Snowmobile racing set for Feb. 20-21
By Holly Neumann
The 14th annual Manawa Snodeo will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20–21 at Conroy’s Bear Lake Resort.
Registration will begin at 7 a.m., with racing to get underway at 9 a.m.
Racing events include a 2-mile-long snowmobile lakecross course, pro vintage oval racing, 1,000-foot radar runs, ice drags, kitty kat racing, mini-bikes and lawn mowers. New this year is side-by-side/UTV racing under the lights.
“We have four tracks running simultaneously,” said Dave Sarna, who helps organize the event. “There is always something to watch.”
This year Snodeo will also feature a replica of a 1968 Tradewinds Cheetah snowmobile. The original sled was created in Manawa and was the first to have broken the 100 mph speed barrier.
“In March 2020, the Donald Craig family contacted the Manawa Snodeo and expressed interest in attempting to duplicate this feat primarily to set the record straight and prove to the many skeptical people in the snowmobile community that this accomplishment did indeed happen,” Sarna said.
Brian Hansen will drive the replica snowmobile this year and make several attempts to break the 100 mph barrier once again.
Following the event, the snowmobile will go to the World Snowmobile Headquarters Museum in Eagle River.
Admission to Manawa Snodeo is $15 per day or $20 for the weekend.
Funds raised go back to the community, according to Sarna.
“Every club, organization and kid that is willing to work, we offer payment to them or to a charity or civic organization of their choice,” he said. “We have made multiple donations to over 40 local clubs, charities and civic organizations.”
The Manawa Snodeo Committee also offers a $500 scholarship each year to a local high school student.
“We know what a difficult year it has been on everyone in the country,” Sarna said. “We are pressing forward. We feel most people in the area are going stir crazy and want to get out of the house to do something that is fun to watch and especially to forget about life’s problems for a few hours.”
COVID-19 precautions are being put in place for the event, Sarna said.
“Come on out, spend the day, bring the family and put worries aside,” he said.