Event organizers for the Caro Winter Fest and Snowmobile Races (CWF) are pleased to announce the return of the Midwest International Racing Association (MIRA) professional snowmobile racing to their annual community event. The 2018 CWF 225 event kicks off January 18, 2018, with the CWF Pub Crawl featuring local establishments throughout an 8-mile loop around Caro and then moves to the Tuscola County Fairgrounds January 20 – 21 for professional snowmobile racing and wintertime, family fun.
MIRA was founded in 1979 as a volunteer-run, nonprofit to promote professional snowmobile racing. Two years ago, the organization decided to take a step back to allow Mike Higgins, business owner of No Bull Graphics, to expand the race circuit, increase media coverage, and grow the teams. Sadly, Higgins fell short on those grandiose visions leading to the cancellation of the 2017 CWF event and the end of the No Bull Triple Crown series at the conclusion of the 2017 racing season.
“For 7 amazing years the teams worked hand in hand to bring the Caro Winter Fest to life; in fact, it was because of two MIRA members (Steve McAlpine and Randy Humpert) that the festival even became an idea.” said Monica LeValley, President of the Caro 150 Winter Fest. “After working to build that same partnership with Mike and the No Bull crew, we are pleased to once again be working with MIRA to plan our family-friendly, community event.”
In late 2008, a small group of volunteers came together to create the Caro 150 Winter Fest – a nonprofit 501(c)4 corporation to organize a community event offering family fun and snowmobile races which supports the community and economic growth.
MIRA’s focus for the new season is to take racing back to the basics. The event will feature 13 classes, including Sprint races on Saturday with a Vintage Enduro and Stock 600 Enduro. The junior racers (120 Kitty Kats) will race under the lights Saturday night in front of the grandstands. The “big dogs” will race on Sunday in a 225-lap Pro Enduro.
“With Michigan’s everchanging weather, we need to remind fans that it’s not snow we need, we simply need temps to be cold enough to build the ice race track,” shared Kris Reinelt, Board Member/Marketing Liaison of the Caro 150 Winter Fest and Marketing Director for the Thumb Area Tourism Council. “Though we always hope for lots of snow as it adds to the beauty and excitement of the event and early weather predictions say we might just see that this coming winter.”
Everything festival and race fans have come to love about the event will return, including the oversized Warming Tent open on Saturday and Sunday with food vendors, live entertainment featuring Mitch Diamond & The Yankee Sons, and Penelope’s Beer & Wine Ice Bar (must be 21 years of age to purchase). On Saturday there will be a silent auction in the Warming Tent and a Chainsaw Carving Competition. The winner of the CWF fundraising raffle will be announced on Sunday and he/she will take home a brand new 2,000-watt Yamaha portable inverter generator from one of our core event sponsors – Caro Motorsports. Fans will also find a sledding hill for children and the young at heart to enjoy at the entrance to the event.
Event organizers are busy finalizing the schedule of events. You can find ongoing updates on the Caro Winter Fest website (www.carowinterfest.com) or their Facebook page. You can also contact CWF President Monica LeValley at (989) 551-8546 or CWF Board Member/Marketing Liaison Kris Reinelt at (810) 569-6856.
SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE
