ICE Canada

Racers visited the Canadian Prairie land and the incredibly beautiful Rockies where they witnessed, up close and personal, the scenery and wildlife including rocky mountain big horn sheep,moose, elk and buffalo. Bust most impressive of all, the Canadian hospitality and enthusiasm for the racing will leave an ever lasting impression on the ICE racers and staff.

"Showtime" Johnny Murphree was the biggest star by winning all three rounds in Canada. All the racers were deeply appreciated by the fans including the 8 game Canadian Cup Bike racers who took on the formidable American riders. The Canadian tour started in Brandon, MB with Murphree and Shaun Russell literally tied in World Championship points. And oh what a battle they had in Brandon January 26th, Prince George, BC January 29th ending with a dramatic last lap by Murphree in Grand Prairie, AB January 31st in front of a standing room only wildly enthusiastic crowd! Murphree left Canada with a small points lead over a determined Russell. Their battle for the World Cup Championship will heat up on the ice three more times this winter before its all settled. The final three rounds of the championship take place February 23rd in Danville, IL and April 22-23 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's still too close to call to see who will be the first ever Manufacturers World Cup ICE Racing Champion. Those wild ICE Unlimited Outlaw Quads were also in action in Canada. Madison, Wisconsin's Chuck Calvert won the first race in Brandon, MB. When the tour moved on to Prince George, BC, former World champion Dick Matei, from Hinton, AB was the winner in front of the happy Canadian fans. They swarmed around the dashers after Matei's win for the opportunity to touch him and express their best wishes. But nothing may ever match this veteran ice racers experience when he won the photo finish Main Event in Grand Prairie, AB January 31st. For the first time in his long career, Matei raced in front of his home Province fans and was victorious by inches over Daniel Bergquist from Burlington, IA. The standing room only crowd went wild! Matei and the other ICE stars spent over an hour signing autographs for the grateful Alberta fans. Oh Canada! Oh yes...we will be back!