Bridget West of St. Ignace rains mud down on the crowd during the first Moran Mud Run Saturday, May 20. Mrs. West took first place in the Second Class Women's Open. She drove her family truck, the Animaniac, and made it 59 feet down the 150-foot track before sinking to a halt. By noon Saturday, May 20, the Moran Mud Run had checked in more than 300 spectators amd. minutes later, they witnessed a Jeep called the Irish Hammer, enhanced with nitrous oxide, make a full pass down the 150-foot long runway, a brown streak that lay like a churning mire across the center of the Brevort Township fairgrounds. It was the only truck to make it the full distance for several hours.

Six hundred participants and spectators took part, cheering on drivers of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and trucks as they ground down the track , one after another. Most got stuck quickly in the fourfoot deep pit track, so the competition, in most events, was judged by distance rather than time.

The success of the Moran Mud Run surpassed even its long-standing counterparts in Dafter, said organizer Jim West. Approximately 80 trucks and 21 ATVs were entered. All told, the event brought in $3,700 (before expenses) to the Mackinac County Sportsmen's Off-Road Vehicle Association (MCSORVA), which promoted the event in association with the St. Ignace Visitor's Bureau. "It's very exciting to think that

ATVs and trucks rode in separate divisions at Moran's successful, and muddy, event. Following the ATV races, Jake McGrath of St. Ignace (left) and Blake Ellis of Trout Lake (middle) pose on their machines as Marty Wilson of Trout Lake looks on. this many people came out for the first run," said Mandy Fenlon of St. Ignace, who served as the event's announcer. "The best thing about it is the excitement of bringing an event to Moran. The kids were really cute," she added.

There were three tracks. The first was a 100-foot-long, six-inchdeep mud track built for kids' ATVs. The 12 young riders were not timed, and their track was shallow, but according to event organizer Steve DuFresne, the kids run was the one of the best parts of the show. Each rider got a ribbon for taking part, he added.

"The best part of this is the mud," said Jake McGrath of St. Ignace.

The Moran Mud Run brought the communities of St. Ignace, Moran, Naubinway, and many others together for a day of fun. Pictured here at the 4-H concession stand (from left) are Tracey McCluster of St. Ignace, Heather Stelzer, Susan Stelzer, and Katie Stelzer, all of Moran, Justna Hershman of St. Ignace Township, and Jay King of Naubinway. "It's great that they're finally using the fairgrounds," added fellow racer Marty Wilson of Trout Lake. "They've been dormant for a long time, but this is a good turnout. It puts the area back on the map."

The first official race was the First Class ATV run wherein drivers from 10 to 50 years old rode vehicles powered with up to 400 cubic centimeters (cc) down the second mud track, which was 18 and 24 inches deep. Each first place winner received a trophy.

In the first official race, Terry King of St. Ignace achieved the furthest distance, plowing 44.4 feet down the muddy track. Jim Sorenson of St. Ignace took second, at 38.7 feet, and Jeff Howard of St. Ignace took third place, making it 38.1 feet down the track before burying his wheels in the quagmire.

The Second Class ATV race included vehicles running 401-550 cc. Jesse Halberg of St. Ignace took first place, making it 83 feet. James Halberg of St. Ignace took second, at 53.5 feet, and Blake Ellis of Trout Lake took third, crossing 50 feet of deep mud before sinking to a halt.

The Third Class ATV race included vehicles of 551 cc and higher. Jeremy McLean of St. Ignace took first place, at 75.4 feet. Ivan Taylor took second at 61.1 feet, and Boyd Bigger Jr. of St. Ignace took third place, at 53.2 feet.

In the Fourth Class ATV Open, vehicles of assorted sizes with widely varying levels of power were allowed to race. In this event, all placing racers cleared the entire track, so judging was based on time rather than distance.

James Halberg won first place, with a time of 45 seconds. Jeremy McClain came in second, at 52 seconds, and Ivan Taylor came in third, at 58 seconds.

Between the ATV runs and the trucks, twelve year old Abbie Chambers of St. Ignace sang the national anthem.

