In Michigan, a growing number of amateur and pro sledders are revving up stock and modified snowmobiles for a series of oval-track and snocross events starting in December. We ice it down with millions of gallons of water to try to get a couple of feet of ice in the corners and a foot of ice on the straightaway. They're out there with stock sleds with lowered suspensions so they handle and turn better. The open modified sleds reach over 100 mph in a half-mile straightaway.
More amateur races follow later in the winter.
The sleds are a little beefier. Snocross is like motocross, or dirt-bike racing, on snow. The track consists of many lengths, anywhere from a half mile to a mile, with corners, bumps and jumps. It's quite exciting. Most competitive events hold pro, semi-pro and amateur races for both adults and children.