STOUGHTON - Fifteen snowmobile riders came out to enjoy a mild winter day on Jan. 14 for the Mexican Jumping Bean 100-mile Ice Race.
Jay Johnston put on the event with the help of Pat Haddow.
The name of the event comes from Johnston’s nickname, Taco. He felt it was a fitting name to stay in the same line.
Johnston and his family have always been into snow machines and are members of the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club.
Haddow boasts a large collection of vintage snowmobiles. Haddow got Johnston into the old, single-cylinder machines and now Johnston is hooked.
The event took place 10 kilometres north of Stoughton, on a lake located half a kilometer off Highway 47 to the east.
There is no road leading to the frozen lake, so a wide path was cleared through the field with a large area for parking.
It takes many hours to clear the snow. Also, four volunteers are needed to count laps, and six volunteers are needed with sleds to pull off any machine that might break down out on the lake.
A food booth was on site, run by the Stoughton Girl Guides and offering hot drinks and sandwiches.
Registration began at 10 a.m. with the lineup for the race at noon.
More than 15 machines sat along the edge of the manufactured track, waiting for the time to commence.
The track is roughly two kilometres long and it loops and curves on the frozen lake, with straw bales lining the tight turns.
The single cylinder machines needed to be 1975 or older in order to run in this ice race.
This is the third time the race has been held. The first year they saw 30 riders coming from Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Minnesota.
The second year the race was held in March and a thaw occurred, leaving water a foot deep on the lake. It did freeze but they decided to not hold it that late in the year.
For two years the race was not held, but this year they were able to hold the event once again.
Johnston said, “Sadly we did not have any women participate this year, nor did we have a kiddy class.”
It takes 80 laps to make 100 miles. After 40 laps they refuel and speed off again.
According to Johnston there are few of these races in Saskatchewan, so another one is already scheduled for the second weekend in January next year.
“No one got hurt and everyone had a great time,” Johnston said.
It is their plan to add a modified class to this event next year.
