Smooth sledding for Craven Ride for Charity

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When the Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity began, many NASCAR race fans flocked to Greenville for the chance to rub elbows with a Winston Cup – now called Nextel Cup – driver.

A funny thing happened over the ensuing years.

The event slowly became less about auto racing and more about the cause and the friendships that were formed. And of course, the outgoing Craven was a constant, making sure that everyone who showed up knew how much he appreciated their help.

On Saturday, Craven staged the 10th annual charity ride. According to his mother and sister, who help organize the event, it was another great day.

“We had a wonderful ride. Everything went good. I think this was one of the better years we had,” said his mother, Nancy Craven.

Ricky Craven’s sister, Lauri Matheson, said the focus has shifted over the years. Her brother no longer races on the elite Nextel Cup level, but that doesn’t keep snowmobiling race fans from supporting the cause.

“I think at the beginning it started with ‘Ricky Craven the racer,’ but now they’re all there for one reason: the cause,” Matheson said. “They love to snowmobile, and it’s a social event.”

This year’s ride raised another $110,000 for five charities and brought the 10-year total to more than $1.25 million.

The event raised $41,000 back in 1998, when it began, and donations peaked in 2004, when $253,500 was raised.

Money goes to one of five charities: The Children’s Miracle Network, Give Kids the World, The National Marrow Donor Program, Make-A-Wish, and the Travis Roy Foundation.

Matheson said this year’s event focused heavily on the charities, especially when people stepped up to the microphone and spoke with attendees.

“We spent a lot more time this year talking with the crowd and the audience about what the ride has meant to us, and why it’s so important to us, and what these people have done for us,” Matheson said.

Matheson said many of the same people keep returning to the ride, giving it a reunion feel.

There was one small problem this year, however.

“It went so well. The only glitch that I found was that it was so darned cold that some of the machines wouldn’t start in the morning,” she said. “Other than that, things went really well.”

None of which means that Ricky Craven, Nancy Craven, or Matheson can rest on their laurels, of course.

Planning for next year’s 11th ride will begin soon.

“We always get right back on the wagon,” Matheson said. “Probably not right now, but within the next month or so, we’ll start talking and try to figure out a few new angles.”

Fort Kent plans festival

Located at the northern tip of Maine in the St. John River Valley, Fort Kent is a small college town with some lofty goals.

There’s no Interstate highway system linking the Valley to the rest of Maine – a point of some consternation, you understand – but that doesn’t stop many from pitching the town as a destination worth visiting.

Townsfolk proudly call Fort Kent “The Little Town That Could,” with good reason.

For a town its size – 4,268 in 2004 – it has proven willing (and able) to hold and support more large-scale events than most cities in Maine.

Consider: Fort Kent has hosted wildly successful muskie derbies the past two years, a World Cup biathlon event, and hosts annual Can-Am Crown dogsled races that draw thousands of spectators to Main Street.

And townspeople aren’t satisfied.

Not by a long shot.

That’s why spectators at this year’s Can-Am Crown races will find plenty of entertainment options available on race day, March 3.

“The Fort Kent Chamber [of Commerce], the Fort Kent Muskie Derby, and the Fort Kent Lions Club are coming together to bring a festival to town to keep the spectators here and have a full day of festivities,” said Darlene Kelly Dumond, one of the festival’s organizers.

Dubbed the “Nas-Cam Winter Festival,” Dumond said the goal is simple.

“We want to keep people in town,” she said. “We get about 5,000 spectators for the Can-Am dogsled race. You look down the streets at noon and they’re barren.”

A bonfire, chili contest, and beer tent will be offered, as will a variety of offbeat races that will entertain the crowd after the dogs and mushers hit the trail.

“It’s going to be oval-track racing with dogs and skis,” Dumond said. “A cross country ski race, a snowshoe race, race your neighbor. An award will go to the wackiest sled made by a family or organization.”

There is one catch, however: That sled has to be nonmotorized.

“A horse could pull it. Llamas. Chimpanzees. We don’t care,” Dumond said. “As long as it doesn’t have a motor, anything can pull it.”

In addition, more short-track dogsled racing will be on tap. The snow will be left on Main Street, where the Can-Am Crown races start, and amateur teams will be invited to race the loop.

“We’re looking for participants,” Dumond said. “Amateurs, children, it’s going to be a short track and it won’t be grueling. It will be fun and funny.”

Dumond said a local musher had donated the use of a sled and harness, so that families could come and hook up their family pooches … or other critters … and give the sport a try.

“If someone comes with a camel and a sled, we’ll let ’em race,” Dumond said. “We’re just trying to develop our [short] track for racing.”

The events will begin at noon with cross country ski races. Snowshoe racers will begin competing at 12:30 p.m., and the race-your-neighbor and wackiest sled contests start at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., the dogs will take over again for the short-track races.

And after that?

Well, Dumond has a plan for that, too.

“The spectators will be able to go over and watch the [Can-Am Crown] 30 and 60 races come in,” she said. “We’re hoping that we’ll draw more [spectators] up there for the finish, but then they’ll have a choice all day [of activities to participate in and watch].”

So there you have it. Saddle up your llama … or camel … or chimpanzee, and start practicing.

The Little Town That Could is waiting for you.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.