Popular Gordie Mannes Memorial weekend racing to go ahead at Penticton Speedway, but without spectators

Penticton Speedway is preparing for its biggest event of the season.

The Gordie Mannes Memorial is set to run July 31, Aug. 1-2. The event would normally draw in excess of 10 thousand people through the weekend.

There will be racing.

However, as was the case July 18-19, there will not be many spectators in the stands - at least, no more than 50 as per COVID-19 protocols.

“We’ve been working with local Interior Health as much as we can. We’ve talked a lot. Monday I probably had five or six messages back and forth with Interior Health, but it’s not something that’s going in our favour,” confirmed Speedway owner Johnny Aantjes Tuesday morning. “They tell me that it’s upper management provincially that is mandating this 50-person cap. We can have the people in the pits that are essential to putting on the show and are directly involved, such as staff and pit crews. But that’s pretty limiting.

“I understand it’s a difficult time, and I understand that we have to be safe. My biggest frustration is that we can exceed what’s happening all around us in many areas, and we are being overlooked.”

Aantjes is referring to the hundreds or even thousands of people routinely seen on Penticton beaches these days, or scenes such as that drumming circle on Vancouver’s Third Beach last week.

“I'm glad people are able to get out and be at the beaches and parks and restaurants and bars,” insisted Aantjes. “But the thing that I see that’s really frustrating is there’s no enforcement there. Because I happen to be a property owner, and they can lay a heavy hand on me with taxes or fines or even charges — they decide we’ll just limit his business, but we realize there’s not much else we can do all around him. That’s frustrating.”

Aantjes is adamant Penticton Speedway has done all the right things.

The first race event of the season July 4 was held with a limit of 1,500 people through the gate. Hundreds were turned away, and lined Carmi Road to watch the races.

Aantjes even delayed the start of racing and went into the grandstand area to ensure patrons were physically distanced to avoid repercussions.

“We have a COVID plan, we have a physical distancing plan, and we have information from Worksafe BC and Interior Health guidelines,” confirmed Aantjes. “We can exceed the requirements that are being met at many other locations, but because we’re an event, we fall under this category, according to Dr. Bonnie Henry, and so we don’t have the same privilege to work under the same parameters.

“It doesn't matter if I have 5,000 square feet, one acre, 10 acres, or 22 acres, like we do have, but because it’s an event, you’re allowed 50 spectators. The consistency and common sense is lacking in that description.”

With cases increasing in the Okanagan, Penticton Speedway appears destined to continue the race season — but without any spectators, which will certainly affect the bottom line, along with drivers’ desires to compete in a less-than-competitive field.

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’m pretty frustrated,” said Aantjes. “We are known as an event. But PNE is a facility, so they can have 550 people at a time on their site and run at 50%. But we’re running at 2%.

“It doesn't make any sense to me but we are not in a position of authority so we don’t get to make the call.”

Aantjes expects there to be a Facebook Live event of the Gordie Mannes Memorial weekend, so race fans can follow online.

For Penticton Speedway updates, click here.