Calendar of Events

Formula III high-point championship and World Series titles, and he scored two snocross Pro Class wins at the Duluth National. He was awarded Racer of the Year honors by Snow Week magazine, SnoWest magazine, and MIRA. After retiring from racing, Sturgeon became the Arctic Cat Race Manager beginning in 1999.

Snowmobile racing fans and enthusiasts are invited to the 38th Annual Ride with The Champs and induction ceremony weekend, presented by Livingston’s Arctic Cat, February 18-19, 2022. The expanded two-day event features guest speakers, vintage and modern trail riding opportunities, a meet-and-greet with past and current SHOF inductees along with other snowmobile industry celebrities, and a formal induction ceremony with dinner. In addition, the Snowmobile Hall of Fame Museum will be open throughout the weekend. Learn more details on the complete weekend schedule and purchase advance tickets at www.snowmobilehalloffame.com.

Jan. 14-15 – Minnesota Great Show 2022, McQuoids Inn, Isle, MN pscanlon@pistenbullyusa.com or drew.g@trackinc.com

Jan. 19-23 – Northland 300 Ride for Special Olympics, Chase on the Lake, Walker, MN, www.northland300.org

Jan. 21-22 – Pequot Brush Pilots 28th Annual Antique Snowmobile Rendezvous, American Legion, Pequot Lakes, MN. Feature Snowmobile Arctic Cat Panther. Trail rides & more. Dave 218-831-1636, https://business.explorebrainerdlakes.com/events

Jan. 28-30 – Midwest Ride-In Vintage Show, ERX Motor Park, Elk River, MN, www.mwvss.com

Jan. 29 – Ride for Wyatt, Riverside Park, Mantorville, MN, supported by Byron Snow Bears. All proceeds to support Wyatt M Coy Memorial Fund & American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Facebook & Twitter: Ride for Wyatt

Feb. 2-5 – Blackwoods Blizzard Tour for ALS, Duluth, MN to Tower, MN & back, www.neversurrenderinc.org

Feb. 3-6 – MnUSA Winter Rendezvous, Cragun’s Resort & Conference Center, Brainerd, MN www.mnsnowmobiler.org

Feb. 5 – St. Stephen River Runners 4th Annual Vintage Show, Ride and Raffle, Rodger Bellinger rodgerrab@msn.com; Facebook: St. Stephen River Runners

Feb. 6 – MnUSA General Membership Special Meeting, Cragun’s Resort & Conference Center, Brainerd, MN www.mnsnowmobiler.org

Feb. 10 – MnUSA Quarterly Membership & Board of Directors Virtual Meetings, www.mnsnowmobiler.org

Feb. 12 – Veterans Appreciation Ride, Grand Rapids, MN www.mnvetsnowmobileride.org

Feb. 12 – Greenway Snowmobile Club Speed Run, MJ’s on Swan Lake, Pengilly, MN, www.facebook.com/GreenwaySnowmobileClub

Feb. 19 – 19th Annual DL Vintage Rally & Swap Meet with Radar Run, Detroit Lakes city beach, Detroit Lakes, MN. Wayne Schlauderaff, 218-849-3069

AN INTERVIEW WITH Snocross Racer Travis Muller #436

n SJW: Who do you race for?

TM: I’m currently riding an Arctic Cat under the Moorhouse Motorsports and Muller Motorsports Race Teams. My first race was on an Arctic Cat 120 in a WSA South Event in Owatonna, Minnesota, and I rode Cats for 4-5 years. Then Ski-Doo’s with Warnert Racing, then with Cottew Motorsports riding Polaris, and now back full circle on an Arctic Cat. I’ve won finals and main events on all three brands— Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo and Polaris, which is kind of a cool thing.

n SJW: How often are you on the road during the season?

TM: Eight weeks of event racing with a 1- to 2-day drive, then throw in one or two weeks for other race weekends like Michigan or New York, adding more time on the road. I’m lucky enough to have a practice track close at ERX in Elk River.

n SJW: How has racing changed your lifestyle?

TM: Not really much. Racing has defined my lifestyle and my life. It’s not like I did anything else. There’s a lot more to just racing—having mechanical skills, lining up sponsors, learning to budget, learning to talk to people. Public speaking really helped me come out of my shell, and I’ve met so many great people through racing.

n SJW: How do you prepare for the racing season, and when do you start?

TM: I normally take a couple months off after the season, but starting in June after planting season, I start to work out. I enjoy working out and get into the physical aspect of training all summer. My goal is to come into the harvest season in good shape. I do road bike and dirt bike racing, I have a gym set up at home, and then in the fall I start to add more weights to my workout. I use a Concept II rowing machine and a Ski Erg which is like cross-country skiing full-body workout with cardio.

n SJW: Diet?

TM: I’ve got to be honest. I like to live the good life. Growing up on the farm and being on the farm you are exposed to a lot of good food.

n SJW: How do you deal with snow dust, poor snow conditions, and adverse weather?

TM: I battle through it. It’s tough. If it’s slushy you can use Rain-X on your goggles. My best advice is to get out front and don’t follow people. It’s just part of the gig. n SJW: So, can we talk about Fargo? What happened and how are you doing?

TM: Yes. It was my second year with the Polaris Team. The first night of racing I started up front and off we went, and I crashed right off the start by myself. And before I got up, someone came from the back row and hit me while I was still on the ground. I got up and finished the race. I had some pain, took some Ibuprofen and thought I’d get a good night’s sleep. But I woke up at 2 a.m. in a lot of pain, so I went to the ER where they took a pressure test. The doctor said I could leave it alone but the pressure could cause muscle atrophy in the leg. Option 2 would be to do a fasciotomy—cut the fascia, remove part of it and relieve the pressure—not a big deal. I would be out about 3 weeks to a month. It was a slow process to get back up to speed, but there were no broken bones and I’m 100% fine!

n SJW: How’d you do last year?

TM: My wife and I had a nice healthy baby, and I raced about a half season with some top 10 finishes. It was good to get some racing in.

n SJW: What are your thoughts on this year’s race season?

TM: I’m ready to race and excited to do it again. I’m feeling good, fit and ready to go.

I’d like to thank my sponsors: Moorhouse Motorsports, Oddson Underground, Midwest Ag Advisors, Klim, Arctic Cat, Fast Ag Solutions, Fast Seed and Chemical, Rox Speed FX, Stud Boy Traction, Octane Ink, Cti, Muller Machine, Fox and RCS.

by Scott J. Wakefield

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www.OcontoCounty.org

Wisconsin's Favorite

Snowmobiling is a beloved winter pastime in Oconto County, thanks to 480 miles of groomed trails, which are maintained throughout the season by local clubs. A snowmobiling adventure here will take riders from open farmland in the south to deep secluded forestland in the north.