Boonville Snow Festival II Home

Boonville-Oneida County Fairgrounds, Boonville, New York

East Coast Snocross - January 28th & 29th
2012 Snow Festival Events - February 10th, 11th & 12th

RACES ARE POSTPONED!!!!

THE BOONVILLE SNOW FESTIVAL WILL NOT BE HOLDING ICE OVAL RACES ON THE FAIRGROUNDS ON FEBRUARY 10-12.

Please spread the word.
The races will be re-scheduled at a later date.

Boonville Snow Festival volunteers were busy working at the Fairgrounds this past weekend, after Mother Nature finally delivered some winter snow and cold weather. Hopefully, more of the same will follow in time for the East Coast Snocross Racing scheduled for January 28 and 29.

Winter arrived fashionably late this year, and the Boonville Snow Festival has had to cope with lack of snow. According to Linda Bourgeois, president of the Snow Festival committee, a decision was made to divide the popular annual event into two exciting weekends. ‘This was a tough situation and we had no choice but to divide the event,” Bourgeois said. “Our sponsors, our business community, the spectators, and our competitors are first and foremost in our decision, and this will offer everyone a double opportunity to enjoy two great event filled weekends.”

The East Coast SnoCross (ECS) racing organization, formerly Rock Maple racing, and New England based, sanctions championship points races each winter throughout the Northeast. There are classes for all ages and ability levels. ECS General Manager Shawn Longbook, said, “Since the announcement was made that we are going to Boonville, everybody in the snocross fraternity has been very excited. This event has such a rich history and is so highly-regarded in racing, it’s an honor to be a part of it. I think fans will love our brand of high-flying snocross. It is a very spectator-friendly sport.” This style of racing has never been featured in Boonville. The ECS organization will construct a snocross track on the infield of the ice oval, adjacent to corner four. Mark Bourgeois, Boonville Snow Festival event committee chairperson, said that constructing the track in that location would be ideal for spectators, who will have full view of the race from the grandstand and the snow bleachers, located in turn four and along the front- stretch.

If you have never seen these racers, you are missing exciting and high-action competition,” Bourgeois said. “We have wanted to bring them here to the Snow Festival for some time and to make it happen now we will be making snow for their events.” You can view some of their action and read about their competitors at: www.eastcoastsnocross.com

In addition to gasoline powered winter sports equipment, Boonville native Christina Gates will be on the grounds exhibiting her sled dog team of purebred Siberian Huskies with demonstrations on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Moose radio station will have live coverage of East Coast Snocross racing on Saturday and Sunday from the Boonville Fairgrounds.

On February 10, 11 and 12, the Annual Snow Festival events will be held. The Northern New York Vintage Snow Sled Racers (NNYVSR) will be racing on Friday and Saturday, February 10 and 11, and the popular Eastern Pro Tour will race on Sunday, February 12. Also new this year is a class featuring “Outlaw” snowmobiles. An Outlaw sled is a cross between a dirt modified car and a snowmobile. The class will feature 600cc twin cylinder engines surrounded by a custom built chassis with a roll bar.

For those whose interest is not just racing, the Boonville Snow Festival is also expanding in other ways. The Adirondack Central School Junior Class will be hosting a snowmobile-geared fashion show; Redneck Curling, snow sledding, snow sculptures and more will be held in Boonville’s Erwin Park. There will also be ice carvings in Boonville’s Little Village Park and on the fairgrounds during Festival weekend.

The Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce will once again be hosting “Boonville’s Snow Festival of Lights,” where the Boonville area will be lit up with colorful lights and the best lit house will receive a cash prize. Also, The Hulbert House, Boonville, in conjunction with F.X. Matt Brewery, will be serving Saranac products on the fairgrounds throughout the weekend. The F.X. Matt Brewery has released its special Boonville Snow Festival root beer label that will be available for purchase in the Kiwanis Building. All proceeds of the root beer are to go directly to the Boonville Snow Festival.

The Super Snowmobile Torchlight Parade on Friday will line-up at the Search and Rescue building on Route 12 at 6:30 p.m. with the parade starting at 7 p.m and will end in the center of town near the Little Village Park. A Majestic Fireworks display will light up the skies over Erwin Park on Saturday night. Throughout the weekend on the fairgrounds there will be Snowmobile Demo Rides by CJ Motorsports- Ski-Doo; D&D Power-sports - Yamaha; and White Lake Polaris - Polaris. WBRV/WLLG “The Moose” and “The Blizzard will be broadcasting live throughout the weekend.

Don’t miss out on the 6th Annual Boonville Snow Festival. Join in the celebration by wearing a crazy hat to the races and don’t forget to bring your hand held radio so you can hear all the racing action from anywhere on the grounds. Snowmobile parking is available. There will be concessionaires and vendors in and around the Kiwanis Building. Week-end passes are available and children 12 and under are admitted free accompanied by an adult. The schedule of events is tentative and subject to change.

