WCDC to crown a vintage champion this weekend

Festivities for the 24th running of the Vintage World Championship Derby in Eagle River will start Thursday, Jan. 9, and conclude with the crowning of a world champion Sunday, Jan. 12.
After officials had to delay the races to late February, 2024, due to unseasonal weather, racing festivities will be on time this year despite a lack of snow and a recent warm-up. The track has a great ice base after some cold weather swept through the North Woods in December and early January, which allowed track officials to get the water trucks out on the track to start preparations.
Even with a slight warmup, the track is ready for the racers who will converge at the Derby Complex this week for a world title opportunity after crews worked tirelessly in the week leading up to the event.
“We have three water trucks and a five-man crew ready to go 24/7,” said WCDC CEO Tom Anderson about the track conditions as they head into race week.
Anderson noted this is the best the track has been in recent years.
WCDC Race Director Craig Marchbank gave fans an update on the complex’s Facebook page right before the new year, saying “Business as usual. We are ready to race,” in regards to the 24th Vintage Championship Derby this weekend.
Jaime Bourgeois of Boonville, N.Y., won last year’s championship by piloting his No. 4 sled to victory lane after fending off five-time event champion, Matt Goede, of New Germany, Minn. Both racers are expected to be back at the WCDC this year, with Bourgeois looking to defend his title, according to Marchbank.
Sabrina Blanchet of Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, who made history as the first Vintage World Champion in 2023, was not present last year to defend her title due to the uncertainty of the race track, but will be in line to race in the 24th installment of the Derby, also according to Marchbank.
He expects 50-60 racers will be registered for the World Championship class, but many wait until the week of the event to register.
General admission tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are $32 plus potential fees online, or fans can purchase tickets at the door for $30. Super tickets are on sale for $85 plus potential fees online, which includes admission to all days including Friday Night Lightning.
Indoor Hot seats remain available for $175 for Vintage weekend. Marchbank said they are roughly three-quarters full, with one to two seats here and there left, with not enough seats together for a bigger group to sit together.

2025 schedule

Racing festivities begin tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 9, with World Championship time trials beginning at noon. All times and lap amounts are subject to change throughout the entire weekend. Gates will open at 7 a.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. on Championship Sunday.
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. and racing under the lights starts at 6 p.m.
The Woody’s Dash For Cash will feature the evening, with four heat races being narrowed down to two semifinals for the World Championship drivers before an eight-lap final will determine the winner. The winner gets the pole position in Sunday afternoon’s Vintage World Championship race.
Other class finals on Friday night include the Pro Mod 340 FA, Mod Stock 300, Super Stock IFS 540, Juniors Combo, Relic Mod 800 FA, Super Mod 340 and Seniors Super Stock 340.
Classes will again race throughout the day Saturday, Jan. 11, starting at 9 a.m., while WC qualifying will be later in the day.
Vintage World Championship qualifying will start between 2-3 p.m. to determine the top 10 who line up for Sunday’s championship.
Championship Sunday, where many race fans line the front stretch, will have racing begin at 9:30 a.m. with a last-chance qualifying race at noon for the W/C back-row positions.
All racing will conclude between 2 and 3 p.m. for track preparations for the W/C race. Any class that wasn’t completed before the 10-lap W/C final will be run afterward.
At 3 p.m., racers will line the front stretch in preparation for intense racing. There will be $3,000 in added prize money to the WC championship purse.
After the final, a champion will be crowned and an awards ceremony will take place roughly an hour after the final race. There will be a 24th WC top-10 ring ceremony and trophies for first, second and third in every class that is scheduled to run.
For up-to-date information, Anderson noted to check the WCDC website at https://derbycomplex.com or on the World Championship Derby Complex Facebook page.
Following Vintage Championship weekend, the 62nd World Championship Snowmobile Derby is set for next week, Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 16-19.