By Ric Federau, Contributing Writer
It’s time for us to take a closer look at what’s going on in the snowmobile racing arena as well as snowmobiling in general. Let’s just take a few minutes and look at the nitty gritty behind supporting the I-500 snowmobile race, Oval ice endurance racing and the sport of snowmobiling. Over the past several years winter sports enthusiasts have endured economic stress, continuous price increases on just about everything and to make matters worse, Mother Nature’s wrath of warmer than normal winter temperatures. It’s been like a slug in the gut ! You know yourself, it’s tough on everybody and it makes you kind of wonder, doesn’t it? How does any aspect of the sport of snowmobiling survive through all this? Overall, there are a number of elements that help us to keep moving forward in an effort to keep the I-500, Snowmobile endurance racing and the sport of snowmobiling alive. Throughout my history of being active in every aspect of the support of snowmobiling, I found two main reasons keeping the pulse of snowmobiling pumping strong. So my friends, I’m going to share these reasons with you and as you’re reading them I’m certain you too will agree we have a lot of reasons to be thankful and together we all make a difference in supporting the future and success of our involvements related to this wonderful sport. Here ya go ……….
1. Camaraderie: “Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together “. Damn, are you kidding me? You see camaraderie everywhere in the sport. I mean after all, we’re all in this together and what’s really cool is that we recognize it. You know yourself, we see it everywhere around us. Snowmobile people in general care about each other and care about the sport. People always talk positively about their experiences. They promote the different brands of snowmobiles produced. They talk about vacations. They talk about family involvements. People talk about the I-500. They talk about snowmobile racing, trail conditions, lodging, the list goes on and on and it’s always positive. That’s what’s cool about it.
The Camaraderie is unique in the fact that there’s an understanding among us all. We all recognize that we have to work together to keep the sport alive, not just at a personal level, but at the commercial level as well.
I found this to be true by the support we get through trade shows, various types of media coverage, sponsorships and people like yourself who talk about and share information about all aspects of snowmobile involvement.
Snowmobile people and businesses who support the sport recognize and understand how Important it is. Whatever your connection to the sport of snowmobiling is, you’re to be commended for doing your part. Thank YOU for your camaraderie !
Be it at the personal level, commercial participation, snowmobile clubs & groups and yes…. race teams and fans together, each and everyone of us make a difference in keeping the sport alive and going strong.
2. Promotion: Regardless of your involvement within the snowmobile arena, we all have a little “salesmanship” within us. Seems we all promote snowmobiling with a positive attitude and overall enthusiastic outlook. It’s our nature to want to share the fun aspects of snowmobiling. The I-500 Is a perfect example. Promoting the sport of snowmobile endurance racing on a year round basis. Having the opportunity to share Information about the sport sharing information about all the fun and excitement the I-500 and snowmobile racing has to offer. And a big shout out to the snowmobile race teams who helped promote the I-500 and sport by attending various auto race venues throughout Michigan in support of the sport and snowmobiling. How about the support and promotion the snowmobile industry gets from all the vendors who attend snowmobile trade shows promoting the sport and all they have to offer snowmobile enthusiasts. Media coverage has also improved due to the promotion of the sport in general and snowmobile racing such as the I-500. All this considered I think you have to agree, If your snowmobile race junkie, a snowmobile rider and enthusiast, a snowmobile product vendor or commercial support factor within the sport of snowmobiling, we’re ALL “sales people “ with common objectives within the snowmobile arena. We promote fun, excitement, family participation and enjoying the opportunity to experience all Winter and snowmobiling has to offer.
There…. I said it.
I’d like to end my article with a reminder, NOW is the time to plan accordingly to attend the 2025, 56th running of the International 500 snowmobile race hosted at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Time to share all the fun and excitement snowmobile racing has to offer. Visit our web site at: www.i-500.com for all the information you’ll need to plan your visit to the worlds most exciting and prestigious professional snowmobile race bar none…. Once you’ve experience all the fun and excitement of the I-500, I assure you, you’ll be back again and again. •
Till next time……. “ It’s all left turns from here “