Vintage Championship Derby returns

After a delayed and shortened Vintage World Championship Derby weekend last year due to unseasonable temperatures, the two consecutive weekends of championship racing start tomorrow with the 24th running of the Vintage World Championships.
The North Woods got hit with a cold spell early, but a lack of snow hasn’t helped anyone get on the trails yet this year. Actually, with a recent warm-up, it looks kind of like spring outside with more grass showing than snow as we near mid-January.
Despite the lack of white stuff on the ground, it was cold enough for a time that the half-mile track at the World Championship Derby Complex is ready for racers to return for an on-time event this year.
Jaime Bourgeois of Boonville, N.Y., won the 23rd Vintage championships last year by piloting his No. 4 sled to the victory lane after fending off five-time champion of the event, Matt Goede, of New Germany, Minn.
As the track continues to be prepared up to race day, officials said the track has a solid five-inch base which held through a recent stretch of temperatures in the high-30s a few weeks ago.
The high-speed, competitive racing starts Friday, Jan. 10, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with over 20 classes of racing before Friday Night Lighting opening ceremonies begin at 5:30 p.m. with racing at 6 p.m.
The Woody’s Dash for Cash highlights the night with four heat races, two semifinals and one final, that will determine the pole position of Sunday’s final.
Championship qualifying will start between 2-3 p.m. Saturday, as other classes will also be out on the ice throughout the day. All the anticipation and preparation leads to a chance to race on Championship Sunday.
A last-chance qualifying race will take place at noon for a shot at the back row starting positions in the WC that will start at 3 p.m.
Racers will take 10 laps around the half-mile track in an attempt to etch their name in history and become the 24th World Vintage Champion.
Top finishers throughout the weekend will be celebrated at an awards ceremony roughly an hour after the final race has concluded.