News and Events
 
June 5, 2008
 
VIP Section is now complete!!.

It is designed for Corperate parties, Birthday Parties and Private functions.  15 - 20 People maximum. email Mike okracingexperience@vip.net  for prices and dates.

Fan Appreciation Nights

2 lucky fans every stockcar night will be randomly picked to go for a "Ride With the Pros" in the one of the Okanagan Racing Experiences Nascar two seaters. 
 
May 26, 2008
 
Hornets/Claimers Changes to rules.

After much discussion we have amended the hornet and claimer rules. Once again our rules were designed to ensure the hornet class would remain a fun inexpensive beginner class. We understand that some of you have put allot of effort(time) into your cars and that $800 may not cover the time and costs. We encourage those who want to race a faster more expensive car to move to the next class up streetstocks.

Road Course a huge hit with the Fans and the drivers!! The first ever road course race at the speedway went over as a huge success. The fans loved it !!!. In talking to the participating drivers the overwhelming response was "Great Fun" Bobby Wilson one the first Heat race and Peter Vanderbrook won the main event. " Although fun it was alot harder work to get the car around the road course" says Peter V once he caught his breath!! Norm S in his luggage filled station wagon one the hit pass main, as rain oil and sand on the track made it real exciting. ( LAST MAN STANDING)

The first ever Bar Stool Racers put on a display at half time ( Go Karts with bar stools attached)
Heat race winner Slack Alices entry
Main winner Otto's Pub entry
May 20, 2008
 
Dwarf cars everywhere!!

We had a huge turnout of dwarf cars. Over 30 cars from all over western Canada and the US showed up for a great weekend of racing on the May long weekend. Midgets, streetstocks, hornets, Minicup and sportsman helped make the over 60 car field one of the biggest we have seen in a while. Thanks to Rick Taylor and the Dwarf car association for a great turnout and a more amzing show!!
April 14, 2008
 
Street Car Challenge
A new event to take the racing off the streets and get your "Need for Speed" fix on the racetrack in a controlled enviorment. Bring out your street car and par off against other drivers in a three lap shootout!! Make sure you check with mom before you borrow her car!!
Race whatever you got !!!
June 14, 2008 at intermission
April 14, 2008
 
-We are presently in discussions with SPEED channel to possible film a segment of LUCAS OIL "On The Edge" We will let you know as soon as we know!!

- 8 Bins of steel and 20 plus cars have been removed from the speedway destined for the crusher. Arrangements will need to be made if you plan on leaving your car at the track. We are trying to keep it looking good this year!!!! We need your help
- Washrooms are plumbed and will be ready for the first race.( Special Thanks to Dean Zucht plumbing)
- Food vendor has been arranged for the pit area.

Penticton Speedway memberships will be available at the end of April. Contact Mike for packages and don't forget your concert tickets
April 28, 2008
 

GLOBAL BC is coming to shoot a segment on the Okanagan and the Okanagan Racing Experience. Three or four of the morning news team will be on hand at the Speedway to try their hand at driving one of the school cars. Watch for it on Global News soon!!
May 10, 2008
"SPEEDWAY ON DISPLAY"

A chance for those drivers that have their cars all painted and looking great to show them off to the public. Great for your sponsors and fans to be able to see all the cars together in town. The Penticton Wholesale Club (Dan Baratta) has volunteered the parking lot to us to display our cars. All classes welcome and encourage to attend. Have your pens ready for autographs for the kids. ( pictures if you have them) Hot dogs etc on site.

Lets make it a good turn out, please let me know if you can attend as space is limited email mike okracingexperience@vip.net

March 26, 2008


WINE COUNTRY MUSIC FEST 2008

We have confirmed 2008 Juno award nominee Johnny Reid and recording artist Jessie Farrell will be performing live from the Penticton Speedway Sunday August 3, 2008. Casey Clarke of CMT television will also be on hand filming the "CHEVY CROSS CANADA COUNTDOWN". CMT will be on hand throughout the Katana weekend filming a " Racing Meets Country" segment for CMT. Along with Johnny, Jessie & Casey several of the biggest names in Canadian country music will make special guest appearances.

Be a part of the biggest weekend in Penticton Speedway's history !!!

Ticket go on sale Wednesday April 2, 2008 and will be available at numerous locations throughout the Okanagan and online www.ticketweb.ca or email okracingexperience@vip.net

$35 in advance
$40 at the door
$90 VIP backstage pass, autograph session, photo( only 20 tickets available) contact Mike okracinexperience@vip.net
Get special pricing on "Racing Meets Country" tickets.
General Admission
Gates open 6:30 concert starts at 8:00pm
Beer Garden 6:30
Food vendors onsite
Shuttle buses will be available (watch for details)
Tickets at the door $45

PRACTICE DAYS (Sunday April 20, 2008 & Saturday May 10, 2008)
Gates open 10:00am ($20 per car)

Sportsman
Katana Sportsman
Street Stocks
Midgets
Dwarfs
Mini Cup

(Sunday May 11,2008)
Hit To Pass
Hornet/Claimers

NASCAR: After much discussion with NASCAR officials, we have decided not to pursue the Whelen NASCAR sanctioning program. We felt that the costs associated with it were too high for our members to comfortably afford. NASCAR was very eager to get us onboard and we may look at it again at a later date.

