european snowmobile championships held in st petersburg russia

Tough Conditions
Tapio was in his top racing form by winning all three final heats by a large margin, despite the icy track conditions. The event was held out on the Russian tundra, which offered very little snow cover. The few inches of snow to be found were quickly removed by the 750cc sleds used in the Championships. Not many sleds escaped the three-round race unscathed. Mechanics grumbled but persevered. Noted Tapio, "the ice is hard on the machines and makes using the brakes impossible. Conditions like this can result in serious accidents."

Aside from the lack of available snow, this year's European Championships encountered other logistical glitches. First, the language barrier provided frustrations as teams attempted to get situated. Due to the high crime rate in St. Petersburg, organizers opted to provide escorts to and from the track for teams. This caused some delays in arriving, and further frustrations.

The tech crew was not without its share of gremlins. The European Championships have a noise limit on all sleds. However, the decibel meter equipment took a dive in pre-race inspections, resulting in the sound level rules being dropped.

Despite the logistical difficulties, the local Russians provided a warm welcome and proved to be voracious snocross fans. Most Scandinavian racers are accustomed to crowds under 2,000 spectators at the races. They were surprised to find almost 15,000 screaming fans eagerly awaiting the showcase of Europe's finest snocross racers. Tapio and Norwegian Paal Groette won the hearts of the crowd with their high flying style. They had a hard time escaping the throng of fans wanting autographs on posters, cards, hats or anything they could get their hands on. "A fantastic crowd," said Tapio. "Nothing, not even racing in America, can be compared to this. They make you race harder, faster and jump longer."

Our special thanks go to our friends at ScooterNorge Magazine in Norway for helping us with photos and text.