That constant roar of engines from Horseshoe Resort Sunday afternoon was the Ultimax SX National Finals of the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association (CSRA).
But it was also a family affair for some local residents.
“It’s just fun catching air, going really fast,” said six-year-old Jacob Meyer of Oro-Medonte Township, who was competing in three separate categories with three different sleds.
Orillia’s Gavin Burnett, 11, said it’s all about relationships.
“You connect with the sled, become one with it,” he said. “You get to hang out with family and friends. It’s one of my very favourites.
Burnett has been a snowcross racer for six years, and it runs in the family.
“A lot of these racers here, it’s generational,” said his mom, Krista Leigh. “His dad (Greg Burnett) raced until he was 18.
“You have to know a lot about snowmobiles and all the fixing to get into it.”
Vanessa Meyer, Jacobs's mom, said racers need support from their families.
“It’s a family team; the dad is the mechanic. You see it all the time,” she said, noting Jacob’s father Matthias. “They have mom here and dad there.
“It’s an individual sport, but it’s family.”
The weather couldn’t have been better on the weekend, as rain Saturday morning ended and sunny, colder temperatures took over that day into Sunday, making for fast racing conditions on Horseshoe Resorts tracks in Oro-Medonte.
CSRA events feature competition classes for snowmobiles, snow bikes and UTV(utility terrain vehicles) off-road vehicles.
There are classes available for new racers, including children as young as four years of age on 120cc snowmobiles, in novice, transition, junior, trail sport 0, sport, pro/am women, pro/am vets (30-plus)), pro-lite and pro.
Most late-model stock snowmobiles and limited-build race sleds (0-600cc) are eligible to compete in designated classes, providing they meet CSRA safety standards.
All racers need helmets, eye protection such as goggles, gloves, above ankle boots, knee and shin pads, and an approved upper body vest that provides full chest and back protection.
For more information, visit snowcross.com.
