VILAS COUNTY
Section
SOUVENIR ISSUE
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NEWS-REVIEW EAGLE RIVER, WI 54521 • (715) 479-4421 • www.vcnewsreview.com
$1.25 VOL. 125, NO. 44
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19, 2011
A 4-time champion! Wanderscheid nips Moyle, makes Derby history ___________
BY KURT KRUEGER NEWS-REVIEW PUBLISHER
___________
P.J. Wanderscheid made it a record-setting finish Sunday, chasing Gary Moyle for 25 laps before low-lining his way into first place to become the first to win the world championship four times. In an epic battle of former champions seen by thousands of race fans, Wanderscheid went low in the corners for a faster but rougher ride while twotime champion Moyle kept the high line that got him the lead. As he did on four previous laps, Wanderscheid and his Arctic Cat emerged from behind the bank in turn four with the lead. He fired down the home stretch to take the checkered flag about four sled lengths ahead of Moyle, winning the 48th AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby. “It was amazing. It couldn’t have happened any better than that. It is truly a dream come true for me,” said the 27-year-old from Sauk Centre, Minn. “It was a storybook-type deal here. And it was a clean race; that is what matters.” Wanderscheid commended Moyle for an “awesome race” that saw both competitors sticking to their lines. Many fans described it as the most exciting race they’ve seen in years. It was the first title race run under a new split format where racers put in 15 laps, pit for five minutes and then finish with 15 laps. Derby officials said they wanted to declare a mid-race champion without infringing on the most important event in snowmobile racing. During the break, as Moyle’s full-straight lead was about to be whittled down to just 10 feet on the restart, Wanderscheid was peddling an exercise bike to stay loose. “I know what he was doing there. Don’t be sur-
High-flying, hard-charging Sno-Cross events inside the oval kept Derby fans entertained. --STAFF PHOTO
Signaling his unprecedented fourth victory in the world championship, an ecstatic P.J. Wanderscheid displays four fingers in the
prised if we have a bike out there next year,” said Moyle in the winner’s circle. Moyle, of Houghton, Mich., said he tried running his Ski-Doo on the low line for three or four laps and it was beating up his body and his sled. “I guess we weren’t set up to run in the extreme rough down low,” he said. “The high line was working
winner’s circle. Behind him were Derby princesses Shannon Stevens (left) and Katrina Tameling. --STAFF PHOTOS
for me pretty good until the snow ice started building up coming out of the corners, especially in two. That slowed down my line enough for P.J. to take the low line and sneak underneath me.” The senior racer on the circuit, three-time champion Jacques Villeneuve of St. Cuthbert, Quebec, finished in third place after starting
Here’s Wanderscheid driving to victory during Friday Night Thunder to claim the pole position in Sunday’s final.
This is how it looked Sunday afternoon as the Top 10 and two racers in a second row roared off the starting line in the 48th running of
in a second row following a last-chance qualifier race at midday Sunday. He’s 57. “They could be my kids, both of them,” said Villeneuve, pointing to Wanderscheid and the 30-yearold Moyle. Though he’d like to be racing at 60 and beyond, Villeneuve said it can’t last forever. “For the last five laps and even the first 15, I was asking myself, ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ ” he said. “The new format? For a guy like me, I like it. It was a bit of a break.” Track owner Chuck Decker, a former world champion, said it was “unbelievable” that his old friend Jacques was sitting in the winner’s circle in third place. Fourth went to Malcolm Chartier of Fair Haven, Mich., and fifth to Joey Fjerstad of Minneapolis, To TITLE RACE, Pg. 3A
the AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby. Gary Moyle (third from right) got the hole shot and won the new mid-way feature,
Derby still a hit for racers, fans despite economy ___________
BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR
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The tradition of attending the greatest race in snowmobiling was credited for bringing thousands of fans to Eagle River during a struggling economy for the 48th running of the AMSOIL World Championship Snowmobile Derby Thursday through Sunday. Professional and amateur racers from across the United States and Canada gathered to compete for about $100,000 in cash and prizes and the prestige of “winning at Eagle River.” Derby Track owner Chuck Decker said thousands of people witnessed the biggest race in snowmobiling, though an exact figure wouldn’t be
known until later in the week. He said it was on par with last year when about 20,000 people attended the Derby. “It’s certainly not like four or five years ago, but we were happy with the attendance,” Decker said Monday. “Just like everything else, the economy is affecting the racing business. We are no different. But I still would rate it as an excellent Derby.” He said the weather was decent, the racing was highly competitive, there were no serious injuries and the new format for the title race was well accepted. “We never had sub-zero To DERBY, Pg. 2A
but Wanderscheid (right) caught him in the final 15 laps to win the most coveted event in oval racing. --STAFF PHOTO
2A
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19, 2011
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEATHER CORNER
DERBY
Note: Precipitation amounts are recorded at 8 a.m. for the previous 24 hours.
