October 2024
Lakeland Kartway has been a fixture of the beach strip area in Hamilton for 66 years, but the seasonal operation may have seen its last summer. The scheduled closure of the popular go-kart track, the oldest one in Canada, came as a shock to residents of the southern Ontario city and its neighbouring City of Burlington. Generations of families in the Golden Horseshoe area have raced along the winding outdoor track.
Opened in 1958 and remining family run by the Firmi family from the beginning, the owners were unable to re-new their lease with the city, making their closure, at least along Hamilton’s beach strip, inevitable.
The last official day for go-kart enthusiasts was 20 October, but the track will remain operational for private track rentals until the end of October. A petition on Change.org has been set up to try and change some minds, but as it stands now, the last go-kart will race off into the sunset by the end of the month, at least in its present location. These efforts appear to be having a positive effect.
Hamilton Ward 5 councilor Matt Francis, who’s ward Lakeland Go-Karts resides in, recently announced he has instructed city staff to look into the possibility of a lease re-newal. Owner Vincent Firmi has also stated that he is looking for a new location for a go-kart track, so the roar of engines at Lakeland may not remain silent for long.
Sources: Hamilton’s Lakeland Go-Karts is closing after 66 years | CEKAN, Petition · Help Secure a New Lease for Hamilton’s Lakeland Go Karts – Hamilton, Canada · Change.org, Lakeland Go Karts – CHCH, www.thespec.com, Lakeland Kartway’s closure in question after new update (chch.com).