NOTE: Camping for the August long weekend is on a first come first serve bases ( motorhomes, tents campers etc) We will be extremely tight for space this year. The concert will bring in 3-5000 people we need as much room for parking as possible. contact John or Mike in advance. Camping/Concert ticket package available.

Sunday August 3,2008 All racecars, trailers, & unauthorized vehicles MUST be removed from the Speedway immediately following the races!!!! (no later than 5:30 pm) NO EXCEPTIONS

Track cleanup and renovations have begun, washrooms are being upgraded, VIP/Barbeque area is being built and beer garden preparations are underway!! NOTE if you have anything left at the Speedway please make arrangements to have it removed ASAP. No cars/trailer/misc will be left on the Speedway Grounds. (if you bring it, take it with you when you leave) we are working hard to make it a first class facility (we need your help)

Speedway memberships are now available
( $100 driver car and 3 crew members)
- Discounts at many local business/restaurants
- Autograph cards with bio
- Discount entrance prices
- Membership cards
- Racing/pit rules package


Flagging: We are starting fresh with our flagging program!!! Inappropriate driving will not be tolerated this year. Black flags will be used in an effort to clean up the rough/blocking/mirror driving that has become common over the last few years. We will race with skill not bumpers (hit to pass still allowed bumpers) New rules will be in your membership packages

Let us know when your car is painted and ready as we will get a Photo for your free autograph cards( call Terry Vandament) Monthly racecar parking will be available on a first come first serve bases. $45 per month (space limited)

Let me know when cars are ready so I can place them throughout town on display. email okracingexperience@vip.net

February 2008

Mike Sproule of the Okanagan Racing Experience is named 2008 race director for the Penticton Speedway.

The new year is upon us and I know we are all getting eager to get the snow off our cars and get the 2008 racing season underway.  We have made many changes for the 2008 season with many more to come. As aforementioned,  I have taken on the job of race director for the 2008 season. I hope to bring some of my 38 years of racing experience as a fan and driver to the Penticton Speedway and help make it even better. 

If anyone has some POSITIVE   thoughts or ideas on how to improve racing or the level of entertainment at the speedway please feel free to send me a email okracingexperience@vip.net

Johnny has done a good job thus far giving us a great facility to race at,  while always looking at ways to grow the sport that we love. We all know he could make allot  more money developing the property with less headaches. His love for racing keeps our " Speedway a Speedway " and to that we owe him our "Thanks"

Johnny will still be involved in a limited capacity.

Brian Poppe  Will be heavily involved again in the 2008 season. He has been a tireless supporter of the Speedway and we all benefit from Brian's presence at the track and his contagious passion for racing . Whether for advice or use of tools/parts etc. Brian is always willing to lend a hand.

We are working towards having more fun, clean, competitive & affordable racing!!!!!

Some of the changes we are trying to implement. The logistics of these still have to be all worked out, however these are the goals for the 2008 season.

  • NASCAR Sanctioning - We are currently in dicussions with the NASCAR Whelen series to include Penticton Speedway as a NASCAR  track. We will let you know the particulars as soon as we know !!
  • Beer Gardens
  • Pit concession
  • Upgrade washrooms
  • Concert stage
  • Road course in infield
  • VIP area
  • General Cleanup
  • More News headlines & publicity

Racing Changes
( the following programs will be explained in further as we finalize the details)

  • Easier tech program to minimize (grey areas)
  • New car rules to lower overall costs
  • Crew uniform points bonus
  • Fan points bonus
  • Car show points bonus
  • Best appearing car points bonus
  • Driver picture profile cards
  • Fan Club
  • Clear driver rules ( flagging consistency)
  • Clear protest rules
  • Clear payouts
  • New Racetrack rules of conduct

Our goal is to make the racing more fair and exciting to the racers and our fans.  Not all changes will happen, nor will all of you like everything about the changes, however we are doing what we feel is needed to help our sport and fan base grow. 

We are all putting a show for the fans,  without the fans we can't race !!   " Mike Helton President of NASCAR"

FANS =  More Prize money

FANS =  More car sponsor potential

FANS =  More track sponsorship

Thankyou all in advance and I look forward to seeing and hearing from you this race season.

Sincerely,

Mike Sproule

Race Director at the Penticton Speedway

Anyone interested in helping out this year at the Speedway please send me an email or give me a call at 809 0110.

We need help in these areas : 
Flagging
Sweepers
First Aid 
Tech  personnel
Security
Fan club personnel
Newspaper write-ups/ media updates
 

"RACING INTO THE FUTURE"