Chad Maki, son of 12-time Grantsburg Watercross champion Mark Maki, cruised to victories in Pro Open and Stock Ovals July 16-18 at the 34th annual Grantsburg Watercross in Grantsburg, Wisconsin.

The Minnesotan now has four Pro victories at that contest. He won Pro Stock Ovals in 2008 and 2009. In Pro Stock Ovals, Maki crossed the line in front of former champ Howie Steenburg and 2006 champion Andy Busse, who finished second and third, respectively. In Pro Open Ovals, Maki piloted his Ski-Doo ahead of Brian McCurdy Jr. and Scott Mosher.

In the drag racing classes, Jerry Rinker took first in the Mod class. It's his third Mod class win at Grantsburg since 2007. Krista Maki-Zurn took the win in 800 Drags, while David Fischer won 600 Drags.

In Semi-Pro, Dan Dombrowsky won Semi-Pro Stock and Greg Metz took Semi-Pro Open.

Grantsburg World Championship Snowmobile Watercross
Grantsburg, WI
July 16-18, 2010

600 Drags: 1. David Fischer (Doo); 2. Cole Engstrand (Pol); 3. Bradley Maslow (Pol)
800 Drags: 1. Krista Maki-Zurn (Doo); 2. David Fischer (Doo); 3. Charlie Fleck (Doo)
Mod Drags: 1. Jerry Rinker (Doo); 2. Andy Busse (Doo); 3. Matt Ledin (Pol)
Semi-Pro Stock: 1. Dan Dombrowsky (Yam); 2. Troy Marsh (Yam); 3. Joe Schellbach (Cat)
Semi-Pro Open: 1. Greg Metz (Pol); 2. D.J. Lindbeck (Cat); 3. J.T.  Kosnitch (Doo)
Pro Stock: 1. Chad Maki (Doo); 2. Howard Steenberg (Doo); 3. Andy Busse (Doo)
Pro Open: 1. Chad Maki (Doo); 2. Brian McCurdy Jr. (Cat); 3. Scott Mosher (Pol)


Photo by Dawn Cross

One of the most talented, up and coming snocross stars in the world is coming to race against the best of the best in the International Series of Champions (ISOC) National tour this winter. Nineteen year‐old Johan Lidman (pronounced, “leed‐man”) will join the Team Sportech Racing effort for the 2010‐2011 season and will compete in the pro ranks for the entire ISOC National tour.

Johan is no stranger to success, having won both the Swedish National Championship and the Swedish Super Stadium Snocross Championship last season. But despite those impressive year‐end
accomplishments, North American snocross fans may best recognize Johan for one race in particular during the FIM Snocross World Championship in Mala, Sweden this past April. It was here, where another
accomplished racer, Tucker Hibbert, was abruptly introduced to the speed and ability of Lidman, when Johan rocketed past Hibbert for the lead in the second round of racing. While Hibbert eventually went on
to win the race and the World Championship, Lidman finished second overall and almost instantly became a global snocross sensation with his impressive showing.

“Johan really captured our attention with his outstanding performance on the track last year,” said Team Sportech Racing owner and manager Chris Carlson. “There’s no question in my mind that this
young man can compete with the best riders in the sport.”

After several phone calls and discussions with Arctic Cat Race Manager Mike Kloety, Lidman and his father Leif made the journey to Elk River, Minnesota in late June to meet Carlson and his family; tour the facilities of Sportech, ERX Motor Park, which is also owned by Carlson; as well as the Arctic Cat headquarters in Thief River Falls. Throughout the trip, Johan met several people who proved instrumental in eventually making it possible for Johan to fulfill his lifelong goal of racing in North America against the best riders in the world.

Hailing from Pitea, Sweden, a small coastal town in northern Sweden, Johan started his racing career at 11 years of age. Now just 19, Johan has demonstrated he has both the physical and mental abilities to win at the highest level in the sport. While it’s unsure if Lidman will return to the United States in time for the SnoBarons Haydays World Championship Grass Drags and Swap Meet, which is often viewed as a kick‐off to the winter season and a chance for snocross racers to meet fans and talk to members of the media, he definitely will be here in time to prepare for the first national race of the season in Duluth, Minnesota, November 26‐28.

