One group of dedicated families in the West Boundary has been working for years to make motorcycle racing accessible for children and youth, with the bulk of the work being done by volunteers.
Route 3 Racing Motorcycle Club has been growing in presence and size as word has been getting out about the club and the work they do getting young riders on bikes and zooming around the club’s track.
The volunteering aspects range from helping to put up barriers and fencing, repairing the track, keeping times during races and of course, helping out at outreach and fundraising events, like the recent spaghetti dinner in Greenwood April 19.
Whatever it is, co-founder Angus McNeil says it all helps to keep the club running.
“I end up doing a lot, but when we have lots of people volunteering, it makes everything go way easier,” he said. “There’s plenty to do. Volunteers can put up the fence while I do things like rebuild the motor we so desperately need.”
Of course, the track next to Highway 3 is the focal point, which McNeil said requires volunteers to repair and maintain to keep it ready to race on.
One of the caveats of having volunteers doing a lot of physical labour is you don't want to overwork them, he said, but so far they’ve been lucky, with a core group helping with major projects like building the track.
However, the one thing they always keep in mind is being thankful for the volunteers they do get. All they are asking for is a little help and show them respect when they show up.
Other volunteering includes selling branded merchandise and putting sponsor decals on bikes to help raise the profile of the club.
This has always been about giving youth in the Boundary Region an outlet and safe place to take up a healthy activity, McNeil said. He reiterated motorcycle racing can be very cost prohibitive at the best of times. The club and the volunteers running it allows youth to enjoy the rush of racing, often for free or at least very low cost.
“We are definitely getting there and for sure getting new people, both riders and volunteers,” he said. “The more people we get, the more volunteers we have.”
That invitation to race extends to all as well, he said. It’s not unusual for passers-by driving along Highway 3 to ask to hop on a bike and try racing. Crashes happen often, he joked, but the club is here to help get more people mounting bikes.
Building the club and its volunteers means they can provide more for the community. McNeil explained people can borrow bikes from the club to take home for children to try to see if they like it. If they get used to riding, they are more likely to get a taste for it and come back to race. In turn, those people
To ask about volunteering, contact (250) 328-3912, or angusmts@yahoo.ca.
