The SOO I-500 volunteers help achieve success after success for decades.
By Ric Federau, Contributing Writer
The measure of success over the span of 57 years at the SOO I-500 is based on the definition of a “verb” which ironically has a few meanings. The word “MEASURE”. It’s a culmination of the highest climatic volunteer effort being attained over decades of individual volunteers and community support. How do you describe the character of individuals who care so much about the sport of oval ice racing that they dedicate their personal time and abilities to help make the world’s most prestigious snowmobile race successful year after year, decade after decade? These individuals come out year after year to volunteer; it’s the quality value each individual possesses. The SOO I-500 prides itself as a project that is totally organized and maintained by a total volunteer involvement. Every aspect of the operations and management is done on a volunteer basis. The project is built and operates based on a plan and course of action to achieve success year to year doing it all with volunteers. It’s amazing as the SOO I-500 is the ONLY professional racing event totally run by volunteers. Again… EVERY position utilized to make this event possible is done by a volunteer. Think about that !!
To add to the uniqueness of this story is the fact that historically the SOO I-500 has a deep rooted family history of volunteerism. There are a number of families who over the decades have passed the volunteer torch to relatives from one family member to another, from relative to relative. Obviously, there’s a lot of local pride that surrounds the folks of the Eastern U.P. region and those who’ve participated in the event from communities throughout the U.P. and northern Michigan areas. What is outstanding about all this is that the volunteers want to keep coming back year after year. There are a number of reasons for this and I’m going to share some of the aspects of volunteering for which the SOO I-500 is known for and has help achieve success after success.
I mentioned “Family history” of volunteer participation. When the SOO I-500 first started back in 1969 the group of men who first initiated the thought of starting a race like the I-500 knew they would need help making a track and putting together the logistics for hosting the first race. Plain and simple, they started spreading the word throughout the community of their idea to host the race and reached out for volunteers to help with various aspects related to hosting it. Volunteering throughout our lives has been something people do out of personal interest and the kindness of their hearts. Generally their interest is the driving force and people put their hearts into their efforts to volunteer for a lot of reasons. Personal integrity and the feeling of being a part of something that is usually self rewarding. In many cases it becomes a way to give back as a show of gratitude and support. So you see, culminate is a good word for describing the character of individuals and businesses who volunteer in support of the SOO I-500.
That being said, people who volunteer for the SOO I-500 simply get sucked into the web so to speak. It’s so damn cool and fun, it’s become a volunteer tradition for people who even take vacations from work to volunteer for the project. They plan their volunteer time throughout the year and schedule their time accordingly to help with whatever needs to be done at the I-500 on a year round basis. The volunteers of the SOO I-500 have experienced fun and the opportunity to make many new friends. The SOO I-500 is the biggest event hosted in Northern Michigan. At the State level and beyond it’s known as “Michigan’s Premier Winter Sporting Event”. Volunteering to help maintain and operate the event gives all volunteers a sense of ownership and pride for being associated with something so unique and successful.
And… make no mistake about it, the volunteerism doesn’t just come for the Eastern U.P. Region. Being an International event the SOO I-500 has many volunteers who participate in volunteering from our Canadian families and Canadian commercial supporters. Every race throughout the history of the SOO International 500 snowmobile race volunteers help from both sides of the Saint Maries River which truly makes this world class event an “International” project.
But WAIT….. let’s take another lap around the track and mention how volunteering for the SOO I-500 has grown to the point whereby once you’ve experienced the camaraderie shared by those associated with the I-500, the word spreads and others consider volunteering for something so fun and rewarding as well. Not to mention…. Once you’ve participated in being a part of this outstanding event, you’ll want to keep being a part of it. Let me share another example. This too is a story in itself. Hop on the sled and here we go….
Over the decades of hosting the SOO I-500 we’ve had teams come from throughout the United States and Canada (Including Alaska). The team members of racing teams who race at the SOO get tangled in the SOO I-500 web as well. Many return to help in various ways knowing it’s a total volunteer project and their love for the sport of oval ice racing keeps them coming back to volunteer in some capacity just because they love the sport and want to keep being a part of it all.
Here’s where it gets a little more interesting. The SOO I-500 has partnered with FLOSPORTS Network who actually covers and broadcasts the I-500 race world wide each year. The I-500 has developed a “Pit-Reporters” team which works directly with sports networks who cover the race. Who would make a better team for reporting all “Pit-Row” activity than former racers who know all about the sport, the teams, the track and more? Exactly my friend….. Race drivers who have retired from the sport but who want to stay in touch with the sport and the SOO I-500 by volunteering to be team members of the SOO I-500 “Pit-Reporters”. These individuals take time away from their families and work to join our project simply for the love of volunteering for something they love, enjoy and something they know. Each knowing they can make a difference with their own personal volunteer involvement.
I’d like to take a moment and speak about these outstanding volunteer individuals. Issac Wolfgang is a retired race driver whose family history of involvement as racers spans a period of over 16 years at the famous SOO I-500. Issac is a volunteer pit-reporter with experience, knowledge of the sport and ability to share it all through track reporting that adds excitement and informative information fans want to know. His desire for racing at the SOO found him being caught in the web that brings people back year after year to volunteer and be a part of the sport they love. And I must not forget to mention Ted Wolfgang. Ted is Issac’s father who was part of the Wolfgang Motor Sports racing team and a long time racer at the SOO I-500 as well. Ted is also part of the Pit-reporters team volunteering his time and expertise as part of the pit-reporters team working in the I-500 announcing booth as a color commentator.
In addition to Issac Wolfgang being on the pit-reporters team we also have the volunteer efforts of John Wicht lll who has won the SOO I-500 multiple times without a back-up driver. John, like many others, returns to the SOO each year simply because he loves the sport and he enjoys volunteering his personal time knowing he is part of a lifelong involvement for something special and so personal. John travels from MN. each year volunteering his time and knowledge of the sport and considers volunteering the heartbeat of the SOO I-500 race project.
I certainly want to make certain that every volunteer who helps the SOO I-500 achieve success year after year understands the gratitude felt throughout the sport of oval ice racing. Volunteering today isn’t what it used to be. People volunteered as a sense of pride and integrity. It gives people the opportunity to do something fun and for good reason. The benefits of volunteering go far beyond what can be expressed.
The experience of good camaraderie and the feeling of being part of something special. It’s a way to give back to so many for so many reasons. The SOO I-500 offers people the opportunity to be a part of something unique, special and rewarding. It’s a way for so many to stay in touch with the sport while enjoying fun and excitement.
For anyone who may want to be a volunteer for the SOO I-500, simply visit the SOO I-500 web site at: www.i-500.com and click on the “ Volunteer” link to sign UP!
Thank YOU to all the I-500 Volunteers who make this outstanding world class event successful each year! Volunteerism is the backbone of the International 500 snowmobile race period……
Until next time………
“ It’s all left turns from here ” •