2010 SPRING SUMMER.qxd - Wisconsin Department of Tourism

JUL2010
WHO
NEEDS
SNOW?
You’ve gotta wonder about
the guys who thought this
one up; racing snowmobiles
over open water in mid-
July must produce lots of trackdriven
submarines, and a lotta
fun.
The Grantsburg Lions Club
held its first Watercross competition
in July, 1977 when running
snowmobiles over water was a
new and challenging past-time.
That first race was held to see
who could make it from the
island on Memory Lake to the
shore, some 300 ft. away. Most
didn’t, but the winner did – only
to sink on a subsequent attempt.
RJ & LINDA MILLER
In the years that followed,
racers became more skilled and
their machines more powerful.
Today, Watercross racers compete
in both drags and ovals
with a six-lap championship run
around the island. More than
100 racers compete in various
classes. The races are sanctioned
by the International
Watercross Association (IWA),
the professional racing group.
The Grantsburg Watercross has
become the World
Championship race within the
IWA racing circuit, and is known
as the “Granddaddy of Them
All” among the racers.
Over the years, Watercross
has truly become a family event.
Many vendors attend, offering
their products and services to
thousands of spectators. Food
and beverage booths, a tremendous
fireworks display on
Saturday at dusk, street dances
on Friday and Saturday evenings
featuring top-name regional
bands, a wrist-wrestling competition,
and a first-class camping
venue round out the weekend.
Additionally, the Vintage
Snowmobile Club of America’s
“Antique and Classic
Snowmobile Show” displays
more than 100 unique and memorable
snowmobiles.
The 2010 edition of the
World Championship
Snowmobile Watercross will be
held in Grantsburg July 16-18.
Grantsburg is located in Burnett
County, about midway on a line
between Duluth-Superior and
Minneapolis-St. Paul. The racing
portion of Watercross includes
drag and oval racing over water
on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Races start about 1pm Friday
and 9:30am on Saturday and
Sunday, and run until about
4:30pm.
22 travelwisconsin.com