Inaugural Piscataquis Radar Runs set for Feb. 5

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Snowmobilers will be able to put their machines to the test to earn bragging rights over who is the fastest during the inaugural Piscataquis Radar Runs on Saturday, Feb. 5, on the frozen river track in downtown Dover-Foxcroft.

In addition to the friendly competition with cash prizes or trophies for winners of the nearly 30 classes of races, organizers hope to provide a day for racers and spectators viewing from both sides of the waterway alike to get outside and enjoy winter. 

Admission is free but donations will be accepted. The radar runs will include vendors and a food truck on the frozen Piscataquis River.

Proceeds will benefit the Piscataquis Valley Snowmobile Club and the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department, and funds raised through an ice fishing bundle raffle will go to the Penquis Youth Hockey Association.

Lindsay Sands, one of the race organizers along with her husband Garrett Sands who own 207 Powersports just up Pine Street from the track, said the idea for the Piscataquis Radar Runs came from Darren Colbry. 

“They used to have radar runs on the river, all the way up until 2002,” Sands said. She said Colbry, her husband’s best friend who owns Colbry Enterprises, approached them and said, “‘I want to do this, let’s make it happen.’”

From there numerous preparations began, including engineering work, site approval and plowing off much of the frozen surface with conditions safe to do so. “It’s going to be right at the cove behind the Chamber of Commerce and the track goes up to the Academy,” Sands said.

“The goal is to be the fastest one,” she said, with snowmobiles to be clocked by a Dover-Foxcroft Police Department handheld radar gun. The Veazie Police Department has offered up its speed trap so spectators can see how fast the snowmobiles are going.

“We’re checking your speed so they have 1,000 feet and whatever your speed is at that 1,000-foot mark is essentially how fast your sled will go,” Sands said. The 660-foot distance will also be marked to aid racers. The track is currently 35 feet wide.

“We have different classes depending on what size snowmobile you have because there’s different speeds for snowmobiles,” Sands said about the nearly 30 different divisions. “Then we’re going to do first, second and third place for all those classes, and we have been talking the last few days about doing a different prize for the fastest sled of the day.”

Cash prizes of $200, $100 and $50 will be awarded to the respective top class finishers, and trophies will be given to the winners of the kids’ divisions.

“We have been able to raise a lot of money just from our sponsorships and it’s a lot of local businesses that just want to help out,” Sands said. “My goal is to sit down and, based on what they gave us for money, certain classes will be sponsored by them.”

In addition to financial support, various community businesses and establishments have helped with track construction, loaned equipment, donated items for several raffles and more. Volunteers are also sought to help with various tasks leading up to and on race day.

Entrance registration opened recently, and Sands said some racers have already signed up and many others have expressed interest in taking part. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 5, and racing begins at 10 a.m.

Entry fees will be $25 for three runs and additional runs can be taken for $10 each time.  

“We’re just looking for everybody to come together and just have a good time,” she said. “We want to bring this back to the area. We’re not trying to make this some national competition per se. We just want the locals to come out, get together and try to bring something nice back to the Dover-Foxcroft area. A major thing in this area is snowmobiling so we’re trying to bring everybody together and have some fun.”

“We have a food truck coming that will be on the ice for people and I also spoke with Brenda Schultz who runs the Mill Cafe right at the old Mill on the river,” Sands said. “She’s going to be open that day and they are currently working on, hopefully, being able to livestream the event. She’s going to put a TV up in the cafe so anyone who wants to go get coffee or anything to eat can still watch the races.”

For information, please see the Piscataquis Radar Runs Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piscataaquisradarruns.