Last year we didn’t have snow, and our snowmobile trails did not open, and every business took a beating. But even though snowmobile racing in Eagle River had to be pushed back it was not cancelled.  So far, this winter due to the lack of snow the snowmobile trails are not open yet, but there are people snowmobiling this weekend. The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DERBY COMPLEX is hosting the 62nd World Champion snowmobile Derby in Eagle River. Snowmobile races started Jan. 9th till today the 12th with the vintage snowmobile races.

Racing will continue at 8am on January 16th to the 19th with practice, time trials, heat races, Pro ENDURO and with what is considered the INDY 500 of snowmobiling with racers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and even Canada. This all started with a cross-country race beginning in Rhinelander to Three Lakes on to Eagle River and finishing back to Rhinelander.

The Eagle River derby complex was reconfigured in 1974 to a 1/2-mile banked ice oval and these races are recognized as the largest snowmobile competition not only in the Midwest but in other counties as well. Over the years, the snowmobiles have evolved to the point that these machines are hitting speeds in excess of 100 mph. No Wonder there have been years where the number of people attending these races for the weekends have been over 50 thousand. If you have never been to the snowmobile racing in Eagle River, dress warm and join the other thousands of people that are there.