Photo by Ari Selvey Alan Freking of Heron Lake races in the Legends Division at the River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Club held its Hillclimb Side by Side Drag Races at Golden Gate Campground on Saturday.

For the first time since 2023, the River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Club held its Hillclimb Side by Side Drag Races at Golden Gate Campground on Saturday.

Participation in the races were high this year, due in part to the two-year absence. Just over 100 racers entered the competition, with over 500 people traveling the 10 minutes north of Sleepy Eye to watch.

Races began at 10 a.m. and continued throughout the day. One of the earlier events, the Fossil Division, saw Heron Lake native Alan Freking beat out Jeff Knott after the two had previously matched up in the Legacy Division, where Knott came out on top.

Freking’s first snowmobile race was the last time that the RVDSC hosted an event in 2023.

“(A friend) told me to get some junk out of the shed, and it runs pretty good,” Freking said. “One of my friends egged me to go along with him, so I did. I broke down half way through the race, so I didn’t complete it and I had to scratch out the rest of my races. But it ran pretty fast, and I went to some other (races) after that.”

Despite his relative inexperience, Freking has won several races with his Arctic Cat Crossfire snowmobile.

Freking said that racing snowmobiles gave him a chance to mingle with other snowmobile enthusiasts.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “You get to talk to sled-heads like myself and talk snowmobiling all day. What’s more fun than that?”

RVDSC plans on holding the event again next year.

Results

Juniors: Jaxon Reinhart 1st, Brittney Lilleodden 2nd, Kale Wurtzberger 3rd.

120cc: Paxton Schmiesing 1st, Lucas Knott 2nd, Wyatt Winters 3rd.

121cc+: Jace Wurtzberger 1st, Lennon Braulick 2nd, Cooper Campbell 3rd.

Trophy 800: Jeff Knott 1st, Alan Freking 2nd, Jason Braun 3rd.

Women’s: Nancy Lilleodden 1st, Dana Effenberger 2nd, Morgan Olson 3rd.

Legends 40+: Jeff Knott 1st, Alan Freking 2nd, Jeremiah Bolt 3rd.

Fossil’s 50+: Alan Freking 1st, Jeff Knott 2nd, Joe Merkel 3rd.

Trophy 850: Carson Dulas 1st, Alan Freking 2nd, Jason Braun 3rd.

Trophy 500: Drew Reinarts 1st, Cole Krzmarzick 2nd, Nancy Lilleodden 3rd.

Trophy 600: Tate Isaacson 1st, Tucker Haala 2nd, Davin Suess 3rd.

Trophy 700: Tucker Haala 1st, Jeremiah Boldt 2nd, Derek Hoffmann 3rd.

Trophy 851 and over: Tommy Keech 1st, Justin Dragstra 2nd, Justin Krabben 3rd.

Vintage: Kyle Brunner 1st, Lee Webster 2nd, Tyler Braulick 3rd. 500

Improved: Tim Stadick 1st, Morgan Olson 2nd, Nancy Lilleodden 3rd.

600 Improved: Josh Wurtzberger 1st, Tucker Haala 2nd, Jason Sueber 3rd.

800 Improved: Scott Haala 1st, Josh Wurtzberger 2nd, Alan Freking 3rd.

Open: Jon Pitzl 1st, Justin Krabben 2nd, Tucker Haala 3rd.

600 Stock: Morgan Olson 1st, Tucker Haala 2nd, Larry Thayer 3rd.

700 Improved: Josh Wurtzburger 1st, Tucker Haala 2nd, Josh Boelter 3rd.

850 Improved: Justin Dragstra 1st, Carson Duals 2nd, Tucker Haala 3rd.

Trophy King of the Hill: Carson Dulas. Cash King of the Hill: Justin Dragstra.