Photo Courtesy of Numb Bum 24 Hour
The Pembina Dirt Riders Association are hosting the world famous “Numb Bum 24 Hour” Ice Race. The “Numb Bum 24 Hour” is the longest and coldest motorcycle/ATV ice race in the world! In 1992 it became the coldest and longest ever ice race registered in the Guinness World Record Books with -48 degrees C. This race has a great history of being one of the toughest endurance races in the world. This year it will include the introduction of UTV Racing on a separate track and 12 hour format. Spectators can drive around the 15km+ course and see the whole thing.
In Alberta people call things what they are. What do you call a 24 hour motorcycle race on a frozen lake? “The Num Bum.”
The Num Bum is a 24 hour motorcycle & ATV Ice race with approximately 90 to a 100 racers from all the different disciplines of motorcycle racing.
The race has also had many famous entrants: Evil Kenevil, Kevin Schwantz GP World Champ, Dick Burleson 8 time Enduro Champ, Mike Bell Supercross Champ, Scott Parker Flat Track Champ, Steve Crevier Road Racing Champ, Jeff Fedette Multi-time Gold Medalist in the ISDE, Guy Perret, Shane Cuthbertson and Jim Kuster ISDE medal winners and Clint McBain 2002 Canadian Road Race Champ.
The “Numb Bum 24 Hr” has been aired on Speed Channel and Access T.V. and Discovery Channels Daily Planet. There have been articles in Cycle Canada, Cycle World, as well as in Edmonton newspapers. In 2012 the Rick Mercer show aired a story on the race. Rick Mercer interviewed many riders and even took a few laps himself.
This year’s event will be using the most sophisticated lap counting system for accurate, instant results: via T.V. sets. You can see them anytime at timing trailer. This system gives up to the minute event results including; fastest lap, last lap, best lap of every team.
The race was started by the Grande Prairie Motor Cycle Association lead by Ralph Schipholt with the 1st race at Clairmount lake. The race has become known for being Canada’s most rugged climate aboard a motorcycle on glare ice for 24 hours non-stop.
There will also be some of Numb Bum’s original founders such as Ralf Schipholt on the ice racing a vintage Honda & Bruce Barkley will be on his 73 Norton.
26th Annual Numb Bum 24 Hour Sandy Beach, Alberta February 14th and 15th, 2015
Race Starts at noon Saturday February 14th
Race Entry $170 Spectator $10 (8 & under free)
Sign-in Saturday February 14th 8:AM – 10:AM at the Sandy Beach Hall.
RACE AGENDA
Sign In: Sat 8:00am – 10:00am
Riders Meeting: 10:30 am
Parade Lap: 11:00 am
Race Start (Bike and Quad) 12:00 noon
UTV Riders Meeting: 12:30pm
UTV Parade Lap (Hot Lap) 12:45pm
UTV Race Start 1:00pm
UTV Race End Sun: 1:00am (12hr race)
Race End (Bike and Quad) 12:00 noon
Awards (1st ,2nd ,3rd) 1:30pm Trophys and Finishing Awards
Event Poster:
http://www.pdramx.com/event-poster
For lots of information & history of the race see the Race Program;
http://www.pdramx.com/uploads/files/2015%20Numb%20Bum/Numb%20Bum%20Program%202015.pdf
Volunteers
It takes a lot of people to put a great event like this on. If you are not racing & interested in getting involved here are some volunteer positions: Plow Operators,
Race Day Sta (Lap-counters, Sign-In, Flaggers, Announcer, Referees, etc.) If you are interested in volunteering you can email: info@pdramx.com or http://www.pdramx.com/contact On race day you can report to Dan Cheron.
I used to think I was a racing nut until I spoke with Edmonton’s Mr. Motorsport Mike Elhard of Elhard Motorsports. We raced against each other back at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park oval way back in 2002. Mike has 17 cars in 7 different series & will be competing in the inaugural 12 hour UTV race.
Velocity asked “So which race are you in?”
Mike Elhard said “If it has a gas pedal & steering wheel I can drive it. It’s actually a 24 hour ATV & motorcycle race then it is the first ever UTV race. I am in the UTV race in the Polaris racer. Side by side racer, like a 2 seater dune buggy. The 2 seaters are the most popular segment of ATVs right now, so this is the 1st year they are going to allow 2 seaters racing. But because they are big 1500 pound vehicles they have a separate track for that race.”
Velocity asked “But do you have a roll cage if you flip it over?”
Mike Elhard said “Roll cage 5 point harness.”
Mike Elhard said “Actually it is on Valentines day so you know nothing says I love you, by hauling your wife out to watch you driving around in circles on frozen tundra.
Velocity said “I see it is a well sponsored event”
Mike Elhard said “Yes it is a really big deal. I myself am on a fully backed Polaris sponsored ride. With this race we will be live streaming for the entire event. So anytime of the day during the event you can link into my dash cam on board. Special thanks to Polaris & Cycle Works.”
You can watch live streaming of Elhard Motorsports in the race at:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/elhardmotorsports
Photo Courtesy of Elhard Motorsports Inc RZR in action here’s a great shot of Mike in a 155kph drift