LAC LA BICHE - Got a John Deer Liquifire hiding under some snow around the yard? How about a Snow-Cruiser or an Arctic Cat Lynx, Panther or Cheetah?
Dig it out and fire it up for the Winter Festival of Speed.
Vintage snowmobiles will be on display — and on the trails — for the Feb. 25 weekend event in Lac La Biche.
The weekend on the frozen surface of Lac La Biche lake will feature race cars, racing snowmobiles, an on-ice airstrip, ice carving demonstrations, sleigh rides, axe throwing, a local trade show, a snowmobile trail ride and a vintage snowmobile showcase. Hosted by the newly formed Lac La Biche Back-Country Riders snowmobile club, several events featuring classic snowmobiles will be part of the weekend's on-ice activity.
Club founder Rob Kruk says a trail ride, a beginners learn-to-ride course, a show and shine and a fun game or two will feature vintage sleds owned by local and regional riders.
"For our purposes, we consider vintage to be at least 25 years old, and have leaf spring front suspension," said Kruk.
New and old
All makes and model years are welcome to the club's on-ice location over the weekend, he said, and all machines can ride in the Sunday morning trail ride from the Festival of Speed event to the Lac La Biche Mission for a lunch of hotdogs and bannock — but the vintage rides will be a focus.
Highlighting the older rides is a way to get more people into the driver's seat, said Kruk, explaining that many rural residents might have some older-model machines around the yard that only need a few tweaks... and a few dollars... to get them running.
"You can buy one for $500 or less and with maybe a few more bucks, you can be riding," said Kruk, who does all he can to promote snowmobile culture and the outdoor winter recreation opportunities that come with the pastime. "The club, these events... we want to bring awareness to more people, and to let them know that it doesn't have to be expensive."
Saturday learning track
To help newcomers ease into the sport, vintage machines will also be used on the Festival of Speed's opening day at an introduction to snowmobiling course hosted by the Back Country Riders.
"If you have never ridden a snowmobile before, or want to learn the fundamentals of safe riding, we will be offering a free course for anyone," said Kruk.
The learn-to-ride event will be held on a small, closed course on the lake.
"You are going to enjoy riding a lot more if you know what you are doing," said Kruk. "We will help to do that in a safe and controlled environment."
The riding clinic, like the trail ride on Sunday are free to enter — but donations to the club are always appreciated, said Kruk.
The Lac La Biche Back-County Riders have a membership of about 60. The fledgling club has already acquired trail grooming machinery and has about 80 kilometres of trails running from Beaver Lake to the boundaries of Lakeland Provincial Park and Recreation Area. Kruk hopes to link trails, clubs and communities across northeastern Alberta.
"We'd eventually like to see us linked to the Cold Lake trail system and the Iron Horse trail and go right into Saskatchewan," he said, adding that events like the upcoming Festival of Speed will help to increase awareness, and hopefully membership.
"We always need new members and new people for the club. The reason we have these nice, groomed trails is because we have dedicated volunteer members join our snowmobile club. It's the members that make it all happen," he said.
Events and schedules for the club's weekend activities can be found at the Lac La Biche Back-Country Riders social media pages.