LAST SEVEN DAYS Hi Wed., Jan. 12..........23 Thurs., Jan. 13........22 Fri., Jan. 14.............25 Sat., Jan. 15 ...........16 Sun., Jan. 16 ..........13 Mon., Jan. 17..........21 Tues., Jan. 18 .........13
Lo Prec. 16 1.9"S 14 .3"S 3 .7"S 4 2.7"S 3 .2"S 0 .2"S 10 .7"S
ONE YEAR AGO Hi Tues., Jan. 12 .........22 Wed., Jan. 13..........24 Thurs., Jan. 14........30 Fri., Jan. 15.............30 Sat., Jan. 16 ...........37 Sun., Jan. 17 ..........30 Mon., Jan. 18..........38
Lo 0 16 12 7 14 12 14
Prec. .2"S None None None None None None
LAST YEAR
The average daily high at this time last year for the next seven days was 31, while the average overnight low was 20. There was snow on two days totaling 1.7 inches and .04 of an inch of rain on another day.
COMPARISON
Days precipitation recorded since Jan. 1, 2011, 6 days; 2010, 9 days. Average high of past 30 days, 2011, 23; 2009, 22. Average low of past 30 days, 2011, 7; 2010, 7.
SNOW CONDITIONS
Snowmobile trails are 2009-’10 ’10-’11 back to good condition Snowy days 38 39 following seven straight Inches to date 40.2 37.98 days of snow flurries. Ground cover 14" 13" There are now 14 inches on the ground, with more in northwestern Vilas County.
STREAMS AND LAKES
Anglers are driving vehicles on most lakes, but caution is urged on lakes with springs and channels. There are about 3 inches of snow on the lakes, but little slush.
OUTLOOK
Wednesday will have a mix of sun/clouds and turning colder, with a high of 12 and a low of –6. Thursday lake-effect flurries are forecast and cold, with a high of 8 and a low of –8. Friday also is expected to have lake-effect flurries and cold, with a high of 5 and a low of –12. Saturday is expected to remain cold and partly sunny, with a high of 7 and a low of –10.
(PORTIONS OF THE WEATHER CORNER ARE THROUGH THE COURTESY OF KEVIN BREWSTER, EAGLE RIVER and NEWSWATCH 12 METEOROLOGIST.) Professional Sno-Cross racers take the monster jump in front of the home-stretch viewing stand, one racer seemingly changing di-
rections in flight to avoid the trajectory of others who picked a route just off his left side. --Staff Photo By KURT KRUEGER
Derby: Decker calls new title race format a success FROM PAGE 1A
With its refueling arm down to salute the troops, a KC 135 refueler jet flew over the Derby grounds Sunday afternoon.
Derby Queen Andrea Sergent jumped on the sled of Carlisle Pro Open winner Justin Broberg during Friday Night Thunder.
