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Snowmobile Drag Racing – 101

Webster’s defines a drag race as an acceleration contest between vehicles. It is basically a race from a dead stop, in a straight line, over a fixed distance. The first vehicle to cross the finish line is the winner. Hence the definition as an acceleration contest, as the vehicle with the greatest amount of acceleration is usually the victor. The most popular forms of automotive drag racing known to the general public are those sanctioned by the NHRA and IHRA and broadcast on television. The main attractions at these events are the top professional classes including Pro-Stock, Pro-Mod, Funny Car and Top Fuel.

Snowmobile drag racing is just a little different than the automotive drag racing you may have seen on TV and presents its own list of challenges. Not the least of these challenges is the surface that is raced on. Unlike the meticulously prepared asphalt of a major NHRA event, snowmobiles are raced on some of the most unpredictable surfaces imaginable. Although they can be raced on asphalt, they are most often raced on snow, ice, and grass (yes, grass).

The Distance: On snow or ice the distance is normally 660 feet (one-eighth of a mile). On grass/dirt, the distance is most typically 500 feet.

# of Snowmobiles: Unlike automotive drag racing which is between two cars, snowmobile drag races can be between 2,3, or 4 snowmobiles. Typical snow drags involve heats of 4 snowmobiles at a time.

The start: When racing on grass, most sanctioned events will use a set of timing lights to start the race. Typically the lights will change from yellow to green. Green means go. Should a racer leave the start before the green light is illuminated, a light beam across the starting line is broken and a red light will appear indicating that the racer jump started and is disqualified from the race. At smaller races or at races on snow where the changes in the surface make using a timing beam system impractical, the race is started by a flag man (known as the starter) who will signal the start by waving a flag or switching on a light. It is the responsibility of the starter to determine if a racer false started or “jumped”.

The Rules: Basically, there aren’t many. You will be disqualified if you jump the start. You will also be disqualified if you fail to remain in your assigned lane before crossing the finish line. There are several classes for different levels of snowmobiles to compete in. The most recognized of those are the ones set out by International Snowmobile Racing, Inc. (ISR). The ISR uses an established class structure to promote fair competition. There are technical rules for snowmobiles competing in each class.

Classes: While there can be many different classifications of drag racing snowmobiles, the most common are:

Stock – Basically snowmobiles equipped as they were originally built by their manufacturer. They can be tuned, but few other changes can be made. Within stock, and all classes except Top Fuel or King, there will be several classes based on engine displacement (eg. 500cc, 600cc, 700cc, 800cc, & 1000cc are the most common).

Improved Stock – The next step up. Some modifications can be made to make more power. These sleds will still look like machines you may see riding the lakes and trails.

Pro-Stock – Quite a few more modifications are allowed to make more power, as well as changes to reduce the weight of the snowmobile. While these machines are quicker and lighter, they will still be easily recognizable as to their original make and model.

Open Mod – Highly modified machines that most often do not resemble any factory produced snowmobile.

Top Fuel or King of the Snow/Ice/Grass – Take any of the above classified snowmobiles and add turbo chargers, super chargers or nitrous oxide injection. Basically anything goes.

There are many rules that designate which classes a snowmobile may compete in but that is beyond the scope of this article. One other note on classes, a racer may move his sled up one or more classes and compete in more than one event. For example, it is not uncommon for a racer with a 700cc Improved Stock snowmobile to compete in the 800cc improved stock class or the 700cc Pro Stock class as well.

How Fast Are They? – As a racer, I get this question all the time. To put the answer in perspective, I like to make some comparisons. For example, the Lamborghini Gallardo accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 4 seconds on dry asphalt. A well tuned Improved Stock snowmobile will accomplish 0 to 60 in under 3 seconds. The most powerful muscle cars of the 60’s, Hemi ‘Cuda’s and big block Chevelles, would speed to a little over 100 mph in the quarter mile (1320 feet). A pro-stock snowmobile will exceed 100 mph in half that distance. Make no mistake, snowmobiles dedicated to drag racing are not just fast, they are extremely fast. And once again, these speeds are accomplished on some of the most unpredictable surfaces available, with no high back seats or seat belts for support, no enclosed roll cages, and no cockpit of any kind. Just the rider with his feet on the running boards and hanging on to the handlebars. As you may imagine, experienced racers make it look a lot easier than it is.

Why does one sled win over another? - Although it can be that it just has more power, there are many factors involved. The weight of the machine has a large impact on its acceleration. The way its continuously variable transmission, or clutches, are tuned is very important. The suspension setup and the way the machine transfers power on to the track is vital. The driver’s skill in keeping the machine traveling in a straight line is important. The driver’s reaction time on the starting line can win or lose a race. These and several dozen other factors will determine which racer is a winner. More often than not, the snowmobile whose engine is capable of producing the most peak horsepower is not the winner of the race. It is all the technical and driving skill related issues that make the sport so challenging for it competitors.

Heat System – At most races the competitors in a class or division will race in a number of qualifying races know as heats. If 4 snowmobiles are in a heat, the first 2 finishers will usually move on to compete against the top 2 from the other heats in the same class. This continues until there are 4 or fewer snowmobiles left, at which point the final heat will determine the winner of the class.

In a nutshell, you are now equipped with the basic knowledge of snowmobile drag racing. Have a question? Click on the “contact us” link at the top of the page and we’ll do our best to get you the answer.

P.S. The audio clip you have been listening to is from the song Walk Away by The Nadas. It is played during the closing of a TV show on the SPEED TV network called PINKS! If you are a fan of grass roots drag racing and can appreciate racing where the competitors put it all on the line, this show is for you. Hats off to the show’s creator Rich Christensen, it’s about the best drag racing show ever broadcast on television (even though it doesn’t feature snowmobiles). Click here to visit the show’s web site. UPADTE MARCH 28, 2007: Pinks! just aired an episode where they drag raced snowmobiles! Rich, you da man!