I.C.E. Internatonal Championship
ATV World Championship Ice Racing Series

Myrtle Beach, SC (12/8/2006) - In 1975, the first ever indoor speedway ice race took place in Huntsville, AL. A second event soon followed in NY State. The third race that was held, took place in Kent, Ohio. Speedway motorcycle racers, (the late) Bob Hetrick and Gary Densford, were invited to race at the third event. Hetrick ended up winning that event, but Densford was so impressed with his ice racing experience, that he began searching cross-country for venues to hold an ice racing championship series. Densford’s enthusiasm paid off in 1977 when he formed International Championship Events (I.C.E.) to promote ice racing and paved the way for what is now known as the World Championship Ice Racing Series.

The first of the four I.C.E. Championship races took place on January 13, 1977, in Oklahoma. Back then, the only machines involved in the ice racing series were motorcycles, but that was soon to change. At the 1985 I.C.E. Championship event in Indianapolis, ATV’s were given their chance on the ice and became an instant hit with race fans. Densford also liked what he saw and decided to add quads to the line up. However, coming up with a set of rules, regulations and classes for quads proved to be a challenge, and it was soon decided that there would be no rules, and the infamous Outlaw Quad class (where anything goes) was created.

Over the years there have been many changes and improvements to the I.C.E. series including technical and safety regulations, race formats, and the addition of Kart racing classes (X-Karts) in 2004. As of the 2006/2007 season, the race classes include, Manufacturers World Cup Bikes, Nitro Speedway Bikes, Unlimited Outlaw Quads, X-Karts, Mad Dog Bikes and ICE Breaker Amateur Quads. However, the ATVs are beginning to outnumber the bikes on the ice.

The I.C.E series consist of 21 races, which are held at arenas around the United States and Canada, and the race season kicked off December 2nd in Green Bay, WI at the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena with the next round of racing on December 9th in Hampton, VA at the Hampton Coliseum followed by another race the following week on the other side of the country in Everett, WA. For those following the series, there is plenty of traveling in between many of the rounds with the season finale in Chicago, IL at the Sears Center on March 23, 2007.

Despite all the traveling, there are quite a few pro racers from all over the country following the ICE series, but the majority of the participants at the different venues are locals who, like Mr. Densford in his early days of ICE racing, just wanted a chance to get out on the ice for some fun and excitement, which is exactly what they got.

The 2006/2007 season is underway, and with 20 rounds of racing remaining at venues around the U.S. and Canada, so be sure to check out some ice racing if the series comes to you town. More information is available to anyone who may be interested in racing or following the series at www.icespeedway.com. Also, if the I.C.E Series doesn’t come to you area, there are numerous other ice racing series around the country with indoor and outdoor events including Central Wisconsin Ice Racing Association and Minnesota Ice Racing.

www.icespeedway.com
158 Gardner Lacy Rd. #104
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 234 - 2777