A few weeks back, I had the dubious distinction of contracting the H1N1 flu. Yes, the over-hyped “swine” sickness had invaded my inner sanctum and forced me to become more comfortable with my bed than I would have liked. For more than a week, I shuffled about in my well-worn sweat pants, dined on canned soup, and managed to find the energy to dust off a collection of yet to be viewed DVDs.

Amongst the stack of movies still wrapped in plastic, was a little known title I had received as a gift a few years back. Dubbed “Dust to Glory” the documentary followed the exploits of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. From the promoters and local citizens of Baja Mexico to the tenacious racers including such names as Mario Andretti, Robby Gordon, John Campbell and J.N. Roberts, the film follows this incredible race across a desolate strip of land for more than 1,000 miles.
It is perhaps one of the last true point-to-point cross-country races in the world. The rules are few; the course is virtually unmarked and unrelenting, and for the racers who attempt to conquer the 1,000-mile journey, they are fueled by adventure and pride versus fortune and fame.

There was once such a race in snowmobiling. Starting in Winnipeg, Manitoba and finishing in St. Paul, Minnesota, the International 500 snowmobile race was regarded as the toughest and most significant race ever. Featuring brands of snowmobiles from more than just the big names, it also had would be racers from every walk of life. From factory-backed favorites to those who knew their chances of victory were slim, if not impossible, but instead competed in the 500-mile international journey only to feel that same sense of camaraderie and pride as those who do during the Baja 1000.

I was just a runny nose kid during those early days of the I-500, yet those cold January days sitting on the shoulder of some desolate road with my father in his 1967 Chevrolet pick-up are some of the most memorable any snowmobile race I have ever witnessed. Staring wide-eyed through the frosted glass, I peered far down the wind-whipped ditch line in an effort to catch the first glimpse of a racer. Their ski tips danced over each road approach as I watched each one zip past us and disappear in a cloud of snow dust, on their way to a finish line that seemed a world away. These were more than snowmobile racers to me, they were heroes – my supermen, and they still are today.

Over the years, the point-to-point race faced many obstacles including; cancellations, route changes, disinterest, and eventually termination. While the race resurfaced in name in a multi-day loop format, those early years of the I-500 are still regarded as perhaps the most storied and important snowmobile races ever by many salty veterans of the sport.

Fast-forward some 30-plus years, and today snocross is considered the premiere form of snowmobile competition. After being imported from Scandinavia in the early 80’s, motocross on snow has grown to become a staple in the industry. From massive levels of factory support and mainstream sponsors, to the glitz of ESPN’s Winter X Games, snocross has become the “it” of snowmobile racing, leaving other forms of racing, some which also had their day in the limelight too, to be nearly forgotten.

Yet somewhere along the way, due to our lust for television contracts, sponsorships and recognition beyond the industry, something was lost. Snowmobiles became increasingly specialized, leaving their trail roots behind in an effort to conquer and sustain the massive jumps, which now litter snocross tracks across North America. Races became nearly scripted in terms of duration and track length, in order to create the best made for television action possible.
Make no mistake; I have the utmost level of respect and admiration for today’s kings of snocross. Riders like Hibbert, LaVallee, Morgan, Haikonen and others are, and were, without a doubt some of the most talented snowmobile racers anywhere. And for thousands of youngsters, they are in fact heroes.  But it’s the racing itself that has lost some of the excitement, the grit, the connection, the rawness and the mystery, which was such a large part of the International 500 and true cross country racing.

With the costs associated with snocross racing continuing to escalate, the future of a sport that was supposedly destined to take us to “the next level” is uncertain. While it surely will always remain a part of snowmobile competition, there is a growing appetite afoot to return to our racing roots.
Right now, Pat Mach, a past racer enamored with point-to-point cross country racing, and who currently operates the United States Cross Country racing circuit in northern Minnesota, is plotting a return of the International 500 for the year 2012, the would be 40th anniversary of the legendary race.
The challenges are daunting, or nearly impossible. But if the stars align, and the most storied race in the sport returns, you’ll find me waiting at some wind swept road crossing, trying to catch a fleeting glimpse of the first racer. Hopefully hundreds more will follow as they race, mile after mile over unknown terrain, in search of glory only they can define.