What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
The distinct growl of snowmobile engines echoed across the banked ice oval in Eagle River last weekend. But this wasn’t race day — it was something more accessible, more personal.
The 4th annual Legend Laps event brought both vintage sleds and modern machines back to the World Championship Derby Complex, giving everyday riders and former competitors alike a rare chance to carve turns on the same half-mile track that’s defined Eagle River as the Snowmobile Capital of the World since 1964.
This isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s about keeping the sport’s heartbeat strong.
Legend Laps is part of the “Ride with the Champs” weekend, a non-competitive exhibition where amateurs can experience what racers have felt for six decades. You don’t need sponsors or trophies to participate — just a love for sleds and a respect for history.
“We brought this legend lap event out to try and promote snowmobile racing, give people a way to engage in the sport,” said organizer Mark Resch. “Have people like yourself, that maybe have always dreamed about being on the track, get an opportunity to get out on the track and experience what racers experience.”
The event serves a practical purpose beyond the thrill. Proceeds support the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, about 15 minutes down the road, helping preserve artifacts, stories, and the legacy of Northwoods snowmobile culture for future generations.
It’s fundraising that feels like fun — because it is.
Among the sleds circling the ice this year was one carrying extra weight: the race machine of Tim Palubicki, last year’s Pro Vintage points champion and Rhinelander native.
Tim suffered a serious well drilling accident last year that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Racing, which had been his passion, became something he could no longer do himself.
So his father Todd — Tim’s longtime crew chief — did something remarkable. He took his son’s championship sled out on the track for the first time himself, honoring Tim’s legacy in the most fitting way possible.
“Been here for years and my son’s a racer, so I knew the track by watching him race, but it’s a whole different game when you’re the driver.”
Todd’s words capture what so many in the snowmobile community understand: watching and doing are worlds apart. Legend Laps bridges that gap.
“The whole racing community is incredible,” Todd added, “and I hope it stays that way where the newer stuff and the vintage and everybody can work together to promote the sport itself.”
The World Championship Derby Complex isn’t just another frozen oval. Since 1964, when the first derby launched on Dollar Lake near the Chanticleer Inn, this event has shaped Eagle River’s identity and winter economy.
The track relocated to its current 30-acre site north of town by 1966, evolving from a simple ice course into a sophisticated facility with high-banked turns, corporate suites, and a 10,000-square-foot expo hall. Peak attendance has topped 50,000 spectators.
In 2018, industry leaders purchased the complex to ensure its future, preserving not just the facility but the trademarks, archives, and traditions that connect modern riders to Carl Eliason’s 1924 proto-snowmobile invention in nearby Sayner.
“This is a very special track, it’s a driver’s track,” Resch explained. “If you’ve been on it and experienced it, it’s just a super fun place to race.”
Key elements that make the track distinctive:
Legend Laps wouldn’t happen without the volunteers who groom ice, manage logistics, and welcome riders from across the region. It’s the same community spirit that’s powered Eagle River events for decades.
The Northwoods snowmobile scene has always been about more than competition. It’s neighbors helping neighbors prep sleds in garages, local businesses supporting race weekends, and families passing down riding traditions through generations.
Warmer winters have tested that resilience lately, sometimes forcing cancellations when ice won’t cooperate. But events like Legend Laps prove the community adapts, finding new ways to celebrate what makes this place special.
For riders who’ll never compete in a championship race — and that’s most of us — Legend Laps offers something rare: a chance to feel the banks, hear your engine echo off the stands, and understand why this track earned its reputation as the “Indianapolis 500 of snowmobiling.”
Both vintage machines and modern sleds circle the same ice, creating a rolling timeline of snowmobile evolution. One lap might feature a 1970s Arctic Cat, the next a current-year Polaris — all sharing the track that connects them.
The event honors past champions while creating new memories. It raises funds for preservation while making history accessible. It’s competitive heritage made participatory.
From giving former racers another shot at the oval to honoring champions like Tim Palubicki to supporting the Hall of Fame, Legend Laps proves that snowmobile culture in the Northwoods isn’t just alive — it’s accelerating into the future while respecting where it came from.
That roar you hear echoing across Eagle River? It’s not just engines. It’s tradition finding its next generation of riders.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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