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That Vroom You Hear Will be the 'Promobilers'

February 09, 2010 - GREENVILLE -- Professional cross-country snowmobile racing is coming to Maine.

First, there is a lot for the town of Greenville and the local snowmobile club at Moosehead Lake to do before it gets here on March 20 – namely, raise the $13,000 needed to host the franchise event.

But Pat Mack, president of the U.S. Cross Country Snowmobile Association in North Dakota, said nothing will stop this race from coming East.

Since Mack founded USCC eight years ago and held it in the Midwest, it has grown 35 percent to 40 percent a year, he said.

"It's getting to be a lot to handle. But it's a good problem to have," said Mack via phone from Minto, N.D. "Ever since we started, we've had inquiries from racers out East. We have all four (snowmobile) manufacturers involved. It's a good time for us to get some more exposure and get more guys into it."

The Maine event will feature pro riders and a Maine amateur class that will crown one rider "Maine Amateur Cross Country Champion."

To avoid conflict with recreational riders, the course will not follow established snowmobile trails. Instead, it will run 12 miles, starting in Greenville Junction and heading up Little Moose Mountain.

The ideal cross-country courses have elevation gain and windy, tight turns with sections punching out on logging roads – all stuff Maine offers, Mack said.

A few thousand people are expected to come see hundreds of racers compete beside Moosehead Lake.

The Maine race will draw interested riders from New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania, Mack said.

It depends on the course, but USCC racers can average 40 to 60 miles per hour on a rugged course as long as 500 miles. These guys are good.

Last week, five of the USCC's 45 pro riders competed in the X Games in Vail, Colo.

"The average speed for a 505-mile course a few weeks ago was 63 miles an hour. And that includes fuel stops," Mack said. "We have the best racers in the world compete in our events."

Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club president Tom McCormick said the Riders are working hard to bring this pro race to Maine.

The town of Greenville is excited about it too, said Bob Hamer, executive director of the Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Hamer hopes to turn the snowmobile event into the kind that has a fan base similar to that of the region's annual fly-in, which draws several thousand people around Moosehead Lake.

The fly-in has been run for more than 10 years, and grows each year, Hamer said.

"We hope it will be a mini-fly in," he said. "It's not a Greenville race. It's not a Moosehead race. It is the only place a USCC race occurs in Maine. Someone will end up with bragging rights. I think people from all over Maine will bring a lot of excitement.

"Snowmobilers really like the idea of this race. They don't want beautiful I-95 smooth trail riding. They're riding for the challenge. They don't mind dirt and a few gravely areas."

The Moosehead Riders hope to raise an additional $10,000 on top of the $3,000 they have already raised. The USCC requires a purse of at least $13,000 to host one of its pro races, McCormick said.

But Mack said no matter what, the show will go on.

"We'll make it work with them," Mack said. "We have some marketing to help. The only thing that could stop it is the weather, if it turns against us. But I'm confident we'll race."

DEIRDRE FLEMING, Portland Press Herald, February 4 ,2010


Lakes: Moosehead Lake
Regions: Moosehead


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