Ice racers on concrete

[flipper35]

They were in town Saturday night (Dubuque IA) and it was a decent show. They really lay the bikes over in the ice but even more so on the concrete with all the rubber down. If the foot pegs on the bikes didn't fold up there would be a problem. The biggest problem was that the guys on quads couldn't get enough weight on the inside. I took pictures but my phone is old and the focus mechanism doesn't always work. The best pics were so blurry you can't make out the riders number on his jersey.

We went mostly to watch my cousin since this will probably be his last year. His number is 61, which is less than his age. He is the one that sets up the track and configures everything so his entry fee is $0 and he runs for fun in the outlaw class which only has 4 rules. They have to be no more than 50" wide, the engine has to be between the axles and it has to have a kill switch. I don't remember the 4th rule.

Chuck Calvert – Welcome to Icespeedway.com Motorcycle, Quad Ice Racing

If any of you followed motocross and quads in the outdoor arenas in the 80s you might recognize his brother Boyd. Or midget racing in the 90s. Or His other brother Dennis if you followed motorcycles exhibitions back then too.

Anyway, good cheap fun for a bit if you like flat track racing.

[dlockhart]

The indoor stuff is crazy tight. I'm having fun this winter up in Wisconsin. I'm doing ok in the slow old guy class.

[flipper35]

I knew you raced outdoors up here. It is crazy how much traction you get on ice with the "studs". You are #97, correct?

Dennis' girls used to ice race outdoors, but they haven't for some time now.

Nothing wrong with running as long as you are having fun. Boyd raced at Crandon a year or two ago in the "classics" class and isn't much younger than Chuck.

On a side note, we used to ride on a 2x4 with a rope behind those bikes when we were kids as they setup the tracks. Back then it was Huskies, Bultacos, Harleys.

[dlockhart]

Yep No. 97 My WERA road race number was 917 so for ice racing with the CWIRA I just dropped the 1.

Many friends will be doing the steel shoe 3hr this weekend. Steel Shoe Fund 3hr Fundraiser

I'll be doing the CWIRA up at Dexterville trying to score points in my class.

I'm sure a great number of riders will be out just play riding on various frozen lakes.
They just started riding on Koshkonong last weekend over by sunset bar on the North shore.
Also last weekend some were riding Kegonsa although I heard they got hassled by the county sheriffs . A pro photographer happened to see them riding and got some great shots. It is a beautiful and fun way to spend the winter.

[flipper35]

Ludden Lake (Named after Doc Ludden, not Allen) was the closest to us. That is where we rode behind as the prepped the track. They used the long spikes back then also. One cousin, about 10, decided to stud his tennis shoes. They had great traction on the ice, but killed his feet!

Is that course bout that long every year? Would be hard to memorize!

[dlockhart]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Ludden Lake (Named after Doc Ludden, not Allen) was the closest to us. That is where we rode behind as the prepped the track. They used the long spikes back then also. One cousin, about 10, decided to stud his tennis shoes. They had great traction on the ice, but killed his feet!

Is that course bout that long every year? Would be hard to memorize!

The steel shoe track is nuts and a lot of work to ride. It has the benefit of limiting laps and slowing things way down which makes scoring a huge event manageable.

[flipper35]

Keeps you warm too I bet!