LABRADOR CITY, N.L. — Another season of exciting snowmobile drag racing wrapped up in Labrador City recently.
The events, which ran under the banner of Labrador Race to the Top, took place at Tanya Lake, with organizers advertising it as a fun community event for all ages.
Terry Smith and Brad Fry are two of the organizers. They explained snowmobile drag racing was popular in the town over a decade ago, but died off due to increasing costs and other issues. But renewed interest encouraged them to develop a new drag racing event; three races were held in 2017-18, while six races took place this past winter.
“We have winter in Labrador for nine or 10 months, so to have something that gets people out and enjoy the long months makes it worth doing,” Smith said.
Smith said the races are an opportunity for friendly competition among snowmobilers of all levels.
“It doesn’t matter if you have a full-on race sled or a sled you (ride on the trails) every weekend,” he said. “We put you in a fair class and everyone gets to enjoy it.”
Each race saw an average of 30 snowmobilers looking to show off the speed of their machines. Fry said race day is a full-day commitment, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. and races continuing until 5 p.m. He said the events were very popular despite stretches of bitterly cold weather.
“No one wants to be standing on a lake in minus-30 temperatures,” Fry said.
