Sno-Drifters 2010 Snow Drags

by Karina Hunter

Checking things over in the pit.

Manitou Sno-Drifters  Annual Snow Drag Races were held on Manitouwadge Lake Saturday drawing a large group of race enthusiasts to the shore line in spite of frigid -18^o weather and considerable wind chill.  Throughout the day, racers from 5 to 66 years of age took their turn pulling up to start line of the 660 ft track and, with their engine roaring, thumb on the throttle each watched in turn for the green light to ignite.  The organizing team, Dan Savoie, Dominique Gagnon, Jeff Shortt, Kathy Hudson, Tammy Cherneski, Marco Cerilli, Tony Cerilli, Leonard Cherneski and Marc Desauliners, kept things running smoothly throughout the afternoon, later welcoming everyone to KG’s ‘Down Under’ lounge ending the day with distribution of cash prizes totaling over $2 700.  

Among the most anticipated racers was 2005-07 World Drag Racing Champion, John Stach, from Sault Ste. Marie, ON a regular attendee of the Sno-Drifters drags and year after year, the ‘one to beat’. Stach’s bragging rights were claimed by local snowmobile enthusiast, Marc Hartin in the 700 Improved Modified Class.  Hartin driving Sylvain Dunn’s (Marathon, ON) F7 Artic Cat, surprised everyone clearly crossing the finish line ahead of Stach in the last race of the day. Junior racers garnering plenty of attention were 12 year old Janelle Bell of Manitouwadge and 5 year old Danyk Carrier of Hearst; the pair raced twice with Bell placing first in both heats. Carier has spent more than ½ his young life racing snowmobiles, his need for speed having begun with 2 years on the Snowcross Racing Circuit; this season due to a lack of available Snowcross events he made the switch to Snow Drags. Carier traveled to Manitouwadge with his father Dany who also participated in the drags. “He really enjoys racing, we focus on completing the race, having fun and learning the skills of the sport – not whether he’s won or lost” said Carier reciprocating a high five from Danik as he returned from the second heat, judging by the smiles on their faces, the sport is a bonding experience which the father-son racing team thoroughly enjoys.

Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

An added challenge for the Sno-Drifters this year was their return to a one day race schedule which had been extended last year to a full weekend of races; Sno-Drifters volunteer Dominique Gagnon reported having received much positive feed back in regards to the switch “The regional [race] teams have expressed a preference for the one day races and their participation is very important to us” said Gagnon. Thanks to the more compressed schedule many participate without the added expense of accommodations. The event was a success, so much so that organizers are already looking in to the feasibility of another Snow Drag in March of 2010 pending funding from one of the Sno-Drifters major sponsors.

 Submitted to The Echo, the Chronicle Journal, 02.15.10

Sumitted to Michigan Snowmobiler, CJ Outdoors Guide & Ontario Snowmobiler Magazine, 02.16.10