Conditions are “excellent” as the 36th ice racing season gets underway at the Minden fairgrounds Jan. 25, spokesman Jim Carrell says.
“We’ve had cold weather and we’ve had snow.”
The races are organized by the Canadian Automobile Sports Clubs. They work with Minden Kinsmen volunteers, who each year transform the fairgrounds into a winding, frozen-over circuit that draws people from across North America. It’s one of the few dry land locations in the country, and home to ice racing in Ontario.
Weather permitting, the races will run for six weeks, concluding the March 1 weekend.
Last weekend (Jan. 18) saw pre-tech for the cars, Carrell said.
“To get their cars certified to go on the track. They just go over them to see that they comply with the rules, especially the safety rules, such as the seatbelts and the lights and all that sort of thing.”
With a return of a normal winter, Carrell said excitement has been building and they have been getting good entries. They won’t know final numbers until Saturday as some racers register last-minute.
As for anything new and different, Carrell said there are two new classes.
One is a street class. “You can drive your car to the track, cover up the headlights and the taillights with some clear vinyl and put your racing tires on, and go on the track and then drive it home after the event. It’s made for people who don’t have a dedicated race car but can use their street car.”
The other change is reducing the cost for the second driver class. “We’ve always had a second driver class, so two people can share one car. The difference is we’ve reduced the cost on the second driver. If you have the car entered under the first driver, the cost of the second race schedule is cheaper.”
Both are aimed at trying to attract more drivers. Carrell said entries had been down the last five years or so.
“It can’t continue to slide,” Carrell added. “We’re hoping it’s just a byproduct left over from COVID.”
Asked about the fickle weather contributing, he added, “that is also it. When they look out the window and see green grass in January, they think it’s not going to happen: ‘I’m not going to bother to get my car ready.’ It is cause for concern, but we’ll know in the next couple of weeks.”
He said they have had as many as 70-80 drivers a day in the past, but “we’re dropping down to 50, and, unfortunately, with the added cost, because nothing has gotten cheaper, the clubs need about 60 entries just to break even, so that’s where we’re at.”
Back to the track and Kin volunteers have been working hard to get it ready for racers and fans. Carrell estimates he’s already put in 50-60 hours. He is also looking forward to getting behind the wheel himself, as “I really do enjoy it.
“We’re just happy with the way things are. We’re in good shape and we’re just hoping to get some extra entries to help boost things up for the organizing clubs.”
People can register online for all CASC-OR championship events at casc.motorsportreg. com.
