Bailey Hill Class Grass Drag races a crowd pleaser

The action was fast and loud at last weekend's grass drag races. More than 30 snowmobilers competed in the event.

More than 30 snowmobilers turned out for the crowdpleasing Bailey Hill Classic Grass Drags Saturday, held on a certified course outside Bailey Hill Lodge in northern Potter County.

Willie DeBoer of Roulette was crowned as champion. He outpaced foes on six runs over a slightly uphill course that became more dirt than grass as the race progressed.

Organizer Neal Klimek said it's an event that is likely to return to the remote track just outside Ulysses.

"For putting together something most people had never seen, on short notice and at a location that was way out in the country, we were really pleased," Klimek said.

Within a matter of days, Klimek pulled together volunteers from Potter County Special Olympics to partner with him for Saturday's event. He also recruited friends to handle a myriad of other arrangements.

Hundreds of spectators from Pennsylvania and New York were on hand when the first green flag flew.

The Bailey Hill Classic was an outgrowth of the "Fastest Snowmobile Across the Pond" competition staged this summer by Klimek, a local heating and cooling contractor and avid snowmobiler.

"After the water crossing, we heard from owners of motels, bars, gas stations and other businesses who said they saw some extra business," Klimek explained. "They wondered what else we could do, so having grass drags made a lot of sense."

Klimek said he is working on

plan to bring snowmobile drag races back to Bailey Hill Lodge, possibly with a snow course in February.

He expressed appreciation to the sponsors who helped make Saturday's Bailey Hill Classic a success: Energy Tech Mechanical Contractors, NK General and Mechanical Contracting, Gauld's Corner Store, Bailey Hill Lodge, Jubilee Foods of Coudersport, Northwoods Tavern, Kisiel Construction, Gleason Motors and Monger Construction.