The 5th Annual Snodeo was held on Bear Lake in Manawa on Feb. 17 and 18.
It was sponsored by the Northport Snowriders, Manawa Lions Club and Fox Valley Technical College students and staff. The weather was absolutely perfect for both the newly added oval race under the lights on Friday night, plus the Lakecross racing on Saturday.
It appeared early on that warm weather would take the ice layer down, but there was a solid 12 inches of ice across the entire lake and fans were treated to some excellent races from participants throughout the region.
The opening ceremony included a flag bearer parade, fireworks and some free style bike stunts. However, the real treat was the final event on Friday evening in which a group of top oval snowmobile racers went head to head with a host of ice racing motorcycles. Although this type of an event can be dangerous the skill levels of all riders showed, with no incidence and excellent competition. Both groups vowed to attempt this head-to-head contest again next year, which is truly a great contest and extremely rare to experience.
The Lions Club radar run had a good showing even with snowmobile trails closed. Several runs of up to 120 MPH were recorded on the 1,000-foot, shaved ice track. Kitty cat racers and 120 junior racing had a good turnout and continues to grow.
The 2013 Snodeo is scheduled for Feb. 15 and 16.
2012 Snodeo Results
Friday “Under The Lights” Vintage Oval Racing
440 Fan: 1st Place: Matt VanEpps, 2nd Place: Luke Schwantes – Marshfield, 3rd Place: Doug Ellerman – Appleton.
Juniors 1: 1st Place: Danielle Behn – Waupaca, 2nd Place: Sean Shively – Shawano.
Super Stock 250: 1st Place: Tanner Wunderlich – Hortonville, 2nd Place: Kevin Tober – Marion.
Super Stock 340: 1st Place: Jim Lemke – New London, 2nd Place: Cody Wunderlich – Hortonville, 3rd Place: Tim Sheldon – Clintonville.
Super Mod 800: 1st Place: Danielle Behn – Waupaca, 2nd Place: Dennis Dain – Neenah.
Super Stock 440: 1st Place: Jim Lemke – New London, 2nd Place: Cody Wunderlich – Hortonville, 3rd Place: Tanner Wunderlich – Hortonville.
Bike A Class: 1st Place: Jake Cunningham, 2nd Place: Fred Therrien – Kaukauna, 3rd Place: Dan VanDaalwyk.
Bike B Class: 1st Place: Phil Popour, 2nd Place: Brian Zanzig, 3rd Place: Kenn Seif
Relic Mod 440: 1st Place: Kevin Tober – Marion.
IFS Sno Pro 440: 1st Place: Butch Thiel – Shawano, 2nd Place: Danielle Behn – Waupaca, 3rd Place: Dennis Dain – Neenah.
Super Mod 340: 1st Place: Jeremy DuQuaine – Shawano, 2nd Place: Rick Bartel – Shiocton.
Pro Mod 340: 1st Place: Jim Lemke – New London, 2nd Place: Jeremy DuQuaine – Shawano, 3rd Place: Rick Bartel – Shiocton.
Mod Stock 440: 1st Place: Danielle Behn – Waupaca, 2nd Place: Tanner Wunderlich – Hortonville.
2012 Saturday Snodeo Winners – Lakecross
Masters: 1st Place: Terry Faust – Rubicon, 2nd Place: Galen Manternach – Friendship, 3rd Place: Russ Moberly – West Bend.
Womens: 1st Place: Sarah Wiedmeyer – Nekoosa, 2nd Place: Hillary Brummond – Mayville, 3rd Place: Amanda Brummond – Mayville.
Leaf Spring Vintage (Open): 1st Place: Allen Feutz – Rubicon, 2nd Place: John Anderson – Bowler, 3rd Place: Kevin Tober.
Semi-Pro (0-500): 1st Place: Travis Faust – Rubicon, 2nd Place: Tanner Ecklund – Neenah, 3rd Place: Pete Stern – New London.
Amateur Studded (0-500): 1st Place: Al Stern – New London, 2nd Place: Kyle Uselding – Fredonia, 3rd Place: Cole Weber – Hartford.
Pro (0-500): 1st Place: Ryan Faust – Rubicon, 2nd Place: Jeff Kreuziger – Juneau, 3rd Place: Trenton Ecklund – Neenah.
Amateur Unstudded(0-500): 1st Place: Devin Geschler – Mayville, 2nd Place: Marcus Korth – New London.
Juniors (13-17): 1st Place: Jonah Held – Rubicon, 2nd Place: Cole Weber – Hartford, 3rd Place: Trevor Taubenheim – Neillsville.
Leaf Spring Vintage (0-400): 1st Place: JR Anderson – Bowler, 2nd Place: Kevin Tober, 3rd Place: Jeffrey Belling – Kewaunee.
Semi-Pro (Open): 1st Place: Darren Brummond – Mayville, 2nd Place: Jonah Held – Rubicon, 3rd Place: Brandon Schmidt – Beaver Dam.
Amateur Studded (Open): 1st Place: Dan Kesner – Port Washington, 2nd Place: Nathan Keller – Lomira, 3rd Place: Dustin Dorsey.
Amateur Unstudded (Open): 1st Place: Kyle Weber – Hartford, 2nd Place: Ryan Kossler – Plover, 3rd Place: David Radtke – New London.
Pro-Trail (Open): 1st Place: Gaz – Fredonia, 2nd Place: Matt Bohm – Dunlap, IL, 3rd Place: Nathan Keller – Lomira.
Iron Man/Pro Open: 1st Place: Trenton Ecklund – Neenah, 2nd Place: Ryan Faust – Rubicon, 3rd Place: Jeff Kreuziger – Juneau.
3-Man Team Amateur: 1st Place: “Mayville Boys”
3-Man Pro/Semi-Pro: 1st Place: “Faust Racing”
3-Man Pro Trail: 1st Place: “Level Acres Racing”
Kitty Kat: 1st Place: Connor Petit – Poy Sippi
Kitty Kat Contestants: Jack Wiedmeyer, Clare Wiedmeyer, Jason Wiedmeyer, Luke VanLyssel, James Seeger,Sawyer Griffin, Ben Stern, Jacob Ganzen, Nathan Ganzen, Bodee Smith.
RADAR RUNS
Division I – 1st Place: Todd Dempsey 118 mph
Division II – 1st Place: Cory Jawort – 91 mph
Division III – 1st Place: Dick Larson – 86 mph
Division IV – 1st Place: Gary Woods – 79 mph