Will Fitzpatrick of Bellaire won first place in the First Class Open for trucks. In 6.5 seconds, he drove the Irish Hammer the entire length of the main, 4 foot deep, 150 foot track . Second place was a tie between Jim West, driver of the Animaniac, and Tony Proctor, driving Junk. Both racers made it 59 feet down the track. Third place was a tie between Wade Aubert of Cheboygan, who drove Hopper, and Todd St. Andrew from Flint who drove the Dirty Rat. Both made it 52 feet.

Bridget West took first place in the Second Class Women's Open. Mrs. West also drove the Animaniac and made it 105 feet. Tracy Holland of Wolverine, driving Phatty, took second place with a distance of 59 feet. Katie Gamble of St. Ignace drove Cross Breed and earned third place by crossing 58 feet of muddy terrain.

Next was the Class Three Street Stock race. Unlike the Open, stock cars could not be augmented or altered, said organizers Ryan Bird and Mr. West. These were "street legal" vehicles complete with blinkers and headlights.

Jack Riegel of St. Ignace drove Black Magic and took first place with a distance of 48 feet. Don Smith of Petoskey drove Stump Jumper and took second, with a distance of 45 feet. Corey Nye of Hessel came in third with a distance of 42 feet.

Class Four included stock trucks with tires of up to 34 inches in height.

Todd Bennett of Sault Ste. Marie came in first with a distance of 131 feet. Ron Eagle of Sault Ste. Marie drove Stage Fright Revenge and came in second with a distance of 108 feet. Eric Baldino of Sault St. Marie drove Stage Fright and took third with a distance of 104 feet.

The Class Five race included vehicles with tires up to 37 inches in height.

Dan Tomasi of Sault Ste Marie took first place in Clifford with a full 150 foot pass made in 17.69 seconds. George Huff of Cedarville took second in the Cedar Swamper Two, with a full pass made in 20.43 seconds. Tom Huff of Cedarville drove Tuff E Nuff and made a full pass in 42 seconds, earning him third place.

The Sixth Class Women's Stock Race followed. Vehicles included tires up to 37 inches in height.

Patty Bennett of Sault Ste. Marie won with a distance of 145 feet. Beck Iobe of Sault Ste. Marie took second with a distance of 132 feet. Sharon Marsh of Sault Ste. Marie drove Strictly Experimental and took third place, with a distance of 131 feet.

The Class Seven Modified race included vehicles with tire modifications, raised suspension systems, and other alterations.

Tony Proctor, driving Junk, won by making a full pass in 18.22 seconds. Dan West of St. Johns drove Iron Giant and took second with a 19.3 second full pass. David Blair of Moran, driving Precision Guess Work, took third by making a full pass in 42.19 seconds.

The Class Eight race involved stock trucks with tires up to 44 inches in height.

Frank Marsh of Sault Ste. Marie also drove Strictly Experimental and took first place with a full pass made in 12.75 seconds. Ron Eagle of Sault Ste. Marie took second place, driving Stage Fright Revenge and making a full pass in 12.77 seconds. Tony Proctor drove Junk and took third in a full pass made in 23.47 seconds.

The high-speed, high-powered event was not without its problems. Will Fitzpatrick rolled the Irish Hammer in the Class Seven race, but the pit crew responded in

seconds and got him out of the vehicle safely. Eric Baldino sheared the ball joint on the front left tire of Stage Fright and required the help of Art Huskey and Sons Excavating to lift his truck onto his trailer. Rick Bonnell of Kinross blew the radiator hose of Rambuncious which engulfed the truck in billowing white steam and lead the crowd to worry that he had blown his engine, Mrs. West said.

"We heard that U.P. in Smoke Barbecue, which was the food vendor, ran out of food by the end of the day," she added. "Sue Steltzer ran a bake sale to benefit both the 4-H club in Moran and to raise money for a new playground. She said she was extremely pleased with her sale," Mrs. West added.

All involved agreed the Brevort County Fairgrounds was a perfect site for the Mud Run.

"We received a lot of volunteer help from people who are experienced in mud running and those who are just starting out. Shows like this would not be possible without all the help that we receive," Mrs. West said.