Estevan Drag Racing Association (EDRA) wants a permanent facility that it can call home, and it has taken the first step in that direction.
The EDRA has started construction on a drag racing track, adjacent to Estevan Motor Speedway and the Trackside MX Park, southeast of Estevan, and on November 8 a ground breaking ceremony was held.
Among the officials participating in the ceremony at the new track site were Gary St. Onge, Estevan mayor; Jarred Dumaine, EDRA president; Randy Franke of Trackside MX Park, David Mack, Estevan Motor Speedway president; Pete Popowich, general manager of Prairie Mines and Royalty Ltd.; Teresa Dumaine, EDRA treasurer; Jim "Frosty" Forrest, EDRA pubic relations director; and David Krahn, EDRA track development co-ordinator.
The EDRA, which was formed about six years ago, has been holding annual races at Estevan Airport.
Forrest is confident that all the expectations the association has will be met. The association said with so much in the way of industries around Estevan, there is also such a willingness by the business community to help out with this project.
Land for the track was acquired from Prairie Mines and Royalty Ltd. on the north side of the railway track. The other racing facilities were constructed on the south side.
"This has been our ultimate goal," Forrest said about having their own permanent track. "The time seems right for it now. Drag racing is growing in popularity, and we're seeing a lot more of it on television.
"This is an ideal location," Forrest said about the mining company coming through for the association. "This is a great spot to be. This will all work with the Pure Energy weekend that the Chamber of Commerce and the City holds.
The Pure Energy weekend takes place on the fourth weekend in August and it features races at the two other facilities as well.
Forrest said the association acquired enough land to build a drag strip of about one-quarter mile. That is the ultimate goal. He said plans call for a pit area of 150 pit stalls. He also pointed out there is ample area for grandstands and spectator parking.
As for the track, Forrest said it will be about 60 feet wide and will have a concrete starting line for the first couple hundred feet. The remainder will be paved.
Pre-dirt work has already been started on the track site with donated equipment,
"We laid the bases of where the track will be and we removed the dirt along the road," he said.
As for a price tag for the project, Forrest said they don't have one. He said a lot will depend on the prices for paving and concrete. That will be the biggest issue.
"I can't put a price tag on it, even though we have a general ball-park idea. We really haven't firmed anything as a lot will depend on other costs."
Even though a start has been made on the dirt work, Forrest said the association hopes to be "rocking and rolling" the first thing in the spring.
"We have a good plan in place, the design has been firmed up as to how it is going to be and surveyed out," he said. "I would hope that as soon as the frost is out of the ground we're going to be doing major work out here. I don't know if a completion date is possible in 2008, but that is what we would like to see, of course."
If the facility is not ready, the association will once again count on using the airport facility.
"The City has been great to us," said Forrest, "We've been racing at the airport for several years. We do three events and there is a lot of working in setting up and tearing down. They have been great to us, we've run successful shows, and it has been growing.
"I really do think the time is right to start this project."
Forrest said the track is being constructed on virgin land. He said you need this type of land for drag racing because the land has to be straight and level.
Forrest feels this area is an ideal one for a track.
"I really think this will contribute to making Estevan the racing capital of Saskatchewan," said Forrest. "There's not another drag strip in Saskatchewan, except for Saskatoon, and that is 280 miles away. We draw a lot of racers from the United States. I think this will really fly and I'm excited about it."
The official sod-turning ceremony for the construction of a new track for Estevan Drag Racing Association was held on November 8. It was held at the site of the new track southeast of Estevan. Participating in the ceremony were, left to right: Jim "Frosty" Forrest, David Mack, Randy Franke, Mayor Gary St. Onge, Jarred Dumaine (president), Pete Popowich (general manager of Prairie Mines and Royalty Ltd.), Teresa Dumaine and Dave Krahn.
