Winter Mega Run promises big fun

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/02/2020 (2366 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While fairweather fans remain in a holding pattern in anticipation of summer, hundreds of local off-road enthusiasts have been burning the midnight oil in their heated garages in anticipation of the 11th annual Winter Mega Run.

The event, which takes place on Crown land near Seddons Corner, about 15 kilometres east of Beausejour, attracts a wide variety of off-road enthusiasts and their machines for a day of fun in the sun and snow.

In past years we’ve spotted lifted trucks, SUVs, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles fitted with studded tires and even a few highly-modified cars trudging through the terrain.

According to Steve Rempel, the main organizer of the event, it started out as a casual gathering of off-road enthusiasts looking to beat the winter blues, and has since morphed into a full-scale winter festival. This year you can expect additional portable toilets, more bonfires to warm up around, two food vendors and music at both the south pit and Crowsnest areas.

“Winter Mega Run is the largest winter gathering of off-road vehicles in Canada,” says Rempel, “there will be more than 600 off-road vehicles, music and food vendors, and there’s always something awesome to watch. You can explore the back bush trails, play in the pits or just sit and watch the shenanigans, especially those trying to climb the Crowsnest bowl.”

Although the event has no title sponser, contributers include Tyndall Firewood, KH Financial, SHERP Canada, Dawson Service Centre, Roger Watson Jewellers, Extreme Coatings, Eliminator-RC, Shorten Automotive, Stone Bridge Auto, Prairie Exotics, Boss Hawgs BBQ, Three Seasons Customs, D&D McCaughan & Son and Piston Ring Service. Any proceeds raised above the event costs will be donated to a cancer charity in honour of Rempel’s mother, Lorna, who lost her battle with cancer in April, 2018.

While there’s never any shortage of large rigs with massive tires to tow you out of trouble, your best bet is to make the scene in either a 4×4 truck or an SUV with good tires. Thanks to minimal snowfall this winter the trails will be in good shape, but participants are still being reminded to ensure their vehicles are equipped with recovery and tow straps, shackles to hook them up and easy-to-reach tow points on the front and rear of the vehicle. It is also strongly recommended that everyone attending dress appropriately for the weather.

It is again important to note that while the majority of the vehicles participating in Manitoba Winter Mega Run are street legal and will be driven to the event, many others will be towed on trailers and insured as off-road vehicles, with ORV licence plates issued by Manitoba Public Insurance and available through your local insurance broker. If your off-road vehicle is uninsured, you should leave it at home — the RCMP will be patrolling the area and will likely have checkstops set up throughout the day.

And above all else, wheel safely and remember the No. 1 rule of off-roading — clean up after yourself and take out what you bring in.

 

willy@freepress.mb.ca