Local Drag Strip Under New Management
Tuesday, July 3, 2012 @ 3:50 PM
Prince George, B.C.- The North Central Motorsports Park off Chief Lake Road, is now under the sole ownership of Brent Marshall.
The operator of Northland Dodge, Jeep Chrysler in Prince George says he bought out the track to keep it local and to help charity. “There were some offers to purchase the track, but I really wanted to keep it local. I really have to thank the previous owner, Shane Login, for giving me the opportunity to make a bid. I wanted to make sure the track would stay open, that the land didn’t get subdivided or developed for some other use.”
Marshall, who has several high performance vehicles in his personal collection, says it was important to keep the track operating, especially since it is very difficult in today’s world to get the proper zoning and permits to allow for the opening of a new facility.
He has been the sole owner for a month now, and has spent about $30 thousand dollars making some upgrades at the ¼ mile drag strip. “I put in new, state of the art timing equipment, all wireless” says Marshall who is now focusing on making sure the track is busy. “I’ve approached the local BMX community as well as the radio controlled car club and then we’ve got the Cruisin’ Classic guys. So on a Friday night now, you can watch the ¼ mile racing, or BMX, radio controlled cars, or classic cars, so I’m making Friday night a bigger event and I’m donating all the proceeds to charity.”
The charity that is first on the list is the Northern BC Helicopter and Emergency Rescue Operation Society (HEROS) which is determined to raise the necessary money to fund an emergency helicopter than can lift injured to health care 24/7. Marshall has been Chair of that Society since the end of March. The Society’s website says it will “give the people of this region an emergency rescue system that will not only save lives but significantly reduce the time it takes to provide patients with specialized medical care. Minutes after a 911 call is received, our dedicated HEROS team of paramedics, critical care nurses and, if needed, emergency doctors, will be flying to the scene in our rescue helicopter.”
There is a big night at the Motorsports Park this Friday Night, with members of the local Rotary Club donating their time to work the concession stand. Click here to see the event posting on the track’s website.
Marshall says they are working hard at hosting some bigger events, including bringing in some hot vehicles in August and September for some motorsport events on the weekends, and plans for mud bogs in the fall on the property around the track. “We’re currently in negotiations to bring the Motor-cross finals to Prince George, we want to make that part of the circuit out there.”
Comments
NICE!!!!!
Thanks Brent, Shane and all the volunteers . Hopefully enough people will come out and support this Place. I personally will be there every chance I get and look forward to Friday Night Drags, always a great way to spend the evening. :) Race on the track ,Not The public Roads.
Thanks for your community investment,I,m not into racing but i,m sure many will enjoy it, I also like the helicopter ambulance idea,makes things saver for people working and living in outlying areas
I so appreciate the work that Shane Login and his team have done over the past few years at the Drag Strip as well as with the Corvettes North Club. His generosity of his time and resources has been very evident and very appreciated. I expect Brent Marshall will continue to improve, expand and promote these types of events in the future.
Brent Marshall for mayor!
On the face of it,this appears to be a good news story. At least the fellow is trying.
From an earlier story from March it states that he is projecting that he will be able to raise the $2million he thinks will be needed within 2 years.
The word proceeds always intrigues me when people state that all proceed of a business or sales will be donated or used for specific things. Very rarely does anyone state whether the porceeds are net or gross. I assume them to be net in this case and likely most cases other than for specific short term periods. Otherwise. I figure, he might as well donate the money directly unless there are important tax implications.
I am also intrigued with the remote helicopter 24/7 rescue operations in the types of terrain and weather conditions we have in the nothern half of the province. I understand that there is a high frequency of night flight helicopter accidents, especially those flying under emergency conditions for the purpose of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services with probably a hgh frequency of quetionable situations, including training of personell, aircraft maintenance and ground/navigation support.
Great to see the strip will stay in action!
Net or gross, well lets not do anything then.
Gee road ambulances have issues also.
April 17, 2012|Andrea K. Walker, The Baltimore Sun
Severely injured patients are more likely to survive if transported by helicopter rather than ambulance, according to new research by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine that adds fuel to the debate over flying patients to receive care.
The study, unveiled Tuesday, is the latest in a body of often conflicting research into whether medevac helicopters get patients to hospitals faster, provide better care and increase the chances of saving lives.
So its okay for the southern coast to have air ambulances and not us. Last I noticed the coast has weather and mountains also.
Imagine all the C02 emitted on a Friday night going to the races, and not just from vehicle exhaust :)
How can this be anything but a “Good News Story”. Any time anybody takes the time, effort and money to make something better for the community its all good news.
I’m sure he did not buy the track with the assumption it was a great money making venture.
And in my opinion any monies donated to charities whether they are net or gross are greatly appreciated.
Great news for our community…can never be enough to do in this city! Hopefully it works out to be profitable for Mr. Marshall as well. Never be-grudge a win-win situation!
Great to see that the Drag Strip will continue operation.
I don’t believe Mr Marshall has done this for charity as much as he has done it to continue to feed his ego.
It appears that he and the “Northland” staff have been preparing for this day …. I refer you to YOUTUBE …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ktvi2wMDDM
Isn’t this the place you would like to buy your nest vehicle from? In particular the F350 Pick-up.
The owner of the Ford F350 just left it there for an oil change and lube.
Sure hope that F-350 burnout wasn’t near any of our “no-idle zones” in our pot holed city. This town is a contradictory joke. Other than that I love it. I wanna see our new Nissan Leaf at city hall do a “burnout”. It is to laugh.
Brent Marshall is the genuine article.
He puts his money where his mouth is, and has done a lot for charity around Prince George. As for whether or not he makes money from the drag strip, it is none of your business. Gus, you old devil’s advocate you;), does it matter if the ‘proceeds’ are net, or gross? Money is being donated toward a worthy cause, must we conduct an equine dental examination?
metalman.
I hope he puts a some money back into the track. The old girl is pretty rough these days. It could use a little love and attention.
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