Mud Run Planners Improve Track, Draw Crowds to Moran Fairgrounds
By Paul Gingras

At right: "Little Possum" driver Kenny Mitchell Jr. (left) and his uncle, Robert "Hot Rod" Mitchell, the owner of the vehicle, took first place in the men's open course, first class. They are from Benzie County.

Almost everyone made a full run, said Jim West, one of the organizers of Moran's second Mud Run, Saturday, July 29, which drew 100 trucks and 20 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

As morning drizzle gave way to sheer heat, the mud runners roared down a 150-foot-long track in two feet of mud, trying for the best time in their field.

"It was really hot," said Steve DuFresne of the Mackinac County Sportsmen's Off-Road Vehicle Association (MCSORVA), but that didn't faze the drivers, or 340 paying spectators, 40 volunteers, or a large crowd of children.

The runway was only two feet deep for this run, compared to four at the first event held Saturday, May 20. The change led to more full passes, allowing judges to rate success by time rather than distance.

"The track was a little wet," Mr. West said, but many riders made great time.

Several improvements were made for this second mud run. The shallower runway allowed many more trucks to get through more quickly, said organizer Lisa Kanitz.

The team of "Killing Time," a 1989 Chevy, did well during the Mud Run. Shannon Baker finished first in the women's open course, second class. Her husband, Matt (far right), finished third in the men's open course, first class. Steve McBride (middle) is the third member of the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, team.

"There were no flips, no one broke any major parts, and there were no injuries.

"People were happier with the track," she said. It made the event go by much more quickly. We were out of there two hours earlier than last time."

The high energy event did have some minor problems. Several organizers said standing water on top of the mud runway was a problem. It caused engines to stall, Mrs. Kanitz said. The lighter mud also splashed enough to throw off the timing lights, so many racers had to go through twice. Multiple runs led to many overheated trucks, but no engines blew up, Mrs. Kanitz added.

Overall, the event went smoothly, and the vendors did well. Sue Stelzer, Brevort Township clerk, raised approximately $400 for the township's new playground through a sale of baked goods and snowcones, which "were a big hit in the heat," Mrs. Kanitz said.

Ron Pongracz Jr. of Rexton creates a wall of mud in his military jeep as he begins his trek across the muddy track at the fairgrounds during the Moran Mud Race Saturday, July 29. This was the second time this summer the race was held.

There were two tracks. The first was 100 feet long and designed for riders 12 years old and younger who ran vehicles up to 400 cubic centimeters (cc) through about six inches of mud.

"We let them go through as many times as they wanted," Mr. DuFresne said.

Using the deeper, 150-long track, the First Class ATV run included vehicles up to 400 cc. All ATV competitors made two runs.

Karl Yoder of St. Ignace took first place with a time of 11.011 seconds, Jason Fenlon of St. Ignace took second in 14.121 seconds, and he also took third in 15.02 seconds.

Next came the Second Class ATV race in which vehicles of 401550 cc took to the quagmire. Jesse Halberg of St. Ignace won first place, with a time of 9.087 seconds. Patric Schlehuber of St. Ignace took second, with a time of 9.641 seconds. He also took third, at 9.68 seconds.

In the Third Class ATV race, which included vehicles of 551 cc and above, Patric Schlehuber of St. Ignace was quickest to cross the runway, making a full pass in 9.154 seconds. Jesse Halberg took second in 9.452 seconds and he also took third in 9.804 seconds.

The ATV Open ended the four wheeler competition, running some of the highest powered, and certainly the largest variety of ATVs.

Lee Sauvageau of St. Ignace Township took first place with a time of 5.627 seconds. Jesse Halberg posted second in 9.474 seconds, and Patric Schlehuber took third in 9.505 seconds.

