SILVERTON –
Delanie Meador said it was the adrenaline. Jim Lokey called it a touch of freedom. Dean Despalmes said it reminded him of being a kid.
This weekend at Molas Pass Recreation Area just south of Silverton, the Silverton Snowmobile Club was hosting its annual weekend outing. This year’s edition was called the “Radar Run and Snow Drags.”
Despalmes, the Silverton Snowmobile Club safety officer, said the radar run isn’t really a race.
“You’re racing against yourself,” he said from the pass – two miles high and surrounded by mountains.
Sledders lined up to take turns riding full-throttle toward a radar gun at the end of an one-eighth of a mile stretch of snow.
“It’s the first year we’ve tried this,” he said.
The radar run gave riders a chance to test their machines before the real competition on Sunday, when one-on-one drag racing begins at 11 a.m.
Part of the proceeds of the event go toward a Silverton High School field trip to Seattle. The rest of the money raised goes to the club to help with costs of upkeep on the 100-plus miles of multi-use trails within the recreation area.
“Fat tire bikes, skate skiers, cross-country skiers, snowshoers – anybody can use them,” Despalmes said. “We go up to 12,000 feet with our groomed trails.”
While he spoke, snow machines whizzed by on the course in the majestic Alpine setting. Engines screaming, many snowmobilers broke 70 mph.
Lokey, club president, said the club and the recreation area are a gem for families.
“It’s a great way to spend the weekend with your kids,” he said. His son, Levi, 19, has been sledding with his family since he was 3 years old.
“There he is,” Jim Lokey said as his son shot by. “I’d say that was about 72 (mph).”
The call came in over the hand radio. The official speed was 73 mph.
Delanie said her family comes from Aztec every weekend all winter long for “all the snow.”
Sledding since she was 5, the 16-year-old said she loves the speed.
“The only time I ever get scared is seeing the wall at the end of the track and not being able to shut down the sled in time,” she said.
Next weekend, the club – along with the with San Juan Sledders, another local club – will host a group ride called the Special Needs Fun Days. People with special needs and of all ages will come to the pass for a day of riding and food.
“It’s huge,” Lokey said.
“It’s one of the best things we do,” Despalmes added.
With the white mountains reflecting in his sunglasses, Lokey said he loves the feeling of riding in the winter – “especially in the four feet of fresh snow we’ve got out here right now.”
Despalmes said he likes the drag races.
“We all used to drag race when we were kids in our cars,” he said. “Now, we’re doing it on snowmobiles at 10,500 feet.”
bmathis@durangoherald.com