By Alex Soloducha

PHOTOS/VIDEO: Vintage sled race a huge success

Mar 9, 2014 | 8:48 AM

On Saturday the first ever vintage sled race revved up at Christopher Lake.

Hundreds of people came from different areas including Manitoba, Alberta, and Southern parts of Saskatchewan to compete in and watch the event.

The event all started with a simple idea from Rusty Watt, vice president of the Lakeland Snowmobile Club and race coordinator.

He became interested in vintage racing a couple years ago and thought it would be good to organize something in the area.

Vintage racing may be a little different than some people are used to, considering the sleds raced have to be more than 30 years old. “The oldest sled here today I think is a ’68 Ski-doo. And the newest would be an ’81, [there’s] nothing newer than an ’81,” said Watt. 

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According to Watt, this type of racing is very cost effective. It’s only $5 to enter in the event and most of the older machines are also less expensive to purchase and upkeep.

One hundred drag sleds registered to race in Saturday’s event, something that made Watt “absolutely pleased that all of my fellow racers travelled to Christopher Lake today. I’m really happy with the turnout.”

Four racers competed in each heat and Watt said that the course can be completed in about five or six seconds.

Al Pinkney was one of the racers. He said he has been organizing a similar event in Nipawin for a few years, and assisted Watt in the planning. His favorite sled is a 1972 Polaris ATX 340.“It’s in very rough condition, but mechanically it’s perfect. I enjoy running it, it’s not as fast as the big monster sleds and loud pipe snowmobiles so I enjoy that quite a bit,” said Pinkney, “It’s so reliable I dust it off in the fall, and clean the carburetors, and jump on and go basically.”Pinkney says he does have newer sleds, but admits they don’t get used very often because he’s “hooked” on vintage racing. 

“Anyone can do it, it’s safe…reasonable cost, and the fellowship among the racers and their families is always fantastic, so I just love coming out,” he said.

Brice Olson was also competing in the drag races. He was one of the organizers in the oval racing event held at the same location, on a different track, Sunday.

“We got that going a couple of years ago and Christopher Lake stepped up graciously and built us a really nice facility to do some racing at,” said Olson.

He said he also really enjoys being in the vintage racing even though most of the sleds are older than he is.

“You sit and work on it all summer and it’s nice to get couple weekends to come out and race it in the winter,” said Olson.

“It’s kind of fun to watch with your father and others who used to race back in the day.”

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