Ice racers return to Garfield Lake for opening day

LAPORTE -- The Garfield Lake Ice Racing Club was finally back on the ice for the opening day of the 2022 racing season on Sunday.

Ice conditions were excellent and a total of 29 ice racers showed up to battle on the track located on the south end of the lake.

The club races on Garfield Lake, located in Laporte, starting at noon each Sunday for as long as the ice safely permits.

The racers are divided into two classes with the “A” class being the more experienced drivers and the “B” class hosting beginners or those new to ice racing. Two sets of races are held each Sunday, with heats and features in each set.

Fans can watch from the comfort of their vehicles on the east side of the track, with the west side strictly for the racers, pit crews and haulers. There is no charge to watch the races.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

Longtime flag man Tom Lindahl once again is flagging the races.

Club president Kris Baker was excited to get the races going again after last year’s racing season was limited to just two races due to the ice conditions.

The Garfield Lake Ice Racers pay a membership fee to join the club and $30 each Sunday to race. The racers receive no financial gain from the races, with all proceeds going into a fund which provides for needy families, civic groups, school activities and veterans throughout the area.

The big winner on Sunday in Class A was Chad Tabaka with two heat wins and one feature. Bonnie Farrington was also a feature winner. Picking up heat wins were John Hadrava and Kalin Honer.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

In Class B, Fritz Myers won a feature and a heat race. Dan Riggs also won a feature race and heat race. Josh Bitker and Joel Harvey were the other heat winners.

Racing will resume at noon on Sunday, Jan. 23, on Garfield Lake.

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

Courtesy / Dennis Peterson

Class B Set 1

Heat 1

1. Josh Bitker
2. Fritz Myers
3. Bob Pawlitschek
4. Abe Forseman
5. Nick Jesson

Heat 2

1. Dan Riggs
2. Joel Harvey
3. Dylan Jackson
4. Bobby LaRose
5. Bob Martinson

Feature

1. Fritz Myers
2. Joel Harvey
3. Bob Pawlischek
4. Josh Bitker
5. Gordon Hunter

Class B Set 2

Heat 1

1. Fritz Myers
2. Skyler Smith
3. Abe Forseman
4. Brent Nickalson
5. Hunter Weeks

Heat 2

1. Joel Harvey
2. Josh Bitker
3. Bob Pawlitschek
4. Bob LaRose
5. Gordon Hunter

Feature

1. Dan Riggs
2. Hunter Weeks
3. Josh Bitker
4. Abe Forseman
5. Fritz Myers

Class A Set 1

Heat 1

1. Chad Tabaka
2. Kalin Honer
3. Tyler Schow
4. Bonnie Farrington
5. Sam Delaney

Heat 2

1. John Hadrava
2. John Farrington
3. Nate Zanter
4. Nick Lewis

Feature

1. Chad Tabaka
2. Kalin Honer
3. John Farrington
4. John Hadrava
5. Nate Zanter

Class A Set 2

Heat 1

1. Chad Tabaka
2. Bonnie Farrington
3. John Hadrava
4. Tim Kugawa
5. John Farrington

Heat 2

1. Kalin Honer
2. Nate Zanter
3. Sam Delaney
4. Nick Lewis
5. Tyler Schow

Feature

1. Bonnie Farrington
2. John Farrington
3. Kalin Honer
4. Nate Zanter
5. Tim Kugawa