For local racecar drivers Ken Staples and Brad Musat, the Edmonton Indy races gave them a chance to show their skills on the track and represent the Lac La Biche area.
But the racers won’t get to drive their way to the top like they did this past summer — with both drivers landing in second spot at the Northern Alberta Sports Car Club’s GT Invitational — since Edmonton officials announced last week that the Indy races won’t be coming back to Edmonton in 2011, with the possibility of future races also going elsewhere.
“I was surprised when I heard the news. I was under the impression that the agreement was already in place,” said Staples.
Edmonton city officials and Octane Racing group, the Montreal-based firm that was hired to organize the event, were unable to come to an agreement for the 2011 contract, due in part to the plans to close Edmonton’s City Centre Airport, the location of the races for the last six years.
Both Staples and Musat said although next year is a no-go for the Edmonton Indy races, they both still plan to race in other events.
“Our club races in other events and we race in Calgary once a month but the Indy was our showcase feature race,” said Musat, who has been racing in the Indy for the last five years.
The Indy race was the biggest amateur race across the Prairies, said Staples, who has been racing for more than 30 years.
Octane Racing is rumoured to be considering Calgary as a possible future host of the Indy races, and both LLB drivers say they would be willing to travel the distance to race.
“If it is relocating, I would definitely travel to Calgary to race,” said Staples.
