Snowmachining to the extreme

Whoever thought of the idea to make a snowmachine perform in races originally designed for motorcycles was either a genius or clinically insane.

However it got started, the sport of Sno-cross, motocross racing on snowmachines, has enjoyed rising popularity nationwide and is now thriving in Big Lake.

The Alaska Motor Mushers Club brings riders from all over the state throughout the winter season to race on a track that features hair-pin curves and soaring jumps to bring thrilling race action to the spectators.

The event features a full venue of racing categories for many age groups and racing levels and is sanctioned by International Snowmobile Racing. Race categories start with the junior fan class for beginning racers and progress through to the pro classes. women's class and snowhawk (single front ski) races are also run at the track.

Each class races two heats, a last chance qualifier and a main event.

Riders in most classes earn points at every event that carry toward a season championship.

Eleven-year old Joshua Brunnhoelzl of Palmer rode in the junior fan class

Saturday.

"I like fast things," Brunnhoelzl said. "I try not to crash, but I did in the first race."

Brunnhoelzl was unscathed from the accident and was able to continue.

Seventeen-year old Cassi Sommerville of Wasilla has been racing for four years in Anchorage and Big Lake. She races in the women's class.

"It's a lot of fun to race snowmachines," Sommer-ville said. "I just hope not to wreck out there."

Snowmachine racing of some type goes on almost every weekend at Big Lake. The Grand Prix 500 snowmachine race takes place this weekend at the South Port Marina. Teams of two riders will alternate driving snowmachines around a Grand- Prix style track for 500 miles. The race starts at 10 a.m.