A pair of snowmobilers go head-to-head down the icy drag strip.

For the first time in two years, the sound of snowmobile engines emanated from Syracuse Lake when the Wawasee Kiwanis Snowmobile Drags returned to Syracuse Saturday, just offshore from the lakeside park.

Warm weather caused organizers to cancel the event two years in a row. The third time was the charm.

This year’s event had a large turnout, despite a steadily falling drizzle that left the top of the ice covered in several inches of water and slush and had plow trucks constantly clearing the tracks.

Winners by class were as follows:
Modified 1000 chisel stud, Paul Burkhart, Eden, Ohio
Modified 700 chisel stud, Steve Hugonell, Hanover
Modified 800 chisel stud, Jon Michael, Shipshewana
Modified 600 chisel stud, Steve Hugonell
Modified open chisel stud, Paul Burkhart
Modified turbo chisel stud, Dan Barber, Niles, Mich.
Stock trail stud 440, Jeff Sorenson, Milford
Stock 1000 chisel stud, Taylor Slocum, Milford
Stock 700 chisel stud, Scott Williams, Syracuse
Stock 800 chisel stud, Pat Higgins, Syracuse
Stock 440 chisel stud and Stock 600 chisel stud, JT Finlinson, Syracuse
Stock 1000 trail stud, Ken Huston, New Carlisle
Stock 700 and Stock 800 trail stud, Taylor Slocum

The evening before the drags, the Wawasee Kiwanis Club hosted its annual Winter Carnival Soup Supper competition. Winners included the Channel Marker, Best Restaurant; the Lakes Area Players, Best Business/Civic; and Dan Bauer, Best Individual.

Approximately 415 attendees sampled and voted on a total of 19 soup entries.