complete revolution 24 hours at eagle river

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow will keep mail carriers from delivering letters and packages daily. If only the racers at the first annual 24 Hours of Eagle River had been blessed with such ideal conditions.

At 1 p.m., Saturday, March 11, 1995, 21 race teams with stock 440 sleds lined up on the World Championship Ice Oval in Eagle River, Wisconsin. All intended to outlast each other in a 24-hour race and complete the most laps. After 60-degree weather turned the track to mud, slush and 100-foot stretches of four-foot deep water; only 13 teams survived snowmobiling's most challenging non-stop endurance test of man and machine.

Even with less than ideal conditions, most racers and crews said they had fun. More importantly, the manufacturers said the race proved to be a viable venue for head-to-head competition. With cooperation from Mother Nature, the 24 Hours of Eagle River has the potential of becoming one of the most sought-after endurance proving grounds. Its winning team and sled will lay undisputed claim to the title "Die Hard Highness."

Track owner Chuck Decker says the idea originated when he and his brother Steve, an enduro racer, were talking about putting on a race that was tough beyond belief. "We remembered the Kawasaki 24-Hour Challenge years back when they put up money for anyone who could beat their team in a 24-hour race," says Decker. The more we talked about it, the more we thought the 24 Hours of Eagle River would be the ultimate endurance test of man, machine and crew." Decker notes that the first all-day race was much more grueling and challenging than any other endurance race. "In this race you don't race for three hours and have the rest of the day to sleep like you do in a 500-miler," he adds. "The race isn't over after seven hours like the Soo I-500. Drivers go an hour and a half before getting a rest, but it's much deserved after the pace they set."

Fatigue was hard to fight off says racer Wendy Moyer, who teamed with her husband Vic on a Polaris XCR 440. "You were fatigued, but you kept on going because you knew you had to," says the Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin resident. "Night was the hardest part, but when daylight came you knew the end was coming." She says although there were spectators at the track around the clock, they didn't alleviate much of the boredom. "There were more people in the pit than on the hill watching. Camaraderie between racers and pit crews was real good." Moyer adds that there was no time to get bored on the track because racers had to be attentive at all times to avoid crashes. Off the track boredom was beat by eating snacks for energy and getting ready to race again. Although the Moyer team came in seventh with 598 laps, they lasted the whole day and earned $1,900.

Coming in first took some creative improvisation and a hard, steady pace. The winning team of Steve Decker and Ted Swiontek of Eagle River, Wisconsin, logged 692 laps (30 ahead of the second place team) and 969 miles. "We were careful from the start," says Decker. We found a grove and tried to stick with it. It was hard because instinct tells you to give it all you've got, but we wanted to make the sled last." Although the Ski-Doo MX Z 440 riders had to repair a slide rail and change the suspension four times, their crew was able to get the sled out of the pit quickly and keep it on the track. For example, after midnight they saved time by running without the track clips that usually run on the hyfax. Because the rubber didn't wear out the hyfax as quickly as the clips did, the team didn't have to change the hyfax for another 200 miles.

Making a sled that lasts is the name of the game for the manufactures. "This is a big durability test," says Polaris Racing Manager Ray Monsrud. "We've always used endurance races to advertise that we build a reliable product." Ski-Doo has the same in mind. After Decker and Swiontek won, Ski-Doo immediately announced their victory with ads in various magazines. "Winning that race was just another stepping stone to prove we hold up," says Ski-Doo racing manager Tom Rager. "…It's important to remember that these are stock sleds and people can go into any dealership and buy one."

The manufacturers are excited about participating in the second annual 24 Hours of Eagle River (scheduled for Jan 27-28, 1996) and hope for better conditions. Team Arctic Racing Manager Joey Hallstrom says the race had a good start despite the poor conditions. He says many Arctic Cat racers want to participate in this year's event to earn the boasting rights that go along with finishing a 24-hour race. Monsrud says, "Last year Polaris was represented, but our racers didn't receive manufacturer support because we couldn't fit it on our schedule. This year we will be there with a support trailer and contingency money. I feel we have some excellent drivers who should have our support."

Looking down the road, the future of the 24 Hours of Eagle River appears bright. "Every racer I talked to had a positive attitude," says Monsrud. "They had concerns like weather and holding up, but they had a lot of enjoyment. They talked positive about how race teams worked together in the pits. Such a race is good for the sport and can do nothing but grow." Hallstrom's vision goes even further. "I think the 24 Hours of Eagle River is like the 24 Hours at Daytona," he says. "It may someday be as important as Indy Car racing or NASCAR."