Snowmobile Drag Races,
Sidnaw, MI

February 18, 2012
(February 16, 2013)

2012 Registration Form
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Snowmobile Drag Races Sidnaw Airport

The Sno Valley Riders Snowmobile Club will be hosting their third annual Snowmobile Drag Races this Saturday. The races will take place at the Sidnaw Airport, and will be sanctioned by the Mid America Snow & Terrain Expert Racers (MASTERS) Racing Circuit.

Anyone interested in racing is invited to participate, as their will be classes for Vintage, Stock, and Modified snowmobiles. The races also include 120cc races for children from 4 to 9. The groomed snow track includes three lanes, 500 feet long.

According to the MASTERS Racing Circuit, this race has the biggest cash purse payout of any snowmobile drag race in the entire Upper Peninsula. First place in the prestigious TOP GUN Class wins $750.00. First place in Open Stock wins $500.00 and First Place in Open Vintage wins $250.00. All three drivers that advance to the finals in their class receive a cash purse, with 1st and 2nd Place receiving Trophies.

“With this purse, we not only expect the MASTERS Racing Circuit top drivers, but new drivers to compete,” commented MASTERS Racing Circuit President Skip Schulz.

It was at the Wisconsin Snow Drags that Crystal Falls, Jeff Szanto, won the TOP GUN Class. Szanto will face stiff competition from Goldbach Racing out of Iron River, Steve Govier from Marquette, and Shay Thompson from Negaunee. Shay Thompson won the TOP GUN at last Saturday’s St. Germain (WI) Ice Drags.

“It was at the Wisconsin Snow Drags that we heard that Dereck Peterson, who won 5 classes at last years Sno Valley Riders Snowmobile Club Drags, will be bringing a TOP GUN sled,” stated Schulz.

TOP GUN is the class where naturally-aspirated modified sleds up to 1200cc compete. The Turbo and Nitrous Injected sleds run in Open Mod.

Besides running for the cash purse and trophies, MASTERS Racing Circuit drivers are also running for Year-End Points. Organizers of the event expect many Non-MASTERS Racing Circuit drivers to compete, including many 1st Time Snowmobile Drag Racers.

Drivers can register by going to www.mastersracing.net or they can go to UP Chucks in Kenton between 6 and 9 pm ET on Friday Night, February 17th. Final Registration will take place Saturday Morning between 7:00 am and 7:30 am ET. No registration will take place after 7:30 am ET on Saturday Morning. The drivers will then go through a Safety Inspection, and after the sleds have been safety checked, they will have until 8:30 am ET to have ‘test-n-tune’ runs. After the mandatory driver’s meeting at 8:30 am ET, competition will begin.

Fans will have a chance to warm-up next to a fire in the spectator area.

“I can’t thank the Sno-Valley Riders Snowmobile club enough. This is a club that really believes in helping to bring people to the area and to promote the sport of snowmobiling. Snowmobilers already know that this club does an excellent job of grooming the trails, I just want to make sure that people know this club is also involved in our Tourism Industry,” concluded Schulz.

After this Saturday’s Sno-Valley Riders Snowmobile Club Snow Drags at the Sidnaw Airport, the MASTERS Racing Circuit will sanction the first annual Chippewa Sno-Kats Trail Club Snowmobile Drag Races at the Iron County Airport, located between Crystal Falls and Florence (WI). Those races will take place on Saturday, Feb. 25th. The MASTERS Racing Circuit also has Uphill Drags scheduled at Marquette Mountain in Marquette on Saturday, April 7th, Powderhorn Mountain, outside of Ironwood, on April 14th, and a Snowmobile Hillclimb at Powderhorn on Sunday, April 15th.

For more information on any of the MASTERS Racing events, you can e-mail Schulz at sschulz@jamadots.com or call him at 906-884-9101.

February 17, 2011
Houghton's Peterson Sweeps Drags

Houghton's Peterson sweeps Drags


Houghton’s Derek Peterson, Open Stock Champion, and 5-time winner

Negaunee’s Matt LaCosse, Open Vintage Champion

St. Germain’s Brian Siekerczynski, Open Mod Champion

Five was the magic number at this year’s Snow Valley Riders Snowmobile Club Snowmobile Drag Races at the Sidnaw (MI) Airport. With 5-time Winternationals King of the Hill, Wyler “Wild Man” Miller looking on, Houghton’s Derrick Peterson won an unprecedented 5 Classes.

