Rock Maple Racing signs with Whaleback Mtn. to host
2007-08 Central Series snocross opener
While most New England residents are headed for the beach and basking in the hot summer sun, officials from Rock Maple Racing (RMR) are busy planning for the 2007-08 snowmobile racing season. The sport of snocross racing continues to thrive here in the northeast, with demand for races on the rise.
For snowmobile racing enthusiasts in central New Hampshire, there is good news on the horizon. RMR will make its debut at the historic Whaleback Mountain ski area in Enfield, N.H., on Dec. 1-2, when hundreds of race teams from throughout the northeast converge on the region. This event will open the season for RMR's Central series teams as they begin their quest for the coveted 2007-08 points championships.
Whaleback Mountain is owned by four investors with a well-developed plan to ensure a healthy future for the ski area. Led by former Olympian and Vermont native Evan Dybvig, the new owners are turning Whaleback into a thriving, year-round facility. After being closed for four years, the mountain reopened in November of 2005 and is well on the road to recovery. Whaleback now offers a BMX/Mountain Bike track, summer camps for BMX riders, 50cc mini-bike competitions, numerous Paintball programs and access to a 25,000 square-foot skate park located in nearby Hartford, VT. New for 2007 is the "Zero Gravity Club," where members can purchase discounted tickets to a variety of mountain activities.
The winter season is when Whaleback really shines, offering 30 trails covering a beautiful 85 acres.
"We're very excited about establishing a relationship with Rock Maple Racing," said Frank Sparrow, Dybvig's business partner and member of the owner's group. "I think Whaleback will serve as an ideal host venue, and feel that snocross will be of great interest to people in this region. Snowmobiling is popular in this area, and there are hundreds of motorsports fans who attend races in nearby Canaan. I'm confident this event will be a success and hope it is the start of a long-lasting partnership between Whaleback and Rock Maple Racing."
RMR officials are thrilled to have another race site in New Hampshire and hopes to contribute to Whaleback's strong resurgence. The mountain is in the heart of snowmobile country, so this event should be well received by enthusiasts from the greater Enfield, Lebanon and Hanover areas.
"We're thrilled to open our 2007-08 season right here in the Granite State," said Tara Saxton, President of Rock Maple Racing. "Whaleback is an ideal facility to host one of our events, with ample room for a great track and plenty of spectator parking. We're happy to see the mountain enjoying such a comeback, and hope to contribute to its revival with our brand of high-flying snocross entertainment. I hope local fans will come out to see our show and enjoy a great weekend at Whaleback."
Rock Maple Racing (RMR) is a sanctioning body for snocross and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) racing. The snocross season runs from early December until late March, while the ATV season begins in early May and concludes in early October.
Snocross is a form of snowmobile racing that closely resembles motocross – yet it's on snow. There are three series within the RMR umbrella; a 10-race Central series that competes at sites in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and New York; a five-race East series which runs in combination with Central series events in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, and a seven-race West series that competes in New York and Pennsylvania.
Rock Maple Racing is the eastern affiliate of the World Powersports Association (WPSA), the national sanctioning body for snocross racing. For more information, please go to www.rockmaple.com.