The popularity of snowmobile racing among youngsters keeps on growing, with the second-annual Canadian Kitty Cat Championship seeing 45 racers take to the ice Saturday morning on Sand Bay here.
“It was double the size of last year–it was a huge success,” enthused organizer Al Boivin, who was still thrilled by it all Monday morning.
“I wanted to bring the racers to town to show the people of Fort Frances what Kitty Cat racing is all about. And as you can see, the race just grows and grows,” he added.
The event drew young racers from North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and here, seeing representation from several leagues, like KC Pro East, which Boivin and his son, Curtis, belong to.
“95 percent of the racers are from the States, and to come up here and race was a real thrill for those who were out on Saturday,” he noted.
While they may be young, make no mistake about the level of competitiveness. “I want trophies,” said four-year-old Mark Loveday.
“That’s all he talks about,” laughed mom, Marcy Loveday, who noted while her son had raced in sno-cross, it was his first Kitty Cat event.
“This is very exciting. It’s good for those kids in this. It’s a real family sport,” she added.
Others, like first-timer Casey Kerber of Bear’s Pass, had a little more casual attitude. “It’s just fun,” remarked the eight-year-old, who wound up fourth in the amateur racing division.
With sunny skies above and only a slight cool wind, Duluth resident Ed Kilvy summed up what many of the parents out that day seemed to agree on–it seemed there was no better place to be.
“This is one of the last events of the season. And it’s a good one,” he smiled.
Like many of the racers, Kilvy and his three-year-old son, Jake, would race again Sunday at the KC Pro East event held across the river in International Falls, Mn.
And just as Saturday’s event was more popular than last year’s, Boivin was confident it will only continue to grow. “It will, without a doubt, be happening next year,” he enthused.
The results were as follows:
< *c>Amateur Kitty Cat
1. Erik Craft
2. Zack Arnold
3. Allen Jenson
4. Casey Kerber
5. Jeffrey Pearson
6. Kaleb Dallmann
< *c>Stock Kitty Cat
1. AC Buchberger
2. Rusty Wrazidlo
3. Kendra Dallmann
4. Levi Brown
5. Max Hoglund
6. Aaron Kajander
< *c>Stock Kitty Cat
< *c>Consolation
1. Austin Knute
2. Jesse Sturman
3. Allison Sturman
4. Blake Wrazidlo
5. Alex Oachs
6. Curtis Boivin
< *c>120 Stock
1. Kendra Dallmann
2. Aaron Kajander
3. Dustyn Leff
4. Blake Wrazidlo
5. Katie Croft
6. Axel Murphy
< *c>120 Stock
< *c>Consolation
1. Austin Knute
2. Tyler Johnson
3. Thomas Warden
4. Erik Craft
5. Paige Mortaloni
6. Connie Helgeson
< *c>Improved 120
1. Nick Nash
2. Katie Craft
3. AC Buchberger
4. Kendra Dallmann
5. Aaron Kajander
6. Max Hoglund
< *c>Improved Kitty Cat
1. Max Hoglund
2. Rusty Wrazidlo
3. Alisha Arnold
4. Jesse Sturman
3. AC Buchberger
6. Alex Oachs
< *c>Improved Kitty Cat
< *c>Consolation
1. Aaron Kajander
2. Kendra Dallmann
3. Curtis Boivin
4. Allison Sturman
5. Axel Murphy
6. Levi Brown
< *c>Improved 120
< *c>Consolation
1. Curtis Boivin
2. Dustyn Leff
3. Tyler Johnson
4. Jesse Sturman
5. Amanda Nash
6. Brady Caul
< *c>Championship 120
1. Nick Nash
2. AC Buchberger
3. Katie Craft
4. Kendra Dallmann
5. Aaron Kajander
6. Brady Caul
< *c>Formula 1
1. Allison Sturman
2. Curtis Boivin
3. Amanda Nash
4. Alex Oachs
5. Levi Brown
6. Jesse Sturman
< *c>Formula 1
< *c>Consolation
1. Blake Wrazidlo
2. Rusty Wrazidlo
3. Tyler Johnson
4. Kendra Dallmann
5. AC Buchberger
< *c>Formula 1 Open
1. Brandon Nash
2. Amanda Nash
3. Levi Brown
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
