Kitty Cat showdown a roaring success

It was sensory overload on Sand Bay last weekend as 64 racers descended on Fort Frances for the fifth-annual Canadian Kitty Cat Championship.
Gas was flowing, the engines were roaring, and six snowmobiles at a time blurred past spectators in an event that gets larger every year.
“It was the biggest turnout ever,” enthused Al Boivin, who organized the event. “There was nobody faster anywhere this weekend.
Kids aged four-12 raced in 13 classes from amateur stock Kitty Cat to Junior Novice 340—a new class added this year.
Ten-year-olds Spencer Graff, who came third in the F1 belt and second in the Junior Novice 340 and the Champ 340 divisions, and David Devenport, who placed second in the Stock KC consolation final, came with their families from West Bend, Wis. for the races.
Other teams came in from Michigan, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois, helping to make this race the second-largest on the Kitty Cat circuit behind the Wisconsin State Championship.
Neither Graff nor Devenport remembered why they started racing or exactly when, but they obviously enjoy it.
The snow Saturday was a bit of a problem, but the weather improved and, as promised, things kept getting faster as the weekend wore on.
Several Eagle River world champions competed here and showed spectators why they were the cream of the crop, said Boivin.
“Everyone had fun and they’re anticipating coming back next year,” he noted, adding many of the racing families stayed in Fort Frances and commented on how well they were treated by local residents.
Local racers did well, with Curtis Boivin making the finals in three of his four races, finishing third in the Champ 120, fourth in Formula 1, and fifth in Junior Novice.
Sophie Potvin Begin raced to fourth in the Amateur 120, third in the Stock KC consolation, and third in Stock 120 consolation.
Lauren and Nolan Vold and Dawson Mihichuk also raced, but didn’t make any of their finals.
A few spectators dropped by to catch the action over the weekend, but the turnout was not as good was expected, though the temperature and snow could be blamed for that.
“The weather wasn’t too good for spectators, but it was great for snowmobile racing,” said Boivin.
The organizers would like to thank K.C. Pro for its hard work and a special thanks to all the volunteers, members, and sponsors.