Hibou Blanc Snowmobile Club celebrates 16th annual drag race  

By Tara Kirkpatrick
tara@thereview.on.ca

Wentworth – On February 14, the Hibou Blanc Snowmobile Club hosted the 16th annual Valentine’s Day Drag Race at the McOuat family farm in Wentworth North.

More than 300 Hibou Blanc snowmobile club members and skidoo enthusiasts from across Ontario and Quebec were busy tuning the engines of their sleds and listening to the roar of the crowds as they raced across a 660-foot field and attempted to win the title of ‘King of the Hill’.

“This year we honoured the 40-year anniversary of the Hibou Blanc Skidoo Club by throwing all of our resources into the drag race and encouraging enthusiasts to come out and participate in the race or simply enjoy the free admission to watch it,” said Hibou Blanc director Peter Haldimand.

With over 122 kilometers of trails and over 300 members, the Hibou Blanc club represents a growing group of outdoor enthusiasts who avidly await the return of winter to strap on their helmets and jump on their sleds.

“The majority of our trails pass through privately owned land and link over 30,000 kilometers of trail across Quebec. A growing number of our members are families and we are welcoming a new and younger generation of riders to our sport.” said Haldimand.

Proceeds collected from this year’s drag race will be used to support the purchase of a new piston bully trail groomer to maintain the trail network, which Haldimand estimates to cost as much as $700 per kilometer to maintain.

Races lasted throughout the day and included 12 classes of competitions ranging from 600-cc un-modified sleds to the 1,000- cc modified divisions.

Approximately 50 riders participated in the event, the majority of them registering in three or four races. The esteemed title of ‘King of the Hill’ and a $1,000 cash prize was awarded to a rider representing HP Gregoire Recreatif, who finished first place in the category of open class, modified division.

Watch a video of this event shot by Tara Kirkpatrick