Winter boredom banished – update

It’s a long wait between fall and spring for fans of motorcycle
racing, but there’s good news for cold days – because when the
lake freezes, the bikes come out, studded tires and all.

Ice racing is usually done on motocross bikes with special guards
over the wheels to keep those studded knobbies from shredding fallen
riders. But studded tires will permit extreme lean angles, and ice
racing can be exciting for both competitors and observers.

In eastern Ontario, the Bytown Motorcycle Association runs an ice racing series through January and February. Dates are:
Jan. 13 and Feb. 3 at Woody’s Cycles in Perth, Jan. 20 at
Spencerville, Feb. 10 at Prescott, and Feb. 24 at Constance Bay.

In Alberta, the Second Gear Club will host ice races at a number of locations: Jan. 27 at Innisfail
(tentative), Feb. 2 at Cow Lake near Rocky Mountain House, Feb. 17 at
Gull Lake near Rimby, Feb. 24 at Sylvan Lake, and March 8 at the
Winter Festival of Speed in Lac La Biche (tentative).

In B.C., the Greater Kamloops Motorcycle Association
hosts a series of ice races on Stake Lake, half an hour’s drive south
of the interior B.C. city. Races are scheduled for Jan. 13, 20,
26-27, and Feb. 3, with a test and tune on Jan. 6, and a rain date on
Feb. 10.

Ice racing is a little more dependent on weather conditions than
some other forms of motorcycle racing, because when ice melts, it
becomes water, and most motorcycles will not float. For that reason,
it’s best to call ahead before travelling far. Contact Woody at 613
267-6861 for the eastern Ontario series; Siggi Pechout at 403 295-1655 for the Alberta club; and Dan McKenzie at 250 573-4337
for B.C.

Know of other Ice Racing series going on in Canada?? Let us know
and we’ll slap it here – events@cmgonline.com.