Barrie Examiner - Monday, April 04, 2005

Kart race not out of gas yet

New operator steps forward with plans to run Barrie Grand Prix

There could be another lap left in Barrie’s Grand Prix.

Less than a week after Xtreme Motorsports, which ran the kart races for the past five years, pulled out of this event, a new potential operator has stepped forward.

ASN Canada (National Sporting Authority) has submitted a proposal to the city to run the races on Barrie’s waterfront from June 24-26.

Sid Armatage, the city’s recreation director, said ASN is the governing body of motorsports in Canada and has been involved in every Barrie Grand Prix.

“They are very familiar with the necessary requirements to operate this event,” he said in a memo to city councillors.

City staff were scheduled to meet with ASN officials on Friday.

If staff are satisfied with ASN’s plans to run the Grand Prix, a report will be prepared for council. It must be on the April 11 council agenda to give ASN enough time to organize the kart places.

Xtreme Motorsports announced last week that it would not operate the event, in part because council wouldn’t allow a motorcycle show to be included.

Armatage has said Xtreme Motorsports officials didn’t ask the city if they could hold a motorcycle show in 2005, although a much smaller version of one took place last year.

The Grand Prix has been held on Barrie’s waterfront, between Tiffin and Victoria streets, closing Lakeshore Drive to city traffic.

It has included retail booths and a midway. The latter has drawn complaints from area residents, prompting that attraction to be moved to another location on the waterfront.

For more information, please contact:
Russ Bond, 905-852-2900 [email protected]
Brad Brown, [email protected] (416)-233-8727
Paul Cooke, ASN Canada FIA – 905-403-9000