2010 Classic Vintage Weekend Presented By WOODY'S Jan. 8th -10th
Vintage World Champion to receive coveted American Snowmobiler Magazine American Eagle Trophy

The Classic Vintage Weekend will once again open the “Derby Week” this year. The vintage action starts Friday, January 8th 2010.
Vintage racing is fast closing in on its contemporary counterparts and matching the entry numbers of current snocross and ice oval competitors. For the last seven years, the venerable machines of yesterday have started the season with their own weekend of Classic Vintage Racing at the Derby Track. (Jan. 8th -10th) “It’s impressive and extremely entertaining to watch sleds from 6, 7, 8, even more manufacturers all in one race together,” said Mark Savage, editor of American Snowmobiler. Each year The Vintage World Champion is awarded the sparkling American Eagle Trophy from American Snowmobiler magazine at the end of the festivities. Last year Tony Pettinelli Jr from Rome NY. won the trophy, and this year it’s up for grabs again!

This style of racing has come a long way from its first appearance in 1991 at the Derby and in 2008 another publication recognized the event’s prominence, as Snowgoer called it the ‘Snowmobile Event of the Year.’ The machines are meticulously restored, engines are tuned and reliable, and the racers themselves look sharp in leathers from several eras and contemporary race gear. The closeness of the competition is highly reminiscent of the “good old days.”
Recently the term “Classic” was put in front of “Vintage” thereby making this the Classic Vintage Weekend at the Derby and it lives up to that term. The iron you’ll see on the ice oval is superbly restored and in many cases hand-built. Fans will recognize popular racers still circling the ice, including World Champions Jacques Villeneuve and Chuck Decker. But there are dozens of serious race teams that work tirelessly from their impressive race haulers to get their sleds in tip-top condition, and the races are always exciting

No other race facility treats drivers better than the Derby. The trophies are the biggest, the winners take home more money, and racers even get to take home their commemorative checkered flags.

If you’re looking to save on advanced super tickets, reserve your indoor Hot Seats or park your motor home track side, call the Derby track office at 715-479-4424 or visit www.derbytrack.com for more information.

The famed Eagle River Derby will be forty-seven years old in January, and it just keeps getting better with age.

The Derby’s beginning in 1964 was inspired by a drive to create a tourist draw and an impetus to the then slow and economically deprived winter season. Ten Eagle River businessmen, each anted up $1,000 to give their community a leg up on the rest of the snow bound states. They were successful beyond their own expectations. Today’s “Derby” is recognized around the world as the biggest and grandest snowmobile race, anywhere. When the 2010 Derby opens its gates, fans will be treated to a plethora of wintery motorized action.

While the Derby is best known for presentation of premier ice oval racing, it has also given spectators other variations of snowmobile competition. The very first Derby was a short cross country, that employed a modest hill in its route. By 1965, neighboring Rhinelander got on the band wagon, with a 35 mile cross country between the two towns. At Dollar Lake, the initial site of the Derby, the short cross country, an obstacle slalom and a hill climb were all facets of the competition. But the highlight of the event was a ten lap oval race on the ice of the lake.

The 1966 Derby was plagued by warm weather and a “slushy” Dollar Lake for a race track. It was apparent to the sponsoring Lions Club that they’d have to move it to a land site. Several acres close to town, fronting on Highway 45, was leased (later purchased) and Eagle River became one of the few places that had an oval track constructed for a single purpose snowmobile track. At that time, most oval races were run on frozen lakes and cross country, the other popular form of competition, only needed farmer’s fields or wooded acreage. The Derby was already “ahead of its time” and showing the young industry that Eagle River was going to lead the way in snowmobile race presentation.

Fast forward forty six years and you have the World Championship Snowmobile Derby® of today. The twenty acres on Highway 45 have turned into a first class motor sports headquarters. The race and the stature it has earned, is the primary reason that Eagle River has the trademarked title “Snowmobile Capital of the World®.”

When the 2010 version opens its gate, it will be for a ten day “show.” Opening weekend, January 8th thru January 10th, will get everything started with three days of “old time” racing as classic and vintage sleds once again test driver’s talents and machine superiority. Don’t think you’ll be watching some “old iron” that got dragged out of the barn. The Vintage racers ride meticulously restored machines that are more mechanically dependable than the day they were built. Vintage racing is fast becoming a great racing format and a super spectator experience.

Mid-week (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) is a chance for race fans to get out on the sno-cross course themselves, visit with incoming race teams and even get in some trail riding.

Thursday (January 14) Championship racing starts in earnest, with time World Championship time trails. And then Oval and Sno Cross qualifying.

Friday is a full day of blistering qualifying action in both oval and sno-cross. The excitement peaks during the Parts Unlimited Friday Night Thunder undisputedly the best show in snowmobile racing. There’s Mini 120 races, Sweet Sixteen pole position Qualifying and the Ultimax Pro Sno-Cross Open. Returning, by popular demand…the Big Bore Motorcycles. Be here early for the spectacular fireworks opening at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

The tempo does not slow on Saturday as the all-important Championship qualifying takes the stage.

Sunday is the climax to the intense competition of the preceding days. IT’S CHAMPIONSHIP DAY! This is the day that everyone comes for—both racers and fans alike.

Don’t miss the grandest “old” race in all of snowmobiling.

Save on advanced super tickets. Reserve your indoor Hot Seats or park your motor home track side. Call the Derby track office at 715-479-4424 or go online at www.derbytrack.com for more information.