Friday Night Under the Lights Snowmobile Drag Racing
The Grand Prix of Valcourt presented by Intact Insurance which will take place from February 14 to the 16th has signed an agreement with Top Speed Racing (TSR) who will take over the organization and management of the Friday snowmobile drag racing portion of the great annual winter motorsports classic. The action will now begin earlier on Friday afternoon, February 14 and conclude under the lights. Once again, the day’s activities will be split into two parts, the first for amateur racers, and the second for the top professional racers in the field, who will also be competing in Round 2 of their 2014 TSR schedule. David Robidas and Joelle Chapdelaine launched Circuit TSR last year and it immediately filled a gap in the snowmobile drag racing world, amassing 277 entries for their season opener at Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu.
“The Grand Prix got involved in snowmobile drag racing three years ago because there was a strong demand from fans. We had to organize, sanction and supervise the whole operation, but we don’t think this is our role,” said Marc-Antoine Lemay, Board member of the Grand Prix. “Our mission is to run the whole show, and that is why we transferred these obligations to Circuit TSR. Now, we can get back to doing what we do best, which is to put all of our energies into offering the best show possible to our faithful fans.”
With the arrival of Circuit TSR on the Grand Prix scene, all the life in the fast lane competitors, both amateurs and professionals alike, will be under the supervision of an organization exclusively dedicated to the running of the drag racing program. The day of activities has been extended for the amateur drag racing portion and is now scheduled to run from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. Professional racers will hit the track at 5 p.m., and depending on the number of entries, the day’s grand finales could run well into the evening under the lights. Fans who wish to warm-up between two runs will be able to party in the Ski-Doo Big Top with the music of the Party Rock Band.
Registration for amateur riders will be done exclusively on Friday February 14, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Circuit Yvon Duhamel located at 917, Route 222 in Maricourt (J0L 2L2) The amateur competition is open to 600 cc, 700cc, 800cc and 1000cc stock snowmobiles, while professionals can register for Improved, Open, Pro Stock, Trail Max, Pro Max and Outlaws will be extended until 3:30 p.m. Admission to the track is $10 for the whole day Friday, and free of charge after 4:00 p.m.
Last year, over 60 racers entered the professional competition class. “We hope to at least double the number of professional entries for this year’s event,” said David Robidas, president of Circuit TSR. “The Grand Prix event is the second round of our 2014 race schedule, and every rider involved in one of the six championship classes will be looking for a win.”
A Full Weekend of Racing Activities Awaits Fans
The 32nd running of the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt presented by Intact Insurance will once again offer fans a full weekend of racing activities featuring the world’s best ice oval track snowmobile racers, including three-time World Champion Jacques Villeneuve. For three days, spectators will also witness the feats of the top professional snocross riders in North America as they battle for the big prize. Included on the program for the Grand Prix weekend are the daredevil motorcycle and ATV racing riders competing on the Yvon Duhamel ice oval speed track. Fans can also attend the highflying freestyle snocross show schedule to start around 4:00 p.m. Admission to the Freestyle Snocross exhibition is $15 per person after 4:00 p.m., and free of charge for Grand Prix of Valcourt ticket holders.
General Admission Tickets Still Available On-line
Fans of the great outdoors can still buy an all-inclusive, three-day general admission pass at a reduced price of $45 instead of $55, taxes included, until February 11, 2014. A minimum service charge of $1 is added for each ticket ordered online or by phone. Tickets are available online at https://www.grandprixvalcourt.com/en/billets/ or by phone at 1-866-532-7553 or 1-450-532-3443. Daily general admission tickets are also on sale at $10 each for Friday and $30 each for Saturday and Sunday. The heated Grand Prix Suites tickets are sold out. Accompanied by an adult, children under 12 are admitted free on the Grand Prix site. However this offer does not apply for the heated suites.
About the Grand Prix of Valcourt
The Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt is the great Quebec winter motorsports classic. Launched in 1983, this year the event celebrates its 32nd consecutive running the weekend of February 14-16, 2014. Some of the greatest names in snowmobile racing have had their moment at Circuit Yvon Duhamel in Valcourt, including Canadian Blair Morgan, who won eight snocross Grand Prix finales. Also outstanding is the Wahl family of Greenbush, Minnesota who have earned 13 wins in the feature race finale on the ice oval speedway: four by David between 1988 and 1994, six by his nephew Terry from 1995 and 2003, and three by Dustin, son of David, in 2008, 2009 and 2012. For fans, Quebec’s Jacques Villeneuve recorded the most popular victories in Valcourt in 1986, 2005 and 2006.
