Sports : Vinton teen wins first place in his first Clear Lake snowmobile race

Jared McGowan won a First Place trophy in his first race at The Jack on Clear Lake.

Jared McGowan wore the No. 3, the same one his father, Josh, used to wear when he was racing.

Caiden Gahring, 14, of Urbana, finished 2nd in the Youth Radar Run at 'The Jack.'

Several area snowmobile enthusiasts, led by the youngest among them who won first place in his first race, competed in the Jack Race in Clear Lake in February.

Vinton-Shellsburg High School student Jared McGowan won one of the Radar Runs (drag races) in his first attempt at such a race. He wore the same number, 3, that his father, Josh, wore in his racing days.

Several other local riders placed in the Jack Race, which includes a variety of classes featuring older machines.

Half of the top 14 places in the 1985 0-340 Leaf Spring category belonged to local riders, led by Dan McKenna in 4th place.

Other area finishers in that race included:

Michael Wayson, Mount Auburn, 6th place;

Ryan Noe, Garrison, 7th place;

Brett Stein, Vinton, 8th place;

Robert Mendieta, Vinton, 12th place;

Jared McGowan, Vinton, 13th place;

Randy Fennern, Vinton, 14th place.

John Mckenna of Mount Auburn finished in 5th place in the 1985 341-500 Leaf Spring event.

Urbana teen places second

Caiden Gahring of Urbana, age 14, ended up with a second place finish in the youth radar run with a 440 studded, fan cooled Ski Doo MXZ. He was beaten by a 500 liquid cooled.

Jared rode Chris Gahring’s (Caiden’s dad) 780 Mach Z Skid Doo for his first place finish in the 701 and up studded class, says Josh McGowan, Jared's dad.

"Chris and I have been friends for many years and raced snowmobiles years ago together before I got into circle track racing," he adds. "A big thank you to Chris Gahring for letting Jared ride his snowmobile."

The Jack Race honors the late Jack D. Helgren of Mason City, who died in 2009. Helgren was a long time businessman whose House of Sports sold snowmobiles and other equipment. He was an avid racer, as well.

See more results HERE.