Seasonably warm temperatures welcomed the fans and competitors to the Straighline Snowmobile Racing Association snowmobile drag races in St. Paul on Jan. 18.
Seasonably warm temperatures welcomed the fans and competitors to the Straighline Snowmobile Racing Association snowmobile drag races in St. Paul on Jan. 18.
Bleachers were on hand to provide a comfortable resting spot for the spectators, while many chose to drive their vehicles right up to the track, leaning against the hood or warming up in the driver's seat while the festivities played out.
The fans cheered as the massive, powerful machines hummed their way down the track, muscling forward at breakneck speeds in an attempt to be the first to cross the finish line.
While the crowd was enjoying the relatively moderate temperatures, some of the racers would have in fact preferred a slightly chillier day.
“I think they're pretty good,&” racer Kevin Ruberry of North Battleford said of the conditions. “Preferably, for my machine, I find it runs better in the cooler weather. It's a little warm for my liking.&”
Racer Cheyne Hall made the trip down from Fort McMurray to participate in the event.
“Work permitting, I follow (the SSRA circuit) as much as I can,&” Hall said. “This is my third year in a row now in St. Paul. It's always a great turnout.&”
Shane Regnier of Bonnyville has been racing snowmobiles for over a decade, and was impressed at the competition in St. Paul on Saturday.
“I enjoy the rush, the big power,&” he said of his passion for the sport. “There is big stuff here. Big stuff. There's some world championship stuff here.&”
Even so, Regnier himself was able to finish in first place in the Mountain Open division of the competition.
“We worked hard on this sled, and we spent a lot of time on it. It's been awesome,&” he said of his Motion Motorsports team. “It's been a great day. Even though it may be a little bit too warm for some of the sleds, it makes it nice just to be out here.&”
Local racer and event organizer Cory Carter was very pleased with the way the day was playing out on Saturday afternoon.
“The track is holding out awesome. It's ideal right now. The snow is sticky, and we're hooking up on it,&” Carter said.
In total there were 96 racers participating in the event.
“That's a little bit under what I wanted, but it's still one of the biggest races that (the SSRA) has,&” Carter said.
A festive atmosphere spread itself out beyond the racetrack on Saturday, with spectators enjoying the burning fire pits, the hot dogs, and each other's company.
“There's always lots of fans out here, which is awesome,&” Carter said. “We couldn't ask for a better day.&”
St. Paul SSRA Results
Amt Stock 700
Sheldon Wessing
Eugina Herman
Dwayne Battie
Amt Stock 800
Dominique Hebert - Xtreme Motor Sports
Ryan Sunyl
Melissa LaForce
Amt Stock 1000
Dominique Hebert - Xtreme Motor Sports
Cody Harkins
Ryan Sunyl
Stock 600
Shawn Heaver
Tyler Roger
Dwayne Heinz
Stock 700
JTB
Dwayne Heinz
Shawn Heaver
Stock 800
Anthony Janvier
Tamara Janvier
Elisha Edquist
Stock 1000
Tamara Janvier
Anthony Janvier
Power Head
Stock Open
Overbore
Tamara Janvier
Elisha Edquist
Improved 600
Dwayne Heinz
Shawn Heaver
Kendal Freed
Improved 700
Mark Hilderman
Morin Bros.
Dakota LaRoque
Improved 800
Lance Burwash
Ron Schultz
Cheyne Hall
Improved 1000
Lance Burwash
Ron Schultz
Cheyne Hall
ProSno 600
JTB
Shawn Heaver
Dwayne Heinz
ProSno 700
Lance Burwash
Powerhead
Hellcat
ProSno 800
Malory Lariviere
Lance Burwash
Ron Schultz
ProSno 1000
Lance Burwash
Powerhead
Gerald Turbret
ProMax
Anthony Janvier
Bruno Bouline
Gerald Turbret
Outlaw 800
Powerhead
Powerhead
Hellcat
Open Mod 1000
Powerhead
Lance Burwash
Gerald Turbret
Mountain Imp
Cheyne Hall
Sky Ash Racing
Melissa LaForce
Mountain Open
Motion Motorsports
Josh Combs
Hellcat
Ladies
Tara Janvier
Elisha Edquist
Overbore
