The Sudbury District Motorsport Association (SDMA) has tightened the last bolt in its funding vehicle. The Greater Sudbury Community Development Corporation will be adding $61,500 to the SDMA's motorsport park project budget, once the association receives the rest of its funding from other sources.
To validate support for the project, the SDMA sold $10 memberships to the association. In less than a year, more than 1,500 memberships were sold, including 11 to city councillors. Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann took it one step further and invested $3,000 in the project.
In total, the association has roughly $130,000 ready to commit to the project, said Don Lamontange, vice-president of the SDMA. The project will also be receiving funds from the Chemmy Mud Boggers and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
Phase one of the project will include a site assessment, environmental scan, conceptual design and park layout, developing a recommended operational model, outlining project costs and figuring out a timeline.
Next stop, a motorsport park for “gear heads” and “motor heads” in Greater Sudbury, according to Lamontange.
“If you want to golf, you have a golf course,” he said. “But the guys who are like us, motor heads or gear heads, we have nowhere else to go and the streets are getting very, very dangerous. This is going to be a very safe environment for them to practise and do their thing on the track. We hope to take the racing off the streets.
“This is a good thing for Sudbury, I'm sure nobody is going to regret this.”
Lamontange said, although it will be a motorsport enthusiasts dream, others will be interested in the park.
“I would have to say everyone from Sudbury would be interested to go see that, plus people from around the Sudbury area... Timmins, Kirkland Lake, North Bay, they all want us to have this.”
According to the SDMA's presentation before the development corporation on July 29, the park will benefit motorsport businesses in Greater Sudbury, which number about 350 businesses and amounts to roughly 2,800 jobs.
“It's going to open up a lot of doors for businesses, ” Lamontange said. “People are going to be wanting to come to Sudbury to come to the races.”
Membership in the association will also grow, the SDMA said.
“Membership is growing everyday,” and with the funding announcement it will continue to grow, said John Simeoni, treasurer of the SDMA.
“It will double,” predicted Lamontange.
The association has looked at roughly 30 sites, according to Lamontange. The one that has the most interest at the moment is a site near the Sudbury airport.
“There's an area over there we're looking at,” he said.
The park, when completed, is projected to create roughly 30 jobs.
It will include — but not be limited to — drag racing, motocross, snow cross, stock car racing, karting, off-road vehicle competitions, festivals, events and car shows.
People interested in becoming members or reading more information can visit the SDMA at sudburymotorsports.ca.
