The Canadian Racing Season Begins February 8, 9 & 10, 2013 at Toronto’s International Centre
(TORONTO, ON // JANUARY 23, 2013) Having recently received Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) approval, the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway is one step closer to becoming a reality. Located in Fort Erie, Ontario, the central features of the $150 million facility are a one-mile banked speedway designed by NASCAR star Jeff Gordon, and a 2.6-mile FIA / FIM grade road course. Several other racing, entertainment, industrial and educational components are planned for what is being billed as a world class facility.
In an effort to keep Canadian racing fans informed about the exciting recent developments involving Canadian Motor Speedway (CMS), the group behind the project will have a prominent presence at the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News. The show runs February 8-10 at the International Centre, adjacent to Toronto’s Pearson Airport.
In addition to several project leaders being in the booth at various times throughout the weekend, the CMS display (Booth #226) will also feature the first Canadian showing of the new ‘Gen-6’ NASCAR Sprint Cup car, in the form of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevy SS Showcar driven by four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon. The new car, coming directly from Hendrick Motorsports, features the dramatic new body design that is winning rave reviews for its enhanced manufacturer brand recognition and exciting racing characteristics.
“Canadian Motor Speedway has had a regular presence at the CME for the past several years,” said CMS Executive Director Azhar Mohammad. “It’s been a long process getting to where we are now and the show has been an excellent venue for interacting with race fans about the project, as well as connecting with prospective partners. We’re at an exciting stage in the process and we look forward to being part of the show again this year.”
John Bickford will also be on hand in the Canadian Motor Speedway booth, on the Friday and Saturday of the show (Feb. 8 & 9). Bickford – the VP and General Manager of Jeff Gordon Inc. – is also Jeff Gordon’s stepfather. Bickford will be at the show to greet fans and to represent Jeff Gordon, a key member of the CMS design team.
Visitors to the Canadian Motor Speedway booth will also have an opportunity to discuss the facility’s design characteristics with Paxton Waters, one of the world’s most respected motorsports facility architects.
And with the start date for construction drawing ever closer, the CMS management team is looking forward to discussing hiring and sponsorship opportunities, as well as CMS community programs, at the show. They will also be available for B2B discussions with prospective suppliers, and to explore potential business partnerships involving the multi-faceted facility.
Visitors to the Canadian Motor Speedway booth will have access to the latest news about the CMS project and the development process. They’ll also be eligible to receive some cool CMS souvenir giveaways.
“Through our work with Inside Track Motorsport News, we’ve closely followed the Canadian Motor Speedway’s progress since the very early days,” said Inside Track editor and CME co-promoter Greg MacPherson. “It’s been a long process, but through it all, the CMS group has overcome the inevitable challenges that face a project of this magnitude. Having such high level members of their team at the CME – as well as Jeff Gordon’s new No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevy SS NASCAR Sprint Cup Showcar – demonstrates that they’re serious about turning the vision into reality. We’re honoured that they’re coming back to the CME as part of their efforts to connect with the fans, the racing community and potential corporate partners.”
ABOUT THE CANADIAN MOTOR SPEEDWAY: The Canadian Motor Speedway (CMS) is a $150 million dollar world class motorsports and entertainment development to be situated on 820 acres of land in Fort Erie, Ontario. It is directly adjacent to the QEW within 2 minutes from the Canadian/U.S. border at Buffalo, NY and 15 minutes from iconic Niagara Falls.
CMS will include connected ancillary construction for; industrial, recreational, and commercial / retail uses, as well as a motorsports innovation park in collaboration with McMaster University’s renowned Faculty of Engineering, expanding the build-out to $400 million.
The core of the project consists of a stand-alone 1-mile ‘Jeff Gordon Designed Signature Speedway’ consisting of a banked oval, which combines to form a 2.6 mile FIA / FIM grade road course through an innovative system of tunnels and bridges. Every one of the 65,000 stadium seats provides expansive views of the speedway and the road course, as well as vistas for maximum enjoyment of a comprehensive list of motorsports and non-motorsport events. 5,000 enclosed club seats and VIP suites will favour the customer with first class catering and access. The development will provide world class racing events for up to 100,000 spectators in a variety of motorsports platforms including stock car and open wheel racing, motorcycles, karting, drifting and various motorized and non-motorized categories.
For more information, visit: www.cdnmotorspeedway.com, www.facebook.com/cmsnation, or on Twitter @CMSnation
ABOUT JOHN BICKFORD: John Bickford is Vice President and General Manager of Jeff Gordon, Inc. He is also stepfather to NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. Bickford started Gordon’s racing career in 1976, when Gordon was five, on a makeshift racetrack in Vallejo, California. At the same time, he started MPD, which is a company that produces products for physically challenged people to enable them to drive cars without the use of their feet.
The company also produces race car products. In 1985, he moved east to further Jeff Gordon’s racing establishing a base in Pittsboro, Indiana. In 1996, following a move from Pittsboro to Concord, North Carolina he became the Executive Vice President of Action Performance. While with Action, he spent 18 months in Europe working on Formula One and SBK World Super Bike. In 2004, he returned to Jeff Gordon, Inc. where he remains Vice President and General Manager.
ABOUT PAXTON WATERS: Paxton Waters, AIA, is president of Paxton Waters Architecture, an Indiana design firm whose main focus is on Motorsport Facility design. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Paxton has 34 years of experience as an architect and is registered in 22 states. Paxton’s first involvement with motorsports was in 1990 with the design of various buildings at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including their 60,000 square foot headquarters.
In 1994, Paxton was the lead designer for the California Speedway, shortly followed by the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Pikes Peak International Raceway near Colorado Springs. Other facilities designed by Paxton are US 131 Speedway, Monroe Speedway, Mansfield Motor Speedway, and Iowa Speedway. Paxton has consulted on more than 50 feasibility studies from New York to California. Paxton is currently co-designing the Canadian Motor Speedway, in Ontario, Canada, with NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon.
ABOUT THE CME: The 7th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News takes place February 8, 9 & 10, 2013 at Toronto’s International Centre, adjacent to Pearson International Airport. The show features motorsports content geared to racers and fans. For information about the show, including exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, call (416) 962-7223, or email info@CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com. The CME’s website is located at www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com.
