BORN TO RIDE WILD

BIG LAKE — Had late-1960s rockers Steppenwolf been from the Valley, the band’s iconic theme of rebellion may have developed differently.

“Get your motor runnin’ … Head out onto Big Lake … Lookin’ for adventure … And whatever comes our way.”

“Born to be Wild” is more than a classic rock anthem, it’s an attitude, one shared by adventure-seeking snowmachine racers and Valley-based Alaska Ice Racing.

“Snowmachine racing is a longtime Alaska tradition,” said club president Josh Estes, who has been racing snowmachines for about 15 years. “Locally here in the Valley, we decided to bring it back. A lot of guys like to do it, and we try to be very versatile.”

The club has hosted nine local events so far this 2010-2011 season, and will cap the year with its largest event on March 13, a fast 500-mile ride around a challenging and technical track on Big Lake, Estes said.

“We’ll do 500 miles in seven hours, so it’s a lot of high-speed go, go, go,” he said. “We usually get a lot of sponsor money and donations, and this year it looks like we’ll have at least a $5,000 purse.”

The finalé event, dubbed the 500-Mile Grand Prix, has drawn sponsorships from Coors Light, Crown Royal and Rock Star energy drink this year. But don’t let the high-profile sponsors or impressive name deceive you, Estes said. This is a race for every snowmachiner of every level of skill.

“We have a class for you, no matter what,” he said. With three skill levels and classes broken down by snowmachine power, the fields are expected to be even.

Another aspect that makes Alaska Ice Racing events different is course design, Estes said. While some races on Big Lake will use much of the lake with long straightaways, his club uses a smaller area with shorter straightaways, which means the racers will be more challenged by their technical riding abilities rather than the raw power of their machines to pull away on the straights.

“We still have as much fun as the day we started it,” he said. “The key is not getting away from the fact that it’s fun. Part of what hurts racing sometimes is it’s a very expensive thing to participate in. When we design our tracks, we always consider the straightaways and think about the riders … so it’s equally competitive no mater (the amount of money) you put into it.”

Estes, a Houston High School graduate who was born and raised in the Valley, manages Performance Yamaha in Wasilla and said he’s as passionate about motor sports as ever.

“A lot of us have a passion for ice racing and continue to do things we like to do on the weekends,” he said. “Everything we’ve done so far has been in the Mat-Su Valley. We’ve kept everything local because a lot of our sponsors are local. To us, racing is more than just the competition; it’s about bringing friends and families together to create lasting memories. Our racing group’s goal is to bring back the fever that once existed for the sport of snowmachine racing.”

The 500-mile grand prix, for example, is a great spectator event, Estes said. Unlike big-name races like the Iron Dog, where spectators can watch the start, then the racers are gone, the compact track on Big Lake provides extended viewing opportunities.

“For the hours the sun’s out, get yourself a hamburger and a lawn chair, and it’s a blast to watch,” Estes said.

And it’s free. There is no admission or ticket charge to watch Alaska Ice Racing events. For participants, the club also tries to keep costs reasonable, he said. For the season-ending 500-mile race, there’s a $200 entry fee, but the club’s other races come with a $60 fee.

If you want to know what ice racing is all about, go to Big Lake March 13. Racers sign in at 9 a.m. and the race starts at 10 a.m. Estes said families can come for the sun and the fun, while there will be plenty of “heavy metal thunder … racin’ with the wind” for the Steppenwolf in all of us.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.