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Extended Winter Wreaking Havoc on Canadian Kart Tracks

Published on 02 Apr 2014

We are sure that across this beautiful country of ours, nobody is more anxious for this long Canadian winter to be over than go-kart track owners. Our off-season is long enough as it is, with at least six months of down time for most kart tracks. While some race teams and drivers flock south like snowbirds, taking in warm temperatures and racing at the Florida Winter Tour and Challenge of the Americas, track owners have to sit at home and wait for the heavy snow to clear, so they can resume working and racing. This winter especially as Mother Nature continues to lay on more snow and cold temperatures as we turn the page on another month and enter into April.

Last year at this time, many kart tracks were open, or at least getting ready to open. Testing had begun for some teams and drivers and tracks were preparing to kick off their club racing and arrive and drive programs. That cannot be said for this year just yet. Lasts years Canadian Championship hosting Goodwood Kartways has more than three feet on their racing surface, while this years home for the Canadian Championships, Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, has snow up and over the fences and no tire walls in sight.

On the east coast, East Coast Karters in Moncton, NB is still dealing with snow storms and more of the white stuff is expected this week. Gerald Caseley has been forced to push back the opening date and doesn’t expect to open the track until early May, instead of late April as usual.

The only area currently under good conditions is out west as Greg Moore Raceway in Chilliwack, BC has been clear and open for a few weeks now, with some drivers out practicing. However they did have to cancel an event there a few weeks ago due to wintery conditions.

Through the mid-west, Warburg Kart Track, which is just west of Edmonton, Alberta is still completely snow covered. The same can be said for Saskatoon Kart Racers in Saskatchewan, although the high winds have moved some of powder around and parts of the racing surface can be seen.

Click Here for the expanded photo gallery

Even our sun capital of Canada has been snow covered as big snow drifts had been found at Point Pelee Karting in Leamington, Ontario. But a nice sunny weekend has cleared up the asphalt, while the grass is quite soggy. The track is Canada’s most southern region and will be opening later than usual.

We were able to get our hands on some pictures of the current conditions at tracks across Canada. Check them out below.

If you have a shot you would like added to our snow covered photo gallery, please send it to info@canadiankartingnews.com.