Nearly 800 in this year’s Fun Run to benefit area trails

Call it a formula for success but after many variations the Fun Run snowmobile event on Saturday, Jan. 29 again exceeded expectations for participation and funds raised. “We had 792 entries and over 250 of those came in on the day of the event,” said event organizer Jim Zupancich. “This was a great turnout and we raised over $15,000 for trails in Ely, Babbitt and Tower which met our goal for the event.”Beautiful weather greeted those who registered at the three check-in points, Tank’s Bar in Babbitt, Benchwarmers in Tower and Grand Ely Lodge. “The trails were in great shape,” said event organizer Nick Wognum. “We rode from Ely to Tower to Babbitt and back to Ely and the trails were fantastic. After the event I had a conservation officer tell me he was out all day on the trails and never had to write a ticket.”In addition to hundreds of snow-mobilers, many participants went by car from town to town, collecting additional chances to win prizes.At the end of the day, a wrap-up party was held at Grand Ely Lodge. “The party went off perfectly, we gave away a lot of prizes and people had a fun time,” said Zupancich. “We had Joe ‘Ragnar’ Juranitch on stage for the auction and grand prize giveaways and he sure knows how to entertain a crowd.”After announcer Tom Coombe read off over 300 names for door prizes, Juranitch took the stage and ran a small auction including four helmets decorated with Vikings horns and sporting the names of Minnesota Vikings players Randy Moss, Michael Bennett and Jer-maine Wiggins.Juranitch explained that even though the players were not able to attend this year, he would have the helmets autographed.With that the bidding began with the money going to the trails. In addition, other items were auctioned off, including an autographed Brett Hull NHL jersey.“Joe just does a great job of working the crowd and that really helps make the wrap-up party a fun time,” said Wognum. Following the auction and some more prize giveaways, the grand prizes were announced with Naomi Garrison of Ely claiming the $1,000 top prize. The event also benefitted from a full page photo story in the Sunday Star Tribune newspaper when writer Dennis Anderson stopped by Grand Ely Lodge.“His photographer got some great shots of snowmobilers on the trails during the Fun Run and I’m sure that will help us as we start looking for sponsors for the 2006 Fun Run,” said Zupancich. “What’s really good to see is this event helps businesses all around the area as well. We raise the money to help the three clubs that groom and maintain trails in the area but it’s nice to hear that a restaurant had their best day ever on the day of the Fun Run,” said Wognum.