DIS 02-06-21

FEBRUARY 6, 2021 | DISCOVER!
10 |
Sports
This Weekend!
DON’T
MISS
OUT!
Spectators check out the
Vintage Ice Drags on East
Lake Okoboji. Several classes
of vintage snowmobiles
zip across a four-lane
track 500 feet long on the
ice near The Ritz in Arnolds
Park. PHOTO SUBMITTED
At a Glance:
WHAT: Okoboji Vintage Ice Drag
Races
WHERE: Ice in front of The Ritz,
Arnolds Park, IA
WHEN: Races begin at 11 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 6
COST: Free for spectators. Registration
is $20
ONLINE: https://www.facebook.
com/events/779328269291997
KATE HARLOW | STAFF WRITER
ready, set, race!
Vintage Ice Drags race on Saturday, Feb. 6
The Winter Games are over, but
the fun on the ice is far from
over.
This weekend will see the Okoboji
Vintage Snowmobile Races organization
hosting its annual Okoboji
Vintage Ice Drags on Saturday, Feb. 6.
The races will take place on the
ice of East Lake Okoboji near The
Ritz in Arnolds Park. Registration for
the event will run from 7-9 p.m. the
night before the race as well as again
at 9 a.m. on the day of the races. The
races will start around 11 a.m.
The racetrack is four lanes that
are 500 feet long with a 1,000-foot
shutdown space. Each lane is 25 feet
wide and that’s plenty of room for a
safe race.
Safety is important to the organizers.
“Safety is always paramount with
us for both the racers and the spectators,”
said Chris Duncan, one of
the organizers of the event. “Due to
COVID, we will be seriously advising
social distancing, which is easy with
the racers who are spaced out and
wearing helmets, but also with the
spectators. We are advising people to
social distance.”
In an effort to decrease gathering,
they won’t be hosting their traditional
party after the races and will
instead be doing the awards outside
on the ice in the open air.
There will be more than 30 classes
for races with cash prizes ranging
$100-$500 with the options of some been donated for that special race.
bonus money.
We will also have a trophy and we
There will also be some races set will have his name on it.”
aside for the kids to help inspire the Registration ranges from $20 per
next generation of vintage snowmobile
racing enthusiasts. The race watch for free and enjoy the show.
class per sled, but spectators get to
is a popular one that draws vintage Duncan is keeping a wary eye on
snowmobile racing enthusiasts from the thermometer and he hopes everyone
dresses for the frigid tempera-
Iowa as well as Minnesota, Wisconsin,
North Dakota and South Dakota. tures, but he is also just happy that
This year, there is one very special there will be races this year.
race.
“It’s still just great that we can have
“We’re going to host a memorial
race for Jerry Danbom, who “I want for everyone to enjoy these
a race here in Okoboji,” Duncan said.
had raced here for years. He’s kind races as much as we possibly can and
of a local hero and his name is one we are going to be having some real
that everybody knows in the racing winter weather. We hope to put on
community,” Duncan said. “We have a good show for the spectators and
more than $1,800 in prizes that have everything.” F
Arnolds Park | Iowa