(submitted photo/Vanessa Brahniuk)

By Teena Monteleone

Fastest sport on snow

Vintage snowmobile racers revving up to thrill crowds

Jan 22, 2024 | 12:00 PM

When it comes to snowmobiling, modern technology offers superior handling and performance…but vintage snowmobile riders will tell you there is nothing quite like riding a machine that you know has a history and style to match.

“It’s a blast from the past,” said snowmobiling enthusiast Vanessa Brahniuk. “Old machinery is brought back to life just like antiques from the 60s right to the 80s. Once you re-build and refurbish a sled that was in the bush for awhile, you take a lot of pride and then the addiction of trying to make it the fastest one kicks in.”

Brahniuk is part of the local vintage race committee that is teaming up with the Saskatchewan Vintage Snowmobile Association to host the second Annual Prince Albert Vintage Drag Race on Feb. 24.

“We’re a group of people who love to ride 1981 and older sleds down a 660-foot drag racetrack for nothing but a trophy and bragging rights.”

(submitted photo/Vanessa Brahniuk)

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Events take place throughout the province in places like Nipawin, Candle Lake, Foam Lake and Earl Grey. The Prince Albert race is a one-day event that begins around 11 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m. with a banquet and awards ceremony to follow. Brahniuk said it’s a growing sport for people of all ages.

“About 150 to 250 competitors attend every Saskatchewan Vintage Race with numerous spectators that come out to watch,” she said. “ Racers have come from the USA, Alberta and B.C. Basically, if you build a track, they will come.”

The track location is about 12 kilometres south of Prince Albert on Highway 11. Sleds must be 1981 and older. There are stock and modified classes available to register in, as well as kids classes for 120 and 200 cc machines.

“There are some sleds called relics that date back to the 1950s. It’s basically whatever still exist and what people bring out to the event. Just because they are old doesn’t mean they are slow. Stock sleds can reach up to 80 miles per hour and mod sleds can reach 110 miles per hour and that is within only 660 feet. It’s fast, loud and exciting.”

The cost to enter is $5 per class and all sleds have to pass safety inspections by race officials. All participants must also attend a driver’s meeting. Spectators can attend for $10, kids enter for free, and there will be a concession on site.

A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will be going to the River Valley Resilience Retreat which provides peer support services to all first responders including tow truck drivers, disaster clean up crews and pilots, healthcare workers, veterans of Canadian Armed Forces, firefighters, paramedics, police, corrections and search and rescue, just to name a few.

Check out the video below from the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Racing Association from an event in Fort Qu’Appelle that featured Ice Drag races. They too have an event coming up in February.

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