Falling snow, racers’ headlights and the lights of Friday Night Thunder made for a picturesque
Minn. He received an arm injury in Champ qualifying races on the ice oval Saturday afternoon and missed the final on Sunday. A large video screen on the inside of the oval kept fans up to date on the races, including the daily schedule, race results and a live broadcast of the race action. “It was really a big hit,” said Decker. “We were able to give live reports from the racers on the track and from the fans on the banks.
temperatures all weekend, though the wind was pretty strong on Saturday and kept that attendance down,” said Decker. “There was a light snow falling Friday night, and the weather was ideal for all the finals on Sunday — the two times we have our largest crowds.” More than racing Decker said the Derby is more than snowmobile racing. Included in the four-day event were a Celebrity Charity Ride Friday morning, the popular Friday Night Thunder under the lights with fireworks, a special reception Saturday night recognizing the Top 10 qualifiers, a flyby of a KC 135 refueler jet prior to the title race Sunday afternoon and the victory party Sunday night. “The jet was from the Air National Guard unit out of Milwaukee and was just part of a Derby that carried a military theme,” said Decker. “Each day, a different branch of the military was recognized and displayed the colors prior to racing.” Reigning over the Derby was 2011 Derby Queen Andrea Sergent of Eagle River. After four days of racing, P.J. Wandersheid, 27, of Sauk Centre, Minn., won the world title race Sunday afternoon on an Arctic Cat, beating a 12sled field in the 30-lap feature race that featured a new format.
scene during a Sno-Cross race at the 48th annual World Championship Snowmobile Derby.
Sno-Eagles Queen Bridgette Darton aims an air-powered cannon to fire free T-shirts to Derby race fans. --STAFF PHOTO
Schulz won a 5-foot-tall world championship trophy, $10,000 cash from AMSOIL and $10,000 from Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches. Second went to Gary Moyle of Houghton, Mich., on a Ski-doo and third went to Jacques Villeneuve of Quebec, Canada. “The new format for the world championship race was a big hit with the drivers and fans,” said Decker, noting that the race was split into two 15lap events with a 5-minute pit stop for drivers to maintain their sleds. “I think the new format was a huge success and it turned out to be one of the closest championships in years,” said Decker. “We will have a meeting to discuss tweaking the format, but we want to build toward the 50th anniversary of the Derby in two years.” Mixed schedule Decker said fans got their fill of both Oval and Sno-Cross racing during the weekend because the Sno-Cross course is built inside the ice oval, offering a mixed schedule. “The ice track held up well. We had plenty of ice the entire week, even with the number of races the week before during our vintage weekend,” said Decker. Decker said there were about two dozen professional racers entered in the world championship class with Champ 440 sleds that hit 100 mph in the straightaways. He said most Oval and Sno-Cross classes were well represented. “Overall, the number of entries stayed pretty flat compared to last year, but we also gained some new young drivers,” said Decker. “There
were a lot of entries in the Juniors, so that’s good for the future of racing.” The most serious injuries of the weekend were sustained by Dustin Wahl of Greenbush,
Volunteers vital Always a key ingredient at the Derby are the volunteers, according to Decker, ranging from people manning the admission stands, hot seats, food booths and paddock areas to those registering racers and parking vehicles. “We have a couple hundred local volunteers from nonprofit groups that get a donation after the Derby,” said Decker. “We give donations each year to organizations that help us at the Derby. We certainly couldn’t do it without them.”
