As the 2012 snowmobile racing season rolls on, there’s an exciting new stop on the tour that has people talking.
The quaint little town of of Boonville is known throughout the snowbelt as host to one of sled racing’s crown jewels. And this year, a different form of snowmobile racing is headed for Upstate New York
to begin a new era in winter entertainment.
The New-England-based East Coast Snocross (ECS) series will bring its championship points tour to the Onieda County Fairgrounds in Boonville this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28-29, for two days of high-flying excitement.
Spectator gates will open at 10 a.m. each day, with early qualifying rounds already in progress. Admission is $15 per day for adults or $25 for a weekend pass, $10 for children age 8-12, age 7 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes valid through the weekend will be available for an extra $10.
"Since the announcement was made that we were going to Boonville, everybody in the snocross fraternity has been very excited," said ECS General Manager Shawn Longbook. "This area has such a rich history and is so highly-regarded in racing, it’s an honor to run a race there. I think fans in Boonville and the surrounding area will love our brand of high-flying snocross, it is a very spectator-friendly sport."
Leading the charge into Boonville are top-ranked riders Danny Poirier (Pro) and Lucas Brunelle (Pro Lite). Both riders are from Quebec and both currently lead their respective classes in points after stellar runs during Rounds 1 and 2. Poirier is a two-time Pro champion (2004, 2009), while Brunelle seeks his first regional points title in the ultra-competitive Pro Lite division.
East Coast Snocross sanctions championship points races each winter throughout the northeast. There are classes for all ages and ability levels. The breakdown for the five basic divisions is as follows; Pro, Pro Lite, Sport, Women and Junior. There are also Trail Stock classes for first-timers looking to “test the waters” of snocross racing.
The weekend itinerary includes qualifying rounds, Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQs) and Finals for several classes, including the not-to-be-missed Pro Stock and Pro Lite classes. Sunday’s card will feature more exciting qualifying and Final round action, as the Pro riders will compete on their wild, high-powered Open sleds. Points are awarded in qualifying, so riders give 100% all day long to garner as many points as possible.
Those LCQ’s often feature some intense battles as riders fight to make the Final. When Final rounds do begin, all eyes are on the track. It’s "go time," and these athletes have one thing on their minds – a win or podium finish.
East Coast Snocross, presented by Woody’s Traction and AMSOIL, is the sanctioning body for snowmobile racing in the northeastern United States. ECS maintains a regional circuit intended to keep grass-roots snocross racing healthy in this part of the snowbelt, while also cultivating new talent for tomorrow’s factory-backed Pro teams.
For more information, please go to www.eastcoastsnocross.coma
