Editor:
A pleasant surprise when I volunteer at Sechelt’s May drag races is that every year common stereotypes about people are overturned.
On Sunday the admissions gate was run by volunteers from Pulling Together, a joint First Nations/RCMP canoeing project. The official starter for part of the day was a mother whose husband and young son were also helping and enjoying the races. Handing out race results at the time shack was a volunteer from Gibsons Paddle Club. I met neighbours and friends with disabilities there, and watched students from Elphinstone and Chatelech who had worked hard to modify and race racing cars that a local couple had donated to their schools. A young woman and her father came first in different classes, and another woman who collected a race trophy is a well-known local singer! And I was moved when I saw a driver whose race had been spoiled by an electronic timing glitch, being freely granted the win by his rival, with a smile and a handshake.
Drag racing must be one of the most democratic sports on the planet.
David Kipling (announcer), Gibsons
