Snowstorm forces cancelation of Pro Vintage Snowmobile races

IRONWOOD - The Pro Vintage Snowmobile Races scheduled for Saturday at the Gogebic County Fairgrounds were canceled due to inclement weather.

It was ten degrees below zero with a wind chill of minus 31 degrees at 6:45 a.m., but race director Tom Auvinen said the races were canceled due to problems with the snow.

"We had the track plowed and clear at 7 a.m., but then the lake effect snowstorm came in," Auvinen said. "We met and canceled at 9 a.m. Driver safety has always been a priority."

It was a shame this was the fourth time in recent years the Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus has had to cancel its final day of racing, because they were so many people who worked so hard to prepare for the snowmobile races.

"Weather is everything," Auvinen said. "But we may bring back the Pro Vintage races if we can find room in the schedule later on. The drivers and the association are willing to come back."

And this weekend (Jan. 6-7), the faster and more modern USSA Pro Star/TLR snowmobiles will be racing at the fairgrounds.

USSA admission is $15 per day or $25 for the weekend. Children age 12 and under are admitted free.