New Runway Park is a runaway success

The Sault's newest sports venue opened over the weekend, with organizers expressing delight with the first event at Runway Park.

The recreational venue, expected to cost $250,000 by the time it's finished later this year, is part of a diversifaction strategy at the Sault Ste. Marie Airport.

Last April, City Council granted permission to the airport development corporation to host snowmobile and motocross races, tractor pulls, concerts and drag racing events on the northeast corner of its property, not far from the New North Greenhouses.

To read a SooToday background article, please click here.

This weekend's snow drags and ice drags event, held on six specially constructed strips (four snow strips, two ice) was expected to attract about 1,000 spectators.

Attendance goal met on first day

That goal was reached on the first day, Saturday, when the entire parking area filled even though the snowmobile drags occurred simultaneously with the annual Polar Bear Swim, one of the most popular of the Bon Soo events.

Fewer people attended the Sunday races, but the hundreds of people who turned out that day were frosting on the cake for airport board and staff, many of whom put in volunteer hours to ensure the races were a success.

Also offered today at the new venue were sponsor displays, dealer demos, a used snow machine corral, food, a beer garden, toboggan slope and free sleigh rides.

For race results, please click here.

SooToday photo coverage

Entrance to the Sault's brand-new Runway Park New park offers its own line of sportswear Dan Carlson gets gassed The King brothers catch 40 winks Lining up for the race Lining up #2 Driver shows up his best side Pre-race briefing for drivers Pre-race briefing #2 Pre-race briefing #3 A snow drag start And they're off... 23 Skidoo! MCTV's Kim Fewchuk spent more than an hour trapped in snowmobile gridlock