Ken Anderson had a passion for motorsports and a sharp eye for photography that caught drag racers and stock car drivers at the height of their attempts to harness horsepower.
He became a fixture at the PGARA Speedway, shooting the races on the three-eighths-mile oval track and he was a regular freeze-framing the burning-rubber duels that took place on the quarter-mile drag strip at NITRO Motorsports Park.
Anderson’s ability to capture the action at the track took him out of the province, where he gained a reputation among drivers and officials as a friendly, generous soul whose photographs were considered top-notch.
One week after he braved leaning out of the flag stand with his long lens to shoot PGARA’s hit-to-pass demolition derby, Anderson was at Medicine Hat Dragstrip for the Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association event on Sept. 17 when he suffered a sudden medical condition.
The 58-year-old was rushed to hospital but died shortly after.
“He was doing what he loved to do, taking pictures of racing, and that’s what happened,” said PGARA president Jamie Crawford. “His pictures were outstanding.”
Anderson was co-owner of a social media branding/online marketing business – LION – and at the time of his death he was working with the PGARA board to produce hats, T-shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise that reproduced photographs of the drivers at the track.
“He’s been around the racetrack for a couple years taking pictures, he was a great guy to talk to and he became part of the PGARA family,” said PGARA director Aaron Conn. “He was always happy to be at the racetrack taking pictures, whatever we needed he was willing to help.”
Among the tributes to Anderson on the NITRO Motorsports Park Facebook, several drivers said his photos of them competing at the track were the best they’d seen and he had a personality to match his photographic talents.
“Ken Anderson was my favorite guy to chat with at the track,” wrote Daniel Forbes. “Super humble and extremely generous with his time and talents. He brought so much light to everything motorsports Prince George has to offer.”
An online obituary said Anderson “was a man of many talents; a logger, business owner, beachcomber, online marketer, and his true passion – photographer.
"Ken was always a phone call away, always happy to help those in need, he was generous and kind, and he loved to laugh until he cried.”
He’s survived by survived by his parents, Leo and Anne Anderson; brother Kevin (Cheryl), children Jordan (Dallas), Kevin (Kayla), Leo and Axel (Morgan).
Friend Katharine Norn has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family pay for medical/travel/funeral costs.
A celebration of Anderson’s life is planned for Westside Family Fellowship at 3971 Highway 16 West on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m.
