Racing on river ice
Keaton Schmidtke and Colton Crooks walk on a frozen Cedar River after riding around on a snowmobile and dirt bike converted for the ice Saturday afternoon. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Keaton Schmidtke takes a curve on a raceway made on the Cedar River Saturday afternoon. Schmidtke and several other residents took to the Cedar on modified motor bikes and snowmobiles to speed around near the pedestrian bridge. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Keaton Schmidtke and Colton Crooks race around on a snowmobile and dirt bike converted for the ice Saturday afternoon on the Cedar River. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Frank Knecht with his son, Riddock Knecht, plows a speedway on the Cedar River Saturday afternoon, as Keaton Schmidtke races along it. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com
Usually, activity on the Cedar River is pretty quiet during the winter, except this Saturday when a group of Charles City residents created a makeshift racetrack on the river near the pedestrian bridge.
Frank Knecht with his son Riddock Kneckt, plowed snow from the top of the ice to make the raceway with a four-wheeler with an attached plow.
Keaton Schmidtke and Colton Crooks raced on a modified dirt bike and snowmobile Saturday afternoon, speeding along the circle.
Near the river bank, a group of adults and onlookers with bikes and four-wheelers of their own waited their turn.
The bikes were all held off the ground and had special ice racing screws in their tires to allow for better traction on the ice.
They all seemed very nonchalant about what they were watching, as if it was regular order of business to see people race on top of a river that’s been iced over.
It’s just a group of friends having fun, said Dustin Crooks.
“It keeps us busy when it’s cold out,” said Kurt Burton.
While they’re talking another four-wheeler gets on the raceway and motors around at a fast-paced speed.
“We’ve done it forever since I could remember,” said Burton. “Twenty-some years we’ve been playing on the ice.”
Burton and Crooks mentioned that there is ice racing competition in Wisconsin.
“Just out having fun,” Burton said.
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