U.S. Marines from a Marine Corps recruitinig station in Wisconsin presented the colors Friday night. --STAFF PHOTOS
VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19, 2011
3A
DERBY
Title race: Wanderscheid calls fourth title a ‘dream come true’ FROM PAGE 1A Minn. Finishers through 10th included Dan Fenhaus of Wausau, Spencer Graff of Kewaskum, Nicholas VanStrydonk of Tomahawk, first-time qualifier Travis McDonald of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Brandon Johnson of Greenbush, Minn. Fenhaus started in the second row with Villeneuve. Two-time champion Brian Bewcyk of Winnipeg was 11th and defending champion Matt Schulz of Wausau, on a Ski-Doo this year, was 12th. The record fourth world championship is hardly a shock, considering Wanderscheid’s youthful vigor and his storied past — winning
48-YEAR WORLD-TITLE RECORD ’64 STAN HAYES, Crandon, Wis..................... Polaris ’65 GEORGE GENSLER, Three Lakes, Wis. . Evinrude ’66 STEVE AVE, Duluth, Minn. ....................... Ski-Doo ’67 DUANE FRANDSEN, Pembine, Wis. ........ Ski-Doo ’68 STEVE AVE, Duluth, Minn. ....................... Ski-Doo ’69 ROGER JANSSEN, Crookston, Minn. ...... Arctic Cat ’70 YVON DUHAMEL, Valcourt, Quebec........ Ski-Doo ’71 MIKE TRAPP, Woodruff, Wis. .................... Yamaha ’72 MIKE TRAPP, Woodruff, Wis. .................... Yamaha ’73 BOB EASTMAN, Roseau, Minn................ Polaris ’74 GUILLES VILLENEUVE, Quebec ............. Alouette ’75 JIM BERNAT, Roseau, Minn. .................... Polaris ’76 ED SCHUBITZKE, Duluth, Minn............... Yamaha ’77 STEVE THORSEN, Fergus Falls, Minn. ... Polaris ’78 STEVE THORSEN, Fergus Falls, Minn. ... Polaris ’79 BOB ELSNER, New London, Wis............. Arctic Cat ’80 JACQUES VILLENEUVE, Quebec............ Ski-Doo ’81 BRAD HULINGS, Thief River, Minn. ......... Scorpion ’82 JACQUES VILLENEUVE, Quebec............ Ski-Doo ’83 BRAD HULINGS, Grand Rapids, Mich. .... Ski-Doo ’84 JIM DIMMERMAN, White Bear Lk., Minn.... Phantom ’85 MICHEL GINGRAS, St. Gregoire, Quebec.. Ski-Doo ’86 JACQUES VILLENEUVE, Quebec............ Ski-Doo ’87 CHUCK DECKER, Eagle River, Wis......... Ski-Doo ’88 BOBBY DONAHUE, Wis. Rapids, Wis. ..... Ski-Doo ’89 BRUCE VESSAIR, Ontario ....................... Ski-Doo ’90 DAVE WAHL, Greenbush, Minn. ............... Wahl ’91 GREG GOODWIN, Zion, Ill....................... Ski-Doo ’92 GARY VESSAIR, Honey Harbour, Ontario .. Ski-Doo ’93 AL FENHAUS, Wausau, Wis..................... Ski-Doo ’94 DALE LORITZ, Green Bay, Wis. ............... Ski-Doo ’95 DALE LORITZ, Green Bay, Wis. ............... Ski-Doo ’96 DAVE WAHL, Greenbush, Minn. ............... Wahl ’97 DAVE WAHL, Greenbush, Minn. ............... Ski-Doo ’98 TERRY WAHL, Greenbush, Minn. ............ Ski-Doo ’99 MIKE HOULE, Wyoming, Minn. ................ Ski-Doo ’00 MIKE HOULE, Wyoming, Minn. ................ Ski-Doo ’01 JEREMY JOHNSTON, Arcola, Sask. ....... Ski-Doo ’02 P.J. WANDERSCHEID, Sauk Centre, Minn. . Arctic Cat ’03 P.J. WANDERSCHEID, Sauk Centre, Minn. . Arctic Cat ’04 LARRY DAY, Lyman, Maine ...................... Arctic Cat ’05 GARY MOYLE, Houghton, Mich. .............. Arctic Cat ’06 P.J. WANDERSCHEID, Sauk Centre, Minn. . Arctic Cat ’07 GARY MOYLE, Houghton, Mich. .............. Arctic Cat ’08 BRIAN BEWCYK, Winnipeg, Manitoba..... Ski-Doo ’09 BRIAN BEWCYK, Winnipeg, Manitoba..... Ski-Doo ’10 MATT SCHULZ, Wausau, Wis................... Polaris ’11 P.J. WANDERSCHEID, Sauk Centre, Minn...Arctic Cat
