The Estevan Motor Speedway opened up to drivers Saturday for its annual Test and Tune practice session.
The speedway held three different two-hour practices, with six drivers in the shift that started at 2 p.m., nine in the 5 p.m. slot and the maximum of 10 for the 8 p.m. session. One hour was allocated between each session to get drivers in and out of the facility, and to do any necessary cleanup and track maintenance work.
Each driver was allowed one member of their pit crew.
A maximum of five drivers were allowed on the track at once, and drivers respected social distancing requirements in the pits.
“It served the purpose of us having a trial run of how a race day might look, and it exposes anything that needed to be fixed, or any damage that was sustained to the track naturally over the winter,” said president Byron Fichter.
Drivers in all classes participated in the Test and Tune.
“There was a lot of new sport mods that we hadn’t seen before. That class we introduced a couple of years ago continues to grow,” said Fichter. “I was actually quite impressed with how many new cars are jumping into that class. Otherwise, it was pretty evenly represented all the way through.”
He believes the final session was so popular because drivers wanted to be racing under the lights.
The opening session was slingshot drivers and those in other classes who were driving a car for the first time.
“It’s a really rare opportunity for anybody to get on that track by themselves, and actually get to turn 10 laps at a time undisturbed. It’s definitely not an opportunity that comes up too often,” said Fichter. “I think it will be key to develop those drivers and get them comfortable before they have to get on the track with other drivers.”
The Test and Tune is typically held before the season as an opportunity for drivers to work out the kinks on their vehicles, get some laps in at the track and get the racing surface ready for the start of the season.
This year with the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a chance for the speedway to hold an event for its Saskatchewan based drivers, and get a measure on the track’s condition.
The track was in great shape, Fichter said. The light rain Estevan received early Saturday helped with the condition, but the efforts of the pit crew created a great driving surface.
“It was fast and smooth,” said Fichter. “It might have been a gift horse of not being able to start early in the season, as all of the frost is worked out of the ground, so the guys are able to get that track smooth like pavement.”
The test and tune also helped the track generate some revenues while they’re unable to have a race day.
No serious incidents occurred during the day, as only one vehicle brushed a wall.
Fichter believes the test and tune also gave everyone a chance to go out and do something outdoors and get ready for the upcoming season.
The speedway has already cancelled four programs in May. A decision has yet to be made for June’s programs. The EMS and other tracks in the province have been working with the provincial government to determine what they can and can’t do.
“We’re working on a setoff proposed rules and proposed operating capacity. We’re working with the government, trying to be responsible and trying to get us geared towards a race.”
