The drag races will be held on a 660-foot-long snow-packed racing strip.
By Jim Smedley
Staff Writer

NORWAY – Drag races, antique snowmobiles and a chowder festival will highlight the 6th annual Snowfest on Norway Lake.

“Bring a snowmobile, an empty belly and a full wallet,” advised Norway Trackers Snowmobile Club President Herb Kennison. “And, it’s a family event, so there will be no alcohol allowed.”

The event will be held Jan. 24 and 25, providing the ice is thick enough and it isn’t snowed out. If that happens it will be held Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

The drag races will be held on a 660-foot-long snow-packed racing strip.

Kennison said there will be 19 classes for racers ranging from one for those with 500cc engines to the open class for 1,000cc or larger engines.

Races will be double-elimination.

Sign up is from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. Races start at 10:15 a.m.

“We have a light system that they use at drag strips,” Kennison said. “This tracks the snowmobile and shows which side won. The time is displayed on a computer screen.

“We’ll have the radar run on Sunday and will be using the same radar guns that state police use,” he said. “The antique snowmobile show will also be that same day on the ice.”

Snowmobiles entered in the antique show have to be at least 25 years old. The winner will be chosen by spectators.

“Don’t park on the road,” Kennison said. “You will get a ticket. Park in the lot for summer swimming.”

He said shacks offering hot drinks, hot dogs and hamburgers will be set up on the ice for spectators.

The chowder festival will be at the Little Red Schoolhouse starting at 11 a.m. Sunday. Dishes will include corn, fish, salmon and clam chowders, plus beef stew and chili.

Kennison said the Snowfest is the club’s biggest fund-raiser. All money collected will be used for trail grooming and maintenance.

There is no charge for spectators.