This is the first time in recent history of the Mid America Snow and Terrain Expert Racers (MASTERS) that one driver won 5 classes. Peterson and his Stock Polaris took home $500 for winning the Open Stock Class. He also won Stock 800, Stock 700, and Stock 600. His Stock Polaris took the feature in Mod 600, and was narrowly edged out by Laurium’s Jerry Bushell in Mod 700.

St. Germain’s (WI) Brian Siekerczynski on a Turbo-Charged Yamaha pocketed $750 for winning the Open Mod Class. When Rice Lake’s (WI) Jim Nickula on a Turbo-Charged Arctic Cat had to slow down right out of the gate to prevent hitting a lane cone, Siekerczynski hoped to hold on to the lead to the 500 Foot Finish Line. Siekerczynski escaped with a half-a-sled win over Nickula. Iron River’s (MI) Louie Goldbach took a third.

One of the top Snowmobile Drag Racers over the past ten years in the MASTERS Racing Circuit, Champion’s (MI) Matt LaCosse made his Vintage Division debut by winning the $250 ‘winner-take-all’ Open Vintage Class on a 1978 Ski-Doo Blizzard. LaCosse narrowly edged out Munising’s (MI) Al Gurski and L’Anse (MI) driver, Jim Johnson.

The fans were rooting for Coon Rapids, Minnesota’s Jackie Williams. Williams, the only female racer to compete at the races, made it to the last chance qualifier in the Stock 700 class before being eliminated.

Drivers from North Dakota, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan competed in the races. The races were held on a specially prepared and groomed Snow-based drag strip. The MASTERS Racing Circuit, which has been sanctioning both Ice and Snow Drags for the past 15 years, runs a Drag Race Points Series. The races in Sidnaw offered the most points of the season of any of the previous 2 races. The series started with the Wisconsin State Championship Snow Drags in Merrill, Wisconsin, then held Ice Drags in St. Germain, Wisconsin. The series was planned to run both Ice and Snow Drags in Munising on the Munising Bay on March 5th and 6th.

Due to warm weather and detiorating ice conditions, those races may have to be cancelled for the year.

“We will not run the races if we have even the slightest chance of someone getting hurt,” according to MASTERS Racing President, Skip Schulz.

Schulz states that the MASTERS Racing Circuit is looking for a Ski Hill to host an Uphill Drag Race as the Drag Series Points Championship.

“When you bring drivers from all over the Midwest, and every driver brings his/her own crew, a MASTERS Racing Circuit Uphill Drag Race would not only be good for the Ski Hill, but great for the area’s economy. All those drivers have to have a place to stay and eat. I just hope we can find a Ski Hill that is looking for the revenue and looking to help the area’s tourism economy,” commented Schulz.

“It's great to have the MASTERS Circuit giving us places to race. Without them (MASTERS), we wouldn’t have many places to race,” commented Goldbach.

Goldbach brings a race team of 3 drivers. His team consisted of himself, Bushell, and Rudy Vincent. Goldbach won the Open Mod Feature in Sidnaw in 2009, Vincent won it last year, and this year he took a 3rd.

Negaunee’s Ken Cohen won the Stock 500 class on an Arctic Cat. Champion’s Matt La Cosse continued his dominance by winning the Mod 500 Class. Gurski won the Vintage 440 Liquid on a Ski-Doo. Skanee (MI) veteran drag racer, Bob Baxter took the Vintage 440 Fan, and Indiana’s Randy Byers on a Mercury Sno Twister won the Vintage 340 Fan.

Champion’s Nathan LaCosse and and L’Anse’s Lorelie Stefke were the champions in the 4 to 8 year old 120 cc class.

