Winter Classic Ice Race benefits wounded warriors
Doneen DurlingNews Staff Writer
JAFFREY, N.H. — Though many can't wait to say goodbye to winter, there are others that look forward to the thermometer dipping below zero. Jaffrey Ice Racing Association (JIRA) celebrates the frigid temps because that is when the ice is thick and the track on Lake Contoocook is perfect, in terms of racing conditions.
Chris Denman, President of the JIRA, a non profit organization, hopes February 15 will bring many spectators to Lake Contoocook to enjoy this year’s ice races.
“This is our first year running this benefit race,” said Mr. Denman. “We were looking for an annual signature race and we decided that veterans and their families, along with the wounded warriors, needed help. We figured that is what we are all about.”
The races begin Saturday February 15, at 12 p.m. The JIRA will donate parking fees and proceeds from a 50/50 raffle to Operation Homefront, New England. OH is a “501C3” whose mission is to provide emergency financial and other types of assistance to the families of service members and “wounded warriors.”
OH began in 2002 and was developed to support deployed service members immediately after 9/11. Since its inception, OH has provided over $128 million in funding for programs to benefit military families meeting more than 740,000 needs. Checks are paid out directly to mortgage lenders, auto mechanics, contractors, hospitals, doctors, dentists, and other providers. They also provide emergency food, home repairs, critical baby items, home appliance repair, moving assistance, and wounded warrior transitional housing.
Mr. Denman explained that those racing are pretty dedicated to ice. Spectators either watch the race from their cars on Squantam Town Beach, or stand on the piled - high snow banks to cheer from the the racers on.
“We come out here and have a lot of fun. There are a lot of families that race. My daughter drives and I drive. We have a lot of brothers driving against each other.”
Mr. Denman explained that race divisions include B Modified racers, a Four Cylinder Division with front wheel drive, and an A Modified Division.
“The A Modified drivers are the more experienced drivers,” Mr. Denman explained, adding a bit of history. “We've been racing for years and years together. We've been racing at Contoocook for over a decade. Before that we were at Winchendon, and before that we were at Swallow Hill Pond, part of the Fitchburg Sportsman Club. Our club became incorporated in 1984. Jaffrey Ice Racing goes all the way back into the 1970s or earlier. One of our drivers has been driving his car for 49 years.”
Alan Darrah calls himself the “old man” of the A Modified Division. At 67, he drives his #20 Model A, modified right down to the studded tire chains for racing. He talked a bit about why he loves racing on ice.
“I went to ice races when I was a little kid and I liked it. I raced some on the asphalt back in the 70s, but this is what I've loved to do since 1965.”
Four Cylinder Division-winning Racer Jeff LeBlanc explained that racing is a family affair for the LeBlancs.
“My uncle Paul races, my father races, I race. This is the first year money for a race will go towards the New England Operation Homefront for wounded warriors. There are guys racing from all over. The JIRA meets every Monday at the VFW in Westminster. You'll find drivers from Gardner, Templeton and Winchendon. In fact the car that I just bought to race came from Gardner.”
Mr. LeBlanc said the ice on Lake Contoocook was definitely thick enough for the vehicles to race .
“It has been cold all week. There is over 13 inches of ice on the lake today.”
Races begin at 12 p.m Saturday.For more information, look for Jaffrey Ice Racing Association on Facebook.
Jeff LeBlanc takes a victory lap and first place in the Four Cylinder Front Wheel Division.
Alan Darrah has been racing his one-of-a kind modified car, above, for 49 years.
Down hear on the lower forty where plenty of war has been watched and our young men have come home in terrible ways were thinkin any help we can give these young men is a good thing. This war now is longer than WWI and WWII and Korea combined and it don't look like it a gonna stop anytime soon. When is enough killing enough?
ReplyDeletelowerforty40, I wish I had a answer to that question. Maybe the people who send these guys to "war" would think twice if it was their kids holding a gun. The difference in this war is the nasty way these kids are hurt. Head injuries that do not heal and trauma to their bodies that is so devastating, at times they may not recover. I think the families who are waiting for these guys and women to come home, could use some preparation of what to expect from their loved ones. Maybe they receive some counseling but I have not heard of any. I guess the best we can do is give them the support they need and not forget the family in the process. Bev.
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