Had a very successful Vintage Derby this past weekend. Right at 800 entries and the racing was solid. Looking forward to this weekend with the pros. Not only sled this year but bikes, snowbikes, snowcross, outlaws, and for the first time SxS races. Track is in great shape, a little thin on ice 8" or so, but that will get better as they are already making ice and will be for the rest of the week. If you are interested and can't get there, the races are being streamed by Speed Shift TV. The new owners are making significant improvements. Will take some time, but the Derby will be the place to be in January. If google up their Facebook page WCDC [World Championship Derby Complex ] there are some of the vintage races on there. Rev
World Championship Derby, Eagle River
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snobuilder
Well-known member
Great news. Many would like to see it bigger and better than ever. Sounds like those steps are being taken. Great for our sport overall.
G
G
Guest
Too bad they didn't sell it 10 years ago before it was allowed to get all messed up. However it sounds as if it is rebounding nicely. Good. Glad they are getting snobikes and snowcross. All good. Pack them in.
Never been to the races but it's on my Bucket List. The local TV stations used to televise them when I was a kid.
I found these two at the Hall of Fame museum in St Germain. From the World Championship of 1971, the 433 Yamaha (Mike Trapp) outlasted the Blizzard (Yvon Duhamel)with a 797 Triple.
Wikipedia says; The 1968 derby was broadcast on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Numerous guests attended the event, including Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke and Fuzzy Thurston from the Super Bowl II Green Bay Packers championship team. The track was reconfigured to a 0.5-mile high banked oval in 1974.
I found these two at the Hall of Fame museum in St Germain. From the World Championship of 1971, the 433 Yamaha (Mike Trapp) outlasted the Blizzard (Yvon Duhamel)with a 797 Triple.Wikipedia says; The 1968 derby was broadcast on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Numerous guests attended the event, including Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke and Fuzzy Thurston from the Super Bowl II Green Bay Packers championship team. The track was reconfigured to a 0.5-mile high banked oval in 1974.
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It will take a few years but the new owners are definitely turning things around and expanding. They are looking in all directions. Won't be just a place to go in January as other venues are being booked throughout the year including SxS races in Sept. Another Champ race is schd for last weekend in Feb or March, can't remember off-hand but will get back to you. A few dignitaries attended last year, biggest was Miss America.
Bumping this up. WCDC Facebook page has interesting photos and videos of races this past weekend for the Vintage Championships. Great pics of the track tonight, making snow for the infield, and a cool aerial view of the track. Racing and commentary is by Speed Shift TV. Pro champs already in town as they started parking rigs and trailers today. Practice on Wednesday and racing starts on Thursday and then my favorite, Friday Night Thunder and all the festivities and fireworks. Finals on Sunday. Also looking forward to the SxS races for the first time at the track.
Huge crowd last night for Friday Nite Thunder. All Corporate Suites and Hot seats sold out and a big crowd outside. They pushed the racing up an hour because of the coming storm. They were expected to race till 10-11ish but they closed it down about 7:30 due to heavy snow. They did run some SnowX but they shut down all the oval racing. Fans were disappointed but understood. Racing on ice in a snowstorm is like us driving in a blizzard with the brights on---not good. New owners really looking out for driver safety. Excellent crowd today as well with most hot seats sold and not too many less in the corporate suites, and they made up the racing that should have gone on Friday nite. Big day tomorrow with all the champ races. Go to WCDC facebook for a look at some of the races from yesterday and today. Rev
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Races are live streaming thru SpeedShiftTV.
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Races are live streaming thru SpeedShiftTV.
The Decker's would always stop in my families copper shop on their tours of the area........they would take snowmobile tours through the Keweenaw and we always got to visit with them.........
exciting news.......
I did not purchase the streaming package to watch the races at home as the weekend just did not allow it (was a busy weekend for the family) but a couple times over the weekend I checked the webcam (it was looking down over a portion of the hill along with the finish line). The couple times I looked there was literally only 10-15 standing on the hill. For the people that went to the races or did purchase the streaming package was there ever more people on the hill watching the races? last time I was there 8-10 years ago there was hundreds of people standing on the hill all weekend long.
It depended on the time you checked. There were more people in attendance this year than in the last 6-7 years that I've been there. Nice crowds, not like the 90's but large crowds for Friday night Thunder and Sunday's final. Saturday was down a bit but still a lot of people. Corp Suites were full the whole weekend, and Hot Seats were completely sold out Friday and I'm guessing 60% for Sat and 80% for Sunday's final. All in all, a very good two weeks for the new owners. Good to see improvements being done. Last Chance pro races Feb 28-29.