Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex facts for kids
| Location | Ashcroft, British Columbia |
|---|---|
| Operator | Ashcroft Indian Band |
| Opened | 1987 |
| Closed | 2016 |
| IHRA Dragstrip | |
| Length | 0.4 km (¼ mi) |
| Turns | 3 |
The Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex was a special place where people raced cars very fast! It was a quarter-mile long dragstrip located near the towns of Ashcroft and Cache Creek in British Columbia, Canada.
A dragstrip is a straight track where two cars race side-by-side over a short distance, usually a quarter-mile. The goal is to be the first to cross the finish line! The Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex was approved by the IHRA, a big organization that sets rules for drag racing.
The name Nl'akapxm is pronounced IN-clap-cappum. It comes from the local language of the Thompson nation, an Indigenous group whose traditional lands are in that area.
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What Was the Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex?
The Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex was a famous drag racing track. It was known for its exciting races and for being a fun place for motorsport fans. Many drivers competed there, trying to achieve the fastest times.
How the Motorplex Started and Grew
The idea for the motorplex began in 1980. Les Edmonds, who was the leader of the Ashcroft Indian Band, started the project. They used an old airstrip that belonged to the Ashcroft/Cache Creek Aero Club.
Racing officially began at the track in 1987. For many years, it was approved by the NHRA, another major racing organization. Later, it became approved by AHRA in 2010 and then by IHRA in 2011.
The motorplex was very successful and even won awards. It was named the NHRA Division 6 Track Of The Year Award three times: in 1990, 1991, and 2003. This showed how well-run and popular the track was.
Why Did the Motorplex Close?
After more than 28 years of racing, the Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex closed its doors on April 27, 2016. The people who ran the track said there were several reasons for this.
One reason was that fewer cars were coming to race. Also, the track had many technical and mechanical problems. These issues were expensive to fix, and it was hard to find people who knew how to repair the special equipment needed for a dragstrip.
Cool Features of the Track
The Nl'akapxm Eagle Motorplex had some interesting features that made it a great place for racing:
- It was located 1700 feet above sea level in a dry climate.
- The track had a special concrete launch pad that was 330 feet long. This helped cars get a strong start.
- The racing surface was 60 feet wide.
- After the race, cars would slow down on an uphill shutdown area.
- There were paved roads for cars to return to the starting area.
- The track used a special timing system called Compulink with auto-start.
- Fans could listen to race announcements on their radios at 99.3 FM and 530 AM.
