Inaugural winter event looks to the future after successful January, February races
Jake Crites rounds the corner of the snowy course as another side-by-side loses traction during the second 307 GoFast races on February 11. No injuries were reported.
Estaban Rocha and Brent Pagnac kick up some powder as they power through a turn on the course Saturday afternoon.
Scott Winslow leads the dirt bike races on February 11 at Saratoga Lake.
Jeremiah, Hunter and Jerra Johnson showcase their demolition derby cars during the races.
With the Valley experiencing six months-or more-of winter, it often falls upon residents to find a way to entertain themselves while attracting others to the area.
In the past, this has led to the formation of events such as the Saratoga Lake Ice Fishing Derby, the Don Erickson Memorial Chariot Races and Skijoring. Another winter event may have been added to the list this year with the 307 GoFast Ice Races.
"Two years ago, the vintage sled races in Walden contacted my brother. He was friends with one of the guys involved with that and (they) asked if we wanted to race side-by-sides. Phil said 'Yes, of course I do,'" said one of the organizers, Susan Smith. "So, he's been doing that and we got some of our other friends involved. We would just go to Walden and race with the snowmobiles in our own classes. We went to Riverton once and did the same thing up there in Boysen (Reservoir)."
The idea of side-by-sides on the ice may chill the blood of some, but in January the event had 21 racers and that number more than doubled on February 11. According to Smith, the crowd also doubled in the month between the two events.
307 GoFast On Ice has several categories with traction and non-traction races for Utility Task Vehicles (UTV), All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and dirt bikes.
In the UTV Turbo Non-Traction, out of 11 racers, Eliberio Inallado took 1st, followed by Migual Rocha in 2nd and Corson Kerbs in 3rd. In the dirt bike short screw, out of 8 racers, Steve Stumpf took 1st with Leigh Lassle in 2nd and Jake Ellis in 3rd.
In the dirt bike long screw, Scott Winslow took 1st, Steve Stumpf took 2nd and Mike Miners took 3rd. In the UTV Non-Turbo/Non-Traction, out of seven racers, Carl Lembke took 1st. Stephen Sandoval followed in 2nd place and Brad Peters took 3rd place.
In the UTV Turbo Traction, Phillip Smith took 1st, Tyler Roy took 2nd and Eliberio Inallad took 3rd.
Finally, in the ATV races, Levi Porter took 1st place, Estaban Rocha took 2nd place and Jake Crites took 3rd place.
In the non-traction races of the UTVs, there were two rollovers. According to Smith, however, there were no major injuries.
"They're just a little sore today," said Smith. "And plastic can be replaced."
With the initial success of the events-Smith said racers came from as far away as North Platte, Nebraska and Northern Colorado-there are plans to build it out in the future. For this winter, the races in January and February will be the only ones for 307 GoFast.
"We do hope to have them again next year," said Smith. "We had great feedback and we've had great support in the community and outside the community. Our hope is to have more than two next year. We will just have to work with the Town (of Saratoga) because we don't want to interfere with anybody else's events. We're hoping that it's worthwhile for everybody for us to do it again."
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