By Scott Owen Tilleda,WI
Every year when old man winter has inhabited the race tracks of Wisconsin, most people long for the dog days of summer. There is a group of hearty and dedicated racers though, that can't wait for the cold to come and freeze twelve inches of sky blue water. In the winter months the Tilleda Pond becomes known as Lake Speed.

The tiny town of Tilleda barely shows up on most maps (it is located approximately one mile north of highway 29, between Shawano and Wittenberg), but when it comes to ice racing, it is a metropolis. Racing on the Tilleda Pond actually got started in 1976. Originally there was only one division of cars, the rear wheel drive nonstudded class, and sand was actually put on top of the ice to aid in traction. A few years later the rear wheel drive studded class was added to the racing program. The studded cars eventually became the sportsman division at the Shawano Speedway.

For many years racing flourished on the pond, but in the late 1980's interest wained and the pond became silent. Local residents, Bob Schmidt and Mike Asenbrener, never forgot the glory days and wanted to bring back the thunder. It was not easy at first, as some area residents were concerned about the noise and possible pollution to the water. After numerous meetings with the pond commision, it was decided that racing would be back in Tilleda. In 2005 two exhibition races were run on the pond, and interest among competitors and fans seemed high.

In 2006 Tilleda's Thunder on Lake Speed was born, and weekly ice racing made its return to the pond. The ice racing season runs from the start of January to the end of February or longer, depending on weather conditions. As long as there is twelve inches of solid ice the racing will run in rain, sleet, snow, and even ocassionaly under the sun. Drivers race for money and points each week. The points are accumulated throughout the season, and track champions are crowned at the end of the year. The track is an oval, with the length normally around three tenths of a mile. Snow is plowed to the outside to make up the guard rails. For those who have never seen a race on ice, spectators park their cars around the outside of the track to watch the action. The announcer is on hand to help the spectators enjoy their racing experience. Countless hours are donated each week by a dedicated group of volunteers.

Action on the track is top notch. With the small track length, the racing is door handle to door handle. Even when leading the race, drivers will often times be faced with lapped traffic. Flying snow and ice powder on the track also limits the drivers visibility. For this reason each car is required to have a red light on the rear of their car. Many times while racing on the track, the red light is all that can be seen of the car in front of you.

The sounds of roaring engines echo off the surrounding forest like the thunder of a passing storm. Late in the day, as the sun begins to settle, the light reflects off of the cars and ice like a shiny new diamond. The crisp cool winter air mixes with the expended race fuel to form a sort of high performance potpouri.

The cars seem so close you can almost touch them as they race, and in fact the pit area is located right behind the spectator area. So one can meet their favorite driver and touch their favorite machine. Four classes compete weekly, front wheel drive studded and nonstudded and rear wheel drive studded and nonstudded.

Both of the nonstudded divisions are very similar to their street counterparts. They just have to remove the outside trim and lights, have a working seat belt, and they can race. Performance modifications and tire selection also make a difference in how the cars handle the ice.

The front wheel drive studded class has a three point roll cage required for safety, and drivers use 1/4 inch length studs, commonly drywall screws are used, to provide better traction and increased speed. Many hours are spent making these tires, because there is no maximum number of studs allowed. The rear wheel drive studded class is the high horsepower, fire breathing, top speed class. The cars in this class are made for racing, with full roll cages and high performance engines. The engine rules only take up one page in the rule book.

The lack of engine rules allows racers many options and does not force them to spend money on mandated parts. The tires are equiped with 1 inch long studs that can be sharpened to aid in grabbing ahold of the ice. The studding of the tires can be a rather daunting task, as studded tires can not be purchased from the local tire store. Through the years the tires have evolved from a 3/8 inch bolt with a nut on the outside, to having a washer welded to the bolt with the nut on the inside of the tire.

For many racers, ice racing is a great place to get started in racing and get their feet wet, sometimes literally on warm days. Young racers can gain a great amount of experience controlling a car on the ice. This experience can lead to success in other forms of racing.

Ice racing is also a great way for many summertime racers to stay sharp throughout the year. Dirt drivers and pavement drivers alike use their time on the ice oval to help hone their skills. For some though, racing on the ice is their true passion. Many drivers may never race on any other surface. For those drivers, a win on the ice can feel as special as a win at Daytona.

In the early years, names such as Dillenberg, Simpson, Brady, Buckbee, Goers, Michonski, and Fletcher were well known for their prowess on the track. Car counts in the seventies and early eighties many times reached sixty cars per event.

In more recent years drivers named Asenbrener, Wudstrack, Fredenberg, Kralovetz, Hirt, and still Michonski are some of the hot shoes on the ice. Car counts have been averaging around fifty competitors per week this season. Some racers come from as far as Michigan's Upper Peninsula to compete. Some racers live right on the pond and can drive their cars to the track. The future of ice racing on Lake Speed looks very promising. With the rising costs of short track racing, ice racing is a viable financial option for those who have a need for speed. Car counts have been on the rise. Spectator numbers are also on the rise. Many area businesses have also come on board to support the racing.

They have found it to be a great value for their marketing dollar. The internet has been a great way to inform fans about ice racing. Tilleda Thunder also has their own home on the world wide web, www.tilledathunder.9k.com. So this winter when your local track is silent and you have to feed your need for speed. Jump in your car on a Saturday afternoon and head to the tiny town that puts the hammer down. I can assure you that you won't regret it.