On a hot and sunny Saturday afternoon, I had a chance to head out to Hope, BC to cover a motorsports story that was full of action, mud, and collisions! On a last minute whim, I flashed my credentials as a journalist for Slackeye Magazine and made my way through the light maze of administration and met the organizers of the Hope Motorsports Group, Jim and James.
Jim, who has 15 years of demolition derby experience, and decades of Search and Rescue experience, and James who is a self-professed offroad racing fanatic for 22 years have been working on putting together this yearly community event since 2004. Both have called on their business savvy (TriWest Contracting, Talarico Excavating, respectively) to put this event on year after year, and were kind enough to get me an exclusive, all-access media pass for this event at the last minute. Both Jim and James, are very active in the local business community. They were great to interview and told me all about the event that they'd organized again this year.

The Hope Motorsports Group, as they're known, have been putting on this incredibly fun, family event since 2004. In the humble beginnings it was just the two of them, slaving away to organize, finance and produce what you can watch (and participate in) today. In the beginning, it was literally just the two of them, a few friends and family. They solicited the District of Hope, who own the land they have the event on, and gained access and permission to develop and create the Demolition derby and 4x4 races. Over the years, and recently, the volunteers have come out of the woodwork to help the cause – without them the event would be nearly impossible to run at it's current participant size.
Over the years, news spread that this was the local event to be at, and competitors and spectators alike have flocked to be a part of this fun weekend.

Despite the heat, it was a very exciting event; The 4x4's had a short, forested offroad section to run through at top speed (it is timed), a double jump, and a vicious hill-climb. At two points along the course, the 4x4's emerge from the back-field and rip around an open area in front of the crowd – a favourite I'm sure. There was even a roll-over and a flat tire, where the driver just plowed along oblivious!

As a photographer, I had a little trouble with the heavily mottled areas of the course (shade/sun mix), and managed better when the racers came into a solid section of sunlight. On the up-side, the track safety officials (and there were LOTS of them!) allowed me unfettered access to where ever I could imagine shooting!

In between the 4x4 race was a two car figure-of-eight race that the crowd also loved. At the tail end of the afternoon, I witnessed a pickup truck demo-derby, which I'd never before seen. It was over quick, as only 3 trucks qualified that day, while one, during the action ended up over the safety barrier!

All in all, it was exciting and fun – something the whole family would love! Bring your sunscreen!

A community event wouldn't be complete without it's volunteers, and this event is doubly special, because the non-profit proceeds go toward the community. All donations and monies that are collected at this event are divided up among: The Eagles Organization, the Grade 7's from the local school, the Hope Crime Prevention Society, the Local Chamber of Commerce, and the District of Hope.

Jim and James would like Special Mention to go to other core volunteers/organizations: Scott Wendlock, Dusty Smith, Chris Stevens, Todd Turner, the Hope Search and Rescue.