|
Snowmobile competitions were originally
organized by local groups and were generally spontaneous. Soon their
popularity was drawing the attention of manufacturers, who decided to create
new models expressly for this budding sport.
Structure and rules
The first attempt at creating structure focused on categories defined by
cylinder size in cubic centimetres (cm3).
In the mid-1960s, manufacturers stepped up participation, supplying official
teams with racing snowmobiles. This encouraged further classifications,
accounting for machine endurance and their operators' nerve.
It was also at
that time that, throughout North America, safety and other standards were
applied to races. These rules and regulations soon became universal, serving
to reduce the risk of accidents both to spectators and racers and to bring
a degree of ethics to competitions. Two general racing categories were also
created: amateurs and professionals.
The snowmobile industry was booming in the early 1970s, and races were no
exception. Manufacturers continued to invest in producing racing vehicles,
and some kept their own racing team.
Surviving a crisis
The energy crisis was a hard blow to the snowmobile industry, and put the
brakes on growth in racing. Manufacturers suffered severely, and withdrew or
diminished their support.
Races were no less attractive for participants and spectators, however. They
retained their energy and popularity throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
In the absence of official manufacturer-supported teams, professional racers
purchased their own snowmobiles and equipment, but received some support
from the industry, especially in the form of sponsorships. Manufacturers
still used races as an excellent opportunity for research and development.
Throughout this period, there were several significant changes to racing
snowmobiles: aerodynamic and contoured profiles, lower frames, and refined
design.
The age of speed
While races were still generally run on conventional tracks, the 1990s
popularized "extreme" sports including snowmobiling. These high-powered
races were usually approved by the federations, and attracted many
enthusiasts.
Compared to those of the 1960s, these races were well
publicized, which increased their appeal and their overall value to
associations in Canada and the United States.
|
|