Bourgeois added, “Who would have thought that Boonville would ever lack snow, but we hope to fool Mother Nature and bring two great weekends of snow activity to Boonville.”

Boonville Snow Festival Spectacular weekend February 10, 11, 12 - NNYVSR AND EASTERN PRO RACING
Per Day: FRI $10; SAT $15; SUN $15 - WEEKEND $30

For more information on this year’s Boonville Snow Festival, check us out on Facebook.

Adirondack Cup Trophies

The Boonville Snow Festival is proud to announce that they will also have an Adirondack Cup trophy for the East Coast Snocross (ECS). The ECS Adirondack Cup race will be the last race of the day on Sunday, January 29 at approximately 3 p.m and will be the Open 600 Class.

Pictured are the coveted Adirondack Cup trophies, on the ice oval in front of the Boonville grandstand, for the Northern New York Snowsled Racers, the Eastern Pro Tour Circuit and the East Coast Snocross.

(Photo by Joanna Moore)

Sled Dog Exhibition - at 2012 Snow Festival Snocross Weekend

In addition to gasoline powered winter sports equipment, Boonville native Christina Gates will be on the grounds exhibiting her sled dog team of purebred Siberian Huskies on January 28th and 29th, 2012 on the Boonville Fairgrounds.

Christina graduated from Adirondack Central School in 1993 and has been mushing for over 31 years in the area.Christina is the secretary for the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club (www.pennsleddogclub.com). She has done many demonstrations in New York and Pennsylvania. In addition to having her dogs and her equipment on display, she will answer any questions about dog-powered sports and how folks may become involved.

More information can also be found at subzero dogs.org.

Ron Bourgeois Chosen as Torchlight Parade Grand Marshall

Ron Bourgeois has been chosen as this year’s Grand Marshall for the Snowmobile Torchlight Parade, which will take place Friday, February 10, in conjunction with the annual Snow Festival activities in Boonville.

Ron grew up on East Road in Boonville. In 1959, his dad, Carl “CJ” Bourgeois, became one of the first snowmobile dealers in the Northeast.

After enjoying the annual snow festivals that began in Boonville around 1963, Bourgeois began to see a larger opportunity and role for snowmobile racing in Boonville. Ron approached the Chamber of Commerce in 1965 with the idea of creating a “big race” that would draw more racers and spectators. How? Rebrand the races in Boonville as the New York State Championship.

With enormous help from his wife Mary Ann and a long list of friends, local business people, and individuals involved in other racing disciplines, Ron worked to transform the Boonville races into the New York State Championship of Snowmobile Racing, drawing large crowds and top racers.

A few years in, Ron was approached by the newly formed United States Snowmobile Association in Wisconsin and was invited to fly there for a meeting. As a result, Ron formed the Eastern Division of the USSA, bringing sanctioned snowmobile racing to the Northeast for the first time.

The result of Ron’s efforts and the efforts of many early race contributors were years of excitement, pride, and media attention for our small snow-covered town. In addition to hosting celebrities, including Billy Carter, Miss New York, and the Disney characters, The USSA eventually brought their World Series of Snowmobile Racing to Boonville along with annual factory speed runs at the Boonville Airport. In addition, Ron spearheaded USSA efforts in New York State to improve legislation for recreational snowmobilers.

Ron also co-owned and operated The Cat Shack snowmobile dealership in Boonville in the 1970s.

Today, Ron is 74, and divides his time between his home in the Albany area and his family home in White Lake.

Snowmobile Torchlight Parade In Boonville February 10th

Anyone interested in participating in the Boonville Snow Festival Snowmobile Torchlight Parade on Friday, February 10th should arrive at the Boonville Search and Rescue Building by the Headwater’s Plaza on Route 12 in Boonville at 6 p.m. Entrants must have proof of insurance. The parade will start at approximately 7 p.m..

The 2011 Snow Festival Snowmobile Torchlight Parade Marshall is Ron Bourgeois formerly from Boonville.

For more information on the Snowmobile Torchlight Parade contact, Cindy Lee at (315) 723-4267.

Majestic Fireworks Display Over Erwin Park - Saturday, February 11th

The Boonville Snow Festival is proud to announce that the Majestic Fireworks display has been moved back to its original location over Erwin Park. Also changed this year is the day of the fireworks. The fireworks have always taken place on the Friday of Snow Festival weekend, at the conclusion of the Snowmobile Torchlight Parade. This year, the fireworks will take place on Saturday at 7 p.m. This will be the sixth year that Majestic Fireworks of Clinton have put on such a magnificent display in Boonville.

Snow Festival Collector Items Available Both Weekends

There will be many Snow Festival collectibles for purchase in the Kiwanis building during Snocross weekend, January 28 & 29; and also during the spectacular Snow Festival Ice Oval weekend on February 10-12.

