of federal, provincial or municipal tax dollars and currently operates four race cars; a 1972 Plymouth Duster, a 2003 pre-production model Hyundai Tiburon, a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, and a Supercharged 2009 Ford Mustang GT that are painted to resemble police cars.
The association and Edmonton area race facility, Castrol Raceway, hold approximately 20 Street Legal race events each year averaging 175 participants and 1500 spectators at each event. For more information, visit www.BlueLineRacing.com
About Motorsport Council of Calgary: The Motorsport Council’s mission is to bring together all forms of motorsport enthusiasts and be a positive voice in the quest to curb illegal street racing on the streets of Calgary and surrounding communities.
For more information, please contact Rick Fransecone, chairman of the Motorsport Council. He is available by phone at 403-250-2845 (work) or 403-850-8773 (cell).
(H/T Rod Ormon)
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