Oval Racers Alliance

The meeting will begin at 12:00 noon.  Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM.  See you there!

Hello, I wanted to  let you know that we have scheduled our Annual meeting for Saturday, March 27^th at the Blue Goose Inn in Garrison, MN.  The meeting will start at 11:00 AM and will run until we are finished or until Happy Hour begins at 5:00 PM. 

 Dinner will be served at the Blue Goose at 7:00 PM.  I have not finalized the menu yet, but I am confident that we will be able to get a good variety for a fair price per plate.

 If you have any specific items that you would like to add to the agenda for the meeting, please email them to me so that I can start to build an agenda for the meeting.  The meeting will be conducted following Roberts Rules of Order.  We will be discussing several things including rules, business plan, schedule, etc.

 I cannot stress to our members enough how important it is to attend these meetings.  In the long run, our strength will always be within our membership.  Get involved in the future of Ice Oval Racing, we truly value your input and opinions.

 If you have any questions, please feel free to email or give me a call at 651-307-6435

 Mike Benoy

ORA Vice President

The Oval Racers Alliance concluded their first season with an action packed weekend on Lake Mille Lacs in Garrison, Minnesota.  Vintage and modern snowmobile racers and fans flocked to the event that took place February 27-28 with support from the Garisson Commercial Club and the Blue Goose.

Before I get started on the awesome racing action that took place, I feel it’s only appropriate to begin with the group of people who made this even possible.  Without the passion and dedication of the many volunteers who make up the Oval Racers Alliance, this even would not have been the success that it was.  So coming from me personally, I applaud each and every one of them for contributing not only to the organization and event but most importantly to the sport of ice oval racing.  Your love for the sport shines just as bright as the sun did for the entire weekend.

That being said, let’s get to the races!  On the modern side of the spectrum, P.J. Wanderscheid claimed victories in both the Pro Open and Pro Champ classes.  By the middle of the Pro Open race he had made his way around the Ski-Doo of Nick Dolezal and finished the race with the hard charging sled of Dustin Wahl behind him.  With momentum and a win behind him, he went on to lead the Pro Champ final for the entire race.  As the race continued the top three pulled away from the rest of the field and left the battle behind them. The race finished with Wanderscheid in first, Spencer Graff in second and Curtis Boivin in third.

In the meantime, there was just as much vintage racing to keep you on the tips of your boots and grasping tightly to your taco in a bag (which, by the way, were delicious.)  For me, this event served as a huge learning experience and I am slowly but surely becoming more familiar and without a doubt more appreciative of vintage racing.

Devin Fackrell, on board an Arctic Cat, won both the IFS Sno Pro 440X and Late Model 440 Open classes.  Jeff Karrow took a win in the Vintage 440 Stock class with Trevor Milbrett in second and Andy Radil in third.

The F-500 class had a huge line-up and some of the closest racing of the weekend.  In the end, the two Wahl Brothers Racing sleds, piloted by Jordan Wahl and Levi Cater finished first and second, respectively, with Ryan Kniskern placing third on his Arctic Cat.

Some of the best racing of the weekend came from the youngest group of drivers.  In both Junior Novice and Junior I Stock Morgan Hoglund, on his Arctic Cat, took the checkered flag with Blaine Stephenson, also on an Arctic Cat finishing second and the Ski-Doo of Gavin Bihner rounding off the top three.  Hoglund also went on to win Junior I Sprint and Shawn Carlson took a win in the Junior II Sprint class.  In the Vintage Junior class it was Clint Nouis who beat out the rest of the field on his Yamaha.

This event was equally as exciting for both the Modern Women’s 380 and Vintage Women’s classes, as they both had a huge number of entries.  It was Bobbi Jo Meagher who took the win in the Vintage class on her Arctic Cat with Tracy Larson and Becky Lehrke finishing behind her.  Meagher almost had another win in the Women’s 380 class as she was right on my mudflap when we crossed the finish line.  Kayte Craft was also a tough competitor as she finished third.

As the sun sank lower over Lake Mille Lacs, the ORA drew a close to their first season.  The weather was amazing (which was a very welcome surprise from the typically cold and windy Garrison) and the racing was not only safe but also awesome.  Hats off to all the racers for putting on a fantastic show, the O.R.A, for making it possible and of course to the fans who came to show their support and make it all worth the effort.

For a complete list of results and more information about the Oval Racers Alliance, please visit www.ovalracersalliance.com.

Vintage Purse is $5000

Modern Purse is $4000 + 85% of total entry fees.

If the entries are the same as Sauk Centre, the total purse will be $9270 on the modern side.  A breakdown of purse payout along with total of entry fees will be available to any member who requests this information at the race.

Just wanted to let you all know some details for the Garrison Race Weekend. 

First, there will not be any practice time on Friday.  Registration will be held at the Blue Goose on Friday from 7-10 PM and on Saturday Morning from 7-9 AM.  Those who have registered or are standing in line at 9:00 AM will be allowed to register normally.  Anyone who shows up after 9:00 AM without notifying us ahead of time will be charged a late fee. 

Hot Laps will be from 9:00-10:15.  There will be a driver’s meeting at 10:30 and racing will begin at 11:00.

The Garrison Commercial Club, along with ORA, is offering 2 special races this weekend.

The Vintage “Dash for Cash” will take place at 3:00 PM on Saturday afternoon. This 10-lap race will be open to entries in any of the Super Stock classes. Sign-up for the race will be on Saturday morning. Entry fee will be $25. We will limit the field to 12 drivers, so if more than 12 sign up, we will draw numbers to determine the 12 participants.

