Delivery truck plunge will signal spring

Big Lake — Nothing else signals the impending arrival of spring like a vehicle falling through the ice on Big Lake.

As many Mat-Su Valley residents say goodbye to winter with unseasonably warm weather, the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce is saying hello to spring with its 2008 Big Lake Ice Classic. And while the competition serves as a fund-raising event, it also provides a boost for Big Lake.

“I think the great thing about [the event] is that it generates a little bit of community pride,” said Tim Caraway, chair of the Big Lake Ice Classic.

For 12 years, Caraway said the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce has welcomed spring by placing an old vehicle 75 feet off the south shore of Big Lake. In a nutshell, ticket holders guess the day and time the vehicle will breakthrough winter’s frozen layer and fall into the lake. Prior to towing the rig onto the ice, fluids are drained and the vehicle gets a good wash.

After the vehicle falls through, Caraway said it’s pulled from its watery grave.

Deemed the “Ice Breaker,” the current vehicle, an old ice cream or mail truck, has been the ice gauge of choice for two years. In the past, the chamber made use of a classic piece of American sports car history — a Ford Mustang.

In 2007, John Stinson managed to guess the closest breakthrough time of 11:42 a.m. May 9. For his ice gauging guess he won $425.

“I was lucky last year,” Stinson said. “But the luck seemed to fall by the wayside over the last year.”

Stinson admits he was lucky, but he did have a method to narrow down the time frame. Stinson said he started by reviewing the breakthrough times of last 10 events. After he purchased 10 tickets, he selected times and days within the previous wining time frames.

Although the winnings might seem small, Caraway said 2007 was an off year. With ticket sales getting a late start, the prize pot took a hit.

“We’re hoping this year we can at least double that,” he said, adding that prior pots have amounted to about $1,000.

Caraway said the Ice Classic requires a lot of work to organize and implement, but is worth the extra effort. With half of the money raised going toward funding chamber and community events, residents benefit even if they don’t win the prize money, he said.

Tickets can be purchased at local retail stores, including Sportsman’s Warehouse, Big Lake Power Sports, The Hangar Lounge and Steve’s Food Boy. Each ticket costs $2. For more information, contact the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce at 892-6109.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.