Pro Snowcross racing returns to Timmins this weekend

Timmins hosts a major pro snowcross event this weekend at a new Airport Road location with 100 teams and international racers.

Organizers are revved up for the Brent Secord Memorial Timmins Mechanical Solution Pro Snowcross event, taking place in Timmins on Saturday and Sunday.

The races are sanctioned by the Canadian Snowcross Racing Association. Spectators can take in all the action at a new location this year on Airport Road across from Mikey’s General Sales.

Event organizer, Clint Chartrand said the former location – Hollinger Park – is undergoing some renovations.

“So, we ended up finding a new place. Paul Woodward, from Blackfields Top Soil was able to give us his property,” he said.

“That’s awesome, because the event’s still happening this year.”

Chartrand said some pro racers are coming in from northern Quebec and the United Sates, like Dylan Rose, will he says will put on a ‘pretty good show’.

Chartrand told CTV News that about 100 teams are expected who bring in about 1,000 people and who all spend anywhere from $800,000 - $1 million during their stay in region on March 7-8.

For that reason, Timmins Economic Development Corporation and the Municipal Accommodation Tax selection team want to support Snowcross Timmins.

“You know, we were able to give them $50,000 because it really helps,” said Noella Rinaldo, the development corporation’s director of community economic development.

“This is a big boost to our hotel industry. People, you know, when you look at some of the hotels in the South don’t quite understand what snowmobiling is, and then Snowcross racing is a completely different beast on its own and they’re just great economic drivers in the North.”

For people who own a vintage snowmachine that still runs – there’s a special class just for them.

“There’s the ditch banger on Sunday,” said Chartrand.

“It’s an open class. It’s awesome to have locals come out. Snowmobile has to be 25 years and older. You can sign up on Saturday manually at the ticket trailer here and come out and race… You have to have like a kill switch and stuff like that, but it’s a cool show.”

Organizer remind everyone to keep in mind, this is not a free event – tickets are available for purchase.