TURNER – They didn’t hold the race last year because they didn’t have the essential ingredient: snow.

This year, the snow came just in time.

“It’s a really good family event,” said Jonny Wakefield. “There’s not a lot of cool things to do with your family in the winter.”

The Turner Ridge Riders will hold their sixth annual Vintage Snowmobile Race this Saturday. What began as a small event in a marshy, icy cornfield has really grown.

The race will be hosted behind the Pit Stop Mobile on Route 4 in a half-mile gravel pit owned by Kurt Youland.

“So now we’ve made use of a more professional track,” said Wakefield, operations manager at United Sports, which along with Thule Trailers of Winslow is helping to sponsor the event.

The bowl-style track allows spectators to look down on the vintage racers.

“It’s pretty cool to watch these old sleds,” Wakefield said.

He said there were many more snowmobile manufacturers in the 1970s – and more than 200 brands of snowmobiles. Now there are four.

Only snowmobiles made before 1972 will be allowed to race; Wakefield expects about 200 entries.

Besides the main racing events, there will be kid races, powder-puff races for women and a parade of antique snowmobiles.

Vendors, food and hot beverages will be available.

Organizers will broadcast the events over the radio, so people can listen in their cars or on portable radios.

The parade of antique snowmobiles will feature some of the 350 sleds in the snowmobile museum at United Sports in Turner.

“Most of them don’t leave the museum,” Wakefield said.

What: Vintage Snowmobile Race

When: Saturday, Feb. 24

Where: Turner gravel pit

Tentative schedule:

7 a.m.: Gates open

7:30-9:30 a.m.: Registration

8 a.m.: Technical inspection

9:30 a.m.: Drivers meet to go over track and rules

10-11:30 a.m.: Qualifying runs

11:30 a.m.: Kids’ race

Noon: Powder-puff race

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Intermission and parade

1:30 p.m.: Main racing event