From Behind the Lens
By: Colleen Swartz
March 2005
Bumpin’, Rubbin’ & Freezin’
Living in Wisconsin but being a global citizen, I am constantly reminded of how short our motorcycle riding season is here. My friends in California are out riding their bikes in the middle of January, bike rallies are well underway in Florida before I can guarantee that my tenant won’t get snowed in while I am away, European travelers wonder how it is that we find the need to own vehicles that we only ride 6 months, sometimes less, of the calendar year.
I was again reminded of this when I called my good friend, Bocar, to see if he wanted to join me on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Fort Atkinson to watch and photograph the Ice Races. Bocar hails from Senegal West Africa and after needing to explain to him that people do go outside in the winter; we wouldn’t die of exposure; the ice will hold the weight of both of our bodies at the same time; (I didn’t want to scare him off by telling him that we would be joined by a couple hundred of others along with their dirtbikes, 4-wheel drive trucks, trailers, and beer coolers) and that internal combustion engines, such as those found in dirt bikes, would indeed fire under these extreme conditions, he agreed to join me on my quest.
Deedee Sumner had called me a few weeks before to invite me to this unique endurance race held on January 24 on Lake Koshkonong. Deedee is part of the Sumner clan who is instrumental in the organizing and running of the “STEEL SHOE FUND CHARITY ICE RACE” held annually to benefit the Steel Shoe Fund. She also confessed to reading my column and extended a very warm welcome to me, my friend and my camera.
The Steel Shoe Fund is a non-profit corporation in business to assist seriously injured flat track racers who have been injured in a racing incident. The original 3 hour endurance race event was held in 1995 to assist a local racer, Steve Champine who was paralyzed in a hunting accident. Starting in 1996, the race was designated as a benefit for injured dirt trackers and originally administered as a branch of the Wegman Benefit Fund. Since 2003 the Steel Shoe fund has been independently operated by Al and Judy Sumner, the AMA District 16 Referee and Secretary/Treasurer.
I found the Sumner family amazing. Deedee sat in the minivan at the starting line with several other volunteers keeping track of who was lapping when and entering all of it into her laptop. Another member of the family wrote a program that, when the information was properly entered, would give immediate results upon completion of the race. I found Deedee’s son as an invaluable resource for much of the information that I gathered. My mind was boggled by the amount of work this event must take.
A record 70 teams entered the event this year with riders coming from as far as South Carolina, New Hampshire and Colorado as well as many Midwestern states. Each team had between 1 and 4 riders who race continually for 3 solid hours breaking only to change riders, fuel up, or check safety equipment. The talent level rises every year for this benefit event. Jeff Fredette, who has competed in nearly all eleven events here was joined on the track by Scott Greenwood, Jeff Wood, Doug Henry, Ben Carlson, J.R. Schnabel, Jesse Janisch, Blake Young and many more very talented racers.
Carlson and Walsdorf completed 48 laps of the 2.1 mile ice course in the 3 hour event with a mileage total of 100.8 miles. Their performance earned them 1st place in the open class and the overall victory. The team of JR Schnabel and Scott Schnabel from Bob’s Harley-Davidson were the only other riders on the same lap as they took 2nd in the Open call and 2nd overall. Third place overall and first in the Middleweight class went to FRP with rider Jeff Fredette, Eric Fredette and Tim Farrell. Team Brokenbod with riders Marc Ottenad and Eric Smulders won the Lightweight class and finished 9th overall.
Adam Hickman would have won the Ironman Award had there been one available since he ran the entire 3 hour event by himself finishing 2nd in Lightweight and 12th overall turning in 44 laps and 92.4 miles.
I, personally, found the event to be extremely well run. Snow plows and brushes were run on the track periodically to clear the snow and ice chips, riders’ safety was closely monitored by sending any bikes that lost important safety shields into pit until they had repaired them and only the spectators seemed in peril as the racers spun wildly around the irregular track with nothing more than an 18” pile of snow between us and the action.
This whole shindig was held at the famous Sunset Tavern located on the beautiful shores of Lake Koshkonong in Fort Atkinson, WI. I found this to be an ideal location based partially on the large windows overlooking the action outside on the lake and partially out of a deep appreciation of a well made Bloody Mary on a cold Sunday afternoon. Sunset Tavern is a biker friendly establishment in winter as well as summer. Besides this 3 hour endurance race, there is racing nearly every Saturday night starting January 1st through February 26th. For race information call 920-563-5702.
I walked away with invitations to come to Aztalan, Gravity Park and Beaver Cycle to check out the summer action and a true appreciation of the grit and commitment that these crazy boys and girls have. I want to thank the Sumners’ for inviting myself and Quick Throttle to an event that I hope brings even more participants and spectators in the future and for opening my world to a new discovery.
What I discovered on that sunny Sunday afternoon was the wonderful world of Flat Track Racers. Stepping outside of my normal exposure of extreme show bikes and cruising motorcycle rallies I found a world filled with warm and friendly people, adrenaline junkies, go-fast attitudes, not-afraid-to-ride-in-the-snow motorcycle enthusiasts, and uninsurable professionals who came together to raise money for a fund that they all pray they never have to dip into.
Now I can tell my California friends that even in Wisconsin, riding season never ends. 3 solid hours of racing in 20 degree weather… they can’t even freeze a lake out there.
And that is how I see it, from Behind The Lens.
Colleen
If you would like to contact Colleen email her at bigshotphoto@aol.com
If you would like more information on the Steel Shoe fund, email the Sumners at Steelshoe@wi.rr.com.