his first championship as a rookie in 2002 and then repeating in 2003. He won the title for a third time in 2006, joining the ranks with racing greats like Villeneuve and the retired Dave Wahl of Greenbush, Minn. “I’ve wanted this forever, ever since I won a first, second and third. You keep stepping up your goals over the years, and we are going to try for number five next year,” said Wanderscheid. He’s had a few tough years since the 2006 win, dealing with engine problems and a chassis that didn’t handle well on the corners. “Stuff wasn’t working right until we joined Hooper Racing in 2009. I spun out that year and got fourth. Last year, I just couldn’t get that hole shot and couldn’t chase down Schulz. “This year, it was a battle to the end. But it was sure worth it,” the new champion said. Wanderscheid, who took second a year ago, said he spent the last 364 days waiting for another shot. “I got up this morning and my nerves were sick. It’s 10 hours of being sick before you get to this point,” he said. “It just means so much, but when it doesn’t work out, you can’t just come back tomorrow and try again. You have to wait an entire year.” Wanderscheid repeatedly talked of the dream that just came true, saying there’s no better place to race or win than Eagle River. “Money is great, but I’d come here if it was a dollar race. It’s just the fact of winning the world championship and setting records. We set a record here today,” he said. Though his decision to take the bumpy, grueling low line around the corners paid off in the end, he was happy to see the race end. “When we were duking it out, I was getting tired and thinking I can’t do this much longer,” said Wanderscheid. “Down low is tough. I train a lot for this stuff but I’m shot. I’m done.” Wanderscheid’s storybook Derby started Thursday night in time trials, when he turned in the third-best time behind Schulz and Moyle. Then for the second straight year, he won the Sweet Sixteen Pole Position event at Friday Night Thunder, qualifying him to run Sunday from the best spot in
World title race action Sunday afternoon included the restart for the second 15-lap feature (above), where P.J. Wanderscheid started about 20 feet behind leader Gary Moyle. At right, Wanderscheid sneaks underneath Moyle coming out of turn four. Below, the champion poses with Derby Queen Andrea Sergent.
the 12-sled field. But he didn’t get the hole shot, and he chased Moyle the first 15 laps until the pit stop and restart. “I knew the second 15 was coming and I didn’t want to make a dumb error. But I hit it hard right away on that second 15,” he said. For his win, Wanderscheid won $20,000. Derby officials said Moyle won $2,500 for his mid-race victory and another
$4,000 for second place. Villeneuve won $3,200 for third and the payout went down to 12th place. Schulz gave Polaris its first world championship win since 1978, but the title goes back to Arctic Cat — which hadn’t won it since Moyle was riding a Cat in 2007. He’s now on a Ski-Doo. Bewcyk won the title on a Ski-Doo in 2008 and 2009. The only racer expected to make the Top 10 who didn’t qualify was Dustin Wahl of Greenbush, who slid hard into the hay bales during qualifications Saturday afternoon and sustained a broken wrist. His teammate for Polaris and the Wahl Brothers, Brandon Johnson, was the first one out of the big race Sunday with equipment problems.
2011 AMSOIL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SNOWMOBILE DERBY Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 Eagle River, Wisconsin
PRO CHAMP — 30-LAP FEATURE RACE Place
Bib #
Driver
City/State
Machine
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
28 66 96 33 16 10 97 13 8 22 39 38
P.J. Wanderscheid, Sauk Centre, Minn. Gary Moyle, Houghton, Mich. Jacques Villeneuve, St. Cuthbert, Quebec Malcolm Chartier, Fair Haven, Mich. Joey Fjerstad, Minneapolis, Minn. Dan Fenhaus, Wausau Spencer Graff, Kewaskum, Wis. Nicholas Van Strydonk, Tomahawk Travis McDonald, Winnipeg, Manitoba Brandon Johnson, Greenbush, Minn. Brian Bewcyk, Winnipeg, Manitoba Matt Schulz, Wausau
1/2 position
Arctic Cat Ski-Doo Ski-Doo Ski-Doo Polaris Arctic Cat Ski-Doo Polaris Polaris Ski-Doo Ski-Doo
2 1 9 5 6 8 7 4 11 3 10 12
VILAS COUNTY
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P.J. Wanderscheid, 27, of Sauk Centre, Minn., takes the checkered flag over Moyle to become
the first racer ever to win four world championships at Eagle River. --STAFF PHOTOS
These were the simple driving instructions on the sled of Champ racer Michael Lehman of Arbor Vitae.
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