Snow drags coming to city in January

Snowmobile drag races are coming to Yorkton in January thanks to a partnership between the Painted Hand Casino (PHC) and the Yorkton Exhibition Association (YEA).

The two are partnering to bring Saskatchewan Snowmobile Racing association sanctioned drag racing to Cornerstone Raceway in the city January 28.

The SSRA sanctions snowmobile racing events throughout Western Canada for both professional and amateur racers. This year we have races scheduled each weekend from January 7 - March 3, throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta and northern B.C..

Gayle Pelletier, Senior Operations Manager with the PHC said they are happy to be involved with the one-day event.

"We're always looking for events to partner with," he said, adding working with the YEA makes sense since they are right across the street.

"When people come here they come and visit us too," he said, adding it really is a " natural coupling of resources."

Grant Neil, president of the YEA said they are always looking for new events which will enhance the local community, and the snow drags offer new mid-winter entertainment.

Jason Popowich, president of the Yorkton Sno-Riders said his club is excited to be involved -- the club will build the track with its groomers -- with the races since it should be an excellent fundraiser, which they were looking for after purchasing a new trail groomer at a cost of more than $200,000.

Popowich said race fans should be drawn to races that he called "the real deal," being fully sanctioned. "There's tech checks They start with a Christmas tree

"They'll basically have professional racers from across Western Canada."

The racers will be competing for an estimated $15,000.

In addition to the professional racers, amateur and Junior classes will be offered, said Popowich, which will allow local drivers a chance to experience drag racing.

The last time snowmobile drag racing was held in the city was the 1980s, said Popowich, who noted fans in the city like "racing of all sorts Everybody likes a motor. Everybody likes speed. They like watching it."

While normally raced in a quarter-mile track, the Yorkton event will utilize a 500-foot track, which could still see top machines approach 100 miles per hour, said Popowich.

Races will start at noon sharp Saturday at the Cornerstone Raceway on the Yorkton Exhibition Grounds.

The weekend will kick off Friday evening with a Meet & Greet Trade Show in the Industrial Building. Racing enthusiasts are welcome to stop in and talk to some of the top snowmobile drag racers in Canada as well as visit various related display booths.

The awards Banquet will be held in the Parkland Room of the Painted Hand Casino Saturday evening. Tickets for this event will be available from committee members shortly.

Neil said the combination of events centered around the drags should "bring people to the city," both as competitors and as fans.

Advance tickets for the Saturday Drag Races are now on sale at the Yorkton Exhibition office and Yorkton Distributors. Advance price discounts are only available until January 20th.

Shaun Morin, manager with the YEA noted the advance tickets "are a great stocking stuffer for Christmas."

The snowmobile drags could be the start of something bigger too, said Morin.

"We feel it can be the cornerstone for a winter event a winter festival," he said, adding the PHC is already considering a street hockey event in its parking lot, and they may approach schools to build ice sculptures to get the city in a festival mood.