There could be more extreme racing events in the future for Bonnyville.
The Bonnyville 4x4 Club is in discussions with the Bonnyville Ag Society regarding a permanent area located on the south side of the Bonnyville Rodeo Grounds.
”The 4x4 club could put on more events, with other individuals coming and renting the facility to put on a show,” explained club president Rick Reddecliff.
A preliminary plan calls for a mud racing track, a tractor pulling area, a tough truck obstacle course, and a mega truck course, among others. With the project in the early phases, a construction start date isn’t confirmed and costs are still being worked out.
Currently, the 4x4 club uses the rodeo grounds when they host events, such as Extreme Mudfest, and have to rebuild a track each time.
Reddecliff said a permanent facility would allow the group to add or subtract to the area “as organizations or individuals approach us with different ideas.”
He continued, “That’s what this is all about, is providing a facility that’s big enough to accompany pretty much any type of motorsports people want to do.”
Corey Styba, president of the ag society, noted the proposed location allows events to happen simultaneously without the groups running into issues in terms of space.
”It’s going to be best suited for both organizations, where each can run independently, and if something needs to run on the same weekend, it’s going to make it a lot easier to do that. Nobody will be tripping over each other, and it will be a lot more cohesive,” he explained.
In order for the facility to move ahead, a deal has to be worked out between both organizations before a plan is presented for the Town of Bonnyville to approve.
During their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 11, town council passed a motion of support for the 4x4 club to have a space at the rodeo grounds.
”We would have to amend the (ag society’s) lease if the 4x4 club were going to be using part of the ag grounds,” noted Mayor Gene Sobolewski.
A major factor for the group wanting a permanent facility revolves around the financial aspect.
”The biggest expense for them is rebuilding that track every year,” noted Coun. Rene Van Brabant, who sits on the ag society board. “They would be working with the ag society for the cost and stuff like that, but the track is where the biggest expense is. They wouldn’t have to tear it down, and rebuild.”
In order to get ready for Extreme Mudfest, Reddecliff said the minimum cost for the club each year is $12,000.
The group had a permanent track in Ardmore for a number of years, but after being approached by members of the ag society, they relocated to the rodeo grounds in hopes of having a similar set up. Constructing a facility like the one they previously had would greatly cut down on costs and set up time.
”You go in a few days before (an event), you clean it up, get it ready, and you’re ready to go. You’re not there for 10 hours a day for two weeks prior to trying to get tracks redone and set up,” he detailed.
Moving forward, the 4x4 club and ag society hope the construction of a track will add to the rodeo grounds.
”It wasn’t specifically supposed to be limited to rodeos and chuckwagons,” Styba said. “It was kind of meant to be able to host a variety of different events, so being able to add that to the south side of the grounds further enhances the ability for both groups to get more structures out there as far as a hall, or permanent water sewage bathrooms.”
Reddecliff believes it could offer another way for people to enjoy the area during the warmer months.
”The bottomline is bringing people to Bonnyville,” he noted. “Give them something to do, and bring people from outside the Lakeland to see what we’ve got, because it all stimulates the economy and that’s what the bottomline is all about.”
