Memories of motocross ice racing
Being weary of winter and anticipating spring has been a sentiment that’s been repeated throughout the years by people on the prairies. You’ll see in the following news story from a February, 1993 edition of The Clarion, how some folks kept themselves entertained during the long winter months.
Horsepower roars on ice!
February, 1993 - Kindersley Clarion
When the right hands of a motocross racer get itchy during the long winter months, they get together and do something about it.
The Saskatchewan Mini Ice Racing Series was the answer and 16 racers from the Kindersley area and from Saskatoon decided to join in the activities.
“The riders all had a great time,” said organizer Stan Humeny. “Even some of the Saskatoon guys who don’t usually ice race - we shamed them into coming out. They just said ‘Wow! Is this ever fun!’”
PHOTO: Thirty years ago, some folks had fun participating in the Saskatchewan Mini Ice Racing 2-day Series. Kindersley’s Robin Walde took first in the A class, and Ken Adams from Kindersley took top honours in the B class. Pictured is Chuck Annabel, from Kindersley and Vince Crawford of Saskatoon in A Class action.
Using bikes that were specially prepared with richer jetting, lowered suspension, higher gearing and modified and studded tires, they were ripping around the one-third of a mile track they had carved out on the retention pond one mile south of Kindersley.
“It probably takes a little less endurance racing on ice because the track isn’t nearly as rough, but ice racing is much harder on the bikes because they’re screaming all the way around the track at top revs all the time,” Humeny said.
Experienced eyes had estimated that the bikes were reaching speeds of about 100 kph in the straightaways. That was confirmed when an RCMP radar gun officially clocked the A class riders at 98 kph and the B class at 84.
“Everything went well,” Humeny said, “There weren’t too many crashes, and nobody got hurt badly. We had only one small incident where one driver drove over another guy’s foot.”
“They’re always planting the one foot for the side in the corners and this guy decided to use his foot for traction.”
In the A class Kindersley’s Robin Walde took first on his ‘93 Yamaha 250, with Bryon Medcoff of Kindersley taking second on an ‘83 Honda 500, and Kevin Neville of Saskatoon third on a Suzuki 250.
Top honours in the B class went to Kindersley’s Ken Adams and his ‘91 YZ 125, with second place taken by Darrell Nargang who shared Medcoff’s Honda, and 13-year-old Tara Adams taking third.
“Ice racing is easy for us to do, thanks to the town allowing us to use that spot. It’s close to town and it’s always got good ice,” Humeny said.