Results:

120 cc: Nathan LaCosse, Polaris, Champion (MI); Lorelie Stefke, Polaris, L’Anse (MI)

Vintage 340 Fan: 1) Randy Byers, Mercury, Etten (IN), 2) Ron Seavoi, Sno-Jet, L’Anse (MI); 3) Bob Baxter, Polaris, Skanee (MI)

Vintage 440 Fan: 1) Bob Baxter, Polaris, Skanne (MI); 2) Randy Byers, Mercury, Etten (IN); 3) Fred Jessup, John Deere, Etten (IN);

Vintage 440 Liquid: 1) Al Gurski, Ski-Doo, Munising (MI); 2) Matt LaCosse, Ski-Doo, Champion (MI); 3) Bob Baxter, Polaris, Skanee (MI)

Snow Valley Riders $250 Open Vintage: 1) Matt LaCosse, Ski-Doo, Champion (MI); 2) Al Gurski, Ski-Doo, Munising (MI); 3) Jim Johnson, Polaris, L’Anse (MI)

Stock 500: 1) Ken Cohen, Arctic Cat, Negaunee (MI); 2) Leif Forcia, Polaris, Baraga (MI); 3) Kelly Berndt, Ski-Doo, Trout Creek (MI)

Stock 600: 1) Derek Peterson, Polaris, Houghton (MI); 2) Ken Cohen, Arctic Cat, Negaunee (MI); 3) Leif Forcia, Polaris, Baraga (MI)

Stock 700: 1) Derek Peterson, Polaris, Houghton (MI); 2) Lance Forcia, Yamaha, Baraga (MI); 3) Tom Hodges, Arctic Cat, Laurium (MI)

Stock 800: 1) Derek Peterson, Polaris, Houghton (MI); 2) Tom Hodges, Arctic Cat, Laurium (MI); 3) Lance Forcia, Yamaha, Baraga (MI);

Snow Valley Riders $500 Open Stock: 1) Derek Peterson, Polaris, Houghton (MI); 2) Lance Forcia, Yamaha, Baraga (MI); 3) Jeremy Pestka, Arctic Cat, Ontonagon (MI);

Mod 500: 1) Matt LaCosse, Ski-Doo, Champion (MI); 2) Ken Cohen, Arctic Cat, Negaunee (MI); 3) Jim Johnson, Polaris, L’Anse (MI);

Mod 600: 1) Derek Peterson, Polaris, Houghton (MI); 2) Jim Johnson, Polaris, L’Anse (MI); 3) Tom Hodges, Arctic Cat, Laurium (MI);

Mod 700: 1) Jerry Buschell, Ski-Doo, Laurium (MI); 2) Derek Peterson, Polaris, Houghton (MI); 3) Bob Baxter, Polaris, Skanee (MI);

Mod 800: 1) Jerry Buschell, Ski-Doo, Laurium (MI); 2) Shay Thompson, Ski-Doo, Negaunee (MI); 3) Rudy Vincent, Ski-Doo, Iron River (MI);

Snow Valley Riders $750 Open Mod: 1) Brian Siekerczynski, Yamaha, St. Germain (WI); Jim Nickula, Arctic Cat, Rice Lake (WI); 3: Louie Goldbach, Ski-Doo; Iron River (MI)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR SIDNAW RACES!

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February 5, 2011
Sidnaw Snowmobile Drags Press Release

Big Purse to bring Top Snowmobilers

With the Snow Valley Riders Snowmobile Club kicking in $1500 in additional cash purse for this coming Saturday’s MASTERS Racing Circuit Snowmobile Drags in Sidnaw, fans can expect to see the fastest snowmobiles in the Upper Midwest. Snowmobile racers will be racing side-by-side in 3 lanes at the Sidnaw Airport.

The Snow Valley Riders will be giving $750.00 to the driver that wins the Open Mod Class, $500 to the driver that wins the Open Stock Class, and $250 to the driver that wins Open Vintage. Plus the top two placing drivers in each class will receive trophies.

“That is, other then the popular 120 cc class, where children between the ages of 4 and 9 will all get a trophy,” commented MASTERS Racing Circuit President, Skip Schulz. “These young children are all champions in the MASTERS Racing Circuit, and it is great to know that the Snow Valley Riders agree with us by making sure all the kids get a trophy,” stated Schulz.

Racers will be competing in different classes for snowmobiles that have no modifications. This includes the Stock 500, Stock 600, Stock 700, Stock 800, and Open Stock. For those with modifications to the engine and chassis, they will race in Mod 500, Mod 600, Mod 700, Mod 800, and Open Mod.

