Slippery Track Tests Drivers' Skills in First St. Ignace Mud Run
By Paul Gingras

Top: Wade Aubert of Cheboygan sprays mud far and wide in "The Hopper" during the Class One Open at the St. Ignace Mud Run Saturday, May 19. His was one of 67 runs down the track. Many racers changed their vehicle's tires to qualify in different divisions. Registration fees amounted to $1,340, all of which was redistributed to the top three racers in each division.

Upper Peninsula residents and downstate race fans lined the sides of a muddy track behind Little Bear East Arena and Community Center for the first St. Ignace Mud Run Saturday, May 19, a day of roaring engines, flying mud, kids games, and music.

Participants said they enjoyed the new location for the mud run, formerly held at the Mackinac County Fairgrounds in Moran. The mud in St. Ignace sprayed a bit farther than it did in Moran, coating some bystanders.

"I say, if you get mud on you, you're taking back souvenirs," said Danielle Burnham of Bellaire, a mud run enthusiast.

"I think [this track] is cool because it's different," she added. "Usually you have a straight track. In Boyne Falls they have a figure eight, but here they made a figure nine."

Above: Children charge in a muddy circle on all-terrain vehicles on a track behind Little Bear East Arena and Community Center.

Drivers thundered toward the turn-around, sloshed in a muddy circle, and then gunned it down a 150-foot-long straightway toward the finish line. Parts of the track were 50 feet wide. At the end, it narrowed to 30 feet.

"The turns require more driving skill," said Jim West, an event organizer. While last year's location was good, Mr. West said, modifications had been made in St. Ignace to "spice up" the event.

"We made the track slippery, not deep," he added. "Skill is what this track is all about."

In the morning, prior to the timed truck race, children revved up their all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and took turns around track.

Sheridan Bigger, a youngster from St. Ignace, said the best part about the track was "going through it."

St. Ignace resident Scott Marshall said the site was a good choice because it enabled race fans to experience St. Ignace, as well as go to a mud run.

At left: St. Ignace all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts pose minutes before kids test the new mud run track in St. Ignace Saturday. Pictured here (from left) are Austin Marshall, Dylan Marshall, and Scott Marshall.

Although rain seemed imminent in the morning, the day became partly sunny and warmer, a perfect atmosphere for the event, spectators said.

The track was built with assistance from the St. Ignace Department of Public Works, which hauled in truckloads of clay, the St. Ignace Fire Department, which helped soak the area, and Art Huskey and Sons Excavating, which helped prepare the track.

Many more organizations and individuals contributed to the mud run, Mr. West noted.

"It took a lot of people to create this," he said.

The track was set aside from the audience by cement barriers that will remain in place for mud runs Saturday, July 7, and Saturday, September 8.

"As a business owner, I'm excited to have it downtown," said Marianne Huskey. "It brings people to our shops, motels, hotels, and restaurants."

The concession stand raised money for the Mackinac Animal Aid Association, and gate fees and proceeds from advertising sales went to support the Chamber of Commerce.

Race Results:

Will Fitzpatrick of Boyne Falls had the fastest time of the day. He won first place in First Class Open, with a time of 11.887 seconds. Jim West of St. Ignace won second place, with 15.283 seconds. Matt Barber of Cheboygan took third, with 15.807 seconds.

Bridget West of St. Ignace took first place in the Second Class Womens Open, with a time of 19.564 seconds. Lisa Kanitz of Hessel took second place with 19.849 seconds. Tracy Holland of Cheboygan took third place with 21.580 seconds.

The Third Class Streetstock race followed. Unlike the Open, stock cars could not be augmented or altered.

With a time of 16.390 seconds, Bill Ramsby of Cheboygan took first place. Todd Blair of St. Ignace took second, with 21.915 seconds. Jordan Huff of Cedarville took third with 23.104 seconds.

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

Tommy Huff of Cedarville took first place with 15.907 seconds. Bill Ramsby of Cheboygan took second place with 17.838 seconds. Eric Baldino of Sault Ste Marie took third place with 18.306 seconds.

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

Jon Huyck of Pickford took first place in 15.510 seconds. Tommy Huff of Cedarville took second with 16.147 seconds. Ron Eagle of Sault Ste Marie took third place with 16.256 seconds.

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

Christina Smith of St. Ignace took first place with 20.412 seconds. Heidi Shattuck took second with 20.930 seconds. Kelly Huyck of St. Ignace took third with 23.545 seconds.

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

Jim West of St. Ignace took first place with 15.717 seconds. Matt Barber of Cheboygan took second with 17.051 seconds. Don Smith of Petoskey took third with 17.679 seconds.

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

Eric Baldino of Sault Ste Marie took first place with 16.522 seconds. Tommy Huff of Cedarville took second place with 16.875 seconds. Jon Huyck of Pickford took third with 16.923 seconds.