Grand River Raceway monitor growth to proceed this fall

ELORA – Work is anticipated to start this fall on a multi-million greenback challenge to develop the monitor on the Grand River Raceway right here.

Officers introduced on April 26 the raceway is transferring forward with longstanding plans to remodel the present half-mile oval right into a 5/8-mile monitor.

“It is a nice alternative … and we’re keen to start engaged on this challenge,” acknowledged services supervisor Doug McCaig in a press launch.

“The monitor growth is a powerful addition to the racing group right here in Elora and the encompassing space.”

Raceway supervisor Chad Rozema advised the Advertiser a bigger monitor, with “wider, sweeping turns,” will result in “extra velocity, extra motion and extra circulation” in races, enhancing the general expertise for each followers and race individuals.

Requested about the price of the growth, Rozema mentioned solely that it’s a “multi-million greenback challenge,” which will likely be funded totally by Ontario Racing’s capital enchancment fund.

In 2021, raceway officers advised the media the challenge would price about $2 million.

The growth, Rozema defined, can even embrace “implausible” new LED lighting, in addition to new timer packing containers.

The limestone screening floor will likely be recycled and expanded.

The monitor’s stretch drive and end line will stay in the identical location, with the monitor’s turns and backstretch being “pushed out” from the present configuration, mentioned Rozema.

He famous the bigger monitor was all the time the plan for Grand River Raceway, and critical discussions concerning the growth started in 2020 and 2021, although they had been placed on maintain for numerous causes.

The overall contractor for the challenge is Thoume Development in Ariss, whereas GM BluePlan Engineering Restricted is the engineer and monitor consultants Dan and Greg Coon can even be concerned.

Preliminary website work is ready to start on Aug. 14 with the challenge to get underway within the fall.

Rozema mentioned this season won’t be impacted by the growth and the brand new 5/8-mile monitor will likely be accomplished by the top of subsequent April, in time for the beginning of the 2024 season.

This season, the Elora monitor’s twentieth, and final as a half-mile oval, will start on June 2.

For extra info go to grandriverraceway.com.