For Ice Racers, Winter is the Beginning of the Season... Not the End

As Seen in Thunder Road Magazine

 

 

 Most motorcyclists in Michigan, myself included, see the first snowfall as the end of the riding season. We spend the winter reading gear magazines and dreaming about that first nice day in spring when we can get back on our bikes. There is one group of bikers, however, who look forward to the snow and ice almost as much as I look forward to the spring: Michigan’s amateur ice racers.

 

Ice Racing in the Northern United States

 

The history of ice racing is a little patchy, but according to FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme), the first recorded ice races took place in Sweden back in 1924. Ice racing is similar to Speedway racing, in that races take place on a flat, oval track. Speedway tracks are made of dirt or loose shale, while ice-racing tracks are made of ice and snow. Most ice races take place on outdoor tracks, but there are a few events that take place indoors; Flint Motorcycle Club, for example, holds an annual ice race for charity. Last year’s event, held in December 2013, at the Perani Arena and EventCenter, raised money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint. International Championship Events (ICE), runs a circuit of indoor events throughout the first three months of the year.

 

This February 8 and 9, MitchellState Park in Cadillac, Michigan, will host the AMA Ice Race Grand Championship. This outdoor event kicks off the 2014 ice-racing season and will crown the first national champion of the year. The Ice Race Grand Championship features a variety of race classes and events for riders as young as four years old. The outdoor ice-racing season tends to be short due to the unpredictable weather in the northern states. Races are generally scheduled through January and February, in order to ensure low enough temperatures to maintain good ice conditions.

 

Bikes on Ice

 

There are a number of different categories of bikes used in ice racing, from lightly modified off-road bikes to bikes designed specifically for ice racing. In addition to two-wheeled motorcycles, there are events for bikes with sidecars, quads, mini bikes, and even karts.

 

Obviously, traction is a problem when you are racing on ice, and ice racing has evolved to deal with that challenge in different ways. In the early days, one of the ways that racers helped themselves stay vertical was with the addition of metal spikes or studs to their tires. Today, ice-racing equipment is a little more sophisticated and highly regulated in order to ensure a level playing field for all racers. For example, the AMA’s 2014 rulebook is very specific about the type, size, and material used for tire studs for ice racers: “Studs must be sheet metal screws between sizes #7 and #10, with a hexagonal head and one screwdriver slot.” Fenders are required in events with studded-tires, and bikes must have a kill switch on a tether attached to the racer’s body (not their clothing), to turn off the bike in case of a spill. In studded-tire classes, riders are not allowed to wear traction-enhancing devices on their clothing or boots. Front brakes are not permitted on ice racing motorcycles or sidecars.

 

Ice racers have a distinct riding style that is different from other racing styles. Riders in studded-tire classes cannot slide or drift through the corners like racers on more traditional courses can. However, the studs allow riders to lean their bikes at what should be impossible angles, until their handlebars nearly skim the track as they move through corners. I know this technique takes a lot of guts, and I bet it takes a lot of practice too; going down, even with a hay bale barrier to stop your slide, is never fun.

 

Not for the Faint of Heart

 

Ice racing is a wild ride that embraces the skills of the hardiest riders. Racing in the freezing cold on a slab of slipperiness you would normally avoid at all costs seems crazy. I have to admire and respect the guys and gals who get out there and race on ice during the coldest months of the year, as well as the fans who go out to watch these events. I have to believe the sheer physicality of these racers and the adrenaline rush they get from a race keeps them from feeling cold. I know I’d love a longer Michigan motorcycle-riding season, but the idea of riding in sub-zero temperatures chills me to the bone. I guess you could rent a bike if you are travelling to warmer climates to tide you over, but if not, enjoy the off-season!