Kent Kraft for the Gazette One of MTU's Winter Baja entries takes to the air during Saturday's competition at the Tech athletic fields.

HOUGHTON – People of all ages climbed tall snow banks to catch a glimpse of an ice-covered race track laid out through the sports fields of Michigan Technological University. Twenty-two teams representing colleges and universities from around the country brought 39 cars to compete in the Winter Baja hosted by the MTU Blizzard Baja Racing team.

Just after noon Saturday, the sound of nearly 40 revving motors echoed across the track as the endurance race got underway. Starting in parking lot 24, the cars went under the start/finish line where timing transponders were activated for each car. After a brief loop, the cars went through the Kearly Stadium Arch and used the paved walkways that skirt around Sherman Field and the soccer fields.

From there, the cars faced an option: veer right to take the “Joker Jump” which was a steep downward path cutting off the back section of the track, or continue on straight through the longer, but safer section. Three snow mounds faced the drivers who continued straight as they curved through the track on top of Hubbell Field. They would eventually meet up with jumping cars’ shortcut and all cars would drive through the second soccer field where more snow mounds awaited, before reentering lot 24 and completing the lap.

While drivers tried going quickly through the track, the race is aptly named endurance as this event rewarded the cars that could take the punishment of the harsh winter track surface. The winning car was the one that completed the most laps over the four-hour timeframe.

Drivers quickly found out just how punishing the track could be as many spun out on the slick surfaces, got stuck in snow piles, and even flipped their cars as they attempted the “Joker Jump” to get a quicker lap in. Safety is a priority for the hosts, as Tech Student Adeline Doyle, Winter Baja Coordinator explained. “We have a track walk before the event,” she said. “Everybody who wants to drive has to walk the track so they’ve seen it and they know what they’re doing, especially with the ‘Joker Jump.’ That is an optional shortcut in the event. It is completely to the driver’s volition; they do not have to go over it. You can go a lot faster, but chances are you’ll break your car. Any car that can survive that is getting first place.”

Along the track, volunteers were ready to assist the cars that got into trouble. “We have 52 members in the group and only about 20 will be running the pits and the outside part of the event,” said Doyle. “The other 32 will be around the course, set up at various locations with flags and to help the cars.”

This often involved the track workers running over to a car and manhandling it back onto the track. Other times, it meant waving a yellow flag to alert the other drivers, or a red flag to stop them, while they waited for a side-by-side to make it out on track and tow the car back to the pits.

Spectators, some teammates of those out driving and others interested members of the public, lined viewing areas a safe distance away from the track. They shouted encouragement to the drivers and sprinkled in a variety of “oohs,” “aahs,” and the occasional, “hope they’re okay” as cars plowed into snowbanks or tipped over the jump.

Before the main event started, two dynamic events took place. First was the “pickled egg slalom” where cars had to slalom through a few cones, then wait for a teammate to down a pickled egg. The MTU students watching over the pickled egg consumption assured contestants that the morsel was a local delicacy, but the reactions were mixed. A few were able to down the egg in two quick bites, but most needed some chewing time and lots of water.

The event tested how nimble the cars could be to maneuver tight turns, provided a light hearted and fun moment for the teams, and also set the starting grid for the endurance race based on how quickly teams could finish the course.

The second event was a hill climb where cars lined up in front of a tall snow bank on the side of the parking lot. When they were released, teams drove their cars up as high up as they could before getting stuck or rolling back down the hill.

According to Olivia Perry, MTU Blizzard Baja team member, this is the 45th anniversary of the Winter Baja. While they know the event started in 1981, the records from the pre-digital age are spotty and they are unsure where the event was held from year-to-year.

“The race has been held at the Michigan Tech SDC (Student Development Center) since 2013,” Perry said. While the past two years were hosted at the Range Snowmobile Club because of snow issues, Perry and her teammates were excited to get back to the MTU campus this year. Prior to 2013, the Winter Baja had a variety of host locations according to Perry. “Previous host spaces include a Lake Linden park, the Keweenaw Research Center, and along public trails near Copper Harbor.”

Returning to the MTU campus brought back easier access to the public, better amenities for teams and guests with easily accessible restrooms, and made the event more memorable for the members of MTU’s Blizzard Baja Racing team. As the events concluded and disassembly began, many of them were already looking to the future and wondering what they could do to make the 46th running of the Winter Baja even better.