SAULT STE. MARIE — Race week at the I-500 track in Sault Ste. Marie is underway with activities leading up to race day Saturday.
Young racers from toddler age through 10 took part Sunday in the Walsh Service Solutions Mini-5 kids snowmobile races on a small portion of the one-mile oval. It was the second year the kids races were held on the track after previously taking place in the upper parking lot.
“It’s just been a spectacular event. Kids coming from all over the state and even out of the state at times,” said Ric Federau, chairman of the I-500.
Federau said the kids event has become part of a “feeder system,” with some participants later racing on the track.
“Over the years, we have developed a feeder system. We have actually had kids race in our little kids race and now today they are on the track. It means a lot to these kids,” Federau said.
Seven-year-old racer Lennox May said he had liked snowmobiling since he was 4.
“With it being in our backyard here, we always make it our priority to bring our kids here as it is important,” said Marcie Fierek, whose children raced Sunday. “It is kind of special to have the kids here on this track,” she said.
James Kay, an I-500 board member and volunteer, said the young racers handled the course, including the corners, at speed.
“They do pretty good down the straightaway and they slow up a bit in the corners obviously and some of these young kids handle it very well with some of the speeds they were hitting,” Kay said.
Nine-year-old racer Sawyer Deschamps said his uncle Ryan encouraged him to race.
“My Uncle Ryan because he has been racing for a while and he got me into it because he always said I should race because it was very fun. And then I did it and it was very fun,” Deschamps said.
Kay said some of the kids could end up racing the I-500 in the future.
“Some of these kids in 10 years maybe could be out here racing this race,” Kay said.
Federau said the kids races have become a highlight for families and organizers.
“It’s huge to us, the kids love it, the parents love it and we love having them,” he said.
The green flag for the 500-mile race is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday. More information is available at i-500.com.