Pre-Race Track Walk. Friday, August 7.

I live in Markham, so visiting the track site wasn't such an onerous undertaking. I went on Wednesday, but got rained out quite early in the walk. So, I returned Friday, one week before cars were scheduled to be on track. I entered the course from Main St. Unionville, which was to be the main pedestrian access to the facility. They were just beginning construction of the temporary bridge to the infield (which wasn't complete by the next Friday). My journey didn't exactly follow the track from start to finish, but you'll get the gist. The map above is a street map of the Unionville. between Hwy 407 (to the south) and Hwy 7 (to the north), and Kennedy Road (to the east) and Birchmount Road (to the west). The track is contained within these boundaries.

1. Entering the track from Main St. Enterprise is directly in front of us. the cars would coming at us. The Pan-Am centre is on the left. Construction of the pedestrian bridge is just starting. It would not be finishe by next Friday.

This is the transition from Enterprise to Unionville Gate. The right hand turn onto Kennedy is in the background. The cars would be moving away from us.

This is the turn 8 grandstand. Cars would be traveling from right to left. There is a crew marking out the seating.

The cars make a right hand turn off Kennedy and quickly turn left, turn 7. They would traveling toward us here. The grandstand is on the left.

Long, sweeping right hand turn, turn 9. High speed. Hwy 407 is on the left, the cars are going away from us.

That is the Finish line and main grandstand in the background. The pit lane is this side of the track, and the Indycar paddock is on this side of the pits.

Facing the F2000 paddock. The opening in the foreground is access to the track.

Turns 10 and 11.

It's kinda hard to tell at this point (barriers get moved around), but I believe turn 12 is on the left and the entry to pit lane is on the right.

Looking back to turn 12. Right to left: Grandstand, straightaway, pitlane.

Looking across the track at the main straight grandstand, which is only about 2/3 finished.

Another view of the main straight grandstand. The track is on the left, cars coming towards us.

The GO station, which backs on to the main grandstand.

The Go station parking lot was still being used for commuter parking. The area were the cars are parked would be the Indycar paddock.

Turn 2, the cars are going away from us.

Looking back at turn 1. the cars would be coming toward us. A pedestrian bridge would be built at this spot, which hasn't been starrted yet.

Left hand turn 3, with the grandstand in the background. The Fan Zone would be behind this grandstand.

York University on the right, left hand turn 4 on the left.

Closer view of turn 4.

Exit of turn 4. The cars are moving away from us, west bound on the east bound lanes of Enterprise Blvd.

Farther along Enterprise. The GO train overpass is just out of this photo.

Incomplete high rise condos under construction on the north side of Enterprise.

Looking back at York U. The cars are coming toward us on the right hand lanes, and away on the other side.

Turn 5 VIP grandstnd

Turn 5 from the west. I believe this turn was originally intended to be a loop, but it ended up bieng a hair pin.

Turn 5 grandstand.

Another look at turn 5, from farther to the west. The barriers in the left would be removed or opened up.

Turn 5 again. The cars are driving away from us, east bound on Enterprise. You can see the GO train overpass in the background.

Looking back to turn 5 from under the GO train overpass. The cars are comig towards us on the right hand lane.

Looking back at the GO train overpass.

The track rises away from the GO train over pass and bends to the left.

Enterprise starsts to sweep to the right as the cars come toward us.

The track bends to the right as the cars go back past York U. A seniors residence is on the left.

Making our way to the transition to Unionville Gate. The Pan Am Centre is on the right.

Passing the Pan Am Centre.

We are on Unionville Gate, now. The right hand turn 6 on to Kennedy Road is just out the photo.

Closer to turn 6, Kennedy Rd. north. Those cars ahead are making the turn onto Kennedy.

Turn 6. The cars are moving away from us.

Looking back from turn 6. The cars would coming toward us. This is not a numbered turn.

North bound on Kennedy Rd. The cars are moving away from us.

Past the BMW dealership on the left. The right hand turn 7 is near the top of this photo.

Looking back down Kennedy Rd. The cars would be coming toward us. The Honda dealership is on the left, just outside this photo

Looking back at turn 7, the cars are coming toward us.

Left hand turn 8 with the turn 8 grandstand in the background

Turn 8. Those barriers would all be rearranged.

The back side of the turn 3 grandstand. Thunder Alley is in the foreground. That's our tour. Sadly, the track would not be ready for racing the following Friday.