Members of the Alberni Valley Drag Race Association made one last try to secure the use of the airport for their Thunder in the Valley event, but it wasn’t enough.
Late yesterday afternoon Alberni – Clayoquot Regional Directors emerged from a closed-door meeting and announced that they would not allow racing at the regional airport.
“It really has a lot to do with the millions of dollars of investment in the upgrading of the capacity of the regional airport and protecting that investment,” said ACRD Board Chair John Jack. “That revolves around a lot of the reasons why we’ve made that decision although I can’t go into detail about the legal or technical advice that we’ve received.”
Members of the drag racing association said they’re angry and frustrated, that after weeks of negotiations, they were not advised of the decision by the ACRD, but found out about the decision from a press release.
In the press release sent out late yesterday afternoon, the regional district pledged support for the races to continue on Stamp Avenue, but failed to recognize that a re-manufacturing mill is being constructed where spectator parking and the racers pit areas are usually located.
Alberni Valley Drag Race Association members we spoke to last night said they’re angry and frustrated, and will meet tonight to decide if there’s a future for the popular annual event.
