My skin is already flaking from the sun and windburn after a long weekend at the FAT Ice Race in Big Sky, Montana, but I won’t complain. The energy was fantastic, the delightful sounds of everything from the Ur-quattro’s turbo-five to an Enzo’s V12 still echo in my ears. Yet, the event reminded me of one key fact: cars are meant to be driven.
I’m sure everyone who knows me and my obsession with keeping a car spotless will roll their eyes and find it amusing. Fair enough. I deserve it.
The FAT Ice Race took over Big Sky, Montana over the weekend, where thousands gathered to witness incredible machines race the clock on an ice track. It was a sensory delight.
Everything you could think of, and even things you wouldn’t, took to the track. Barry Lundgren drove his Ferrari Enzo on the ice course both Friday and Saturday. The car made its first appearance on the track already featuring a cracked windshield and damaged front bumper. I never found out what caused the windshield crack, but Lundgren mentioned he’ll replace it eventually, noting it costs $30,000. The front bumper, however, was damaged during an accident loading it onto a trailer a few years back, but “I don’t repair the dents or scratches, you know? That’s kind of patina,” Lundgren said with a grin. The Enzo has 33,000 miles on the odometer and Lundgren purchased it about a decade ago with only 3,300 miles.
Lundgren drives all his cars. “Well, primarily, if you don’t drive them, they break down. But my belief is if you have an extraordinary car like this, enjoy it. Use it. You know, rather than stowing it away and letting it gather dust, you might as well invest in art or something. So no, I drive my cars,” Lundgren stated. He had a Ferrari FF on which he logged 80,000 miles, and next week he’s set to receive a Singer Turbo Study. “I can’t wait to accumulate miles on that!” he said with excitement.
The Enzo was merely the tip of the rare vehicle iceberg. A yellow Ferrari 250 SWB took to the snow-covered track, and whispers suggested the car was made of alloy, although that’s unverified. Regardless, its value could be between $7-$11 million. A RUF CTR Yellowbird anniversary adorned with Florida plates also made an appearance, and the yellow Porsche attacked the track with such enthusiasm that I could hear the turbos making their whoosh whoosh sounds from the sidelines.
Crowd favorites without question included the Audi Ur-quattro with its delightful turbo noises, the Toyota Celica driven by Ryan Tuerck, and Ken Block’s Safari 911, piloted by the legendary driver’s wife, Lucy Block. Block, having never driven on ice and snow before the event, clinched first place in her class, Classics, on Saturday.
However, the standout of the entire weekend was the 2025 Ford Bronco RTR El Bandito, a baja truck that tore up and down the course both days. Loren Healy claimed the victory on both days for the Rally 4WD class and overall competition. Notably, the Rivian R1S Quad with RAD livery barely missed Healy’s time by just 2 seconds in a completely stock SUV available for purchase today, aside from a race seat, five-point harness, and studded Pirelli tires.
Bentley showcased two vehicles during the event including the Supersports, which still displayed Pastrana’s name on the side despite being driven by Lia Block, along with a Speed Six Continuation Series ‘Factory Works’ in Bedford Grey featuring an Oxblood leather interior. I would have loved to see the Bentayga X Concept, parked at the event all weekend with a FAT Ice Kart on its roof rack, take to the track. Next time, Bentley.
My friend Allan Thom secured first place on day one and second place on day two in the Rally 2WD class with his 1989 Porsche 911 Keen Safari. I’ve had the pleasure of driving this car once before without studded Pirelli ice tires (it had BFGoodrich K02s) and it’s an absolute thrill to drift on gravel. I can only imagine how exhilarating it is to race around an ice course.
Thom’s son even drove the Keen 911 from Chicago to the event and intended to drive it back afterward. “I frequently use the hashtag drive them, because in this, I don’t consider myself a car collector. I identify as a car guy, and I drive cars. I possess some quite unique cars, but each one has miles on it because that’s their purpose. I had a 50th anniversary Porsche 911. I drove it for 50,000 miles, then traded it for a Porsche 911 Dakar. And I’ve racked up 16,000 miles on that.” Thom was present at the FAT Race Race in Montana with his Safari 911 that has 85,000 safari miles on it,” Thom mentioned. Thom departed for the next heat but added, “that’s what you gotta do, drive them.”
Other noteworthy moments included watching Jeff Zwart zip around the track in a 2013 Porsche 911 GT3 Hill Climb car, Kevin Marshall push it to the limit in a 1976 Lancia Kimera evo37 to the point of grazing his front bumper, and Chris Fosberg slide sideways in a 2WD 1990 Nissan Patrol. Patrick Long was also present, tearing up the ice in a Porsche 992 GT3 Turbo, and believe me when I say he was ripping it up. The man literally lost his rear bumper, but bless him, he kept on going.
Multiple Singer 911s hit the track with Chris Harris at the wheel, and Matt Farah brought his Meyers Manx equipped with a radial engine. Farah took to the track on the second day barefoot, which sparked a collective laugh from the audience.
There was also a LA County Sheriff’s Crown Victoria that made an appearance on day two complete with lights and sirens ablaze. The laughter was infectious, yet the atmosphere was palpable.
From the inflatable T-rex wandering around the event to the music blaring, drinks flowing, and smiles all around, it was evident that the FAT Ice Race transcends mere racing. It’s a full-blown celebration where no one should take themselves, or the competition, too seriously. However, you better believe those competitors who aimed for a fast time were glued to their phones, tracking live results despite having minimal reception.
And while it won’t change my perspective on preserving Unc’s Z, the weekend truly served as a wake-up call about living, experiencing, and creating moments with these machines rather than just admiring them or preserving them in an untouched state.
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