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2011 RED LAKE I-500
VINTAGE RACE
Big Race, Big Names, Big Weekend
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The
glory days of the I-500 live on only in old photos, grainy films
and stories told by those who were lucky enough to be there. Names
like Brian Nelson, Doug Oster, Jon Carlson and Archie Simonson
stir memories of the fierce competitors who braved frozen terrain
aboard leaf-sprung machines. Those glory days are set to return
once again January 22, 2011, when The USCC National Guard Cross-Country
Snowmobile Championship presents the Legends of Cross-Country
Vintage class during the second leg of this year's Red Lake I-500.
"Like so many snowmobilers my age I grew up idolizing these
guys and I'm excited to see them race again," said USCC President
Pat Mach. "There are a lot of former racers contacting
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Brian
Nelson
Photo Courtesy C.J. Ramstad Archives |
us about coming out
to race and I have to say I feel like a little kid when race registrations
come into the office with these names on them."
Jon
Carlson
Photo Courtesy C.J. Ramstad Archives |
Fans
can watch these legends race the machines that made them famous
or, if they think they have the guts, they can choose to match
skills against them. There will be two divisions offered in the
vintage class. The Vintage Legends class will be for racers 50
years of age and older, while the standard Vintage class will
be for all other racers. Vintage class sleds must be 1981 or older
and no larger than 500cc for air-cooled or 440cc |
for liquid-cooled
(complete rules can be read online here).
Vintage racers will
run the complete 170-mile Saturday I-500 leg. The Vintage sleds will
hit the course after all the modern sleds have left the starting line
from the Seven Clans Casino in Thief River Falls, Minn. The Saturday
leg promises to be spectator-friendly with many opportunities to view
the racers as they head north through Thief River Falls and then turn
west towards the Northwestern Minnesota cities of Viking, Warren, Argyle
and Oslo. The sleds will then head East through Warren and St. Hilare
on their way back to the finish line at the Seven Clans Casino.
Gerard
Karpik
Photo Courtesy C.J. Ramstad Archives
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Archie Simonson
Photo Courtesy C.J. Ramstad Archives |
"This is
going to be an awesome weekend for cross-country snowmobile race fans."
said USCC President Pat Mach. "Fans will be able to see today's
best racers along with the legends of the sport all in one day on
one course. It should be a great day for cross-country snowmobile
racing.
More information
on the USCC National Guard Cross-Country Snowmobile Championship,
the Red Lake I-500 and USCC Vintage racing visit www.usccracing.com.
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