Motorcycling on the Ice:

by John Stumpner

One would think, during the winter in Wisconsin, that motorcycling, especially racing, would be done until things thaw out in the spring. Some motorcycle racers though, don’t let the freezing temperatures stop them. For almost as long as people have been racing motorcycles, racers have been racing on the ice. These brave, and possibly slightly crazy, racers screw studs into their tires so they can race around on the ice on frozen lakes and ice tracks.

Ice races generally take place on oval tracks similar to flat track racing. Some races though, are run on grand prix style courses, with both right and left turns. Although a regular off-road bike can be used, ice racers have found that bikes with lower frames give better traction and control. To get traction on the ice, studded spikes up to three inches long, are screwed into the tires. For protection. Ice racing bikes are equipped with extra-long fenders that reach almost down to the ice. Because the spikes give such good traction, ice racers can lean hard into the curves, with their handlebars almost touching the ice. The techniques used in ice racing are very different from the techniques of other flat track races. The style of racing is so different that the top ice racing competitors don’t race traditional flat track events and a good flat track racer would not do as well in ice racing.

The first recorded ice race took place in Sweden in 1924. Ice racing proved to be popular, and the first official race took place in Moscow in 1939. Ice racing is an officially sanctioned sport around the world. The various classes and races are regulated by the official motorcycle racing governing bodies in the United States, Canada and Europe. In the United States, the American Motorcycle Association provides the classes and rules for motorcycle ice racing. In addition to the official AMA races, many competitors race in local races in Northern Indiana, Michigan, New York, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

ABATE of Wisconsin, of course, supports this unique form of racing through its efforts to preserve the freedom of the road. If you’re lucky this winter, maybe you will have a chance to watch a motorcycle ice race and see how motorcycle racing can go on year-round.

John