Cinnamon said the motorized racing scene has experienced a resurgence across Western Canada over the past three years, which is part of the reason the family decided to reopen the track. /SPENCER HALL
By Spencer Hall
The Rocky Mountain Racing Association is preparing to open its gates this weekend for the first time in over 20 years since the Valemount race track closed in 2003.
The Association was revived last year by the Cinnamon family after they purchased the 30-acre property located on Cedarside Road, where the original race track was built, in July 2023.
According to Tamara Cinnamon, the motorized racing scene has experienced a resurgence across Western Canada over the past three years, which is part of the reason the family decided to reopen the track.
“Everywhere we race, everybody always talks about how the Rocky Mountain Speedway is the best track in Western Canada. We’re from here. All of us and our families raced here. We were part of the original build when we were kids, so it’s just the right time in the race world and something we’re really excited to do, so it’s perfect timing,” Tamara said.
She said since they bought the property last July, at least one person has been there every week working to get the land ready for opening weekend.
Joel Cinnamon said in order to get ready for race day, volunteers had to clear out thousands of 20-foot pine trees from the property.
“[There were] literally thousands of trees and the track surface had like four- to six- foot tall weeds around the whole thing. So we tilled that all up, got it into a surface, and then graded it out,” Joel said.
The Cinnamons say they’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support they’ve received while working to re-open the track – not just from locals, but others in the racing community from Alberta, Clearwater, Merrit, and places in between.
“This is a project the community has gotten behind because we’re here every week. We’re doing the work, and it’s something they realize, like, holy shit, they’re actually doing this. The community has been absolutely incredible getting behind us here,” Tamara said.
Head of the Rocky Mountain Racing Association, Trevor Pelletier, said when they started working on the property, there were just a few people, but soon after posting pictures online, he started receiving phone calls from people wanting to help by donating their time, money, or equipment. Tamara said they’ve received about $50,000, mostly in donations from local businesses, the Valemount Rodeo Grounds, and members of the racing community, but also from sign sponsors and memorial plaques.
“The support, both financially as well as time, coming out from all over Alberta, all over B.C. — the racers are the same thing. We just got a call from Fort McMurray and some guys are bringing up cars. That’s an eight hour drive at least,” Tamara said.
She estimates there will be anywhere from 40 to 60 cars and up to 1000 spectators at the grand opening weekend, which she believes will be the biggest racing event in Western Canada.
The weekend will kick off on June 15th with a grand opening ceremony at noon, which will pay tribute to the original builders and racers of the track.
“There’s a lot of those old boys who put a lot of energy into this track and we’re really fortunate — it took a lot of work to get it to this — but we had a great base because of those guys in 1993 building a phenomenal track,” Tamara said.
Racing will kick off after the ribbon cutting with four cylinder, hobby stock and super stock class racing.
Gates will open for the event at 10:30 a.m. and there will be food trucks and concession available at the speedway. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for youth and seniors and kids under 12 get in for free.
For more details, visit rockymountainspeedway.ca
