Sports Car Club of British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Sports Car Club of British Columbia (SCCBC) is a motorsport
club based in British Columbia
, Canada. The club was founded in 1951 as a non-profit society and is currently active at Mission Raceway Park
.
Early days saw the membership host races at airports in Cassidy and Abbotsford
. In the late 1950s, the club built a new road racing circuit on the remote, rural hillside in Coquitlam, a suburb of Vancouver
. The track became known as Westwood Motorsport Park
and was the first permanent, purpose-built road circuit in Canada. Built through volunteer hours and money raised through the sale of debentures, the track was the focal point of the club for over thirty years until encroaching urban development forced it to permanently close in 1990. During the Westwood years, the club held successful events that attracted later well-known drivers such as Gilles Villeneuve
, Keke Rosberg
, and Bobby Rahal
.
In the early years, the SCCBC also held hill climbs, rallies, and gymkhanas at various venues around BC. The club promoted the sport and their organisation through participation in car shows and other public events.
In 1994, the SCCBC opened a 2 km road circuit referred to as River's Edge Road Course, part of Mission Raceway Park. The club has operated at this venue since then, hosting events throughout the racing season.
The club publishes a monthly newsletter called Pit Pass.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
club based in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada. The club was founded in 1951 as a non-profit society and is currently active at Mission Raceway Park
Mission Raceway Park
Mission Raceway Park, also known as MRP, is an auto racing facility located in Mission, British Columbia, Canada. The facility features a ¼ mile NHRA-sanctioned drag strip, a 9-turn road course, and a motocross track. It is owned and operated by the B.C. Custom Car Association, and the BCCCA...
.
Early days saw the membership host races at airports in Cassidy and Abbotsford
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
. In the late 1950s, the club built a new road racing circuit on the remote, rural hillside in Coquitlam, a suburb of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. The track became known as Westwood Motorsport Park
Westwood Motorsport Park
Westwood Motorsport Park was a 8-turn road racing circuit located in Coquitlam, British Columbia on the southern slopes of Eagle Mountain . The track was built and operated by the Sports Car Club of British Columbia...
and was the first permanent, purpose-built road circuit in Canada. Built through volunteer hours and money raised through the sale of debentures, the track was the focal point of the club for over thirty years until encroaching urban development forced it to permanently close in 1990. During the Westwood years, the club held successful events that attracted later well-known drivers such as Gilles Villeneuve
Gilles Villeneuve
Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve , was a Canadian racing driver. An enthusiast of cars and fast driving from an early age, he started his professional career in snowmobile racing in his native province of Quebec...
, Keke Rosberg
Keke Rosberg
Keijo Erik Rosberg , nicknamed "Keke", is a Finnish former racing driver and winner of the Formula One World Championship. He was the first Finnish driver to compete regularly in the series. Rosberg grew up in Oulu and Iisalmi, Finland...
, and Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal
Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
.
In the early years, the SCCBC also held hill climbs, rallies, and gymkhanas at various venues around BC. The club promoted the sport and their organisation through participation in car shows and other public events.
In 1994, the SCCBC opened a 2 km road circuit referred to as River's Edge Road Course, part of Mission Raceway Park. The club has operated at this venue since then, hosting events throughout the racing season.
The club publishes a monthly newsletter called Pit Pass.