The races also gives those that have 1980 and older sleds a place to compete. The Vintage Division has Vintage Free Air 340, Vintage Free Air 440, Vintage 440 Liquid, and Open Vintage.

The racers will be competing on hard-packed snow for 500 feet.

“The Snow Valley Riders have been grooming the track for the past couple weeks. They will also have a groomer on the grounds and maintain a smooth, safe track, all day,” according to Schulz.

Why would the Snow Valley Riders put so much time and money into a Snowmobile Drag Race?

“We believe strongly in bringing people to our area. This race draws drivers from all over the Midwest. They stay in our area, they eat in our area. They spend money in our area!” commented Snow Valley Riders Snowmobile Club President Khris Kennedy.

Kennedy goes on to say, “It’s important that our club does more then groom over 100 miles of trails, we also believe in giving back to our area.”

In addition to the additional cash purse that the Snow Valley Riders is putting into this Saturday’s races, the MASTERS Racing Circuit also puts in over $1500 in cash winnings. This race is the third ‘leg’ on the MASTERS Racing Circuit Drag Racing Series. The next race for this 15 year old Snowmobile Racing Circuit will be in Munising, March 5th and 6th. The MASTERS is looking for a Ski Hill to host an uphill Drag Race in April to end the season. After the final race, the MASTERS will have a cash purse going out to the top 3 drivers in each class.

This Saturday’s races will begin with Hot Runs at 9:00 am EST, with racing to follow shortly after. The Awards banquet will be held Saturday Night at UP Chucks in Kenton.

Racers have to Pre-Register by stopping at the MASTERS Racing Offices by this coming Thursday, or by pre-registering on line by this Wednesday. They can Pre-Register on line at www.mastersracing.net or by calling 906-884-9101.

February 1, 2011

The Snow Valley Riders Snowmobile Club is kicking in $1500 to the purse at the February 12th, 2011 MASTERS Racing Circuit Sanctioned Snowmobile Snow Drags at the Sidnaw, Michigan, airport. This is ABOVE AND BEYOND the purse that the MASTERS Circuit provides.

First Place in the Open Mod Class will receive $750.00! First Place in the Open Stock Class will receive $500.00, and First Place in the Open Vintage Class will receive $250.00. With the Snow Valley Riders Snowmobile Club kicking this money in, 2nd and 3rd Place in those classes will also be increased! The Snow Valley Riders are also giving out trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place. The MASTERS Racing Circuit pays down to 3rd Place. Plus the Snow Valley Riders will have MANY GREAT items they are going to raffle off and a 50/50 drawing!

The Snow Valley Riders have been working on the track for quite some time. They have been grooming the 3 racing lanes and the return lane, and the Pit area has been plowed. The track is hardening up and will be in EXCELLENT shape by the 12th.

This is the 3rd leg in the MASTERS Racing Circuit Drag Racing Points Series. With the cash purse, we are expecting to have a good number of drivers, thus this ONE race could give a driver enugh points to take over the point lead in the class. First place gets 2 + the number of drivers in the class, 2nd place gets -1 point of the drivers in the class, and 3rd place gets -2 points of the drivers in the class. More drivers in the class, more points. We’re going to pay down the top 3 in each class at the End of the Year.

Like always, the MASTERS Racing Circuit requires PRE-REGISTRATION. You can Pre-Register by filling out the attached driver registration form, filling this out, and sending this back to our MASTERS Racing Circuit offices. Send the Registration form, fees, and a signed copy of the MASTERS Racing Circuit rules too: MASTERS Racing, % Sidnaw, 610 Greenland Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953. Registrations are to be in by Wednesday, February 10th, 2011.

The MASTERS only takes a maximum of 15 sleds per class. Each driver and one Pit Person is given a free Pit Pass. All additional Pit people will be required to pay the $10.00 pit pass to the Snow Valley Riders. The MASTERS will have your driver and pit pass at the gate starting at 7:00 am on Saturday, February 12th.

Starting right away at 7:00 am, you will be able to get Safety Tech’d with our MASTERS Racing Officials. All those that have gone through and passed the Safety Check will be alowed to have Test ’N Tune Runs on a lane set up for Test ’N Tune. We are going to start the racing at 600 Feet, which will give us 100 feet to move the starting line as the starting line detiorates throughout the day.

