And the story.
The Quest for 200mph has finally been realized…...
Chris Baynes-
Fastest man alive in 1000’ Snowmobile Speed Runs
Thunderbird Lodge- Rainy Lake, International Falls MN.
The sun started coming up over Rainy Lake in International Falls on the morning of March 9th, 2024 and there was something in the air that gave you the sense that something special was about to take place.
That something special was Chris Baynes being the first snowmobile driver in history to eclipse the 200mph barrier in 1000ft with a run of 202.33mph backed up by a 201.70mph run. This quest has been ongoing since Marv Jorgenson first ran 190.308 mph at this very track back in 1989. For the past 35 years there have been several other accomplished racers that have ran the unlimited or outlaw classes in chase of being the first driver to hit 200mph. 35 years later, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Some of those racers include the likes of Marv Jorgenson of Chopper City Sports with Jaws III. Paul Grothe campaigning 3 different renditions of the Budweiser Sno King and later on driving Frozen Assets for the Warning Family. Also giving chase was John DeeDee driving the Arius Overture with an 1650hp alcohol powered hemi. Most recently the Warning family campaigned Frozen Assets II driven by Ryan Ensor to a World Record speed of 191.574mph. This is the sled that finally surpassed Marv’s record of 190.308 that stood for 26 years until 2015. Fast forward to 2023 and Chris Baynes ran 198.67mph in Willmar MN which is blazing fast but just shy of the 200mph barrier. For the 2024 season Baynes campaigned a brand new Hypersports Speed Needle 2.0 as they have appropriately called the speed sled. With the poor weather and mother nature not cooperating to get good ice it was beginning to look like the 200mph mark might yet have to wait another year.
Kurt Mohawk of Straight Line Speed Association was not going down without a fight. He was able to secure a couple race locations on the MN and Canadian border going as far north as possible to find safe ice. Those locations, one being Crane Lake (hosted by the Crane Lake Bar & Grille) and the other being Rainy Lake in International Falls (Hosted by the Thunderbird Lodge) provided the required ice for a couple end of the season races allowing these World Record attempts. The Crane Lake event had warm weather and the ice was soft and not conducive for any real records in the outlaw class. One week later in front of the Thunderbird Lodge on beautiful Rainy Lake, a moderate crowd gathered around to witness history being made. Baynes first pass ran 201.70mph and was a monumental speed by all accounts but Baynes and his crew still had more in the tank. About an hour after the first pass was made Baynes and crew pushed the Speed Needle to the line for the second attempt to either try to better the first pass or to back it up within 2% certifying it as a World Record. The second pass was indeed faster at 202.33 and was immediately followed by horns blaring and a very well-deserved round of applause. High fives and grins for as far as you could see.
Congratulations Team Baynes on all your Teams accomplishments Including Dana Bungert who is the Fastest female alive running the Pro Extreme 55 class at 180.65mph in 1000ft on her HRC machine with a backup speed of 179mph. An equally very well deserved honor
