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World Series
The I.S.R. World Series became an important race for drag racers, and at its height it was the largest snowmobile race in the U.S. attracting more than 750 entries from across the U.S. and Canada, and on several occasions, even drivers from Scandinavia. The first Drag Racing World Series started in 1980 and the Neuman clan has attended every one since. The Series fell on hard times in the early part of this century, and for about five years there was no event. Three years ago, the Oconto Falls Sno Jokers Club, together with the Magnin family, resurrected the event which is now steadily growing again. Some of the first to park their trailers at the new Series were Neumans. Last February they had enough entries to make 10 finals and took home several first place trophies.
As usual, I visited with Frank, and learned about interesting projects he was involved with. At 72 years young, he was there with his sons and grandkids when we started discussing track conditions. Oconto Falls always has a very wide track with lots of shut-down, and it’s shaved to a very nice finish by the club’s own Ice Shaver that Chub Magnin built many years ago. I learned Frank had built his own shaver back in 1999 and for the last 15 years has been driving around the Snow Belt and shaving tracks for a number of clubs. Last year alone he shaved and prepped 26 tracks. It’s not only drag and speed run tracks, but also ovals and Kitty Kat tracks that Frank does.
The whole project started back in 1999 when the ‘Clan’ was frustrated by their practice track being chewed up by trail riders. That summer Frank decided to build their own shaver to make sure they had safe and consistent testing conditions. Anyone that has ever been involved in plowing and building an ice racing track on a lake knows that even the best plow still leaves the surface with ruts, cracks and heaves that greatly unsettle a race sled at high speed. Only after the tracks have been shaved flat and consistent is it safe enough to race on at the speeds today’s sleds can obtain.
Frank’s first version had some bugs to be worked out. First he needed to incorporate a hydraulic lift system he could operate from the cab, just like his snow plow. Then the frame had to be reinforced not only to handle the load on the ice, but also to travel hundreds of miles on the highway. As soon as he got his shaver working he got requests from local clubs to shave their tracks for club events. One of the first was Waconia, Minn., but he has been as far away as St. Germain, Wis. and also down to New Lisbon, Wis. In his usual humble, but enthusiastic ways, Frank only charges his expenses. Those usually include gas, hotel and sharpening the Zamboni cutting blades every other job, or even buying new ones, if the ice had lots of sand or dirt in it blown over from nearby field.
Doing the actual shaving job requires a lot of experience and finesse. Describing the whole process would require a second article. During a 10-week stretch in January through March Frank may shave as many as three tracks a week. He is contracted to do all the Kitty Cat races. They will not race without a shaved track for safety reasons. The tracks are a little smaller, but the tight turns offer their own challenges. Frank has his standards and will work the track to perfection. Because conditions change quickly during the winter, he prefers to shave the track the same week as the race.
Frank is not in it for the money. “Our family has been snowmobile racing since the ’60s,” said Frank. “It’s our life and we have had lots of good memories, and it has been a wonderful family activity. I am too old to race now, although I still do a test run now and then.”
But he still builds sleds for his sons and grandkids. “This is just my way of giving something back, and making sure the tracks are safe to race on and still be involved,” Frank said.
If you look back 15 years he has probably shaved more than 200 racetracks.
“If I can cover expenses and there is $500.00 left over in the checking account at the end of the year for some new blades, I am satisfied,” he said.
When I called him for this story in August, he was busy working in his shop re-studding tracks and getting ready for the Hay Days Grass Drags. When the World Series comes around in February he takes a week off from the shaving.
“Then we go racing,” he said. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world!”