/

Snodeo 2019: It takes loose screws

3 mins read
Rock Maple racers fly across the track on Saturday.

RANGELEY – Snowmobiles outnumbered cars this weekend with thousands of spectators, racers, jumpers and their families filling downtown Rangeley.

The annual Snodeo weekend celebrated 36 years on Saturday, highlighting all things snowmobile with races, stunts, perfectly groomed trails, local sales and more. Organized by the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club and the Rangeley Chamber of Commerce, the event is the biggest in the state for snowmobile enthusiasts, attracting club members and riders from across New England. Local restaurants and hotels are full to the max weeks in advance, boosting the town’s economy significantly.

“It’s the only thing going on for this town in the winter. We’d be screwed without snowmobiling,” RLSC board member Johny Wakefield said. “Between the club and the chamber, we’re working on snowmobiles every single day. We’re very lucky to have the support from local businesses that we do. This town really rolls the red carpet out with Snodeo.”

Riders kick off a race while Rangeley provides a spectacular backdrop.

In addition to Rangeley area businesses, the event works to raise funds for the club’s 150-mile trail system which has an operating budget of $280,000 according to Wakefield. The state of Maine offers a whopping 14,000 miles of trails and reportedly brings in a revenue of $330 million to the state, but Wakefield said the club sees very little support at state level.

“The state spends so much on lobsters and lighthouses, but they kind of throw the snowmobile clubs out to the wolves. So we have to get more and more creative. It’s a lot of work,” Wakefield said.

Between the favorited Rock Maple Racing, casino night and the auction, Snodeo raised more than $50,000 for the club and filled very bed in town for the majority of the week according to Wakefield.

“Hearing that every restaurant in town was full three nights in a row makes it all worth it,” he said.

In addition to the racing, the Rav-X Show brought a packed crowd of spectators for a display of some of the best trick riders in the state. Lineups in years past have included famous jumpers such as Alaska’s Dane Ferguson.

“He’s got loose screws. That’s what it takes to do this kind of stuff,” Boss Power Equipment Operations Manager Jake Beaulieu said.

Wakefield, who also works for the local fire department, added that this was one of the safest years yet for Snodeo.

“We’re very fortunate that people decide to come up to Rangeley for the Snodeo. There’s a lot going on this time of year but it wouldn’t happen without them,” he said.

To read more about the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club click here.

A trick rider bows to the crowd during introductions.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

2 Comments

  1. Had a fun weekend. I agree though, no radar runs was a big disappointment for us. The brochure provided at the hotel did not state $10 fee to get into the races either. Woman at the gait taking the money argued it was but I went back and reread it. There was no mention of gate fees. :(

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.