This is a winner take all event and the winner will take $500 cash

The Late Model “Dash” will be the last race of the day on Sunday, after the Pro Champ Final. This race will be open to any sled OTHER than a Champ 440 or Open 600. Any driver is allowed to sign up for the race, including Pro Champ drivers, but again the field will be limited to 12 racers.

Sign up for the Late Model Dash will be on Sunday morning and the entry fee will be $25.

I hope some of our Pro guys find a ride for this race, it should be fun!

This is going to be a 25 lap event with the winner taking $500 cash

Registration is open for Grey Eagle.  Please follow the Race Registration tab in the left menu.

It sounds like we are going to have a very large turnout at this race of both vintage and late model racers.  If you can be there to register on Friday night, that would be GREAT!  Friday night registration will be at the Double R Bar & Grill in Grey Eagle.

Give me a call if you have any questions.  651-307-6435

The weekend of February 5-7, 2010 marked the beginning of the Oval Racers Alliance’s first season.  A total of approximately 536 entries and 120 drivers made for extremely close racing in both modern and vintage classes at the I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre, MN.

The debut event was kicked off Friday night with the Friday Night Country Cat Spectacular.  It became apparent from the get go that PJ Wanderscheid, of Sauk Centre, MN definitely had the home track advantage.  Entering the Pro Champ final as the top qualifier, he got the holeshot and from that point on was untouchable.  Chris Broermann, returning to the scene after a two-season leave, and also from Sauk Centre was fast early on.  His prospects looked good until he encountered mechanical issues near the middle of the race which kept him from continuing on.  With Wanderscheid comfortable in front on his Cat, things settled in behind him and ended with Brandon Johnson finishing second and Curtis Boivin taking third, both on Polaris’.

In the vintage realm of the Friday Night Spectacular, drivers competed in what was the fourth race of their five race Sno Pro series.  Aboard machines that are twice my age, competitors rocketed around the track in a highly commendable fashion.  Travis Hilmerson, of Little Falls, MN claimed victories in IFS 440, IFS 340X and IFS 340 aboard his Ski-Doo.  Also claiming multiple victories was Richard Peterson, of Clear Lake, MN.  His Polaris led him to win IFS 250 and IFS 250X.

Hilmerson carried his success with him to Saturday as he once again won the IFS 340X Sno Pro class and added an IFS 440X Sno Pro win to his list of accomplishments.  Alexandria, MN native Jeff Karrow was also successful on Saturday as he claimed wins in IFS 250X Sno Pro and Pro Stock 440 on his Ski-Doo.

As vintage classes neared completion, the Pro Open final was on the horizon.  Dustin Wahl, of Greenbush, MN was the man to beat as he entered the race as the number one qualifier and subsequently led the race from start to finish on his Polaris.  As he created over a straight away lead for himself, Wanderscheid held onto the second position and held off Nick Van Strydonk, who moved into third after passing Nick Dolezal in the middle of the twelve lap race.

Spencer Graff, of Kewaskum, WI went undefeated throughout qualifying rounds and set the bar for his competitors for the Pro Champ final on Sunday.  With a great holeshot, he got himself in front but a red flag was thrown before an entire lap could be completed, resulting in a restart.  Upon the restart, it was Wanderscheid who was fast off the line and quickly gained the lead, but not without Wahl on his mudflap.  The two leaders pulled away and left Graff, Van Strydonk and Joey Fjerstad to battle it out behind them.  With under two laps to go, Wanderscheid’s sled burnt down and left Wahl in the number one position.  Graff finished second on his Ski-Doo and Van Strydonk in third.

Among other successes were Curtis Boivin, from Ft. Francis, Ontario.  Aboard his Polaris, he won Semi Pro Champ and Semi Pro Open in addition to his third place finish in the Friday night Pro Champ race.  Ryan Kniskern, of Marinette, WI claimed wins in Semi Pro Sprint, Limited 600 and finished second in F-500 and Limited 500 on his Arctic Cat.  In the Junior classes, Morgan Hoglund of Forest Lake, MN won Junior I Stock 380, Junior Novice and finished second behind Blaine Stephenson in Junior I Sprint 380 on his Arctic Cat.

The Oval Racers Alliance takes a week off before their next race on Trace Lake in Grey Eagle, MN.  The event will take place February 20-21, 2010 and include both vintage and modern racing.  Please visit www.ovalracersalliance.com for more information.

Friday Feb. 5th:

Race Registration 10:00AM-4:00PM (2nd level of Grandstand)
Hot Laps 4:00PM-5:00PM
Racing Begins at 7:00PM Sharp!

Saturday Feb 6th:

Late Registration 7:00AM – 9:00AM
Racing Begins at 11:00AM
Vintage classes awards ceremony to follow racing in the Checkered Flag Bar and Grill in the Grandstand at the Speedway

Sunday Feb 7th:

Hot Laps at 9:00 AM (Track conditions permitting)
Racing Begins at 11:00AM
Pro Champ Final at 2:30 PM
Awards Banquet to follow at Gerard’s in Sauk Centre

Here is a list of Motels in Sauk Centre for those of you who haven’t yet found a place to stay.  Things are filling up quick, so get those reservations!

Palms Motel (320) 351-7256

Palmer House Hotel (320) 351-9100

AmericInn (800) 396-5007

America’s Best Value Inn (320) 352-2275

Super 8 Motel (in Melrose) (320) 256-4261

Country Inn and Suites (in Albany) (320) 845-2145