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Mud drag a success despite cool weather

For the Gazette

ONTONAGON – The cool temperatures and threatening skies didn’t scare off racers and fans from the Mountain Lions Mud Drags at the Ontonagon County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

Both all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides raced through two lanes of mud and water. While some of the machines were unable to make it to the finish line, every race did have one racer make it to the end.

“We want to thank all the racers and fans for making it to the races. We’re looking at doing at least one of these mud drags next summer, possibly two,” Mountain Lions President Dave Guilbault said at the end of the races.

Mike Kirtland defeated KJ Joliff in the ATV final. Kirtland defeated Joliff in the semifinal. Joliff came back to advance to the final race by beating his brother, Colin, in a “last-chance qualifier.”

Eight racers competed in the stock side-by-side division. Wyatt McIntyre, Mike Saari, Brad Holmstrom and Ryan Huff all won in the first round. McIntyre and Holmstron excited the fans in a close race in the semifinals, with Holmstron advancing to the finals. Ryan Huff defeated McIntyre in the last-chance qualifier final to punch his ticket to the featured race of the day.

In the side-by-side feature, Holmstron defeated Huff.

“This is fun! Whether I had a better lane or not, I enjoyed this,” Saari said. When asked if his mud-and-water-drenched clothing is giving him the chills, Saari simply said, “Not yet.”

In the double-elimination format, only one division – modified side-by-side – forced a second championship race. Emerson Manos defeated Huff in the first Round. Huff came back through the consolation bracket to take on Manos in the finals. In the first race for the Mod SXS championship, Huff beat Manos. This forced another race with the racers changing lanes.

While lane 1 was not taking the pounding that the other lane was taking, Huff gave Manos a run to the finish line from what appeared to be a more challenging lane 2. Manos held Huff off to win the final.

The event was a fundraiser for the Mountain Lions club, which is raising money to bring back skiing at Adventure Mountain.

This volunteer organization has applied for a $45,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources Recreation Passport Grant.

The Greenland/Mass City-based organization wants to rebuild the tope row at the Adventure Mountain Ski Hill. If approved the grant also includes a partnership with the Ontonagon County Fair Board to build horse stables near the current horse arena.

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