According to the National Forest Service, the Lynx, which was once extinct in Colorado but was reintroduced to the area between 1999 and 2005, is potentially being threatened by snowmobiles in and around the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area.  With the species in the recovery mode, wildlife experts say it is critical that the species have new spaces in which their population can grow, find resources and breed safely.

The 50,000-acre tract of the White River National Forest is one such area, and it is also a popular area with recreational snowmobilers. Currently the National Forest Service limits the number of snowmobile outfitters on the pass, and the frequency of their trips, however they do not limit individual snowmobile use. The Forest Service is currently studying the effects of snowmobiles on lynx habitat and their main prey, snowshoe hare, while the state Department of Wildlife has radio-collared numerous lynx to monitor their movements throughout the Colorado mountains.

While no limits or bans have been placed on individual snowmobile use yet, environmentalists are starting to gather ammunition and momentum in what could shape up to be a land access battle reminiscent of Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota, where a battle over snowmobile access and habitat for the Timber Wolf loomed large during the late 1990’s.

The White River National Forest sprawls over most of Colorado and balances the needs of industry, recreation, and wildlife. For more information visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife at http://wildlife.state.co.us/ 

The wildly successful ERX Grassroots Snocross Series kicked off its second season of family fun at ERX Thursday night, December 17th as trail riders, vintage buffs, amateur racers and kids took to the ERX track for an evening of snocross racing under the lights. Joined by their friends and family trackside, the Grassroots series picked up where it left off last winter - bringing fun and affordability back to the sport of snowmobiling.
    The grassroots series features a class for every caliber of rider and every type of snowmobile including daily trail sleds and vintage leaf spring models. For just $35, aspiring racers can enjoy plentiful practice time at ERX pre-race. Then as the sun dips below the horizon and the lights power-up, racers will enjoy two complete races with the overall standings determined by their best-combined performance. At the same time, friends and family can take-in the action from the stands or heated viewing area, enjoy food and beverage courtesy of the Friendly Buffalo and soak in the atmosphere that has been likened to a gasoline induced Saint Paul Saints baseball game on snow.
    “We really want our Grassroots series to appeal to the average snowmobiler, not the racer,” said ERX co-owner Todd Plaisted. “There are plenty of places for serious snocross racers to go and compete. Instead this is about buddies racing buddies and friends enjoying a Thursday night doing something they love.”
     The first grassroots race of the winter season saw some familiar faces and some new ones as well, and no one left disappointed. “I’m coming back in two weeks,” said one wide-eyed racer from under his helmet at the close of racing. “I had a blast and I’m bringing my buddies with - they’re gonna love it.”
    Indeed, the next Grassroots Series event is slated for New Year’s Eve, December 31st. In addition to the usual Thursday night shenanigans, ERX is planning a few surprises including giveaways courtesy of Parts Unlimited, Sportech, HMK  and more.  Plus every racer who pre-registers for the event will become eligible to win a Z1R helmet to be given away at the event. All you need to do is register to race before 5:00pm, Wednesday, December 30th.  Plus, with racing action completed by 8:30pm, you’ll still have plenty of time to watch the ball drop at midnight.
    Visit www.erxmotorpark.com for more details or download a registration form here and celebrate New Year’s Eve with family and friends at ERX.

The snowmobile community is excited to announce the second annual Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week – which will be held February 12-22, 2010. This elongated week celebrates friends and family snowmobiling for 11 days including two weekends (and President’s Day in the United States). The snowmobile week was introduced to go hand in hand with the Take a Friend Snowmobiling campaign and has been developed to encourage all of us to take our non-snowmobiling friends out snowmobiling.  We have all had many conversations, telling stories about how much fun it is to take people snowmobiling, and many of us are realizing that we have a lot of non-snowmobiling friends to take snowmobiling.

The event is really designed to be simple and there are only a few recommended guidelines:
Safety training – make sure to cover all the safe snowmobiling behavior with your friend before taking them out on their first ride. Make sure the vehicle is in good mechanical order

. Make sure your friend is appropriately dressed and sober

.

A key ingredient to a good time for a first time snowmobiler is for us seasoned riders to make sure non-snowmobilers are comfortable when they first get on a snowmobile. You need to be cautious and ride slow when taking out a new rider. You should plan on making numerous stops and enjoying the scenery. It is always recommended that the first ride be rather short and include a stop for a light meal or hot chocolate or coffee and a little camaraderie and storytelling at the local restaurant, clubhouse or outdoor barbecue area.


Clubs are encouraged to participate in the activity and try to hold a special day or weekend encouraging members to bring non-snowmobiling friends to the clubhouse to go for a short ride and discover what snowmobilers do during the winter.


As a special incentive to take non-snowmobilers snowmobiling, the manufacturers will give away a $250.00 gift certificate to a lucky individual who registers and participates in the Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week event. The Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week Registration Form is now displayed on the Go Snowmobiling web site: www.gosnowmobiling.org, the ACSA web site:  www.snowmobilers.org and the CCSO web site: www.ccso-ccom.ca.  Non-snowmobilers and their snowmobiling friends need to fill out a registration form to be entered in the drawing for the gift certificate. The registration form is easy to fill out and can be e-mailed;        printed out and faxed to the ISMA Office at (517) 339-7798; or snail mailed to: 

Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week, 
1640 Haslett Road, Suite 170 
Haslett, MI 48840 


All of us collectively can really expand the idea and make this week an annual event.
 If you are going to be snowmobiling any time over February 12-22, 2010, plan on participating in Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week. Don’t forget to fill out a registration form and take advantage of the opportunity to win a $250 gift certificate.

