Something old and new

WASILLA — They may sport the vintage sleds, but one Mat-Su snowmachine group is bringing something new to the area.

The Mat-Su Vintage Snowmachine Racers Club will make its debut at Rumrunners at Mat-Su Resort in Wasilla on Saturday. The club, which is affiliated with the Big Lake Aurora Lions Club, typically hosts its season series at the Houston Lodge in Houston. The Mat-Su Vintage Snowmachine Racers’ Craig Clayton said the club is eager to try something new.

“We just don’t want to go stale,” Clayton said.

Clayton said the club has considered Rumrunners as a venue for more than a year. The restaurant and bar, which is located off Bogard Road in Wasilla, sits on Wasilla Lake, giving the club plenty of ice to race on. The new Rumrunners ownership welcomed the idea and a relationship was formed.

“We’re going to give it a shot,” Clayton said.

Saturday will make the first of two scheduled dates for the vintage racers to hit Wasilla Lake. The club will meet again at Rumrummers in mid-February, Clayton said. Clayton said the group, which also hosts races on Knik Lake, is looking for more exposure. By staging races in a high traffic area such as Wasilla Lake, Clayton said he hopes his club can garner some more attention.

The club is in its third year of racing at Houston Lodge, and Clayton said interest continues to grow.

“We absolutely ecstatic,” Clayton said.

The club has a full slate of action that runs through late April. One of the club’s biggest races of the year, Clayton said, will be the Big Rob Schachle Memorial 50, slated for March 17. The race, which takes participants from the Big Lake Arctic Cat to Houston Lodge, was created to honor the memory of Schachle, a club supporter who died in January 2011.

Saturday’s action at Rumrunners starts at noon, with an awards ceremony slated for 4 p.m. Those interested in participating can sign up from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and attend the racer meeting at 11:50 a.m. Participants must be a Lions Club member.

The day will include events in several classes, Clayton said. The Big Lake-based Ice Racing Alaska will also be part of the action. The club is also hosting its Iron Pup 120 races that day. The club hosted its first races of the 2012 series on Dec. 18. Tysen Sena finished first in the 0-600cc open class and 341-500 cc fan/fa and 0-340cc liquid twin class.

For more on the club, see matsuvintageracers.com.

Race results

Dec. 18, Houston Lodge

120cc stock — 1. Emalyn Peterson; 2. Michael Weigle; 3. Chase Ringler; 4. Blake Russell.

120cc mod — 1. Julieann Weigle; 2. Rhett Peterson.

Women’s open — 1. Christina Sena; 2. Kelcy Moe; 3. Aimee Martinez.

Junior 10-15 — 1. Luke Coverdall.

Single cylinder and 0-250cc fan/fa twin — 1. Steven Martinez; 2. Johnie Martinez; 3. David Locklear.

0-340cc fan/fa — 1. JC Collvins; 2. Charle Balzarini; 3. Dave C. Jensen; 4. Vaughn Salzbrun.

341-500cc fan/fa and 0-340cc liquid twin — 1. Tyson Sena; 2. Garrett Lyons; 3. Robbie Schachle; 4. Matt Balzarini.

0-600cc open — 1. Tysen Sena; 2. Matt Balzarini; 3. Collin Clayton; 4. Robbie Schachle.

Over 45 — 1. Craig Clayton; 2. Chuck Balzarini; 3. Jim Miller.