The largest fundraiser for the Saltcoats Volunteer Fire Dept has been cancelled this year. Typically, the first Saturday in March is the scene of the annual Vintage Snowmobile Race at the Regional Park. This fun event has been attracting competitors for 21 years. Even local residents who don’t compete, look forward to the pancake breakfast which is also prepared and served at the town hall by the firemen.
Besides some members working on their own pre-1974 entries for the race, the dedicated crew members of the fire dept work for days grooming the two mile track for race day. There are always challenges …mostly concerning the weather. Some years it was difficult to scrape up enough snow to build the track. There are also memories of frozen fingers, such as the year when the temperature was in the -40 range, falling to the -50’s with the windchill. Over the years, the hardy competitors still kept coming out from the local area as well as throughout Sask, some from Alberta and Manitoba and from Iowa and Minnesota.
The feature event has always been a 100 mile race but along the way, additional events have been added. A Stock Relic 50 mile race was added in 2008. In 2009, “Kitty Cat” sleds were welcomed to race. Drivers over 50 years old got one free lap starting in 2012. A Youth Race for ages 12-15 was first offered in 2015. New in 2018, was a 30 mile race for women of all ages and a 30 mile race for drivers over 50. The use of electronic counters also began in 2018. At the Regional Park, a concession and heated beer garden was available and bleachers arranged for spectators.
Familiar local family names who have often participated in the race include Kerr, Cole, Tangedal, Smith, Buchinski, Littman, Wilson, Armbruster, Wagner, Hutchings. The only one to participate in each of the twenty races is Tyler Buchinski.
So how did this annual fundraiser get started? Well, back in 2000, a local business man, Jeff Cole, read an article in a snowmobile magazine about a vintage race in Minnesota. The firemen were approached with the idea and the first race was held on March 3, 2001.
A score board, groomed track, racing bibs and pits all needed to be made. Many volunteers were needed to flag corners on the race track, to count laps, to operate tow sleds, to run the concession and beer gardens. The local fire dept spent hours organizing and collecting donations from sponsors. There were 27 entries on race day and the race took 3 hours 15 minutes to complete. A lot was learned after the first year, improvements were made and more entries welcomed the next year. At the time, Saltcoats was the only place in Sask. hosting such an event.
Vintage racing has been called a poor man’s sport. It doesn’t have to cost much to fix up an old sled but there has to be time, skill and “a love of the chase” to find parts and make them work!
Suddenly, a sled that’s been out behind the barn for years and worth nothing, becomes a treasure.
There is often one who likes to fix, who then offers the machine for someone else to ride. Each entry must be a single cylinder sled built pre June 1974. Engine modifications are allowed. Vintage machines making an appearance at the races have included Arctic Cats, Rolo-Flexes, Sno-Jets, Polaris, Yamaha, Ski-Doo, RTX Ski-Roule and Rupps.
Although there is some competition involved, most who enter the races are just there for the fun and enjoyment of their hobby. The real winner is always the local fire dept.
Funds raised are used to purchase a never ending supply of fire equipment. Here’s hoping the Vintage Snowmobile Race will get on track again …next year!
By: Helen Jarvis