I remember growing up as a child in Peterborough, Ontario looking forward each year to going to see the Kawartha Cup Snowmobile Races down at Morrow Park. My older brother started taking me at the age of 5, which was back in 1970, and I can still remember the sounds and the smells of those early race years. It was always held in January and it was always cold as the entire weekend took place outside. I used to envision what it would be like to ride on a snowmobile someday and actually being a racer.

Well I did get my 1st ride on a snowmobile in 1974 when, once again, my older brother came through for me when he bought his 1st machine, a beautiful, yellow 1972 Ski Doo TNT. Back in those days, an 8 hour day of sledding usually went something along the lines of 2 or 3 hours to get it to start and stay running (it always involved a bottle of quick start and several spark plugs) and then several hours of breaking trail. Yes, I said breaking trail. Back in those early years, we did not have the luxury of smooth, signed groomed trails that we have today and we always got stuck over and over again. None of that dampened our spirits as we moved along with the wind in our faces and the smell of 2-stroke oil in our lungs. 

As the years passed, I dreamed of the day when I would finally own my own machine. Well, that day did arrive, but the year was 2000 and the two machines that my wife and I bought were a 1988 & a 1989 Ski Doo Safari with each having a whopping 377 cc engine. I was 34 years old and my son Jake was 10 months old. He experienced his 1st ride that day and the look of excitement on his face was priceless. Things had changed quite a bit over the years with respect to the machines and the trails; with it being such a smooth ride he actually fell asleep while we drove. The machines were also substantially quieter, so much so, that I could, in fact, hear him snoring over the sound of the engine. From the moment that we took off, I knew that snowmobiling would be something that the two of us would share for many years to come.

Those old days of oval racing gave birth to a new form of Snowmobile Racing known as Snowcross. Snowcross Racing is very similar to Motocross whereby the oval track has several twists and turns as well as some exciting jumps.  In 2004, at the age of 4, Jake joined the CSRA (Canadian Snowcross Racing Association) and proudly wore #400 racing in the 4 to 6 year old stock 120 class. Despite being his 1st year, he raced very well, honed his skills and had a great time. Now with 2 full years of racing under his belt, he is really looking forward to the 2006 & 2007 Racing Season. I never did become a Racer, but I guess being in Jake’s Pit Crew is close enough. Maybe you too can relive a childhood dream, like I do every time I see him race!

Perry Wall,

North Bay