Vintage Race Cars A New Labor Day Weekend Tradition
CRANDON, Wisconsin (August 19, 2022) — With the biggest race weekend in its 53-year history ready to invade the tiny Midwest town of Crandon, Wisconsin, the historic off-road raceway today announced the return of a new fan favorite. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of Continental Tire, Gravel Kings, Rugged Radio and Mobelwagen wheels, the second annual Crandon Class 11 World Championships will again be a reality on the traditional Labor Day weekend Crandon schedule.
A BEETLE INVASION: A staple since the sport’s inception, in recent years the nearly stock vintage Volkswagens that comprise Class 11 have seen a huge uptick in popularity among fans and racers. Almost all of the cars coming to participate in the upcoming Continental Tire Crandon Class 11 World Championship are making the trek to Wisconsin from the western United States. (Photo: Jason Zindrowski)
Nearly 20 vintage Volkswagens and their teams are expected to make the long journey to Crandon for the 53rd Polaris Crandon World Championships, the largest short-course off-road race in the world. Scheduled for September 1-4, 2022, the weekend will also play host to the Sportsman and Pro racers of the AMSOIL Championship Off-Road Series and the dynamic rock racing competitors that comprise the Ultra4 series. Featuring vintage air-cooled Volkswagen Beetles that remain largely stock with the exception of modern safety equipment and highly restricted performance upgrades, Class 11 remains a fiercely competitive category even in grueling long distance marathons like the annual BFGoodrich SCORE Baja 1000. Treated as a Pro category by Crandon International Raceway, Class 11 was added to the busy Polaris World Championship schedule in 2021.
HISTORY AND FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Volkswagen-based race cars have been part of the Crandon off-road races since the event’s earliest days (top). Now enjoying a resurgence, the stock “Class 11” Volkswagens will compete as a feature race on Friday September 2nd as part of the Polaris Crandon World Championship’s “Forest County Potawatomi Friday Night Thunder.” (Photo: Jason Zindrowski)
“Admittedly there was some skepticism when we first announced that Crandon was opening up our Polaris World Championship weekend for Class 11 VWs,” explained Crandon Promoter Marty Fiolka. “That quickly went away watching the reaction to these cars from our fans both young and old. With the help of top-tier partners like Continental Tire and Gravel Kings we will proudly host the Crandon Class 11 World Championships on Labor Day weekend for years to come.” While the overall weekend event and race has yet to be announced, the Class 11 racers will participate in Crandon’s open test day on Thursday, September 1st before being a feature race under the lights on Friday, September 2nd. The weekend’s big race for the Continental Cup and Crandon World Championship rings will take on Sunday, September 4th as part of the 7th annual Red Bull Crandon World Cup.Both of the weekend’s Crandon Class 11 World Championship races will be available for viewers to watch around the world as part of Crandon’s massive 2022 Polaris World Championship live-streaming and television broadcast production efforts. Coverage of the Class 11 competitions will be streamed at no cost on various motorsports platforms and www.crandonoffroad.com.
In the world of motorsports, Labor Day weekend is synonymous with just one thing — the annual Polaris Crandon World Championships Off-Road Races. This year’s 53rd running of the sport’s biggest and best event returns for a four-day weekend of racing, concerts, camping and more from Thursday, September 1st through Sunday, September 4th. Comprised of 2,100 sites, Camp Crandon has been sold out for nearly two months, with gates opening to the racers and public at 12:00 noon (CST) on Wednesday, August 31st. A record event crowd of more than 60,000 people will enjoy seeing more than 425 teams from across America competing in races spread over three days and nights. The massive race weekend is the largest, oldest and most prestigious short-course off-road race in the world, and includes a complete schedule of Pro and Sportman AMSOIL Champ Off-Road series racers going all-out to win both season championships and Crandon World Champion title and rings for all classes. Capping off the weekend on Sunday, September 4th will be the 7th annual Red Bull Crandon World Cup for Pro category racers, with the sport’s best Pro drivers earning coveted Crandon World Championship titles and the biggest prize of all — the annual Red Bull Cup Challenge finale. Additional event and weekend wristband purchases can be found at www.crandonoffroad.com.
