High-speed cars and glaring ice could seem like a recipe for disaster. However, it is a formula for winter fun for dozens of cars in Otter Tail County. There are some scuffed and filthy race vehicles sitting on the ice of Bass Lake, which is close to Underwood. Some have just been washed and cleverly painted. On a Sunday afternoon, however, they are all here with the same goal in mind: to race as quickly as they can on a half-mile oval ice track. The head of this group of over fifty drivers, Dave Holmgren, stated, “We’re all out here playing because fishing is bad right now.” He always has a smile on his face and is wearing a green vest with Mr. Official printed on the back. There has been ice racing for about 30 years here at Underwood, sponsored by the local Lions Club.
About forty-five years ago, in his twenties, Holmgren began ice racing. He pointed to a hefty, bearded man who carries the good humor gene and remarked, “Then I got my boy started into it.” Since he was 15, 29-year-old Jake Holmgren has participated in ice racing. He finds enjoyment and interacting with others to be the main draws. He explained the appeal of racing on sheer ice by saying, “Going in circles, passing cars, doing some doughnuts.” After everything is finished, grab a great hot dog, fries, and a drink. It is merely amusement. Funds are raised for charitable gifts by the food shack. According to Dave Holmgren, interest in the sport is rising. On an average Sunday, about fifty drivers arrive, and more young drivers are coming out to race.
We’re all having a good time out here. We’re very good men,” he remarked, laughing. Almost all of the people here are volunteers. It involves the entire community. That has been the case for a while. Cars are divided into various classes. At 80 miles per hour, some sport studded tires tear up the ice. Regular-tired cars may reach a top speed of thirty miles per hour. It’s definitely not the fastest thing with rubber tires, but Dave Holmgren said, “I tell you what, if you’re at the right place at the right time and you have good patience, you can always wave to your buddy when you go by.” Some racers invest thousands of dollars in speed-enhancing engines. Others make minimal auto investments beyond tires.
Over time, tire technology has evolved to increase safety. Dave Holmgren remarked, “We started out with just plain tires, and now we have a track tire.” “That made all the difference.” Crash rates are comparatively low. In the majority, an automobile slides into the snow mound that encircles the track. Dave Holmgren described the on-track battle for position as “a little bit of paint swapping.” “Everyone is generally rather good about it. We all talk to one other, but sometimes we could get one who is a little upset. During races, the ice racers cheer on the spectators. Additionally, children as young as seven years old are permitted to race with parental consent. Children such as 14-year-old Claire Blaskowski operate vehicles with standard tires that have a top tire pressure of about 30 miles per hour.
Claire has three years of racing experience. She clarified that she simply enjoys moving quickly, saying, “My dad started doing it and I really liked sitting in the car with him before I started doing the kids races.” Despite not having a driver’s license yet, she is capable of driving on ice and rarely gets into accidents. “Occasionally,” she acknowledged. The state of the ice determines this. Every weekend is different. Chris Blaskowski, her father, is a fast-studded tire driver. Five years ago, he began racing here. “We love it,” he remarked. “My daughter started enjoying it, so we keep coming, even though I didn’t think I’d be doing it this long.” They travel for two hours from St. Cloud every winter weekend when the ice is thick enough to race.
He doesn’t hesitate to put his daughter in a race car. He remarked, “I genuinely believe it’s a positive experience for her to learn.” “I believe it will only make them better drivers once they get their license if they can screw around, spin out, and possibly even get hit more.” Drivers assemble around Mr. Official fifteen minutes prior to the start of the race. “I appreciate you coming again,” he says to the gathering. Now that we are at the third week, we are all aware of what occurs during that time. Do your animals consume raw flesh, iron, or anything else? This is how he tells the drivers to stop driving so aggressively. “All of us must now improve our composure, okay? We’re not vying for Daytona money,” he added, “so take it easy, so we can have some fun.”
The money is not the point of this. Even a driver who wins every race in their class today might only receive $15 in prize money, which is insufficient to pay for gas. According to Dave Holmgren, the objective is to raise funds for the Lions Club’s philanthropic contributions. He believes that excessive prize money will detract from the enjoyment of ice racing. For drivers like Jake Holmgren, there doesn’t appear to be any risk of it occurring. “You will become addicted to ice racing as soon as you get in a car.” It really is that easy.
