RAPID RIVER, Mich. (WZMQ) – Friday morning, a two-day event kicked off in Rapid River, drawing snowmobile riders from across the country.
Friday at noon, snowmobilers took off on the 18th annual Rapid River Relic Ride.
“It’s about 11 miles one way,” said Relic Riders Club President David Shope. “We’re going up on Trailhead #2 heading to the ski lodge.”
“Should take about an hour to get there, and then we’ll goof off on the way back,” said founding member Mark Caswell. “That’s what we usually like to do. Then we get back here for a bonfire.”
With mild temperatures and light rain in the morning, conditions were less than ideal. However, that didn’t keep the Relic Riders off the trails.
“I don’t think we’re going to have as many riders as we did last year, but it’s going to be good,” Shope said before the ride. “I mean, the ride could’ve been a little nicer, but we’ll make it work.”
Attendees young and old showed off their snowmobiles, both brand new and antique.
The Antique Snowmobile Club of America was a featured guest at this year’s Relic Ride.
“The club was formed in 1976, and our purpose is to preserve the history of snowmobiles,” explained John McGuirk, one of the directors of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America. “They’re getting more scarce all the time, the older machines, and then we like to restore them.”
On Saturday, the club will have demonstrations of snowmobiles from all over the country during the Relic Riders Show & Swap on Main Street.
“You see all kind of machines that you never see anymore,”McGuirk said. “We’re down to like four manufacturers, and at one time there were over 250 manufacturers, so it’s kind of fun to see the old ones come out and the camaraderie that goes with it.”
This weekend is more than just a fun get-together for snowmobile enthusiasts. As they arrived, Relic Riders donated canned foods and cash to local pantries.
“We support the community a lot, but the community support that we get is just tremendous,” Caswell said. “It’s basically raining and we have hardly no snow, but look at what we’ve got!”
Registration for Saturday’s show runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Lions Club.
For more information about the Relic Rider and to stay informed about future events, visit the Rapid River Relic Riders Facebook page. Click here to learn more about the Antique Snowmobile Club of America.
