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Ice racing second nature for FL’s Shane Felegy |
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Wednesday, 06 February 2008 |
Glen Strandberg
Staff Writer
One answer on Shane Felegy’s Polaris bio page pretty much sums up what it must be like to race snowmobiles for a living.
Q: Most Memorable Moment in Racing.
A: Winning at Eagle River (WI) and breaking my neck.
Breaking one’s neck needs little explanation, but winning at Eagle River translates into being the top driver at the world’s biggest ice race. Those two incidents would certainly be memorable, but the casual way in which Forest Lake’s Felegy discusses everything provides a glimpse as to why he’s been so successful.
Not to imply that someone who wins at Eagle River one year, earns a pair of seconds there this past January, and was also the 2007 overall points leader in the World Snowmobile Association (WSA) is doing well...
“I don’t think I actually ever thought I was that good at it,” Felegy says. “When I was in my teens I just liked doing it, so I don’t think I ever thought at anytime I was all that good. I still don’t by any means think I’m the best out there. All the help that I’ve had throughout the years to do it, that’s more of what got me to where I’m at than me being good.”
But what is the key to being in contention when you’re zooming around a 1/2 mile ice oval at speeds reaching 90 miles per hour?
“I’m just kind of used to it. It’s like second nature,” the 28-year-old Felegy says. “You don’t seem like you’re going that fast anymore. It’s really weird because everything slows down. You get on a snowmobile that goes really fast and you almost have to slow your reactions down.”
This weekend, Felegy will be part of the World Championship WSA Pro Extreme Racing, which will be held on three ovals on Forest Lake, just off the main beach.
“It will be good racing for sure,” Felegy says. “There’s going to be quite a few people there.”
Felegy will be dealing with two broken ribs, but keep in mind that a broken neck didn’t stop him, so why should a couple of measly ribs?
During his racing career, Felegy shares how he’s broken his collarbone, his right foot, right ankle, right wrist, his ribs (twice now) and had knee surgery.
“I’ve had more but those are the main ones I guess.”
The low-key graduate of Forest Lake High School (1997) says he got into the sport because of his father, Rich, who still wrenches for a national snowcross team and is also a member of Shane’s crew.
The crew also consists of Joe Monette, Bill Foner, Mike Foner, his cousin Joe Fjerstad and his uncle Ron Fjerstad. Rick Bates at Polaris has been been a huge help, as have Aggressive Hydraulics, Castle Racing, Spy Optics and Toysalvage.com.
“If I didn’t have the people behind me that I’ve had for the past 15 years, I wouldn’t be where I’m at,” Shane says.
After that many years of competing, Shane isn’t sure when he’ll call it quits. It always depends on the individual driver, but Felegy says it’s not about some crazy adrenaline rush, it’s just business.
“I think the main thing is that’s what I’ve done my whole life. Like since I can remember walking, I’ve been riding dirt bikes and snowmobiles. If I didn’t ride a snowmobile in the winter I wouldn’t know what to do.
“Because I’ve been doing it for so long now it’s not so much—,” Felegy catches himself at the last second, and then finishes his thought. After all, where else can you win world championships and also break your neck?
“It is still exciting,” he admits, “but now it’s my job.”
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