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Races at top events Straddling the black leather seat of his machine, he flicks his wrist, opens the throttle, and away he goes in a cloud of snow and blue smoke. This is how Port Perry Marine owner, Bill Kendry spends many of his week- ends during the winter... racing snowmobiles. _ Bill started racing snow- mobiles in 1970 at a race held in the Fair Grounds at Local snowmobile racer, til ge and since then has never looked back. Although Bill admits he did not really enjoy his first couple of years at it, he says that since he began racing in sanctioned races it has become more interesting and enjoyable. During the past few sea- sons Bill has travelled ex- tensively from one end of the province to the other competing in races such as Bill the Kawartha Cup, and the World Series at Peter- 'borough, as well as numer- . ous other smaller races. This year he intends to com- pete at least ten times and possibly in Port Perry, if the local snowmobile club holds races this year. Bill is sponsored by Cliff Crowell of Island Marine' and drives a 1976 Mercury Snowtwister. The factory- built racing machine'has a Kendry and his new 250 cc Mercury Snowtwister. Bill will be competing in the Kawartha Cup at Peterborough this weekend against top drivers from Canada and U.S.A. Snowmobiling...af Bo m.p.h. ; 250 cc engine, is liquid cool- ed, and boasts about 60 h.p. "Snowmobiles with-similar size engines are usually 16 "h.p.," says Bill. Although the machine is capable of much more, 75 to 80 m.p.h. is about the top speed he will achieve on a half mile circular track. "This is the most powerful machine I .have driven," Bill said, '"and it handles superbly." The Snow- mobile has many safety features built into it and he feels that even at top speeds - it is much more safe to drive than most conventional snowmobiles. Since Bill started racing he has received numerous injuries, including a dis- located shoulder, and a con- cussion, but feels that the sport is quite safe for the risk that is involved. "Of all the sports I have competed in, snowmobilers seem to have more respect for each other," says Bill. "The risks during a race are -not as bad 'as you might think because in the calibre of races, I am involved in each driver is a pro, and knows what he is doing." If Bill can finish in the top 10 drivers this winter, he will be able to travel to the to compete in the. U.S.A. North American Champion- ships, being held in Iron- wood, Michigan. He is not optimistic about his chances, but claims he will just get out and drive as hard as he can. Bill, and his Snowtwister, will compete in 250 Super Stock, 250 Modified Stock and 250 Open Modified, which includes the top drivers in Canada. He holds an Ontario Snowmobile Rac- ing Federation Modified racing license issued by the Federation. These permits are only given to experien- =: ced drivers that have been 'Almost' disasters on Scugog ice: Scugog Township counts Lake Scugog as one of its' --biggest recreational assets in winter as well as during the summer months, with skaters, young hockey players, cross-country skiers, ice fisherman and snowmobilers taking over for boaters and swimmers. With winter recreation becoming more and more a need in recent years, how- ever, so has the need for safety programs, and some recent developments have been viewed with some con- cern by safety organizations like the Canadian Red Cross. Perhaps one concern that hits home in the Scugog area is that of snowmobilers-ice safety. There were a number of cases last year when man and rider went through sections of ice on Lake Scugog, caused either by general thin ice condit- # | ions or by ice melted by a fishing hut. BO ys Luckily...and sometimes narrowly...disaster was avoided in past years, and the Red Cross has released some material to help avoid such tragedies in the future. "We all become eager to try new skates or the latest model snowmobile," states a Red Cross release, "but our haste can lead to tragic mishaps." Where police, newspaper or radio-television do not report on ice safety levels, thé-Red Cross sug- gesta a hole be cut in the ice and measurements taken. Four inches of ice for group skating and hockey, while seven to eight inches of ice is required for ice boating, snowmobiling and similar activities because of the extra weight. Const. Wayne Netherley of the Whitby detachment, Ontario Provincial Police suggests that one good source of information about local ice conditions is the "been fatal had it local resident. "We recom- ment that snowmobilers ask local residents, coftagers or others who live along the lake shore for ice conditions. These people usually have a fairly good idea about the conditions of their lake." He warned that skaters or snowmobilers should avoid ice near currents. "That's the most dangerous area," he said. Also risky at times' is the water off the shore of Jislands, particularly where a current is split by the island. "We've been lucky," he said, "and haven't had any fatalities from someone crashing through the ice and drowning." But that doesn't mean there haven't been close calls. He recalls one incident last year when a snowmobile and rider went through the ice and would certainly have been for the courage and §uick think- hole in the ice. ing of another man. Perhaps one reason for the extreme danger of skating or snowmobiling where there are currents is the fact that the ice can appear to be absolutely safe. Currents can erode and melt ice from below, giving the ice surface an appearance of being safe. Once in the water, a current provides the additional danger of pulling the victim under and away from the "It is here that it is easiest to become trapped if you fall through and fail to surface in the same spots. Watch for dark spots which generally indicate weakened ice. And stay close to shore. Ice in the centre tends to be thinner. Always check weather con- ditions. Be extra careful during early and late winter when ice thaws and re- freezes. Remember that ice weakens under midday sun. Make sure the ice you play- carefully scrutinized by them. Although Bill enjoys 'racing, he does not do it for a living. Only last Septem- ber, he purchased Port Perry Marine from the former owner, Doug Coppins and it is from here he in- tends to make his living. Although it has never been open in the winter before, Bill hopes to make enough out of selling mixed gas for snowmobiles, selling con- cessions and fixing snow- mobiles to tide him over to the spring, when the bulk of his business begins with boats. But inithe meantime, Bill is going to~de\ some serious racing, which Re started last weekend when he competed at Hully Gully, near Goderich and then this weekend, the Kawartha Cup at Peterborough. What does Bill's family feel about his racing? Well. his wife, Linda, is the only woman "corner marshall" in A meets which includes the Kawartha Cup. Her job is to help keep an eye on the race from different vantage points and keep the race running smoothly. If there are any infractions by be seen, she radios in who was to blame. Bill's daugh- ter, Patti, 11, was going to start racing, but due to the high power of the. new machine, he has decided not to let her race this year. So, for Bill season of racing is just about to begin, and as Bill says, 'I'm going to try my best, but the main thing is 'that I get back here to do some work during the week. That's 'my bread and butter." NOTE: Competing against - top drivers from Canada and United States over the past weekend, at Hully Gully, Goderich, Bill and his machine performed very well. He picked up a 3rd in the 250 Open Modified, a 5th in 250 Modified Stock and a 5th in 250 Super Stock. His machine was the only one running that was not factory sponsored." Bill, who previously said that he would not let his daughter run with the new machine, changed his mind and Patti earned herself a 4th in the Junior 250 Stock class. A warning ed hockey on last evening is just as sturdy today when you skate during your lunch hour. And never skate or snowmobile alone. If you should fall in, don't panic. Extend your hands and arms onto the ice sur- face before you. Gently kick your legs out behind you to a level position and slide or squirm, forward to safety. DO NOT STAND! concentrated weight can cause the ice to break. A fall through the ice is not always fatal, but it can be an extremely shocking experience. A plunge into icy water causes muscles to contract. Blood circulation (continued on page 18) How Safe Is The Ice? 1 Ice Depth --» RS Fomm--, _ Con - ------ -- -- -- -- -- drivers where they can not ~ Kendry, a 1) ni » 4 Your 2 ¢