1
MV Sign "Eagle River"
0.05

2
GV Spectators for race
0.06

3
GV Start of race - and one circuit completed
0.37

4
GV Race in progress (4 shots)
1.04

5
SV Spectators
1.07

6
SV & TGV Machines round bend and down track (2 shots)
1.15

7
GV Winners pass cjequered flag
1.18

8
SV Winners being congratulated
1.28



Initials CM/AE/PS/1738 CM/AE/ES.1810


SPORT: SNOW-MOBILE RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The World Championship Snow-mobile derby brought thirty thousand visitors to the tiny town of Eagle River, Wisconsin recently to watch the highspeed thrills of this novel form of racing.

Conditions were excellent for racing, with the temperature at 14 degrees, and the weather clear.

Ten snow-mobile drivers competed in the final, selected from more than 100 original entrants. They earned a position on the starting line after time-trials on the Eagle River oval, on a drag-strip, and through an obstacle run.

Part of the skill of snow-mobile racing is to make use of the banking, going high on the turns, and then rocketing down into the straight. Plenty of plans go awry however, especially when two drivers try the same trick at the same time.

Two Wisconsin drivers, cousins Mike and Wayne Pratt, might have had a slight edge in the Eagle River final, since they know the track well. This, plus luck, skill and daring earned them first and second place in the World Championship derby.