24th Vintage Snowmobile Championship
- Thread starter wiscrev
- Start date
Yes, last year was a BIG problem. We had to reschedule the vintage races three times because of no ice. Only had about 6-8" for Pro week. As of today there's roughly 16-18" of ice. We will continue to make ice throughout the next 10 days.
Yes on the Flo Racing for both weekends. I believe you used to be able to just get a month at a time but last year heard they went to full year subscription but then you could cancel. I have no info for this year.
We will be there next week for the WC. Was going to cancel again because of no snow but didn’t have the heart to back out on our lodging hosts again. We will have to trailer to da UP to ride every day during the week which sucks but it is what it is..be up Weds morning and ride till late afternoon Friday then be back for Friday Night Thunder. Probably hang out Saturday and Sunday between races and local establishments. Sure wouldn’t wanna be in the UP on a weekend..it’ll probably be bad enough during the week!
I watched a lot of it last night without a subscription. It was a few hours behind, but worked great for me. It was on youtube.
Sabrina Blanchet [Canadian] won the $1500 Dash for Cash and the pole position for Sunday's Champ final last night in the final race. Her and Matt Goede duked it out for 8 laps before she edged him out at the finish line. Awesome racing! Was on the track last night after 2 days of racing and it still looks great. We have 15-18" of ice to race on with resurfacing starting right after the last race and continuing until this morning. Probably the best conditions I have seen in 5-8 years. Going to be some great racing this week and next when the Pros come in. All classes are extremely fast this year.
Chet, the announcers is top notch. Too bad this is his last year as he is climbing the ladder into the production dept for FLoRacing. He will be honored on the Track next Sunday during the ceremonies. I would like to convince him to return each year just for us.
It has been an interesting year for the WCDC and racing. The weather has been the best it could ever be [although not for snowmobiling]. We have 18+" of ice and it's like glass. The racers have been extremely pleased with the track conditions. Vintage weekend Hot Seats were almost sold out with very good attendance in the Suites. This week we are completely sold out for Hot Seats and Corporate Suites. The racing both weekends have been/are very competitive and as of this morning no big accidents and no one leaving in the ambulance. Even the crowds outside has increased, certainly not back to the heydays of 10000, but each year they have been increasing since Covid. I think the switch back to F3 for the championship has helped; people can recognize sled brand. A lot of talk about Cat and what will happen. Everyone I talked to hopes for the best.
I happy that Eagle River is making a come back. I agree with everything that you say, Rev, except F111. F111 is an Eagle River thing, not a bad thing. But, Champ 440 is still the class to be for me. I firmly believe Champ 440 will remain the cream of the crop. Eagle River does not have the influence on classes that they used to. Although they probably wished they did. Maybe I'm wrong, I'm just a spectator.
I don't disagree, just venting my preference. as you know whose driving what. Back in the early 90's when I was introduced to the sport, Skidoo was killing it. A bunch of us would go Sunday of champ day and remark that "there goes my sled, there goes Bob's sled etc." Champ 440 is definitely a great race but you don't know the brand. I used to love NASCAR back in the day but it has turned out the same way, no stock machines. They all look the same! I used to own a NASCAR type auto---1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler, Hurst 4 speed, 429 with 2 4bbrls, guaranteed to do 170 off the showroom floor. Wish I still had it! It was the same car that Yarborough drove for a couple of years. It was set up and all I had to do was change carburation, tires and add the 2nd pair of shocks to put it on the track and roll cage [I think]----you don't have that now. BTW it did do 170 but don't tell anybody, lol. Way long before I became a preacher.
Just speculating but I think organizations are getting closer. USSA and MIRA are now racing at ER and accepting tech procedures at other tracks. If I was a young buck I'd be racing outlaw sleds--love'em. Vintage has also grown, many more entrees than pro week and large crowds. Again, sleds looking like sleds. Personally in the beginning the drivers felt the same way, they hated F3 but they are coming around more and more each year. Champ 440 is still run but it is not the World Championship race. Who knows, maybe in 10 years or so it will revert back.