If you’ve ever seen Snocross in person, you know it must take plenty of courage to go zooming around the course and flying over jumps.
And that’s just as true for the amateur races, including 8-year-old Livy Hentges. “I know I am brave and can overcome any nerves that way,” she said.
Livy is among a spate of racers who will be at Canterbury Park on Jan. 4-5 for Snocross racing. Pros are coming in from across the country to compete, but there’s also plenty of competition within Livy’s own family.
Family Affair
Hentges Racing, formed in 2000, includes Jonny, who started racing in 1999 and grew up being able to see Canterbury Park “from my bedroom window.”
“When the races were in town I would watch for the couple big rig semis to park and just lived for it,” he said. “My family did have snowmobiles and rode the trails but had no racing machines. I was 14 years old when I got my first race sled.”
That love of snowmobile racing extends to his brother Nate, and the two started competing in nationals and regionals, eventually securing a sponsorship from Skidoo.
“I would have to say I most always beat my brother, Nate,” Jonny said.
Young Racer
As for Livy, she said she enjoys traveling to different states, and meeting and riding with new people.
The 8-year-old, who says she wants to grow up to be a professional Snocrosser and Motocrosser, will be racing the morning of Saturday, Jan. 5.
That Friday and Saturday, she will also be “cheering on Kody Kamm and Petter Narsa,” two of the pro Snocross racers under the Hentges racing banner.
Part of a Team
Having family members as part of the racing team is a lot of fun, Jonny said.
“We traveled many miles in a large motorhome to the races seeing cool things like Niagara Falls and others while passing through,” he said.
Nate and Jonny Hentges piloted the two HR Snocross entries, while their father drove the motorhome and mother fed the team at the track. Their older brother, Jer, handled most of the logistics and sister Krystal also participated, racing herself a few times.
The team will hope to build on its success Friday, Jan. 4 and Saturday, Jan. 5 at Canterbury Park.
