2006 ICE RACE

Well, with the weather being unusually mild this winter, the season was iffy to start with.  The track was started in mid-December, with a good base of ice being established by the beginning of January.  Then the mild spell hit and we started to lose what was built up.  The first weekend of January 21/22 had to be cancelled.  The following weekend was beautiful for spectators, but the mild weather took it's toll on the track once again, and the Menard stud races had to be cancelled on the Saturday.  The hosting club did manage to make up the stud races on the Sunday, but again, we were rapidly losing ice. 

Our own club's weekend was the next scheduled and right up to the Friday evening before the event, the track looked good enough to race.  We all arrived Saturday morning (early) to a water/slush covered track and unfortunately had to cancel the weekend or risk destroying the track.  Cold weather made a re-appearance during the week that followed and we have now run two weekends in a row.

We have completed 50% of our season and looking at the long-term forecast, we should get in a full season this year! 

For points standings you may go to  www.casc.on.ca and click on More Ice Racing, then click for the standings.

Good luck to all those racing this year, and a BIG thank you to all the organizing clubs and volunteers for making this a successful season so far.  The BIGGEST thanks goes to Tom Prentice & Sons, and the Minden Kinsmen for all their hard work in creating and maintaining our track!

The bottom picture on the left is what happens when a mild night occurs with one day of racing to go!  There was about 1 foot of water throughout the pit areas and on the track itself.  Not exactly the ideal conditions for tubing, but this little guy seemed to enjoy himself!