Vintage Snowmobiles. (Submitted photo/ Vanessa Brahniuk)

By Ian Gustafson

Turning Back the Clock

Vintage Snowmobile Drag Race to support Rose Garden Hospice

Feb 27, 2020 | 3:32 PM

Snowmobile fanatics will get the chance to dust off their old machines.

The first annual Prince Albert Vintage Snowmobile Drag Race is coming to Prince Albert on March 7 at the Prince Albert Airport. It is a fundraiser to support the Rose Garden Hospice.

Vanessa Brahniuk and Guy St Hilaire, the daughter and father duo are the pioneers behind the event.

“Dad’s been racing for about six years now and he kind of got me hooked on it three years ago,” Brahniuk said. “We actually have three generations now, my son who’s eight also races.”

She added vintage drag racing started in Saskatchewan 23 years ago, with most of the events taking place in the southern part of the province. There are only four such races.

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They decided to give the proceeds to the Rose Garden Hospice because it’s important to Prince Albert.

“It worked out really well because the local businesses have jumped on board to help us out and the ball’s been rolling ever since,” she said.

They partnered up with the Saskatchewan Vintage Race Association (SVRA) and the Prince Albert Snowmobile Club, to bring the event to P.A. Anyone can take part as long as they have a snowmobile made in 1981 or before. Organizers are expecting participants from all over the province and even some from further afield.

There will be 150 racers and all sleds must pass an inspection in order to race.

“It’s fun obviously for us as racers but it’s really fun for the spectators to come out too and cheer on,” Brahniuk said.

The one-day event costs $10 per person and children five years and under are free. The events start at 11 a.m. with the banquet and awards to follow. Tickets for the banquet are $20 each and cocktails begin at 6 p.m.

There is pre-registration for the racing on March 6, at Smitty’s Restaurant from 7-9 p.m.

None of the racers receive money for winning but will get a trophy and bragging rights. St Hilaire explained there are 28 classes in total and the racer will register their sled in the class their snowmobile is eligible to run in. Each entry is guaranteed at least two heats.

Four snowmobiles will race at a time on the 660 ft track. The racers who finish first and second will stay in the “A” side and those who finish third and fourth move to the “B” side per race.

“It’s ongoing racing from 11 a.m. right until 5:30 p.m., you’re going to see 175 – 180 races that will be going and it’s one after another,” St Hilaire explained. “Some of these sleds are doing over 90 mph.

“Just because you win one time in one race doesn’t mean you’re going to win the next because you could jump the light and be disqualified, you could get a bad start in the hole, your sled could not be running right,” Brahniuk said. “It’s all kind of chance luck, it’s nerve wracking like you get up to the line, your heart’s going, you’re trying not to breathe too much to fog up your mask and you’ve got to wait for the light and it’s all about how fast you hit the throttle really.”

She added everyone wants to give back in some way so it’s great to have the proceeds from the event going to the hospice.

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Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12