GREENVILLE — With the temperature rising daily and spring fast approaching, snowmobile riders made the most of the last days of winter by gathering to race on Moosehead Lake Saturday.
The second annual Maine 100 United States Cross Country Snowmobile Racing Association (USCC) event attracted professional and amateur riders from all over to tackle the five-mile course.
“It’s as good as we could ever want it,” said race organizer Tom McCormick. “We’ve got more racers this year, we’ve got a good crowd and a great day. Everybody’s happy.”
More than 600 spectators and 52 racers came out for the events. Fans from as far away as Texas, New York and Ireland made the trip to Greenville.
About an inch of snow fell on the area Friday night, but the sunny day and melting ice made for some tough conditions for the riders.
Professional racer Lyle Turtlott of LaGrange raced in the USCC event in Madawaska last month and competed in three events Saturday.
“There’s water, slush, snow, big holes, rocks; there’s everything out there,” laughed Turtlott who won the Pro Open and Veteran events.
Because the circuit ran mostly along the shore, the track acted more like a cross country trail.
“They liked that a lot,” said McCormick.
Many riders had trouble negotiating the third-to-final turn of the course with some turning over and one flipping completely over, but no competitors were seriously injured.
“There’s a big hole,” said Hope native Mike Brown. “[The rider] caught a ski and flipped his sled right over.”
Problems on the track barely slowed competition, however.
“The beauty of having it on a lake is (just moving the trail markers),” said McCormick. “In the woods, if you have a problem with the trail, you’re done.”
The 13 divisions were combined into six races with staggered starts. A racer received the green flag every 30 seconds in order to break up the field. The rider who completed four laps in the fastest time was the winner.
The biggest races were saved for the end with the Maine Amateur Championship and the Maine 100.
Falmouth’s John Neuts claimed the amateur championship.
“I’m loving it,” said Neuts, who clocked in four laps at 25 minutes, 49.267 seconds. “The track’s better (than last year). There’s more holes, because you’re running the shore. But it puts more of a challenge on us.”
Ryan Scripture of Carmel won the Maine 100. Professional riders took 20 laps to account for 100 miles on the lake. Riders took a break after 10 laps to fuel. Scripture completed the race in 2:13:48.154, besting Kenny Murphy by nearly three minutes (2:16:32.439).
Some competitors shared sleds. Brown and his stepson Taylor Packard took turns running laps.
“You have to have a 600 (cc engine) or smaller to compete. I have a 700, so I had to use his,” said Brown. “We’re doing pretty good. I got third in my race and he got second in his.”
Other riders traveled long distances to compete in the growing race.
“Everything’s in Maine it seems like,” said Mike Ewaschuk, who traveled almost six hours from Vershire, Vt. “All the good riding is over here, too.”
Ewaschuk, who also raced in Madawaska last month, placed 10th out of 14 in the Sport 600 class.
“I’m just trying to beat the people with the same make and model I have, that’s about it,” said Ewaschuk.
“(But) I think I’m the only one (with the same sled),” he laughed.
Not everyone came out to race, some just showed up to enjoy the fun.
“This is the end of our season, so we came up here to support these guys,” said Sueanne Tibbetts of Bowdoinham. “It’s a good time.”
The Maine 100 was the last of four events on the USCC East’s schedule. Brown was happy to see two dates in Maine on the list.
“I’m glad to see the USCC back in Maine,” said Brown. “It’s good fun to come out here with hardcore snowmobilers. It gives you a chance to see what you can do.”
Poor ice conditions canceled the Radar Runs speed trials Sunday.
McCormick would like to see the Maine 100 turn into a two-day event. He’d also like to add drag racing as a separate weekend.
“We obviously have the crowd interest and put on a good show,” he said.