FSJ Car Culture, Peace Region Motorsports Association bring Ice-X to Charlie Lake

CHARLIE LAKE, B.C. — FSJ Car Culture and Peace Region Motorsports Association are bringing the second annual Ice-X event to Charlie Lake’s icy surface on Sunday.

Clay Sutherland, one of the club’s directors, says they organize autocross events throughout the region, and this event is similar but on a frozen lake.

Autocross is a timed competition where vehicles drive around an obstacle course.

Sutherland says the region has a bit of a long winter, so to bridge the gap of the sport, the organization has followed what other places have done by doing an Ice-X event.

“What we’re are doing on Charlie Lake is like autocross, but we have a truck set up on the lake and a timed event,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland says it doesn’t matter if the vehicle is a race car or a daily driver, “anyone can come out and enjoy the festivities.”

The competition is divided into different classes: all-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and whether or not the vehicle’s tires are studded.

There is an entry fee of $50 to participate, and other requirements include a helmet, a tarp to park on for insurance purposes and a driver’s license.

Sutherland says the tarp is to ensure nothing from the car spills onto the ice.

He says all levels of driver’s licenses are allowed, though those with a learner’s permit must have someone in the vehicle with them.

“It’s a pretty open event, that’s the beauty of it,” Sutherland said.

“If people don’t understand their cars and how to handle them in certain conditions, this helps with safety on the road to understanding what your car’s capable of doing.”

He says participants will also offer “ride-a-longs” for those to get past the limit of what they’re comfortable doing themselves.

Sutherland says the group is always growing, and if anyone is looking to donate or volunteer at the events, they can reach out to the Peace Region Motorsports Association on Facebook.

The same group runs FSJ Car Culture (FSJCC) and Peace Region Motorsports Association. 

The FSJCC group is for the community, while the Peace Region Motorsports Association page is for information on the club and its events.

The event on January 28th kicks off at 10 a.m. with a mandatory meeting for participants and will run for most of the day on the lake.