Sportsman of Year, Racer of Year Among Honors for Cedarville's James Hicks
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Mr. Hicks achieved his goal. In the Michigan Sno Cross Racing Association's eight weekend events this year, he took first place in the pro-open class, first place in the pro-600 class, and third place in the pro-stock class. The 23-year-old racer from Cedarville also earned sportsman of the year and racer of the year for the Michigan circuit. In addition to the Michigan races, he participated in four races in Canada and Minnesota, competing every weekend from Thanksgiving through early March, with the final race March 9 at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, where the awards banquet took place Saturday, April 5.
Participating in up to three races a weekend, he earned trophies and cash prizes.
The sportsman of the year award is about helping others.
Snowmobiling in this circuit "is not dirty racing. It's clean racing," he said. Throughout the season, he spent time mentoring younger racers, coaching them, and helping them procure parts. The younger racers look up to the more seasoned
racers, he said. This winter was Mr. Hicks' seventh racing season. He has been at it since he was a junior at Cedarville High School.
The racer of the year award is about sheer winning consistency.
This is Mr. Hicks' second season racing in the highly competitive pro-open class. Last year, he achieved his goal of placing in the top three of his chosen divisions, the same divisions he participated in this season. He set the bar higher for himself this winter, and met his goal again.
Prior to racing pro, he spent three years in the semi-pro division, which is also highly competitive.
The pro-open allows for the most modifications, enabling racers to lighten their sleds and maximize horsepower, leading to higher speeds on the challenging tracks, which include berms, tight corners, sweeping corners, and even 100-foot jumps.
The pro-600 limits sleds to 600 cubic centimeter engines. The prostock races do not allow for modifications. Mr. Hicks used two Arctic Cats to race in all three divisions.
So far, only racers are allowed to run the 2008 Arctic Cat 600 Sno Pros he uses. Not available to the general public for two years, the new sleds are more reliable than previous models.
"Snowmobile technology is changing a lot," he said. The new sleds are tougher, to take the inevitable beating serious racers put them through. They are also faster. The Arctic Cats have new chassis, and they handle better.
"I definitely give them some credit for my success," he said.
Having participated in high school basketball, track, and football, Mr. Hicks said racing is the most physically challenging of the all those sports, and with the excitement of the race, the challenge is as much mental as it is physical.
He exercises all year and races dirt bikes during the warmer months. He calls this "keeping an edge."
"I like high jumps the best," he added. "There is nothing like it, up there, just you and your machine."
Professional snowmobiling is a family interest. The Hicks home in Cedarville is equipped with a snowmobile lift, where Mr. Hicks does his own modification and repair work, with some help from his father, Steve, also a snowmobiling enthusiast.
Steve Hicks is his son's pit crew. As his son races, he cleans clutches, checks the chain case, makes sure that the chain is free of snow, and makes minor repairs.
"He likes it when I do well," James Hicks said, adding that racing "would be tough without mom and dad."
Vera Hicks takes care of James' frequent bumps and scratches. She also makes food for the races. Vera Hicks cheers on the team, and makes food for family and friends to enjoy at the races.
In addition to getting sponsorships and cash prizes, Mr. Hicks runs a lawn service business in the summer to finance his ambition. With racing fuel costing between $8 and $11 a gallon, Mr. Hicks particularly appreciates the help of his sponsors
