Motorcycle Ice Racing

Ice Racing: Motorcycles

Article by: © Michael J. Rosen 2012

"...Known for Speed, Bumping and Grinding Action, and Their Lack of Rules"

- from World Championship Ice Racing

If you're going to be obnoxiously loud, at least temper it with redeeming qualities. (This is general wisdom, not only intended for Fran Drescher and Bill O'Reilly, who might never read this book, although the publisher will gladly send them a free copy, if either asks nicely.) Motorcycles, on the other hand, can take a straightaway at 80 miles per hour and a bend at 60-while on an ice hockey rink, and never lose a moment's sleep over decibel level. (Just FYI, 84 decibels is the maximum noise permitted in motorcycle ice racing, which is just above the sound of your vacuum cleaner and 26 decibels shy of a revved up chain saw-neither of which, as it turns out, has any ice-racing potential.)

Steering one of these bikes on a frozen lake or speed skating oval ain't easy, but tire studs do help: They're ice-racing's equivalent of soccer cleats or baseball spikes. These screws or bolts attach to the tires and increase speed and traction, the latter being especially useful on turns where riders lean at an angle that literally puts the motorcycle inches from the track's surface. Think short-track speedskating, but with a 300-pound Yamaha as opposed to a thick-thighed South Korean in an Aquaman suit.

Since the first recorded race in Germany in 1925, motorcycles have been ice racing all over Europe, Canada, and the United States, most notably in competitions hosted by ICE. (Of course they had to have ICE for their acronym! It hardly matters that International Championship Events seems to apply to anything.)

The ICE tour features the same basic race with divisions for different vehicles:

• Manufacturers World Cup Bikes: These lightweight and powerful bikes, created by major motorcycle companies such as Honda and Kawasaki, are like the marshmallow bits in the bowl of Lucky Charms that is ICE racing.
• Big Dogs: Also known as pit bikes, these miniature motorcycles are more likely to gnaw on your shoe than defend the yard against those damn kids who cut through the yard on their way to school.
• Unlimited Outlaw Quads: Since 1985, ICE's four-wheel ATVs have received notoriety for their speed and bumper-car mentality. These "no rules, just right!"-vehicles ought to be found in the parking spaces of Outback Steakhouses.
• Ice Breaker Amateur Quads: Conversation with your therapist going nowhere? Bail on the banter! Come down from your seat in the bleachers, hop on one of these four-wheeled machines, and compete on the track against other spectators. Talk about breaking the ice with an actual ice breaker.
• XTreme Karts: These go-karts resemble Roombas with a cockpit windshield just large enough to act as a protective cup.

Trade your bandana and leather jacket for a motocross helmet and snowsuit at www.icespeedway.com.

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