“We are ecstatic to have Johan join our team,” said Carlson. “He’s not only a gifted racer but also an outstanding person. His professionalism, strong family values and integrity fit the Sportech mold. Those values are just as important as winning on the track for us and our sponsors.” Helping Johan adapt to the rigors of national competition in the United States will be Andrew Carlson, a fixture of the Team Sportech Racing effort for many seasons and son of Chris Carlson. After another successful season, where he captured a national win and finished second overall in the National Season Points in the Sport Super Stock 2 division, Andrew will move up to compete in the National Semi‐ Pro ranks.

With the addition of Johan Lidman to Team Sportech Racing, it will most certainly bring a heightened level of awareness and value to the partners and sponsors who are associated with the team. According the Carlson, rumors of Lidman’s agreement have already captured the attention of some new partners to the Sportech fold. “There are only a handful of athletes in this sport than can generate huge levels of awareness beyond the track,” said Carlson. “Guys like Tucker (Hibbert) and Levi (LaVallee) can do that and we believe Johan is quickly going to become one of those top caliber athletes.”

To learn more about Team Sportech Racing and how your company or brand can partner and share in their success, visit their website at www.teamsportechracing.com.

Swap meet spots for the 44th annual Sno-Barons Haydays Grass Drags & Swap Meet went on sale July 10.

Like last year, securing a swap meet spot should be done online on the Sno-Barons Web site (www.snobarons.com/swapmeet/index.html). The swap meet spots are 20 feet by 20 feet and are $30 per spot. Swappers must purchase a minimum of two spots.The Sno-Barons ask that all swappers check the length of space needed before ordering.

This year, Haydays moves to a new location in Sunrise Township, Minnesota, about eight miles east of North Branch, Minnesota.The new site is bigger than the previous site, and the Sno-Barons said there will be about 20 percent more swap meet sites available than at the old site. The event, scheduled for September 11-12, promises to be bigger and better than ever, with an additional Expo/ATV test ride area, more swap sites, a state-of-the-art grass drag track and plenty of nearby parking, according to the Sno-Barons.

More information about the event can be found at www.snobarons.com.

OTSFF Sports Marketing Group is proud to announce the signing of a two-year venture with Polaris Industries, to run the snocross program in Canada.

The team, which will campaign the CSRA Snowcross Championship series as Polaris OTSFF Racing, will feature Iain Hayden and Lee Butler at the controls of the potent new 2011 Polaris sleds. In addition to the national points chase, the team will also contest the CSRA’s regional tour to assure maximum exposure for Medina, Minnesota-based Polaris.

Hayden, who has won three CSRA Pro National Championship titles, will be joined on the team by his archrival in the 2010 CSRA Pro Open Championship Lee Butler. Like Hayden, Butler is also a three-time pro champ. His most recent title win was in the CSRA Pro Open division this year.

Butler is no stranger to the OTSFF Racing paddock. The Northbrooke, Ontario native raced snowmobiles for the team in ’05, ’06, and ’07 and belongs to the elite of Canada’s snowcross racing community.

Espanola, Ontario’s Hayden has been an OTSFF Racing stalwart for the past 10 years both in snocross and motocross. The past two seasons Hayden has competed on Yamaha snowmobiles. In the 2010 CSRA series, Hayden was in contention for the title along with Butler till the bitter end. When all was said and done at the final race of the season, he and Butler were tied in the points standings. The title went to Butler, as he had one more event win to his credit.

Although Polaris OTSFF Racing’s main focus will be on the CSRA Championship, the team will also attend selected ISOC events south of the border.

GREAT FALLS, MT (July 7)--Recreation groups are applauding a victory for public access announced in federal court in Montana on July 2, 2010.  The Court found legal flaws in a 2007 Travel Plan issued by the Lewis and Clark National Forest, and adopted the remedy proposed by the Forest Service and Plaintiffs in the case.  As a result, restrictions on over 200 miles of trail will be modified, and travel for dispersed camping restored on over 80,000 acres within 300 feet of certain routes.

"This is an unprecedented result for the recreation community," observed Brian Hawthorne, Public Lands Policy Director of the BlueRibbon Coalition.  "Too many agencies have erred on the side of eliminating access, and we hope that this decision sends the message that the law requires balance, and that recreationists should never give up hope participating in the process," Hawthorne concluded.

The recent order came in the "remedy phase" of the litigation, and followed the Court's ruling on the merits on March 10, 2010.  A judgment largely concluding proceedings in the district court was filed on July 6, 2010.  Preservationist intervenors Montana Wilderness Association have indicated they are likely to appeal.

To learn more click here.