As thermometers plunge and snow and ice ravage the roads, most motorcyclists have already stashed their machines away into their annual hibernation. Some however, just don’t want to wait for the snow to melt.

 For the Midwestern Ice Racing Association (MIRA,) January is primetime for its members, heading out onto the ice every Saturday in January and February, ice thickness permitting.

“Pretty much anything with a motor, we’ll race it out here with the studs.” Says Dalton Mains, who works as a promoter for MIRA.

The studs are screwed into tires to grip the ice. And grip it does, a lot more than one would imagine the riders say.

“Everybody thinks ice is slippery, but you put studs on it just like you put studs on your boots,” Dalton explains, “you get the traction, and they’re stuck to the ice.”

In the pits, the crowd slips and slides on the glare ice, even those with studded boots have to be careful. The grip from the motorcycles, ATVs and Side-by-sides seen during MIRA races is hard to believe. Wheelie starts are common. Riders drag their feet through corners like flat-track racers.

“You can just lay the bike down and it hooks like crazy.” Says ice racer Devon Stucynski.

He like many ice racers has been racing since he was just a kid. MIRA’s youngest riders are only four years old. Some keep at it for life, the association has just recently added a 50+ course for older riders.

With such a range of ages between riders, it’s no wonder that so many that gathered for the January 11, race were families. For many, the close-knit nature of ice racing is a big draw.

“A lot of it’s the people, the environment, just getting out – doing something fun,” says racer Miles Morris.

The full MITA schedule and more information can be found on their website.