Mother Nature finally let National Straightline Snowmobile Racing get its season under way and show off the goods this past weekend in Forest Lake, Minn. And what a good show it was, with three world records falling at the event!
Sub-zero temps started the day off slow for nearly 100 Pro racers on the day’s first runs down 1,000 feet of shaved ice on the lake. Another 110 Radar Run racers took to the amateur track, making for constant action throughout the afternoon.
The first world record to fall was in the Pro Stock 1500 class when Rani Waldoch (Indiana) piloted the Crank Shop 1998 Ski-Doo Mach Z through the 1,000-foot mark at 150.522 mph (149.220 mph backup run).
RPS Racing took their turn at record breaking in the 440 Improved Stock class when Devin Spindler (Wisconsin) brought a 1995 Polaris XCR 440 home at 106.270 mph (106.142 mph backup) over 1,000 feet. Former record holder Jenna Grussendorf had held the record for 10 years!
The Trail Stock 440 Fan class also saw a record fall when Tim Konsela (Wisconsin) posted a run of 81.203 mph (81.050 mph backup).
Top speed of the day was earned by Rick Schellbach aboard his Super Mod 1620cc Laydown Sled when he blistered the 1,000-foot track at 162.711 mph. Schellbach has his sights set on breaking the 165-mph mark and a new world record in this class at the next NSSR race in Chetek, Wis., on Feb. 27, 2016.
NSSR is the only ISR Affiliated Speed Run organization where you can set World Records on the 1000 foot shaved ice competition. All records require a second run within 2% to back up their World Record run.
In spite of a sub-par winter, NSSR continues to put great effort into providing a fun, professional racing series. The shows they put on during race weekends are great fun for racers, their families and fans of snowmobiling alike. Classes are setup so that just about anyone with a snowmobile can race, regardless of experience or mechanical aptitude.
There are multiple Pro, Stock, and Vintage classes at each race. For more information, results and upcoming events visit www.racenssr.com.
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Photos courtesy of NSSR and Rick Dobson