An Auto Race For Everyone

Aug. 26, 2016

Got a need for speed? Rev up your engines and head out to the Boyne City Municipal Airport on Sept. 4 for the Boyne City Annual Drag Races, where you’ll find dozens of wheels, cool cars, and a whole lot of friendly competition.

FUN FUNDRAISER

Always held the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the Boyne City Police Department started the races in 2003.

“The idea came from Randy Howard, a former police chief,” explained Michael Cain, who’s perhaps one of the busiest guys in Boyne City — he’s the city manager as well as the manager of the airport and of the drag race itself.

“Randy had a souped-up AMC Gremlin that he was really into, and he was looking to do a fundraiser for the police department, to get some extra safety equipment and other items that were outside of the city’s budget,” Cain explained.

Howard and his officers approached the Boyne City Airport board with a proposal for a drag racing event to raise the money needed, and the two groups worked out a split of the proceeds so that the airport would get 60 percent and the police would get 40 percent.

“That ratio was key — it meant that the state would give their blessing to shutting down the airport for the event, since there were clear benefits for the airport,” Cain said.

VOLUNTEER SPIRIT

Today, the drag races run a little differently, although the spirit behind them is still the same. The police department is no longer involved (they transitioned the event to the airport board), but much of the proceeds still go to a higher cause: After the airport receives 50 percent, 25 percent goes to the Boyne Valley Lions Club and 25 percent to other community groups, which Cain said vary each year.

The races run on Sunday from noon until 4pm, as organized and overseen by the airport board, the Lions Club, and what Cain called “a whole truckload of volunteers.”

Wanna bring in your race car, project car, or just your old grocery-getter to see what it can do? No problem, this is a drag race for everyone.

“Anybody who has a vehicle can race!” Cain said. “You just need to get your vehicle safety-inspected — most typical cars can get through that — and then pay the entry fee of $30.”

You might’ve seen this kind of racing in movies like Rebel Without a Cause or American Graffiti: two vehicles at a time race, paired off against each other, and floor it all the way to the finish line.

More unusual vehicles, like motorcycles and snowmobiles, can race too; they simply have to be fitted with special “asphalt tracks” that enable them to handle the raceway.

Browney Mascow, the race announcer that’s been with the event almost since the beginning, will be calling all the action.

“Brownie does car restoration in town, and he’s a big MOPAR Chrysler fan, so he’s always cheering those cars on,” Cain said.

“We try to race similar cars against each other, but sometimes it ends up being “anything goes.” That’s part of the fun!”

The 2016 Boyne Drag Races will take place on Sept. 4 starting at noon. Entry fees: $30 to race, $15 for a pit pass, $10 for spectator-only, kids under age 12 are free. Food concessions will be available on site. For more information, call the Boyne City Hall at 231-582-6597.