SnowBowl moves to Presque Isle mall due to muddy conditions at speedway

by Melissa Lizotte
9 months ago
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine -- February 29, 2024 -- Construction crews work in high wind conditions to set up the snow tracks for the 2nd annual Snowbowl taking place at the Aroostook Centre Mall due to wet and muddy conditions at Spud Speedway in Caribou. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Unseasonably mild weather won’t stop Caribou speedway owners from bringing back the region’s newest snowmobile festival.

The second annual SnowBowl would have occurred at Spud Speedway this weekend. With rain and warm temperatures coming in this week, speedway owners Troy Haney and Jim Gamage were busy hauling in 200 loads of snow to prepare the track for snowmobile races.

But their efforts did not stop the track from becoming too muddy for racing snowmobiles, Haney and Gamage said in a Facebook post Wednesday. That’s why they’re relocating the weekend events to the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle.

Last year, the SnowBowl brought in 8,000 to 10,000 people to Caribou. Rather than cancel, Haney and Gamage opted to find a paved area to fill with snow for the weekend races and activities.

CARIBOU, Maine — Feb. 29, 2024 — Despite 200 loads of snow brought into Spud Speedway, a thin layer and snow, ice and “wet and muddy” conditions on the race track have moved the SnowBowl to the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle. (Melissa Lizotte | Aroostook Republican)

After seeing two SnowBowl events – the Bigrock Hill Climb and Brian’s Ride – postponed due to a lack of snow, the business partners said they still wanted to bring the highly anticipated events to Aroostook spectators.

“The weather will be near 50 degrees so it’s going to be perfect to enjoy a whole day of fun for all,” Haney and Gamage said on Facebook. “Mother Nature may have impacted everyone’s ability to ride but it won’t keep us from delivering the SnowBowl.”

On Saturday, the pit gates will open to Northeast SnoCross racers at 8 a.m., with general gates open to the public at 10:00. Races will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the former Kmart parking lot. 

Saturday will also feature trail groomer rodeos during race intermissions, food trucks and a snowmobile stunt show at 4 p.m. 

On Sunday, gates will open and races will start at the same time as the Saturday races. There will be a vintage snowmobile show at 11 a.m. 

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — February 29, 2024 — Outlaw vehicles work to set up snow mobile tracks to prepare for the 2nd annual Snowbowl that will take place at the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle instead of Spud Speedway in Caribou. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)

Following the show, a vintage snowmobile parade will be held in memory of snowmobile enthusiast Mike Ouellette of Woodland, who passed away in February. Vintage sled races will occur after the parade. Food trucks will also be present throughout the day.

Spectators will need to bring their own chairs. Bleachers are not available due to the last minute changes with the SnowBowl, Haney and Gamage said.

Mall shoppers will need to enter from the Route 1 entrance. Racers and spectators will enter from the Kmart entrance on Maysville Road.