Tucker Hibbert kept his winning streak alive December 18-19 at the International Series of Champions Amsoil Championship Snocross Series (ISOC ACSS) Milwaukee Mile National.

On the famed oval auto-racing track in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hibbert swept the Pro classes, earning his 50th Pro career victory in the process. In his last 14 starts dating back to the ’07-’08 season finale at Lake Geneva, WI, in March 2008, he is 14-for-14. He swept the Pro classes at that event and has dominated since then. In the ’08-’09 season he competed in four events (eight races) and was a perfect 8-for-8, and so far in ’09-’10 he’s 4-for-4.

"Every win is special and it always means something good to me," he said in a post-race interview. "I have 50 wins and 100 starts tonight and I'm really excited. That's a lot of racing and I'm just happy to be up here."

Hibbert's first win at the Milwaukee Mile National took place in Pro Stock. Though he had to battle from behind, once he got up front he ran away with the win, amassing a 10.5 second lead at the finish. Off the start in the 22-lap final on the .25-mile long track, Ross Martin grabbed the holeshot with Hibbert close behind. Levi LaVallee slotted into third with Steve Taylor, Dan Ebert and Robbie Malinoski following.

Close behind Martin for several laps, Hibbert pounced on lap five as the two front runners soared over the front stretch tabletop jump. Hibbert took the lead and from there he pulled away for an easy victory.

“When it’s time to pull the trigger I just try and do it quick and get away fast and try to not let the guys hang on to me too long,” Hibbert said.

Martin maintained his position and crossed the finish line in second. Behind Martin, several drivers battled for the final podium spot. On lap nine, Taylor shot by LaVallee for third.

Behind Taylor, Garth Kaufman was charging. Mired in eighth off the start, Kaufman picked his way to the front and passed Taylor on lap 15 for third place. He held onto that spot to earn his second podium of the ’09-’10 season and 11th overall. Malinoski passed Taylor late in the race for fourth. Though not a factor, Ryan Simons tipped over between turns three and four. As he tried to right his sled, flames shot out from under the hood, ending his Pro Stock bid.

In the 22-lap Pro Open final, Hibbert again had to battle from behind. On green, ’08-’09 National series Rookie of the Year Brett Bender snared the holeshot with Martin, Malinoski and Hibbert in tow. On lap two, Hibbert and Malinoski bumped in turn four. It slowed Malinoski, allowing Hibbert to take third behind Martin. Three laps later, Hibbert shot by Martin to take second place. Bender held off Hibbert’s charge for two laps but bobbled, allowing Hibbert to nab first on lap eight. From there, Hibbert poured it on. At the finish of the race, Hibbert had a 9 second lead over Bender, easily earning his 50th career victory.

“The whole crew behind me has just been working so hard,” Hibbert said. “I don’t want to let those guys down and I know they don’t want to let me down. We just keep building on each other and working harder and harder.”

Though Martin had a late-race rush trying to pass second-year Pro Bender, he held on to earn his fifth career Pro podium. Martin held on for third, capturing his third podium in the ’09-’10 season. It’s the second most podiums behind Hibbert’s four.

It's mid-December and there's snow on the ground - in most places across the Snowbelt. While we know you're itching to ride, you should still check out some events that are taking place this weekend, the weekend before Christmas. Here's a quick rundown of sled happenings:

•International Series of Champions Amsoil Championship Snocross Series
December 18-19
Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee, WI
For info, check out www.isocracing.com

Tucker Hibbert shoots for his 50th career win and 12th straight victory at the famed Milwaukee Mile race track, while others try to take the top perch from him. Just a week after the ISOC ACSS opener in Duluth, the Milwaukee Mile National certainly will feed your racng addiction. At the Amsoil Duluth National, Pro riders Ross Martin, Levi LaVallee, Garth Kaufman and Dan Ebert all took podium spots behind Hibbert. Others looking fast included Robbie Malinoski, Swedish import Emil Ohman and Tim Tremblay. In Semi-Pro action, 18-year-old Cody Thomsen made a spectacular debut in that class at Duluth. As a first-year Semi-Pro, he won Open and Stock 2. He'll try to continue that in Milwaukee.


•WSA Pro Ice Xtreme
Ice oval racing
December 19-20
Raceway Park
Shakopee, MN
For info, visit www.pro-ice.com

Ice oval racing heats up Raceway Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. It's the first time a race has taken place on the 3/8-mile track in the southern suburb of Minneapolis. With cold temperatures and plenty of ice, the racing action will be fierce.

Team Owners Levi LaVallee and Glen Kafka are excited to announce the Launch of Team LaVallee. Team LaVallee will consist of 5 time Winter X Games Medalist and defending ISOC Pro Stock Champion Levi LaVallee and Semi Pro rider Chris Kafka. The team will compete in all of the ISOC Nationals and the ESPN Winter X Games. “I can’t wait for this season to start! With the combination of great sponsors, a unbelievable crew and with the alliance of Hentges Racing sharing sled set-ups and technical information, I think we have all the right ingredients to have a successful year,” states LaVallee. LaVallee looked at the team as a way of becoming
more involved in the sport that he loves and hopes that it will be a way to keep him involved down the road after he has  nished racing.

Team LaVallee’s Crew will stay the same as it has been for the past few years; Crew Chef, Glen Kafka along with mechanics Terry Gilomen and Je  Le el. The team will be based out of the Polaris Race Department in Wausau, WI. Some of the sponsors that are supporting Team LaVallee for the 09-10 Race Season are; Polaris, Parts Unlimited, National Guard, Woody's, Pure Polaris and many more. Team LaVallee is looking forward to this 09/10 Season Opener in Duluth. For more information, keep your eyes on www.teamlavallee.com