Racers, start your engines!
Kelownaѻýs Knox Mountain was full on Saturday as spectators enjoyed the 64th annual Knox Mountain Hill Climb.
The motorsport racing event welcomed racers from all over the world and is the the longest running paved hill climb racing event in North America at 3.5 kilometres.
Garrett Mealing, the eventѻýs head of promotion, also races in the event every year. This year was his 10th year in racing and his seventh time at Kelownaѻýs premier motorsport event.
ѻýI look forward to this weekend every year,ѻý said Mealing. ѻýItѻýs more of a camping trip with a little bit of racing, itѻýs the best of both worlds.ѻý
With it being the 64th annual event and with Mealingѻýs experience, he said Knox Mountain is a different kind of race.
ѻýItѻýs scary cause itѻýs not a track,ѻý said Mealing. ѻýThe pavement is old and itѻýs beat up and itѻýs dusty. Here thereѻýs not a lot of grip, itѻýs very deceiving how slippery it is up there.ѻý
On top of an already slippery course, when asked about the thunderstorms in the forecast for Kelowna this weekend and how it would affect the course, he emphatically replied, ѻý100 per cent! Half way up my last run, I had a few drops on my windshield and it makes you think twice about turning at the speed youѻýre going so the weather is definitely a factor.ѻý
Racer and the eventѻýs promotional manager Garrett Mealing met with the media
ѻý Jordy Cunningham (@CunninghamJordy)
The racers participated in time trials and some racers got the course down in under two minutes.
This year also set a record with six female racers, the most the event has ever had.
If you missed the action on Saturday, the event continues on Sunday, May 21.
READ MORE: 7 Celebrations highlights Indigenous culture in West Kelowna
READ MORE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued throughout B.C. Interior
jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .