The script is a conversation between the host, Cliff Duvernois, and Carri Bradley, a board member and co-chair of the I-500 snowmobile race in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. They discuss Carri's involvement with the race, the history and significance of the I-500, the events and activities during race week, and the experience of watching and participating in the race. Carri also talks about the community involvement and volunteers needed for the event.

Links:

https://i-500.com/

It's an experience like you'll never experience.

2

I compare it to a NASCAR race.

3

When we say, start your sleds,

and you hear the sound and

4

the smell of the race fuel.

5

Um, it's like no other.

6

And when they drop that green flag,

it's like your heart is pounding.

7

The sound is absolutely incredible.

8

It's nerve wracking.

9

Cliff Duvernois: Hello everyone.

10

And welcome back to Total Michigan,

where we interview ordinary Michiganders

11

doing some pretty extraordinary things.

12

I'm your host, Cliff DuVernois.

13

It's hard not to think about

winter time in Michigan without

14

thinking about the I-500.

15

Uh, Every snowmobiler on the

planet absolutely loves this race.

16

And it's, it's come to define

wintertime in Sault Ste.

17

Marie.

18

That's why I'm absolutely thrilled

today, to have one of the board members

19

of the I-500 as well as the co chair.

20

And that would be Carri Bradley.

21

Carri, how are you?

22

Carri Bradley: I'm wonderful.

23

Thank you.

24

Cliff Duvernois: Excellent, and

thank you for being here today.

25

Why don't you tell us a little bit about

where you're from and where you grew up.

26

Carri Bradley: I grew up, in the Soo.

27

And then relocated to Marquette.

28

However, my roots have always been

here, with generational family here,

29

in our involvement with the I-500 is,

is deep and ingrained in our fiber.

30

And

31

Cliff Duvernois: we're

definitely going to explore that.

32

So where did you wind up going to college?

33

Carri Bradley: I did go to Lake State.

34

I received a degree from Lake State.

35

I'm going to date myself

in the early, 90's.

36

And then went to further my

education at Northern and then a

37

Master's degree from Grand Valley.

38

Cliff Duvernois: What'd

you get your master's in?

39

Carri Bradley: School of Social Work.

40

Cliff Duvernois: Interesting.

41

Okay.

42

So let me ask you this question.

43

Why go into social work?

44

Carri Bradley: I have always loved people.

45

I have always wanted everyone to

fulfill their dreams and commit

46

to their highest potential.

47

And I'm very interested in

helping people get to that point.

48

Cliff Duvernois: And where do you think

that this desire of yours came from?

49

Carri Bradley: A lot of it had

to do with my family roots.

50

We're very, very people oriented, have

always volunteered in our communities.

51

Um, my parents, grandparents, I've

had phenomenal role models in that.

52

And it was just one of those things

that you give back to your community.

53

you you get what you give.

54

Cliff Duvernois: Nice.

55

Now, it's, so did you actually

get a career going in social work?

56

Carri Bradley: Absolutely.

57

Yes.

58

I'm, I'm a retired social worker.

59

I've worked clinical social

work in a hospital setting

60

in a mental health setting.

61

And then I finished out my career, 28

year career as a school social worker.

62

Cliff Duvernois: Okay, now was

this back up here in the UP?

63

Carri Bradley: Yes, this was here

in the Eastern upper peninsula.

64

Yes.

65

Cliff Duvernois: Okay.

66

So now I'm going to take a step back.

67

Because it seems like there's a big leap

between I'm a social worker to the I 500.

68

Yes.

69

So, how did you get

involved with the i-500?

70

Carri Bradley: Back in the early

71

sold ski roll snowmobiles.

72

So as far back as I can remember,

our family rode snowmobiles together.

73

That was something that

we did on the weekends.

74

If you were too small to sit on the sled,

you actually got towed in the back of one.

75

Cliff Duvernois: in the back of

76

Carri Bradley: So I don't

remember snowmobiling not

77

ever being a part of my life.

78

My grandpa had snowmobile teams

in the first couple races.

79

Generationally, um, my great uncle

was one of the first founding board

80

members and planners of the I-500.

81

Many family members

have been on the board.

82

There's probably not too many years of

our 55 year history that there hasn't

83

been a family member on the board.

84

Probably not a single year where

there hasn't been a family member

85

At least involved in volunteering in

the race, if not handfuls of them.

86

Cliff Duvernois: Carri, if you

would, tell us what the i-500 Is.

87

Carri Bradley: I-500 is a week long

family community event that ends

88

on Saturday with the biggest, most

exciting race in North America.

89

Cliff Duvernois: Ok.

90

So what goes on during this family

'cause you said it's an entire Week.

91

So it's not 7 days of racing, is it?

92

Carri Bradley: No, it's not.

93

Our program starts on

Sunday, with our kids race.

94

Very family oriented.

95

A great day.

96

We end with a pizza party and

a celebration and trophies.

97

It's our way of not only giving back

to the community, but also involving

98

our young people in the racing circuit.

99

It's great for them to get

started at a young age.

100

And we teach them exactly appropriate

race etiquette, so to speak.

101

And it gives them a great opportunity

to get out there and show their stuff.

102

And they absolutely love it.

103

It's one of my favorite events that we do.

104

Cliff Duvernois: And what other kind of

events do you have going on that week?

105

Carri Bradley: that week?

106

On Monday, we also try to involve

the community as much as possible.

107

And we do a skate night at the track.

108

It will be held on Monday

this year, weather permitting.

109

Everything again is weather permitting.

110

From five to seven, where we invite

the community to actually come

111

and skate around the Mile Oval.

112

Which is really exciting.

113

A totally different look.

114

It, it looks big.

115

But when you're actually going around

that mile loop, it's quite incredible.

116

And then we also are planning our

driver introduction night, where the

117

kids can come, families can come.

118

And actually meet some of the

drivers, sit on their sleds, ask

119

them questions, things like that.

120

It's, it's a great opportunity for our

drivers to give back to the community

121

and just to, to keep everybody

interested, and know what's happening.

122

Cliff Duvernois: And a couple of other

events that they got going on that week.

123

Carri Bradley: on.

124

Uh, so then we move into our

actual qualifying for the week.

125

We have several sessions of that.

126

We also have a race Wednesday

night as well as Thursday night.

127

Friday we move into race registration.

128

And we do everything

around racing on Friday.

129

And then we kick off

everything Saturday morning.

130

Cliff Duvernois: Carrie for the actual

race day itself in the morning, right?

131

When things are going on, talk

to us about what that is like.

132

Carri Bradley: Wow.

133

Cliff, it's the most

exciting experience ever.

134

Um, We start our pre race

festivities at around 9 a.

135

m.

136

with a green flag drop at 10.

137

And let me tell you.

138

It's an experience like

you'll never experience.

139

I compare it to a NASCAR race.

140

When we say, start your sleds,

and you hear the sound and

141

the smell of the race fuel.

142

Um, it's like no other.

143

when they go around those

first few laps, under caution.

144

We like to watch for, snow dust

and conditions, track conditions.

145

And when they drop that green flag,

it's like your heart is pounding.

146

The sound is absolutely incredible.

147

It's nerve wracking.

148

I cry actually the first several laps

because, um, the sleds are very bunched

149

up, when they go around the first few

150

Cliff Duvernois: laps.

151

And,

152

Carri Bradley: and, it's, we

tend to tell racers, rookies.

153

We say, you know, you're not going

to win this race the first 100 laps.

154

This is a 500 mile race.

155

But, once, once they start,

that driver kicks in.

156

And the excitement kicks in.

157

And people take off.

158

And it's.

159

nerve wracking and

exciting and fun to watch.

160

the sounds, the noises, the smell,

it just doesn't get any better.

161

It's, it's in your body.

162

And if you experience that one

time, you will be addicted.

163

You will want to come back every

year after that, to see that start.

164

Cliff Duvernois: Why don't you

talk to us about how the initial

165

idea for the I-500 came about?

166

Why even have a race in the first place?

167

Carri Bradley: This started out

with a group of men, sitting around

168

having coffee and thinking about

the Daytona 500 and saying, hmm, we

169

should do this for a snowmobile race.

170

We should do something that we

can do 500 laps on a snowmobile.

171

And it evolved from there.

172

And my understanding is that we had

a great showing of people from both

173

sides of the river, who ended up

partaking in this endeavor, truly.

174

And, bringing equipment and accessories

over from across the border and

175

building our first initial racetrack.

176

Cliff Duvernois: And from

there, it's become a little

177

bit of a cultural phenomenon.

178

Carri Bradley: Absolutely.

179

Cliff Duvernois: How many

people usually attend the I-500?

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Carri Bradley: We usually

have upwards of, um, 20, 000.

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Cliff Duvernois: Oh Sweet Moses

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Carri Bradley: Yes.

183

Cliff Duvernois: That is a lot of people.

184

And how many race drivers

do you typically have?

185

Carri Bradley: Well, we're allowed to

have, well, that's varied over the years.

186

We used to have more, um, when we started.

187

Our starting field now is, I think, 35.

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Cliff Duvernois: oh okay.

189

So that's actually a lot less

than I thought it would be.

190

But you said there was a point

in time that there was more

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Carri Bradley: more.

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Yes.

193

Cliff Duvernois: You were also talking

to, and this is something that I've known

194

for quite a while, and your statement

earlier kind of sparked the memory.

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The racetrack is actually made of ice.

196

Carri Bradley: Yes, it is, which

is a big misconception because

197

people think that we need snow.

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We need cold weather to

be able to freeze water.

199

It is ice.

200

Cliff Duvernois: Why ice?

201

Because I'm one of those people that

would think you should be racing on snow.

202

But why ice?

203

Carri Bradley: You know,

it gives better traction.

204

we, the drivers have studs.

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so it's just a better

race surface than snow is.

206

Cliff Duvernois: For the I-500,

because I know that you said, how

207

many generations of your family

have been involved with the I-500?

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Carri Bradley: Yes.

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Cliff Duvernois: So it

literally is in your DNA.

210

yes.

211

it is.

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And so when it comes time for you

to decide to join the I-500, is it

213

just because of family tradition?

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Is it something that

you're passionate about?

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Carri Bradley: Absolutely both.

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Like I said, I grew up riding

sleds, still ride to this day.

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Grandfather rode till

he was in his eighties.

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My dad rode until he passed away.

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Additionally, it was something that

we were involved with for so long.

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And when I moved back to town,

um, I had lots of family involved.

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So it made sense for me to get

re involved as a volunteer.

222

Cliff Duvernois: When you joined

the I-500, was it with the intent

223

that, you know, you were one day

going to be on the board of it?

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or were you just thinking to

yourself at the time, I just

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want to be a part of this?

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Carri Bradley: Absolutely

just a part of it.

227

Never, ever, ever aspired

to be a board member.

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And how many years now

have you been doing this?

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This will be my 31st year.

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of

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Cliff Duvernois: Wow.

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Carri Bradley: Yes.

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Cliff Duvernois: Wow.

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And you keep coming back for more.

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Carri Bradley: It's family.

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Once you've

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Cliff Duvernois: you're not just talking

literally family, it's the I-500 family.

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Carri Bradley: It's, it's a family.

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I think anyone that you would

talk to that has volunteered there

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over the 55 years would say it's

the I-500 and it's volunteers.

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It's family.

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And when you need something, and you call

on your I-500 family, they are there.

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Cliff Duvernois: I love that.

244

For our audience we're going to take

a quick break to thank our sponsors.

245

When we come back, we're gonna talk a

lot more about the I-500 and what you

246

can expect when you come to the event.

247

We'll see you after the break.

248

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Hello everyone, and welcome

back to Total Michigan, where we

266

interview ordinary people doing

some pretty extraordinary things.

267

I'm your host, Cliff Duvernois.

268

Today, we're talking with the

co chair of the I-500, and

269

that would be Carri Bradley.

270

Carri, before the break, we were having

a pretty cool conversation, actually,

271

with regards to the I-500 family.

272

And you were talking about the,

you know, the volunteers and

273

everything else and how they're

there and I absolutely, I love that.

274

So, to take a step back here, to

put on an I 500 event, how many

275

people are typically involved?

276

Carri Bradley: involved?

277

Hundreds.

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So many people do things that we

don't even know about every year.

279

I couldn't even give you

a a solid number on that.

280

This community has supported this event.

281

And the volunteers and the

people of this community have

282

made this event for 55 years.

283

We are the longest running volunteer

event in the state of Michigan.

284

Cliff Duvernois: That's

something to hang your hat on.

285

Carri Bradley: It's amazing.

286

Yeah.

287

So I can't even tell you because so many

things, simultaneously, happen that we

288

don't even know about, that somebody calls

and says, Hey, can you do this for us?

289

Hey, can you do that for us?

290

Hey, what, I couldn't even tell

you how many hundreds of people are

291

involved in this event each year.

292

Cliff Duvernois: So with that being

said, it seems that the community just

293

does more than just show up at the race.

294

Carri Bradley: Absolutely.

295

Absolutely.

296

Absolutely.

297

From, track efforts all year around,

mowing grass, cutting trees, to, providing

298

food during race week for volunteers.

299

Um, We feed all of our volunteers.

300

Yeah, they're involved in

every aspect of this race.

301

Cliff Duvernois: So let's talk about if

somebody's listening to this and they're

302

like, you know what I'd like to volunteer.

303

I would like to be a part of this.

304

You talk to us a little bit

about how that process works.

305

What are some of the things that they

could expect if they wanted to volunteer?

306

Carri Bradley: if they

wanted to volunteer?

307

Well, we do have, um, on our

website, uh, a volunteer application.

308

And when you fill that out, you

give us an idea of what you might

309

be interested in volunteering.

310

And then we try to match

what your interest is.

311

Like I said, there's anything up

there, from working in the summer.

312

During work projects, to plowing

snow in the winter, to hanging

313

banners, to helping cook food for

volunteers, to selling apparel.

314

There's such a wide variety of things

that people can become involved with.

315

It's endless.

316

Cliff Duvernois: The I 500 in

and of itself is a year round.

317

event.

318

it's not just one week out of the year.

319

It's the race is over.

320

And you're already focused on next year.

321

Carri Bradley: We're

planning for the next year.

322

We're actually planning simultaneously

while the race is going on.

323

We're taking notes and saying,

Hey, we need to do this next year.

324

Hey, we need to not do

325

Cliff Duvernois: I love that

326

Carri Bradley: So we're

continually in a planning process.

327

Cliff Duvernois: And when you were talking

before about volunteering over the summer,

328

why is it important over the summer

to have people working on the track.

329

Carri Bradley: We have such a limited

amount of time weather wise here.

330

And where the tracks located,

it's very, it's all clay.

331

It's very wet.

332

So we have a limited amount of

time that we can actually do

333

some of the outside projects that

we do, throughout the summer.

334

Any type of building repairs that we

do all have to be done in the summer.

335

Any ground repairs have

to be done in the summer.

336

So we're always, looking for

people to support us during our

337

work bees for the summer as well.

338

Cliff Duvernois: So you don't

have to necessarily freeze

339

Carri Bradley: Absolutely not.

340

Cliff Duvernois: You can here when

it's, you know, 80, 90 degrees

341

Carri Bradley: Yes, and cut

trees, and cut grass, and we're

342

doing a project right now.

343

Um, We're insulating one of our

buildings and putting a new furnace in.

344

So that means moving equipment

out and things like that.

345

We always have painting

projects going on in the summer.

346

We're moving things.

347

Absolutely, there's many things

to be done in the summer as well.

348

Cliff Duvernois: Now for the person

that's hearing this and thinking,

349

you know, I want to go to the i-500.

350

Maybe they've never even been here before.

351

What are some things that I should keep

in mind like really to like maximize and

352

get the most out of the I-500 experience?

353

Carri Bradley: I think taking in as

many of the I-500 events as you can is

354

a great way to see the overall picture.

355

A lot of people come just for the Saturday

for the race because it is the big event.

356

But there's so much that goes

on during the race week that

357

families can take part in.

358

I would definitely,

encourage people to do that.

359

It kind of gets you geared

up for race day on Saturday.

360

Cliff Duvernois: You were

talking before the break about,

361

there's a lot of kid activities.

362

That are in this, and I can imagine

a lot of parents are thinking,

363

man, kids get cold so fast.

364

Carri Bradley: And race day,

we have vendor tents set up.

365

And those are heated.

366

So people can go in there

to warm up if they get cold.

367

you know.

368

Cliff Duvernois: hot cocoa.

369

Carri Bradley: Absolutely.

370

So we have food vendors in there.

371

Yeah, so they can go

in and warm up in that.

372

Yes.

373

Absolutely.

374

Cliff Duvernois: up.

375

for the actual, event itself, if somebody

is actually interested in racing in the

376

event, talk to us about that process.

377

I can imagine you guys get flooded

with thousands of applications because

378

everybody and their brother wants to race.

379

So how do you get it

down to that final 35?

380

What are some of the

qualifications that you have

381

Carri Bradley: Well, to be on the

track, you have to fill out, if you're,

382

uh, You're a rookie, we call them.

383

You have to fill out an

application with our race director.

384

And he reviews your

qualifications in that.

385

Before you're even allowed

to be on the track.

386

So that's the first process in that.

387

Cliff Duvernois: I would just assume

that just because you've ridden on

388

trails doesn't make you automatically

qualified to go 500 miles on an oval.

389

Carri Bradley: Correct?

390

Yes.

391

You have to have some race experience.

392

Cliff Duvernois: Ok

393

Carri Bradley: and that

could be snow cross.

394

in different states, different

race circuits and things like that.

395

Yes.

396

Cliff Duvernois: There's actually

qualifications that go on.

397

Carri Bradley: Yes.

398

There is qualifications.

399

There's several rounds of qualifying.

400

And then, depending upon the

speeds, that's our pole setter.

401

And that's how our, positions,

it's just like a NASCAR

402

Cliff Duvernois: Nice.

403

Carri Bradley: race, um, you

qualify for your position.

404

Cliff Duvernois: Nice.

405

I know last year there was a lot

of excitement around the i500.

406

And the finish that game is, yes.

407

So, for those that are, you know,

listening to the talk, well,

408

what what would you talk about?

409

Share with us a little bit about that.

410

Cause it actually made a

lot of news in the state.

411

Carri Bradley: Yeah, we had the

we had the closest race ever.

412

it was very exciting.

413

Absolutely.

414

don't know that we'll ever have

that kind of a finish again.

415

But yeah, it was, it was

down to The last second.

416

Yes,

417

Cliff Duvernois: Excellent.

418

And now for the, for the race.

419

So what, when is the

420

Carri Bradley: Historically, we

always thought that the race we

421

always told everyone it's the first

Saturday in February every year.

422

We found out through some history

books from one of our founding

423

fathers just recently that we

did actually have a couple races.

424

We had one race that was on the

second Saturday in February.

425

And we had one that had to be postponed

due to weather and was held on a Sunday.

426

So It normally is held on the

first Friday, or I'm sorry the

427

first Sunday in February So this

year it will be February 3rd.

428

Okay.

429

Cliff Duvernois: Okay.

430

for this year's I-500

431

Is there anything new that's

coming out that people can expect.

432

Carri Bradley: No.

433

No.

434

we, We have our schedule

set for this year.

435

You can find that on our website

with, all the events, times.

436

but no, we have not added

anything new for this year.

437

I would like to say though that

we do have vintage racing as well.

438

on our Tuesday schedule.

439

And so when you talk about vintage,

you're talking about old sleds?

440

Older, older sleds, yes.

441

That wouldn't necessarily,

be driving in the I-500.

442

However, we do have some events

that we do, have some of our former

443

sleds in that, come back and race.

444

Cliff Duvernois: I spent some time over

at the Snowmobile Museum in the UP.

445

And that was a treat.

446

Carri Bradley: Oh.

447

It's amazing and that if you at

all are into snowmobiling and,

448

the history of snowmobiling, that

is the most amazing place to go.

449

There is so much history, in, in

snowmobiling and, It's incredible,

450

like you said, what, what they.

451

when it started to what has evolved now.

452

They also have a wonderful,

section of the museum that

453

they've dedicated to the I-500.

454

So they actually have a lot

of our memorabilia there.

455

As well as some of our sleds

that have been in the race.

456

So it's, it's a nice mix of Old

and more new, not totally new.

457

But more new, so I just can't

say enough about the museum.

458

It's, it's a phenomenal place to visit.

459

Charlie and his wife are dedicated

to the history of snowmobiling.

460

So definitely something I would

say to take in the week of the

461

I 500, if you're here in town.

462

That's a short drive away, and

I would definitely, visit there.

463

Cliff Duvernois: Certainly.

464

And to circle back with something

that you you've been involved with the

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I-500 now for 31 years what would be

maybe one or two of some of the biggest

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changes that you've seen over that time?

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Carri Bradley: Probably the sleds.

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Obviously we're, we're running speeds of

over a hundred miles an hour now, where

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we started at 40 and 50 miles an hour.

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So definitely the sleds themselves, the

make of the sleds, and the speeds as far

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as, you know, the race, When you think

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sleds were going, 40 50 miles an hour.

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And people thought that was fast.

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And the people thought that was fast.

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And now our sleds have computerized

systems in them and, they're

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running computerized things.

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It's, It's, just phenomenal how technology

has changed with sleds over time.

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Cliff Duvernois: Carri, if somebody's

listening to this interview and they

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want to check out more about the I

500 and we talked about ways that

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they can volunteer or even if they're

crazy enough to try to race it.

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But where can they go to find

more information on that.

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Carri Bradley: They can

go to our website at, www.

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i500.

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com.

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We also have a Facebook

page, that they can look at.

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We post things regularly on there.

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If you're interested in watching

our event, and you're unable to

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come in person, um, we do have Flow

Sports, who live stream our event.

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And they are there all week long.

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They live stream all of our, um, what

we call time trials or qualifying.

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They're a wonderful, wonderful venue.

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If you can get on and subscribe to

Flow Sports, that's where you would

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be able to see everything live.

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Cliff Duvernois: Wonderful.

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And is there a link on your

website to Flow Sports?

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Carri Bradley: Yes.

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there Yes.

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Sounds great.

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Cliff Duvernois: great.

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Carri, thank you so much for taking time

out of your schedule to be with us today.

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Really do appreciate it.

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Thank you.

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And for our audience, you can always

roll on over to TotalMichigan.

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com, click on Carri's interview and get

all the links that she mentioned above.

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We will see you next week when we

talk to another Michigander doing

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some pretty extraordinary things.

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We'll see you then.