For the first time in decades, the sights and sounds of snowmobile racing return to eastern Maine, as East Coast Snocross (ECS) kicks off its nine-race 2015 schedule on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11, at historic Bass Park in the Queen City of Bangor.
Spectator gates open at 9 a.m. each day, with finals concluding by 3:30 p.m. Admission is $20 per day for adults or $30 for a weekend pass. Children age 7 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes valid through the weekend are available for an extra $10. For advance sale tickets, please go to www.EMCCFoundation.org/snox.
This exciting snowmobile competition is hosted by the Eastern Maine Community College Foundation. The foundation promotes, encourages and supports all educational activities at Eastern Maine Community College. The foundation manages over 50 scholarship funds in support of students achieving high quality, hands on, career and technical education at EMCC.
Leading the charge into Bangor is defending and four-time Pro Open champion Danny Poirier. The Quebec native is back with his Ingles Performance/Ski-doo team as he strives for a fifth title. Ready to challenge Poirier for that crown is teammate and fellow Quebec athlete Mathieu Morin, a former champion (2011) himself. Morin is back stronger than ever, and will be a threat to win.
Leading the charge in the talent-filled Pro Lite class will be riders like Wade Acker and Chris Coleman. This division features experienced riders with blazing speed and ability, just a notch below the speeds and endurance of Pro Open. As in the premier Pro Open class, all three active sled builders (Arctic Cat, Ski-doo and Polaris) are well represented here with their latest factory race stockers.
Along with thrilling qualifying heats and finals in Pro and Pro Lite, fans can expect plenty of great racing in the Sport, Women, Junior, and Trail classes, as well. ECS has recently added 800cc trail sleds to its entry-level classes so more recreational riders can test the waters of snocross. Add a 120cc program for kids ages 6 to 10 on a smaller track, and you've got a weekend the entire family can enjoy.
As a bonus to the full card of racing in the Paul Bunyan International itself, Round 1 Qualifying for the prestigious 2015 Triple Crown Series will also be contested on Saturday. This series offers a $5,000 purse and brings the top athletes from ECS and the Quebec-based SCM circuit together to determine champions in the Pro Open, Pro Lite and Sport classes. Round 2 will take place on Jan. 24 in Louiseville, QC, while Finals will be held on Friday, Feb. 20, during the Grand Prix de Valcourt.
This year's Paul Bunyan International Snocross continues a rich tradition of snowmobile racing in Bangor, dating back to February of 1968 when the Bangor Jaycees sponsored the first Paul Bunyan Classic at Bass Park. While oval racing may have faded away, snocross will usher in a new era.
East Coast Snocross, presented by AMSOIL, Woody's Traction and FXR, is the eastern regional affiliate of ISOC. ECS strives to maintain a healthy level of competition in grassroots snocross, while also cultivating new talent for tomorrow's factory-backed national teams.
For more information, please go to www.eastcoastsnocross.com , visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/East-Coast-Snocross , and follow us on Twitter @eastcoastsnox.
