Saying Goodbye to the Original Surface
There is a very specific sound to progress. This morning at Calabogie Motorsports Park, that sound is the steady, rhythmic grind of heavy machinery peeling back twenty years of history.
As we begin grinding away the original track surface today, it is impossible not to feel a bit bittersweet. To a casual observer, it is just polymer asphalt. But to our community, these 5.05 kilometers represent two decades of late-braking maneuvers, personal bests, and the shared adrenaline of thousands of drivers and riders.
From Modest Trailers to a Premier Destination
Looking at the photos of the grinders at work today alongside our original images from 2006, it is a stark reminder of how far we have come. Our journey began with very modest facilities, which included just a modular trailer on a 1,200-acre parcel of land.
In 2006, we achieved a remarkable engineering milestone with the largest private paving contract in Ontario’s history at the time. We built a surface that was seamless and flawless, designed by the renowned Alan Wilson to dance with the natural topography of the site. We even built a temporary asphalt plant in the adjacent quarry to ensure we had precise control over every meter of the track.
A Journey Built by You
We never could have reached this point without the tireless efforts of our staff, volunteers, partners, leaders, and you, our drivers, fans, and music lovers. Since that first pave, we have not stopped growing:
- 2009: We moved beyond trailers to develop our first permanent building, which housed bathrooms, showers, offices, and a classroom for driver training.
- 2011: We expanded our paved paddock to over 6 acres to better serve our growing family.
- 2012 to 2023: Our original Mustang rental fleet amassed over 1 million kilometers of track use before we partnered with Tony Graham Toyota to usher in the new Toyota GR vehicle era.
- Our Community: Every step was taken with our local enthusiasts in mind, from creating jobs for workers in Arnprior and Renfrew to being honored last year with the Renfrew County Tourism Award.
A Special Note to Our Two-Wheeled Family
The track has always been a favorite for the two-wheeled crowd, with our dramatic elevation changes of over 65 feet creating an adrenaline junkie’s dream. We want to give a massive shout out to our long-time partner Pro6 Cycle, our exclusive motorcycle track day provider, and every rider who has leaned into a corner on this original surface.
Paving the Next 20 Years
We are letting go of the old surface to make room for a renewed future. This repave is a promise to our regional, national, and international racing partners who bring the best competition in the country to our gates. It is a promise to the music lovers joining us for the Guitars and Gasoline festival. Most importantly, it is a promise to every person who calls this track home that we will remain a premier motorsports destination in North America.
Once the new asphalt is laid next week, we have a mandatory 14 day curing window to ensure the surface is perfect. Thank you for every kilometer. We will see you on the new track next month.
