High-speed automobiles and dazzling ice may appear to be a formula for disaster. However, it is a winter fun recipe for dozens of cars in Otter Tail County. There are some scuffed and filthy race cars on the ice of Bass Lake, which is near to Underwood. Some have simply been washed and creatively painted. On a Sunday afternoon, however, they are all here for the same purpose: to race as fast as possible on a half-mile oval ice track. The leader of this group of nearly fifty drivers, Dave Holmgren, claimed, “We’re all out here playing because fishing is bad right now.” He always smiles and wears a green vest like Mr.
Ice racing has been taking place in Underwood for about 30 years, with the local Lions Club sponsoring it.
Holmgren began ice racing in his twenties, almost forty-five years ago. He pointed to a large, bearded man who bears the good humor gene and said, “Then I got my boy started into it.” Jake Holmgren, 29, has been ice racing since he was 15 years old. He is most interested in having fun and socializing with others. He described the thrill of racing on sheer ice as “going in circles, passing cars, and doing some doughnuts.” After everything is finished, get a delicious hot dog, fries, and a beverage.
It is simply for fun. The food shack raises funds for charity presents. According to Dave Holmgren, interest in the sport is increasing. On an average Sunday, roughly fifty drivers arrive, with more junior drivers joining the race.
We’re having a great time out here. “We are very good men,” he said, laughing. Almost everyone here is a volunteer. It involves the entire community. That’s been the case for a long. Cars are classified into many categories. At 80 mph, some sport studded tires rip through the ice. Cars with regular tires can attain speeds of up to 30 mph.
It’s not the fastest thing with rubber tires, but Dave Holmgren said, “I tell you what, if you’re in the right place at the right time and have good patience, you can always wave to your buddy when you go by.” Some racers spend thousands of dollars on speed-enhancing engines. Others make few auto investments beyond tires.
Tire technology has advanced throughout time to improve safety.
Dave Holmgren stated, “We started out with just plain tires, and now we have a track tire.” “That made all the difference.” Crash rates are rather low. In most cases, an automobile slips into the snow mound that encircles the track. Dave Holmgren characterized the on-track tussle for position as “a little bit of paint swapping.” “Everyone is generally positive about it. We all communicate with one another, yet occasionally one of us becomes upset. During races, the ice racers encourage the spectators. Children as young as seven years old can race with parental approval. Children like 14-year-old Claire Blaskowski drive vehicles with regular tires that have a top tire pressure of around 30 miles per hour.
Claire has three years’ racing experience. She added that she simply enjoys traveling swiftly, stating, “My dad started doing it, and I really liked sitting in the car with him before I started doing the kids races.” Despite not having a driver’s license, she can drive on ice and is rarely involved in an accident. “Occasionally,” she admitted. The condition of the ice determines this. Every weekend is different. Her father, Chris Blaskowski, is a fast-studded tire driver. Five years ago, he started racing here. “We love it,” he said. “My daughter started enjoying it, so we keep coming, even though I didn’t think I’d be doing it this long.”
Winter travel on thick ice
Every winter Saturday, they travel two hours from St. Cloud to race on thick enough ice. He’s not afraid to put his daughter in a race car. His comment was: “I genuinely believe it’s a positive experience for her to learn.” “I believe it will only make them better drivers once they get their license if they can screw around, spin out, and possibly even get hit more.” Drivers gather around Mr. Official fifteen minutes before the start of the race. “I appreciate you coming again,” he says to the audience. Now that we have reached the third week, we are all aware of what happens during that time.
Do your animals eat raw meat, iron, or anything else? This is how he instructs the drivers to cease driving aggressively. “All of us must immediately gain our composure, okay? We’re not competing for Daytona money,” he noted, “so take it easy and have some fun.”
The money isn’t the purpose here. Even if a driver wins every race in their class today, the prize money may just be $15, which is insufficient to cover petrol expenses. According to Dave Holmgren, the goal is to raise money for the Lions Club’s charitable efforts. He believes that high prize money will reduce the fun of ice racing.
For drivers like Jake Holmgren, there appears to be no possibility of this happening. “You will become addicted to ice racing as soon as you get in a car.” It’s actually that easy.
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