Introcucing International Championship Events 2006
- Updated: December 20, 2006
by Ben Horgen
International Championship Events (ICE) hosts the World Championship Ice Racing series in 12 arenas throughout three different countries within North America. The World class event invades such arenas as the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota and the Budweiser Events center in Colorado. With a rich 30 year history this series knows how to produce exciting, rider friendly racing. Based on the 80 year history of flat track speedway racing and the addition of the manufacture cup has attracted AMA Flat Track competitor Johnny “show time” Murphee to seek the inaugural 2005 Manufactures’ Cup Championship. Currently there are no Pro or Pro/Am ATVA Flat Track or Extreme Dirt Track participants competing in the full series but as awareness grows some may use this platform as warm up for the summer season.
Formed by speedway racers in the mid seventy the ICE World Championship Ice Racing series has grown from nitro burning two valve Czechoslovakian Jawas and British made JAP motorcycles to a seven class series with a premier class showcasing today’s modern dirt bikes and quads. The events consist of the Manufacture’s class, an Outlaw quad class, the traditional Nitro speedway bikes, an X-karts class, and bar-stool racers. The Manufacture’s Cup is the premier class and showcases made the major manufacture’s 450CC 4 stroke motorcycles. All classes allow unlimited ice stud patterns and provide for high speed, extreme traction racing. Included for local riders are the Mad Dog and ICE breakers classes. The class structure allows for Pro riders to complete for a Pro purse and local ATV and dirt bike riders to come out and give ice racing a try.
The promoter conducts the series in a manor that attracts many disciplines of racing. The most natural to cross over are dirt trackers and supermoto racers. However, the event sees plenty of motocross, freestyle, and hare scramble racers come out and give it a try. For the Pros committing to a full season, ICE promoters will often agree to haul their machines to and from each event in their semi truck and trailer, help put them up for the event, and provide a pro purse to cover whatever other expenses that occur. In the Outlaw Quads and Manufacture Cup classes, those who are in the top eight spots (12 for bikes) receive an expense paid trip to San Jon Puerto Rico for the final two rounds. Other perks include purse and contingency bonuses occasionally added by the event’s great sponsors such as Justice Brother (JB branded products).
ICE dubs quads “The Race Car You Sit On – Not In”. The ‘Bump and Run’ racing that is produced by tight quartered ice arenas has proven to be a fan favorite over the 20 year history of the ATV classes. In 1985 ICE included trike and quad divisions. They site insurance liability for the removal of the 3-wheeler class that same year, but that didn’t stop Chuck Bower from being crowned the first Quad National Championship. The next progression of the class came in 1990 when the engine displacement limits were changed from a 2 and 4-Stroke 250CC engine limit to 360CC for the 4-strokes. Then in 1992 the engine displacement limits were removed.
Outlaw Quad class notables are the 2005 class favorite Dick Matei and past champion Mandy Brodil. Mandy is a female racer who competed on a Honda 250R and won the ICE Outlaw Quad Championship three times. To enter the Pro class you must contact ICE and state your intentions prior to the event. Provided the rider’s skills a capable of racing at the Outlaw level anyone is welcome to race for the Pro Purse, turning their summer time machine into a winter time traction animal. The ICE Breakers class is a relatively new class which invites local amateurs to enter the event. The 100 stud limitation doesn’t provide the traction seen in the Outlaw Pro class, but it does give amateurs a lower-risk opportunity to give the exciting sport of ice racing a go-around.
The complete outlaw quad class rules include:
1. Any motorcycle/ATV engine new or used.
2. Any fuel can be used
3. Bumpers, Nerf bars, and brakes are mandatory
4. Silver Rocket racing studs much be used.
The ICE Breakers class is the same, except limits riders to a total of 100 silver rock studs which they receive with their $50 entry fee.
