World Championship Snowmobile Derby facts for kids
The World Championship Snowmobile Derby is a super exciting snowmobile race! It's like the world championship for snowmobiles. This big event happens every year in Eagle River, Wisconsin. People call Eagle River the "Snowmobile Capital of the World" because of this race. It takes place on the third weekend of January at the World Championship Derby Complex. This place used to be called the Eagle River Derby Track. Did you know that one of the first modern snowmobiles was invented nearby in Sayner, Wisconsin, by Carl Eliason?
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History of the Snowmobile Derby
The very first Snowmobile Derby happened in 1964. It was started by an innkeeper named John Alward, his wife Betty, and their friend Walter Goldsworthy. John's son, Jake, said his dad thought, "Hey, we have snowmobiles, and so do other people! Let's have a race!"
The first race was a cross-country style event. It was held on and around Dollar Lake. Many snowmobiles had trouble climbing a small hill! The first winner was an eighth-grade student named Stan Hayes. He won the main race on a snowmobile with 9 horsepower. The Alwards hosted the race again in 1965. After that, they passed it on to the Eagle River Lions Club. The Lions Club made sure to trademark the name "World Championship Snowmobile Derby."
In 1968, the derby was even shown on TV! It was on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Famous football players from the Super Bowl II Green Bay Packers team, like Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, and Fuzzy Thurston, came to watch. In 1974, the track was changed to a 0.5-mile oval with high banks, making it even more thrilling.
Dick and Audrey Decker bought the Derby Track in 1985. Then, they sold it to their son, Chuck Decker, in 1989. In 2013, the World Championship Snowmobile Derby celebrated its 50th birthday!
Today, more than 1400 people enter the race. They compete in different types of races, like snocross or on the oval track. They use both old (vintage) and new (modern) snowmobiles. About 30,000 fans often come to watch this exciting event!
In August 2018, Chuck Decker sold the Eagle River Derby Track. A group of snowmobile experts, including Tom Anderson, Russ Davis, and Craig Marchbank, bought it. They renamed it the World Championship Derby Complex.
How Racers Qualify for the Derby
To race in the main event on Sunday, riders first need to qualify. On Thursday night, they have qualifying races to see who is fastest. The sixteen fastest riders then compete in two heats on Friday night.
The top five finishers from each of those two heats move on to another qualifying race. The winner of this ten-competitor race gets the best starting spot, called the pole position, for the big world championship race on Sunday. The other nine competitors keep their ranking. They then race in a series of heat races, quarterfinals, semi-finals, and consolation races to earn their spot in the Sunday championship event.
Derby Champions and Winning Snowmobiles
Some racers have won the World Championship Snowmobile Derby many times! Blaine Stephenson and P. J. Wanderscheid are the only two riders to win four world championships. Blaine Stephenson is extra special because he won four times in a row (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)!
Two other drivers have won three times: Jacques Villeneuve (in 1980, 1982, and 1986) and Dave Wahl (in 1990, 1996, and 1997). Many other racers have won twice, showing how tough the competition is!
Here is a list of past winners:
- 2022 Jay Mittelstaedt (Polaris)
- 2021 Blaine Stephenson (Polaris)
- 2020 Blaine Stephenson (Polaris)
- 2019 Blaine Stephenson (Polaris)
- 2018 Blaine Stephenson (Polaris)
- 2017 Nick Van Strydonk (Polaris)
- 2016 Matt Schulz (Ski-Doo)
- 2015 Cardell Potter (Ski-Doo)
- 2014 Malcom Chartier (Ski-Doo)
- 2013 Malcom Chartier (50th anniversary) (Ski-Doo)
- 2012 Nick Van Strydonk (Polaris)
- 2011 P.J. Wanderscheid
- 2010 Matt Schulz
- 2009 Brian Bewcyk (Ski-Doo)
- 2008 Brian Bewcyk (Ski-Doo)
- 2007 Gary Moyle (Arctic Cat)
- 2006 P. J. Wanderscheid (Arctic Cat)
- 2005 Gary Moyle (Arctic Cat)
- 2004 Larry Day (Arctic Cat)
- 2003 P. J. Wanderscheid (Arctic Cat)
- 2002 P. J. Wanderscheid (Arctic Cat)
- 2001 Jeremy Johnston (Ski-Doo)
- 2000 Mike Houle (Ski-Doo)
- 1999 Mike Houle (Ski-Doo)
- 1998 Terry Wahl (Ski-Doo)
- 1997 Dave Wahl (Ski-Doo)
- 1996 Dave Wahl (Ski-Doo)
- 1995 Dale Loritz (Ski-Doo)
- 1994 Dale Loritz (Ski-Doo)
- 1993 Al Fenhaus (Ski-Doo)
- 1992 Gary Vessair (Ski-Doo)
- 1991 Greg Goodwin (Ski-Doo)
- 1990 Dave Wahl (Ski-Doo)
- 1989 Bruce Vessair (Ski-Doo)
- 1988 Bobby Donahue (Ski-Doo)
- 1987 Chuck Decker (Ski-Doo)
- 1986 Jacques Villeneuve (Ski-Doo)
- 1985 Michael Gingras (Ski-Doo)
- 1984 Jim Dimmerman (Arctic Cat)
- 1983 Brad Hulings (Ski-Doo)
- 1982 Jacques Villeneuve (Ski-Doo)
- 1981 Brad Hulings (Scorpion)
- 1980 Jacques Villeneuve (Ski-Doo)
- 1979 Bobby Elsner (Arctic Cat)
- 1978 Steve Thorsen (Polaris)
- 1977 Steve Thorsen (Polaris)
- 1976 Ed Schubitzke (Yamaha)
- 1975 Jim Bernat (Polaris)
- 1974 Gilles Villeneuve (Alouette)
- 1973 Bob Eastman (Polaris)
- 1972 Mike Trapp (Yamaha)
- 1971 Mike Trapp (Yamaha)
- 1970 Yvon Duhamel (Ski-Doo)
- 1969 Roger Janssen (Arctic Cat)
- 1968 Steve Ave (Ski-Doo)
- 1967 Duane Frandsen (Ski-Doo)
- 1966 Steve Ave (Ski-doo)
- 1965 George Gensler (Evinrude)
- 1964 Stan Hayes (Polaris)
Snowmobile Brands That Have Won
Many different snowmobile brands have won the Derby over the years. Here's a look at which brands have taken home the most wins:
- SKI-DOO: 28 wins
- POLARIS: 11 wins
- ARCTIC CAT: 9 wins
- YAMAHA: 3 wins
- ALOUETTE: 1 win
- SCORPION: 1 win
- EVINRUDE: 1 win
More About the Derby
If you want to learn even more about the World Championship Snowmobile Derby, check out these resources:
- Of Ice and Engines (book): This book tells the story of the first 25 years of the Derby.
- Decades of the Derby (video): This video covers the first 40 years of the Derby.
