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Show i r i Snow Cross comes to Utah Oval track snowmobile racing was once a popular sport in Utah but over the years the sport became more specialized and was finally pursued mostly by professionals. profes-sionals. Amateurs returned to the hills and gave up racing. Back East, however, snowmobilers are getting into cross-country races and the sport is growing. It is a winter varsion of motor cross racing, appropriately called "Snocross." Sensing that Utah's snow-, mobile racers were not extinct, merely waiting for a new challenge SnoPower in Park City has decided to organize Utah's first Snocross Sno-cross race, the 2.1 mile course has already been set on hilly terrain at the junction of Highway 40 and Route 248. And news of the race, to be held Jan. 30, has already spread to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. SnoPower is owned by Alex Matway and managed by Nick Sepsas and Bo Dodd. Taking advantage of the 275 acres of open terrain at Quinn's Junction they have rented snowmobiles for two seasons. Their own machines, mac-hines, however, will be tucked away for tamer days as more than 200 amateur and professional drivers arrive ar-rive on the scene for one of the biggest snowmobile events of the season. It is said that motorcross racing is the toughest endurance en-durance sport man has ever attempted, and Snocross offers a similar challenge. According to Sepsas, the sleds will be moving 80-90 mph. "We're packing in haybales for some of those who don't make the tough turns," he added. Alex Maxedon, of Murray, a long-time member of the Utah Snowmobiling Association, Associa-tion, supervised the setting of the track. He is hoping that interest in the race generates enough response to form a Rocky Mountain Snowmobiling Association with a continuing series of Snocross races. Anyone who wants to give the course a try is welcome to register at Snopower on the day of the race between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Time trials will be held from 10 a.m. to noon with races beginning at 1 p.m. There wiil be a $20 entry fee for contestants in the stock class and a $30 fee for the open and modified class experts. There is a $1 ,000 purse to which will be added 50 percent of the entry fees. Maxedon estimates the First Place winners will receive approximately $200 to $300. ' Spectators will have an excellent view of the course and- refreshments will be available. There will be a $1 admission charge. |