Chris Chell’s third annual Mud Bog once again went off with barely a hitch. As promised last year, Chell incorporated trucks into the 2016 event.
They navigated 210 feet of slop on Saturday, July 30 and the ATVs (quads) and UTVs (side-by-sides) gave it a go on a slightly smaller course the following day.
Last year Chell ran a Truck Bog several weeks after the ATV/UTV Bog. Due to its popularity, and in order to cut down on prep work, he decided to run them both on the same weekend in 2016.
The idea worked well for the trucks, with twice as many showing up for the event; however, that wasn’t the case with the ATV/UTVs.
It is suspected that two family reunions, a wedding and Southend’s Pioneer Days may have kept a few regulars away.
Nevertheless, the weather couldn’t have been better, with some gorgeous sunshine evenly dispersed among light cloud cover.
In a short conversation before Saturday’s event, Chell advised that some 50 hours of prep work went into readying the course for the two-day bog. He said he had some help with the work and that it was mightily appreciated.
Saturday
Saturday’s Truck Bog got underway a little later than advertised, but didn’t disappoint. Exhausts were belching and mud was flying shortly before 1 pm and the competition carried on for several hours before wrapping up with the crew readying the course for the following day.
Winners
PowderPuff: Cherie Murie (1992 GMC), first; Brittany Holmgren, second; Terri Joy (2003 Chevy), third.
Stock: Chris Chell (1992 Toyota), first; Terri Joy (1987 Toyota), second; Hunter Smale (1978 Ford), third.
Super Stock, 4 to 6 cyl: Rockie Joy (2003 Chevy), first; Chris Chell (1994 Toyota), second; Terri Joy (1987 Toyota), third.
Hunter Smale also won a prize for the shortest distance on this run, travelling one foot on the course. He received a LarsWorks plaque for his effort.
Super Stock, 8 cyl: Rockie Joy (2003 Chevy), first; Rollie Becker (1985 Chevy), second; Dewayne Ellingson (1984 Dodge), third.
Modified 4-6 cyl: Rockie Joy (1987 Toyota), first; Chris Chell (1994 Toyota), second.
Modified 8 cyl: Kelly Kopeechuk (1992 GMC), first; Richard Sterzuk (1998 Dodge), second; Aaron Thompson (2011 Dodge) third.
Sunday
Sunday’s event also held off a bit from the scheduled start time, with hope that a few more late stragglers might show.
However, near 1 pm, the decision was made to go with what they had and a good day of rivalry resulted regardless.
ATV Winners
700 Stock: Scott Leighton (Nelson House), first; Al (AJ) Johnson (Snow Lake), second; Shelby Stoupe (Snow Lake), third.
700 Modified: Shelby Stoupe, first; Scott Leighton, second; Al (AJ) Johnson, third
800 Stock: Dennis Brule (Snow Lake), first; Al (AJ) Johnson, second; Scott Leighton, third.
UTV Winners
1,000 Stock: Tyler Samborski (Snow Lake), first; Matt McBratney (Flin Flon), second; Kevin Anderson (Snow Lake), third.
1,000 Modified UTV: Kevin Anderson (Snow Lake), first; Tyler Samborski, second; Matt McBratney, third.
PowderPuff: Brittney Holmgren (Flin Flon), first; Jenny Oleksuk (Snow Lake), second.
Cherie Murie won a magnificent LarsWorks chair with the best time of the day: 13.1 seconds. Chell donated this and all cash prizes in the event.
With the two days of mud and fun wrapped up, a pensive Chell says he will look at attendance, revaluate and perhaps restructure the event, so that it is worth the time and work that is put into preparation.
He says one decision he has made already is that there will be a children’s bog over a shorter and shallower course next year. He says it is something that seems popular and is worth a shot.
Judging by the number of young folks waist deep in the muck during this year’s bog… he just might be onto something there. Regardless, Chell put on a hell of a fine show.
My Take on Snow Lake is published Fridays.
