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Blizzard Vintage 1-Lunger Race Thrills Snowmobile Enthusiasts at Cedarville

Racers tear down the track at Taylor's Pit in Cedarville during the Cedarville Blizzard 2010 Vintage 1-Lunger Races Sunday, January 31. Many spectators crowded near the tracks and climbed hills and gravel piles to get a good view of the action. Hundreds of spectators huddled as closely to the track as possible as racers in the Cedarville Blizzard 2010 Vintage 1-Lunger race sped around the track in Taylor's Pit in Cedarville. Saturday, January 30, marked the qualifying rounds for the main event Sunday, January 31, while smaller races kept everyone entertained. Kitty Cat races for children, snowmobile races for seniors, and women-only Powderpuff races ensured everyone got a chance to enjoy the track.

By Sunday, 55 teams riding snowmobiles from 1975 and earlier made it to the starting line of the final race. Two teams were forced to drop out before the race began, owing to mechanical problems. Other teams hurriedly checked their machines from top to bottom, replacing parts as necessary and discussing strategies on how to endure the nearly six-hour contest on the vintage machines.

Above: Brad Westcott of Cheboygan and Team Woolley Mammoth Racing makes a few last-minute tune-ups to his sled before the main race begins at the Cedarville Blizzard 2010 Vintage 1-Lunger Races Sunday, January 31. Mr. Westcott said his team's strategy was to pace themselves and go easy on the sled until they reached the end of the 250 laps. Keith Beson of Grand Ledge paced about his team's trailer Sunday morning, waiting for the race to get underway. His team, Beson Racing, while new to snowmobile racing, he told The St. Ignace News, is made up of experienced sno-cross racers who eagerly awaited their chance to hit the track and test their skills.

"It's a whole different discipline [from sno-cross], and a lot more fun," Mr. Beson said.

At left: The racetrack took a beating as more than 50 racers sped around it, completing 200 laps by the end of the Cedarville Blizzard 2010 Vintage 1-Lunger Races Sunday, January 31. Bumps and divots were created as the race wore on. The team planned to pace themselves during the race, avoiding any unnecessary strain on the machine until the end of the race approached. If they could hold together until the race was nearly over, he said, they stood as good a chance as any to take first place. By the race's end, Mr. Beson's team took 17th place, completing 159 laps.

Nearby, Brad Westcott of Cheboygan and his team, Woolley Mammoth, popped his team's sled open for the race, making a few last-minute adjustments. Like team Beson, Mr. Westcott said his group planned to take the early laps easy and minimize the wear on their snowmobile. Team Woolley Mammoth landed in 10th place, completing 170 laps.

When the race started, snowmobiles of different makes and years sped down the track, aggressively attempting to pass each other . The number of teams pounding down the track quickly transformed the smooth track into one filled with bumps and ruts. Many snowmobiles were launched into the air briefly after hitting the bumps, slamming back onto the track and resuming their struggle for first place.

Crowds of spectators milled about the sides of the track, climbed hills, and scaled piles of gravel to get a view of the action. Others ducked into tents to purchase snacks and warmed themselves by a bonfire before returning to watch the race.

Team S & J Sports of Newberry won the race, completing 200 laps. The team won $1,000 and a trophy for their efforts. Team 52X of Engadine came in second place, completing 200 laps, while Maple Leaf Motorsports of Desbarats, Ontario, won third.

The Blizzard 2010 was originally planned to be 250 laps long, said race coordinator Dan Autore, but had to be cut short at 200. Daylight faltered before the entire circuit could be completed.

About 175 truckloads of snow were brought in to prepare the track at Taylor's Pit, owing to recent mild weather and not much snow. Much of the track was torn up after the racers finished.

"Holy cow, I wouldn't want to ride a snowmobile on that," Mr. Autore said of the mess.