RANGELEY — Great weather and plenty of snow mean excellent conditions for the 28th annual Snodeo on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan 21-23.

Hosted by the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club, the event draws thousands of snowmobilers and spectators for shows, competitions, helicopter rides, radar run, poker run, free family events and lots of food. One show will feature the Rave X stunt rider team performing death-defying acrobatics on Saturday.

Thursday events start with a 5:30 p.m. chili and chowder cook-off at Bald Mountain Camps, followed by a 7 p.m. start for Casino Night at the Gingerbread House.

Friday events include snowmobile manufacturer demo rides and a snowmobile club auction at 6:30 p.m. at Moose Alley.

On Saturday, breakfast and lunch will be served in a large heated hangar at the Steven A. Bean Municipal Airport for spectators. There’s also plenty of free parking, according to race organizer Jonny Wakefield.

“We make things really comfortable for our spectators,” Wakefield said.

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The Rock Maple Racing Cross-Country competition is simulated trail-racing on five-mile laps, Wakefield said. Deadline for registration is 8 a.m. Saturday, but participants will have several opportunities to register in advance, ensuring the races can start promptly on Saturday morning.

Pro-vintage snowmobile competition organizer Nick Huff said many snowmobilers just can’t part with their old snowmobiles, but those sleds with front leaf springs didn’t offer a comfortable ride any longer. The owners of vintage sleds decided to start friendly competitions three years ago, much to the delight of their fans. The Saturday vintage sled races start at 11 a.m. on a one-third mile oval track at the airport.

The Trivia Ride, which starts Saturday morning at the Rangeley Inn & Tavern, uses a scavenger hunt format, but with Trivial Pursuit game hints. Each trivia question leads participants to a new location, where they receive another hint.

The Rave X Outer Limits Tour freestyle show and stunt rider team will perform starting at 2 p.m., behind Boss Power Equipment.

The poker run, a marshmallow roast and helicopter rides are among the other Saturday activities. Radar run competitions for youths and adults on Haley Pond give amateur riders the chance to show their machines’ abilities.

For more information about events and times, visit www.rangeleysnowmobile.com and www.rockmapleracing.com.


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