Snowmobile drag racing returned to Yorkton Saturday as the Yorkton Exhibition Board teamed up with the Yorkton Sno-Riders to bring the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Racing Association (SSRA) event to the city.
The title sponsor, Painted Hand Casino, put up the prize money and several prominent corporate sponsors contributed to the event. "Without their support we would not have been able to put it on," says Yorkton Sno-Riders president Jason Popowich.
Popowich estimates about 87 competitors from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta registered for the races. "We actually had a team from as far away as Fort McMurray, Alberta. A lot of racers travelled across the three prairie provinces to attend," he notes.
The Meet and Greet/Trade Show Friday evening was little quieter than anticipated, says Popowich. There were some remote control sled races as well as some SSRA reaction time trials. "Those that were there had lots of fun," he adds.
The drag races featured 151 heats in total, Popowich reports. Some of the race classes at the drags were stock, pro-stock, improved, modified and junior classes, among others, he says. The amateur class, new to the sport, was introduced to snowmobile racing.
The drag races were run on a 450 foot long track in front of the exhibition grandstand Popowich points out. The fastest sled, timed on radar by the Yorkton RCMP detachment, was travelling 140 kph at the finish line. "That was a pro-mod sled putting out well over 300 horsepower, so it's understandable," he explains.
While he felt the crowd was a little smaller than anticipated, Popowich says SSRA officials suggested the event was one of the best races in the province. "They thought it was very well attended not only with spectators but also racers," Popo-wich claims. The officials were very pleased with the day, he adds.
He insists the event would not have been nearly as successful as it turned out if not for the help and work of the Yorkton Ex members. "The exhibition board did a really great job and we thank them for it," Popowich states.
The exhibition Board was rocked by the passing of long time board member and volunteer Sheldon Nicholson Friday morning. "The board lost a good close friend and board member and our sympathy goes out to the Nicholson family," Popowich says.
The organizers will have to evaluate the race meet but Popowich thinks it likely that the event will return next winter. "I think it's safe to say we'll probably see racing again next year at the grandstand," he predicts.
Cameron McLeod travelled to the races from Camperville, Manitoba. McLeod, who has been racing for about 15 years, was campaigning a ZRT 600 Triple with triple pipes and triple carburetors. A multi-class sled, McLeod was entered in the 600 Improved, 600 Modified, 700 Improved, 700 Modified, 800 Improved, 800 Modified and Open classes.
At home McLeod started racing on a circuit between the reserves in the area where he's been quite successful. "I decided to come here because this is where the best and fastest racers in Canada are right now," he declares.
Racing is his favorite sport, McLeod says. "It's all exciting and everything has been going well at all the races he's attended so far," he claims.
He's not had mechanical problems to deal with. He is his own mechanic and sets up his own machines.
He says the SSRA has done a good job of setting up this event. They have organized the event well and brought in racers from all around the west to compete for the $15,000 prize money, McLeod points out. "We're going to see who's the fastest racer in Canada today," he closes.
Local snowmobile racer Miles Brooks says he has raced sleds for 10 to 12 years. He has raced at Rocanville, Fort Qu'Appelle, and Hudson Bay.
Currently Brooks campaigns a 2009 Arctic Cat Z-1 Turbo in the Improved 800, Open Stock and Amateur 1,000 classes.
He suggests racing is in his blood as he also raced at the Prairie Thunder Drags at the Yorkton Airport. He and His wife Carolyn also campaign a stock car on an oval dirt track.
Local junior competitor Levi Litvanyi was on hand to race his stock Arctic Cat 600 Crossfire. The Yorkton races were Litvanyi's first attempt at drag racing snowmobiles. A motocross racers during the summer, he and his dad, Greg, thought it might be fun to try it out, Litvanyi says.
Results for local competitors who did reasonably well were: Kyle Raddysh of Yorkton, first - Amateur Stock 600 class on his Yamaha; Kyson Gervais of Yorkton, first - 120 S class, racing an Arctic Cat; Kaynan Gervais of Yorkton, third - 120 S class on an Arctic Cat; Brian Lowe of Balcarres, first - Ski-Doo.
