Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — Last year, the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners declared that safety concerns at the county fairgrounds would make it impractical to host the annual Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus.
Hence, it was cancelled.
Now, because of a Sept. 26 fire that destroyed the fairground grandstands, commissioners have conceded that the Olympus — once again — does not look likely for the second year running.
“I would think, at this time, we really can’t foresee that,” said Commissioner James Byrns at the board’s latest meeting last week.
At the board’s prior meeting on Sept. 13, commissioners had tabled action on a request from several officials related to the Olympus.
At that meeting, Byrns — who also chairs the county’s Fair Board — had speculated that the county would need to install roughly 100 yards or so of fencing once the grandstands were torn down to prevent access to the track area, similar to the existing fencing around the rest of the track.
In the Sept. 13 meeting, Chairman James Lorenson said that it would be better to delay any decisions about the Olympus until the demolition occurred.
Hence, board members voted to table a decision until the Sept. 27 meeting, unaware that the partially dismantled structure would burn down the day before, during its second day of demolition.
The Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus generally is scheduled in late December and-or early January each year, and local and national officials involved with the event made plaintive pleas for the county’s support in letters earlier this month.
“Since 1968, snowmobile racing has been an integral part of the Gogebic County Fairgrounds,” wrote Greg Basom, local event promoter in a Sept. 8 letter. “In the early years, the Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus rivaled Eagle River, Beausejour, Alexandria and West Yellowstone as one of the premier events and venues for the entire North American circuit. The history and prestige of the Ironwood track is undeniable.”
“Throughout the years this event has always maintained a premier spot as one of the key tracks in the various ice oval premier series that have made Ironwood and the Gogebic Fairgrounds a staple in the history of ice oval racing,” said Todd Achterberg, president of the International Snowmobile Racing Division of the U.S. Auto Club, in his own Sept. 6 letter.
The ISR is based in Eagle River, Wisconsin.
In a separate Sept. 6 letter, Dean Bennett, a board member of Pro Vintage Racing, Inc., based in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, described the Ironwood Fairgrounds track as “a favorite of fans and racers alike.”
Bennett, who is also the race director for the Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus, said that organizers had been hoping for a “Battle of the Borders” event, during which Ironwood would be the first venue, followed by additional races in Wisconsin, Minnesota and elsewhere.
“It would get great response,” said Bennett, predicting participants from around the country and Canada. “By our group and other race groups coming into the area, we help out your community in many ways, from restaurants to motels and beyond.”
Both Basom and Bennett said if the Olympus is cancelled again in the coming season, they are not sure it ever would return.
“I personally have a fear that if this race venue was to cancel again next year, we would be forced to accept another venue to race at in the future,” said Bennett. “My other fear is that other organizations could do the same. This would be a tragedy based on the great history of the Ironwood Olympus.”
“Personally, I don’t know if the Ironwood Snowmobile Olympus can survive another lost season,” said Basom. “What was once embraced as a crown jewel, drawing race teams, sponsors and spectators from around the country, has been diminished in part by a loss of local government support. The ball is firmly in your court.”
At the close of the discussion at the Sept. 13 meeting, before the Sept. 26 fire, Commissioner Joseph Bonovetz voiced optimism.
“I hope we can do this cause it’s an extremely important event,” he said to fellow commissioners.
