THUNDER BAY -- A winter tradition has taken the green flag.
The Thunder Bay Autosport Club kicked off their annual ice racing season this weekend at Mission Bay as drivers revved their engines and sped around the track.
Club president Gary Adomko said the start of this year’s season was about one week later than usual, due to a busy and extended shipping season.
This year’s season has one significant change designed to make race days more spectator friendly.
“They laid out a track that has been pulled in quite a bit closer to the spectators and we’ve reversed the direction of the track so it’s bringing the action to the spectators,” Adomko said.
There are about 20 cars that will take place through the eight-week season, which will race around the 1.7 kilometre track.
Glen Brown has been an ice racer for the past six years and even though he had a dirt track racing background it still took him some time to get used to the ice.
“It takes quite a few races, maybe half a year or so,” he said.
There are two different classes for the racers – a studded tire class and a rubber tire class.
Brown, who races in the rubber tire class, said there is a lot less traction than with studded and drivers have to anticipate their moves far in advance.
“They slip and slide around quite a bit. When you make decisions in a rubber car you pay the consequences 200 yards away,” he said. “If you turn a little too late in the rubber car you’re going through the snow bank.”
The drivers are scheduled to return to the track next Sunday.
More information about local ice racing can be found online.
