A Message From Bill Stull - Master of Ceremonies, Vintage SnoPro 2010!
Whether you are racer or a fan, you will be part of some of the best racing on ice with the 2010 Vintage SnoPro series. Started in 2005, we recognized that there are two types of vintage snowmobile racers, both equally important: The guys who are out just to have a good time, and the guys who take it pretty darn serious. The SnoPro series is designed with the both in mind. It opens up an opportunity for the guys who really want to "push it " and it gives the guys out for fun a chance to race with the "big boys".
What's up for grabs for the racers is sort of a shot at immortality - via your name on the Hall of Fame Vintage SnoPro cup, on permanent display at the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain Wisconsin. You can be in the Hall of Fame WAY before you ever get inducted!
At each race we give out commemorative flags for each class winner, and our end of the year award ceremony hands out some big trophies for 1st through 5th place in each division, and 1st through 5th place overall - with the 1st place winner trophy being over 6 feet tall!
The series piggybacks with existing venues and associations such as PVR, SLEDS, USSA, and Eagle River. It is not an additional set of classes at each race, rather drivers interested in the SnoPro Series simply enter the class there machine fits that is also designated as a SnoPro class at sign up. Drivers may run as many classes as they want, but only the two classes they picked at sign up time count for SnoPro points. Points are totaled after each race and posted here on Vintagesleds.com/SnoPro.
Travel is a necessity. Races have been held in Canada, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. That can be a lot of miles, but we think it's worth it to put the races on at the best facilities possible. Last year at Eagle River the crowd was amazing. At Gray Eagle, the crowd as also better than expected. At Amherst over 5,000 people showed up to watch! Trust me - it's a lot more fun to race when there are fans!
So to the fans and racers: We're sure that if you come out in 2010 to watch your favorite racer(s) you will be watching some of the best do what they do best. We hope to see you next winter!
Thank you very much, Bill Stull
2009 SnoPro Champ - Mike Smith
For 2009, we had a repeat from Smith Brothers Racing on their Arctic Cats as a winner - but a different driver. Mike Smith of Wasilla Alaska, running several classes came away with the most points this year, defending his brother Steve's title from 2008.
Mike has been racing since 1975. Last season the Smith Brothers Racing team was short a couple of members. Steve and Sean decided to stay home in Alaska, but Adam came to Wisconsin to go to college. Mike and Adam decided that since Adam was here already, they might as well go race.
One would expect that with two fewer drivers that Mike and Adam would scale it back a little. But no, they showed up at Rock Rapids Iowa for the first race with a fleet of Arctic Cat liquids and free-airs that would have made the original 3 tough cats proud.
The thing Mike had going for him this year was consistency. Either Mike won the race he was in, or he came in the top three. That's a tough thing to to when your racing with so many talented, hard charging guys.
It was very interesting for me this year to watch Mike and Adam in the series this year. They had a buzz going - kind of a fan club. At each race I would run into people that just came to see what they called "them crazy Cat guys from Alaska".
It seems more than a few people were interested in seeing how a couple of dedicated Cat guys from Sarah Palin's home town would stack up against the rest.
They were not disappointed.
Congratulations to Mike and the Smith Brothers Racing Crew!
Photos courtesy of Kelly Anderson, Larry Preston, Mike Smith
I just love this slideshow.