Collectible items include: t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, head bands, and special label Boonville Snow Festival Saranac Root Beer. Visit the Boonville Snow Festival booth inside the Kiwanis building.

Saranac Brewery to Release 2012 Boonville Snow Festival Root Beer Label

The F.X. Matt Brewery has announced its support of the 2012 Boonville Snow Festival. For the past three years, the Saranac Brewery hasdesigned a souvenir Saranac Root Beer label for the Boonville Snow Festival. This year, the Brewery has decided to design a fourth edition for this year’s event. The label will display the festivals 6th annual logo. Limited Edition Boonville Snow Festival Root Beer will be sold at the Snow Festival per bottle or six-pack.

All proceeds will go to preserving the Boonville Snow Festival and Adirondack Snowmobile Racing. “Snowmobiling is a popular winter activity in the Central New York area, and we are happy to support it,” says Fred Matt. “This event is a great way to bring visitors to our area and support our community.” The root beer will be available both weekends of the Boonville SnowFestival.

For more information about the F.X. Matt Brewing Company, please visit www.Saranac.com.

Bring a Canned Good to Boonville Snow Festival Events in January & February

The Boonville Snow Festival will be accepting canned goods both weekends, January 28-29th and February 10th, 11th and 12th during the 2012 Snow Festival to donate to Matthew’s Place Ministries Food Pantry located on Main Street in Boonville. Anyone attending the festival can bring a canned good or donate $1 towards the local food pantry and you will then be entered to win prizes. All monies and canned goods will go directly to the Matthew’s Place food pantry.

Boonville Snow Festival Remembers Grand Marshals Who Have Passed On - In Memory of Andrew Seelman & Shine Reese

The Boonville Snow Festival committee takes great pride in selecting a Grand Marshal for its Boonville Snow Festival weekend. The person honored with the title is someone who is a snowmobile enthusiast and has made an impact within the community involving the sport of snowmobiling. Two of the individuals chosen for this great honor have passed away. Andrew Seelman, who was the 2009 Grand Marshall and Clifford “Shine” Reese, the 2008 Grand Marshal.

Seelman, 86, of Sunset Avenue, affectionately known as “Andy,” passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. A native of Sunset Corners, in the Town of Lewis, he was born on July 28, 1924, a son of Andrew C. and Effie Goodhines Seelman. He grew up on Mohawk Hill on the Duppert Road, attended Constableville High School, and during his senior year of high school Mr. Seelman enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the 1197th Combat Engineers Unit in the European Theater of WWII. Upon returning from the war, Mr. Seelman was employed as a truck driver for Rallston Purena Feed Co. in Boonville. In 1952, Mr. Seelman founded the Boonville Vending Machine Co., a business that he operated throughout the North Country until he retired in 1990. In the late 1960s, Mr. Seelman was a co-founder of the Lost Trail Snowmobile Club of Boonville. An avid snowmobiler, he was a member of the club, and through the years he logged thousands of miles of snowmobile trail riding. Andy was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed fishing for lake trout and bass on his many trips to Lake Placid, Stillwater Reservoir, and Lake George.He was of the Catholic faith, a charter member of Boonville Elks Lodge BPOE #2158, Harland J. Hennessey Post VFW and Charles J. Love Post American Legion, both of Boonville. He was a former member of the Boonville Fire Company.

Reese, 89, of the Moose River Road, Port Leyden, passed away on December 14, 2010. In 1965 Shine bought his first snowmobile, a Ski-Doo single cylinder, and in 1966 started racing his sled called “Old Yeller.” He raced in Old Forge (Grand Prix), Copenhagen (Tri County Championship), Camden, Osceola (Tug Hill Classic), Newport, and Boonville. He won many races and tons of trophies, including one he won for being the oldest driver, as he was in his mid-40s. In 1970, Shine bought his first free-air sled, another Ski-Doo. Shine and his oldest son, Kenny Reese, raced until the mid-1970s. They raced cross-country, oval, drag races, and the Tug Hill Obstacle. Shine and Bill Robins rebuilt all the motors, and did all the modifications to the sleds and engines. Although he never walked away as the champion of the Boonville races, he did take several second and third-place finishes. On December 23, 1975 he was united in marriage to Gladys Poore. Shine worked at Lallys, Lyonsdale Mill, Georgia Pacific, Agway, and a bus driver for Port Leyden School. He built and ran Cold Brook campsites for 35 years on Moose River Road. He was an avid snowmobile racer, loved bowling, playing horse shoes, skiing, skating, and dancing. The Boonville Snow Festival has, and will continue to, honor both of these men as pioneers in the sport of snowmobiling and as the original “Warriors of Winter.”

Boonville Snow Festival II, Inc.

P.O. Box 233
222 Schuyler Street
Boonville, New York 13309

315-942-6666