Every Labour Day weekend, Stratotech Park in Alberta comes alive with the sound of limiter bounces, the smell of burning rubber, and a sense of belonging you can’t fake. For three days, this quiet circuit transforms into a celebration of community — a gathering of drivers, fans, and friends united by one shared language: drift.
Stratobash, organized by Shawn and Cecilia Hartum and the Spec-D Drift Series team, began as a simple idea — to bring life back to a local track and build a space where every kind of driver could belong. “We wanted to bring everyone together — OGs, pros, and newcomers — with music, food, and nonstop track time,” Shawn says. Inspired by Europe’s Gatebil festival, their vision was never about competition; it was about connection.
That spirit defines Stratobash to this day. The technical, wall-free layout allows drivers to push their limits without fear, while open pits invite spectators straight into the heart of the action. “It’s not an invitational,” Shawn explains. “If you like drifting and cars, we’ll get you on track.”
Over the years, a true family has formed around it. Drivers return annually to the same pit spots, building small “villages” around their cars. Between runs, people lend tools, share food, and swap stories late into the night beneath the paddock lights. It’s grassroots at its purest — a reminder that motorsport doesn’t need grandstands or prize money to mean something.
For photographers like myself, Stratobash is more than a weekend behind the lens — it’s a front-row seat to pure, unscripted energy. You stand trackside as the smoke rolls across the crowd, engines screaming in unison, and for a few seconds, everything else disappears. The line between driver, spectator, and creator blurs. Each frame becomes a snapshot of friendship, chaos, and passion colliding in perfect sync.
Then comes that quiet hour near sunset — the golden haze over the track, music echoing through the pits, someone cooking dinner beside a half-torn-down car. Another driver is welding a control arm by flashlight, and everyone knows they’ll be back out there tomorrow, chasing that same feeling again. It’s in those small, unplanned moments that Stratobash reveals what it truly is — less about horsepower, more about heart.
From rough missiles to immaculate show builds, every car tells a story. Together, they form one of Western Canada’s most beloved grassroots events — an annual pilgrimage for those who live for the sound, the smoke, and the friendships that outlast the tires.
Stratobash isn’t just another drift event. It’s a reminder of why we fell in love with this culture in the first place.
Keep up the great work Travis. Your coverage of stratobash is always great. You really summed up the vibe of the weekend. Gotta keep the tradition alive.
Appreciate the kind words, Adam. Stratobash has such a strong spirit behind it. I’m just happy to help tell that story each year.
Every shot hits the mark, from edit to perspective. Phenomenal stuff man, not only in the technical aspect of your work, but also in the emotional message. I’m not a huge fan of the drift scene, but you’ve convinced me to check out Stratobash next year.
Thanks so much, Moe, that really means a lot. My goal’s always to capture not just the cars, but the emotion behind it all. Hope to see you at Stratobash next year!
I have not visited Canada yet but now I have a reason to
That’s awesome to hear! It’s an experience unlike anything else. Car culture is thriving up north!
Awesome work here! Love seeing our own home car events shared in this way on a platform like this. I’ll be looking out for more for sure!
Appreciate it, Frank!
Genuine Motorsport culture, perfectly captured!
Thank you! Couldn’t ask for a better compliment. The community’s passion makes it easy to capture moments like these.
Appreciate all the kind words and support, everyone. Stratobash has always been something special, and I’m just glad I could help share a bit of what makes it so meaningful to our community with a global audience.