SnoCross Snowmobile Races in Bondurant
Mountain West Racing (MWR) event
by Dawn Ballou
February 12, 2005
With spectacular aerial leaps and the roar of powerful snowmobile engines, beautiful Bondurant was the setting for the latest sanctioned SnoCross snowmobile race in Wyoming over the weekend of February 12-13. Heavy snowfall early on didn’t dampen spirits one bit as men, women and junior racers from all over the Rocky Mountain west competed in the two days of races during the event.
The Bondurant SnoCross races were held on the Norris and Layne Brown property, across from the Bondurant Elementary School off Hwy 191 between Pinedale and Jackson. These were counted as official point races for the Mountain West Racing (MWR) circuit. The race was sponsored by the Jackson Hole Snowmobile Club, with help from the Pinedale Snow Explorers Snowmobile Club.
The scheduling for snocross snowmobile racing events this season has been frustrating for the Mountain West Racing organizers due to the lack of snow in the northern states. The February 12-13 date was originally scheduled for the Northwest SnoCross near Leavenworth, Washington. That event, and the following weekend scheduled in Haugan, Montana for the Snow Boss SnoCross, both had to be cancelled at the last minute in late January due to lack of snow. MWR organizers began seriously searching for new locations with adequate snow so races could be held. While Washington, Idaho and Montana have lost the majority of their snow, Wyoming still is looking good for snow depth in many areas. With great help from Norris and Layne Brown of Bondurant, the February 12-13 date was rescheduled for a new course put in on their property just off Hwy 191 in ‘downtown’ Bondurant (population 100).
Mountain West Racing is the new name for the Rocky Mountain Circuit. Rocky Mountain has been the leader in sanctioning snowmobile racing events in the greater northwest for the past 21 consecutive years. The name change came about partly due to the shift in the Idaho-based organization’s focus from cross-country events to family-oriented racing events.
MWR has seven point races scheduled for the 2005 season in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. There are three, possibly four, more upcoming races for the season. The season ends late March when MWR will be sanctioning the 15th annual SnoWest SnoCross to be held during the world Snowmobile EXPO in West Yellowstone, Montana, March 17-20th. World-class pro racers from across North America will compete for the "Best of the Best" SnoCross title and an additional $10,000 race purse.
For more information about Mountain West Racing, see their website at www.mountainwestracing.com.
Mountain West Racing Schedule:
Feb. 26-27, 2005 American SnoCross Challenge in McCall, Idaho
March 5-6, 2005 Teton Valley SnoCross in Driggs, Idaho
March 17-20, 2005 SnoWest SnoCross/World Snowmobile Expo in West Yellowstone, Montana
Pictures by Clint Gilchrist and Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online
|
