Kimberly Reeves

MOTOR SPORT

KIMBERLY REEVES

Owner and Operator Castrol Raceway Growing up in Nova Scotia around the summer drag racing circuit with my father who frequently participated in local street legal racing events on the mainland of Nova Scotia and in PEI, I became a motorsport enthusiast at a very early age. The Cape Breton local Oval Dirt Track known as “Bud’s Speedway” was a favorite hotspot to hang-out with cousins. In the early days of VHS rentals, my dad also made an effort to grab movies with cars and car racing in them for the weekend.

Throughout high school I focused on the sciences, particularly physics; I wanted to be an automotive engineer and designer. After graduating however, I decided to pull up roots and choose travel and economy over post graduate education. I moved to Alberta in 1996. Upon arriving in Edmonton, I was thrilled to visit the ‘big city track’ (the former Capitol Raceway) as a fan. It didn’t take long to get integrated into the local racing scene; I knew my way around a track and absolutely loved the atmosphere. To my great disappointment, at the end of 1997, the local racing facility went into receivership with the expectation never to open its doors again. A longtime friend approached me with the exciting news that a group of 10 business leaders and motorsport enthusiasts were coming together to rescue the facility from the bank and negotiate a long-term lease with the Edmonton Airport Authority. Knowing I was an avid fan and well versed in racing, I was asked

to join as the very first employee of the Labatt Raceway Team. The Track opened to the public on June 12, 1998. My first race season was a whirlwind—an opportunity to work in an industry and environment that I loved at the preliminary stages of development. In our first operating season, we held approximately 50 events with an attendance of 40,000.

Today, our facility annually holds a comprehensive schedule of over 260 internationally recognized events like the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals, Monster Truck Throwdown, Magic of Lights and our incredible Safety Through Education programs. We are proud to be Canada’s most comprehensive motorsport facility boasting over 245,000 visitors annually. We are also blessed to have the privilege of connecting with our community, raising over $2.2 Million in partnership with the Leduc/Nisku Rotary Club, over $230,000 for the Nitro Ratz Junior Dragster program and over $125,000 annually Product in Kind & Cash Community Donations. The desire for competitiveness, drama and excitement does not get in the way of respect for tradition, honor and friendship. Throughout the years we’ve built our business with a lot of determination, a huge learning curve both on and off the track and a lot of hands-on commitment. We were inspired to make it fun and to create an exceptional facility that is welcoming for all ages and all types of motorsports. As it turned out, our racing business quickly became a way of life for both our boys and we happily extended that life’s passion to our family and friends; the place where lifelong friends are gained and a family is raised.

When you were 12, what did you want to be when you grew up?

What one piece of wisdom would you share with young women today? When I was a kid, I wanted to be a race car driver. I was eight years old when I first saw a movie made about the Shirley Muldowney story. I was instantly captivated. The one piece of advice I would give to my 12-yearold self is trust the people who tell you that you can do anything you set your mind to and have as much confidence in yourself as others do! What drives you? Motorsports and Passion! The Passion for the growth of the motorsport industry, living life in the ‘Driver’s Seat’ experiences, commitment to our community and a longtime love of racing are the defining factors for all of my decisions. When I find myself in need of inspiration, I do my best to remember what brought me here in the first place, a Passion for Motorsports.

What makes recognizing the achievements of women critical?

In an industry historically considered male dominated, it’s critical to recognize the “powerful” women who make motorsports possible every day. In our industry the ladies are fierce competitors and strong leaders. As our regional impact continues to grow, so will the recognition at the national level

In an industry historically considered male dominated, it’s critical to recognize the “powerful” women who make motorsports possible every day. In our industry the ladies are fierce competitors and strong leaders.