The mud flew even higher and farther for the big trucks. In the First Class Open, Kenneth Mitchel Jr. of Frankfort drove "Lil Possum" to first place in 4.589 seconds, Josh Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie drove "Sour Apple" across the line in 4.752 seconds for second, and Matt Baker of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, drove "Killin' Time" to third place in 5.455 seconds.

Shannon Baker of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, won the Second Class Women's Open driving "Killin' Time" in 5.178 seconds. Shannon Bonnell of Kinross drove "Rambunctious" to a second place finish in 5.778 seconds, and, driving "3 Ton Wonder," Ginette Joss of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, took third with a time of 6.287 seconds.

The Class Three Street Stock race followed. Unlike the Open, stock cars could not be altered or modified and had to have plates and insurance.

Essentially, "You had to be able to drive them to work," said Mrs. Kanitz.

After making an appointment to get his truck fixed in case he tore the exhaust system off, Mr. DuFresne spontaneously entered the race and took first place, driving "White Litnin" in 7.464 seconds. Larry McQuiston of St. Ignace took second with "Cheaper than a Wife" in 8.264 seconds, and Chris Boushe of St. Ignace took third in 8.845 seconds. The Class Four race included stock trucks with tires of 34 inches in height.

Frank Marsh of Sault Ste. Marie drove "Strictly Experimental" to first place in 5.057 seconds, Dan Tomas of Sault Ste. Marie took second with "Clifford" in 5.318 seconds, and Glenn Tomkins of Sault Ste. Marie took third in 5.503 seconds.

Owing to the number of entries, many events included fourth and fifth place winners. Tom Huff of Cedarville drove "Tuff-E-Nuff" to fourth place in 5.564 seconds and Brian Kelly of St. Ignace took fifth place with a 5.608-second posting.

The Class Five run included stock trucks with tires of up to 37 inches in height.

Rick Bonnell, driving "Rambunctious," won the race by clearing the track in 4.419 seconds. Tom Huff of Cedarville came in second with "Tuff-ENuff" in 4.819 seconds, Ron Eagle of Sault Ste. Marie came in third, driving "Stage Fright Revenge" down the track in 4.848 seconds, Dan Tomas of Sault Ste. Marie took fourth with "Clifford" in 4.915 seconds, and Frank Marsh of Sault Ste. Marie won fifth with "Strictly Experimental" in 5.086 seconds.

In Class Six Women's Stock competition, Shannon Bonnell of Kinross drove "Rambunctious" down the track in 4.514 seconds for first place, Shannon Baker of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, drove "Killin' Time" in 4.835 seconds for second place, Katti Gamble of St. Ignace took third place with "Crossbreed" in 5.568 seconds, Jennifer Hoolsema of Moran came in fourth in 5.586 seconds, and Christina Smith of St. Ignace drove "Goood 'E nuff" in 6.238 seconds, good enough for fifth place.

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

Josh Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie drove "Sour Apple" to first place in 3.822 seconds, Jim West of St. Ignace drove "Animaniac" in 4.173 seconds for second, and Al Sumerx of Wolverine drove "Mud Slinger" to a third place finish with a time of 4.416 seconds.

"His truck's name is very truthful," Mrs. Kanitz said. "It's a lot of fun. He slings mud everywhere and even soaked the chairs!"

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

Rick Bonnell of Kinross won in "Rambunctious" with a time of 4.09 seconds, Eric Baldino of Dafter came in second driving "Stage Fright" across the line in 4.097 seconds, Terry Joss of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, took third with "3 Ton Wonder" in 4.137 seconds, Josh Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie drove "Problem Child" to fourth place in 4.215 seconds, and Ron Eagle of Sault Ste. Marie drove "Stage Fright Revenge" in 4.258 seconds, earning fifth place.

The next Moran Mud Run will be organized by Mackinac Mudders, the group in charge of the trucks, with another event possibly to be held in September and then three a year in the future.

The event is "wonderful for the area," he added.

MCSORVA, meanwhile, plans to shift gears and start other projects, including poker runs and a big ATV rally next year.