We are going to open the day with a special presentation of the Colors during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. We want ALL the children on 120 cc sleds to carry a small American Flag during the playing of the National Anthem. This is going to be a GREAT PHOTO Shoot.

We are going to be starting with the Pro Stock 600 Fan, then going to Pro Stock 500 and working our way up to Pro Open Stock. Then we will go to Vintage. Then we will go to the 120 cc class. The 120 cc class will run heat races to their final. Then we will go to the Pro Mod 500 and work our way to Pro Open Mod. We are going to run each class right to the Semi-Finals.

Then we will run the Semi Finals in Each Class, from small to big cc in Stock to Mod.

Then we will end the day with the Finals in Vintage, Pro Stock 600 Fan, Pro Stock 500, Pro Stock 600, Pro Stock 700, Pro Stock 800, Pro Mod 500, Pro Mod 600, Pro Mod 700, Pro Mod 800, then the 3 Feature Races. Pro Vintage Open, Pro Stock Open and Pro Mod Open. The winners in those 3 classes will be presented their trophy at the track for Pictures.

2 Hours after the completion of the races we will have the awards ceremony. I will let you know as to where the Awards Ceremony will be. Trophies and the Cash awards will be handed out at the Awards Ceremony.

Here is the list of sponsors of the event: Running Bear Resort of Paulding; Peppermill Lodging of Rockland; Settlers Co-Op of Bruce Crossing, Settlers Federal Credit Union of Bruce Crossing; Headwaters Polaris of Watersmeet; Char's Cafe of Bruce Crossing; Gram’s Inn of Bruce Crossing; Midway Telephone of Watton; Harbor Mortgage of Waterford (MI); Pat's Food’s of L’Anse, Auto Value of L’Anse; State Bank of Ewen; Iron Mtn Power Sports of Iron Mountain; Adventure Centre of Marquette; Meyer Yamaha of Ishpeming; Snow Tech Magazine of Alexandria (MN); UP Chuck’s Bar of Kenton; A & A Hardware of Bruce Crossing; Ewen Building Supply of Ewen; Baraga County Tourism Association; Marquette Power Sports of Marquette; Loggers Alley of Bruce Crossing; Hoppy’s Bar of Kenton; Bill’s Grill of Sidnaw; Big Valley Ford of Ewen; Sidnaw Mini Mart of Sidnaw.

January 19, 2011

Once again the Snow Valley Riders will have an increased purse at these races. What classes the Snow Valley Riders decides to put the additional purse money is up to them. This will be decided on January 31st, and I will let you know right away.

The club has already begun packing the lanes. The Pit area has been plowed. We NEED more snow.

Just like ALL our races, we have a MAXIMUM of 15 sleds in a class. To guarantee a spot, Pre-Register. Registration Form is attached. Send this form and fees too: MASTERS Racing, % Sidnaw, 610 Greenland, Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953.

ALL Registration must be in by Friday, February 11th, at 12:00 Noon. We DO NOT take Registrations the morning of the race, due to time constraints in putting the charts together.

Those that signed up for the MASTERS Racing Circuit Drag Series and paid the Insurance Fees, you only have to send the Class Registration Fees. You do NOT need to send another signed copy of the Rules. Those that will be entering this race only, you will have to send the Insurance Fees and a signed copy of the rules.

This is a 500 Foot run on Hard-Packed Groomed Snow, with a 1000 Foot shut-down.

December 10, 2010

This snowmobile club does a FANTASTIC job on preparing and maintaining this 500 foot Snow Drag track. This is the 2nd leg in the MASTERS Racing Circuit Snow Drag Points Series.

This is one of the BEST PURSE payouts in the entire Midwest.

I will be sending you more info on this in the near future.

Iron River’s Vincent wins $1000

Iron River, Michigan’s Rudy Vincent walked away from this past Saturday’s Snow Valley Riders Snowmobile Drag Races in Sidnaw, Michigan with $1000.00 in earnings. The Ski-Doo Driver took a first in the Open Mod Division, winning $1000.00. Skanee, Michigan Driver, Bob Baxter won $650.00 for taking a first in the Vintage 340 Free Air Class.