Estevan's Byron Fichter has made a living out of making his visions of landscapes, buildings and people into art.
But last week, the photographer/ business owner/stock car driver was chosen to be the president of the Estevan Motor Speedway and will be able to apply a similar vision to the speedway for the 2018 season. This will be Fichter's fourth year on the board but first as president.
“I started out just being a fan and watching from the stands, (and then) I got involved in photography and racing in general,” Fichter said. “I've been involved in racing organizations and racing events all over North America. I just love the sport, especially of course my home town track. I was just being more and more involved all the time and I'm just trying to see the sport grow in a positive direction.”
Locally, there are a lot of activities at the track in the points racing season for the slingshots, the hobby stocks, the street stocks and the IMCA modifieds, which goes from May to late August.
“We're working with the other tracks to get a schedule locked down, something that works with the other tracks and something that works locally,” Fichter said. “At the same time, I think the new board is considering all options on non-racing events too, whether it be the enduro (race), the demolition derby or things like the monster trucks or Eve of Destruction keeps coming up. So we're going to get together and see what makes financial sense and see what's responsible for us to do and to bring some of those events back.”
Ficheter had been involved on the board in previous years for planning for some of the events like the kids night, which saw plenty of children at the racetrack.
“I think everyone's in agreement that in order for our sport to be successful we have to start getting to our young fans because ultimately they'll be the future of our sport,” he said.
Most of the drivers will be coming back for the season, and Fichter said they work hard to keep local drivers happy.
“We work especially hard to bring in out of town drivers because we need their support also,” Fichter said. “We have a few people on the committee who reach out to drivers from Minot (North Dakota) and Williston and wherever else and also within Saskatchewan. We're looking at why they come here or why they don't come here. All the things you can use to improve and be attractive to people. We want to be known as a racetrack that's somewhere that people need to be so they make time to travel and come visit us.”
