Photographing the F.A.T. Ice Race in Big Sky, Montana
Sometimes the best adventures begin completely by accident.
This one started while I was photographing a few cars for Ben Pirri of Q Car Care for an upcoming auction. During the shoot, I was fortunate enough to visit the owner's private collection. Even after seeing just about every car imaginable in my work, I still found myself completely amazed as I walked through it. While we were talking, someone mentioned an Ice Race happening out in the mountains of Big Sky, Montana. My eyes widened immediately. For years, I have wanted to experience the Ice Race in St. Moritz. The idea that something similar existed here in the United States caught my attention right away. I was invited to attend, but I would need to cover my own travel. At first, I thought that might be easy since my brother-in-law lives in Montana. That plan quickly disappeared when I realized he lives in Whitefish, which is about six hours away.
Instead, the organizers offered me media credentials, and I was more than happy with that opportunity. Not long before the trip, I remembered that my friend Tim Pendergast had posted that he was also attending the event. Tim and I have crossed paths many times at the Rolex 24, where he has allowed me to ride in the vintage race cars that take parade laps before the main race. Tim is the man for Historic Racing Event Operations and Management. I reached out and jokingly asked if he had a couch I could crash on. As it turns out, Tim and his team were the official track crew for the Ice Race, and he mentioned they had an extra bunk in the house they rented. Realistically, I probably should have gotten my own place and rented a car, but I was already taking a financial risk going out there with no guaranteed income. The plan was simple. Capture the experience, make connections, and hopefully sell some photos along the way.
At Logan Airport, I met up with the group who had invited me, and we flew out to Montana together. Our first stop after landing was to pick up Ben's Porsche Dakar from a hangar. Sitting right next to it was Sam's Porsche 911 Rennsport R. Naturally, I had to take a photo, though unfortunately, I couldn't share it due to the location. From there, we headed into downtown Big Sky, where the town was buzzing with activity. Cars and Coffee was being set up in front of the hotel, and people were preparing for the weekend ahead. My main goal for the event was networking. Since I had three different groups to photograph without a set paycheck, I made the most of every conversation. I was there to photograph the track crew as a thank you for letting me stay with them, to work with Sam Byrne and the Boston crew who helped make the trip possible, and to photograph Ryan Tuerck. Ideally, I would love the opportunity to work alongside Zach Jopson as a second shooter at some future events. Sometimes you simply have to take a chance and hope it pays off.
That evening, we had a meeting at the house where the track crew reviewed the course layout and procedures for the event. One thing that caught my attention immediately was the designated media location. It was a single spot facing directly into the sun for most of the day. Tim saw the look on my face and laughed. “You're with the track team, and it’s a big responsibility, and your duties will not be just photography”. Even with that freedom, I have spent enough time around racetracks to know the most important rule. Do not become the story. The focus should always remain on the drivers and the cars, not the photographer running across the track or being in an unsafe zone trying to get a better angle.
Getting to the track itself was an adventure. Unlike St. Moritz, which is located in a resort town, this course was tucked away deep in a valley. The road leading in was a winding, muddy trail filled with bumps and ruts. You absolutely needed an off-road capable vehicle to get there. Once we arrived, the scenery was breathtaking with snow-covered mountains surrounding the entire valley. Before the event began, I walked the entire track to understand the layout and find possible vantage points. In the end, I decided it would be best to stay close to the flag stations so the organizers would never have to worry about where I was. Trust is everything at events like this.
After the walk, I headed into the pits where drivers were preparing their cars. I have never been someone who looks up to celebrities, but Ken Block was always an exception. I had been fortunate enough to speak with him briefly a few times at SEMA over the years. Seeing Lia and Lucy Block at the event stirred some unexpected emotion. It felt as if Ken's presence still lived through them. I did not want to sound like a fan asking for selfies, so instead I simply told them that Ken's respect and spirit still shine through their family and that it means a lot to the community to see them continuing his legacy. The only thing I asked for was a family photo in front of the Porsche they brought to the event. Photography helps me preserve moments that might otherwise fade with time, and capturing something like that would mean a lot to me.
When the first race began, I positioned myself near Dave, one of the flaggers at a large hairpin corner. Almost immediately, other photographers began approaching me, asking if they could come over the fence to shoot from our side. I told them I was not in charge and it was not my call. Photographers have a habit of taking the shot first and asking for forgiveness later. I figured they might get a few good frames before anyone noticed. Many of them were there representing major brands like Mobil 1, Rivian, and the Block family. I never wanted to feel more important than them simply because of the vest I was wearing.
The first run absolutely blew my mind. When the RTR truck ripped around the hairpin, throwing snow into the air with the mountains in the background, it was one of those moments where you realize just how special a place is. As the day went on, it became clear why drivers were being cautious. The snow walls surrounding the course were solid ice, and one small mistake would mean expensive damage. Later in the day, once the course began turning into slush, the drivers really started pushing harder and putting on a show for the crowd. The most nerve-wracking moment came when a Ferrari Enzo (@sharetheenzo) spun and slid toward the ice wall. It stopped just inches away, and the entire area went silent.
Something I had not prepared for was the altitude and dryness of the air. My skin felt like it was cracking, and I began feeling lightheaded. On top of that, I was still dealing with a pinched sciatic nerve from snowblowing my driveway the week before. Thankfully, someone handed me some snacks and water, which helped a bit. Still, I decided it was smarter to step away from trackside for a while. If something happened quickly, I did not want to be in a situation where I could not move fast enough. By the end of the day, I was completely exhausted from hiking through snow and trying to be everywhere at once.
That night I thought I was finally going to get some good sleep. I was wrong. Seven grown men in a house meant a symphony of snoring. Two guys fell asleep on the couch while I was editing photos at the kitchen table. I went downstairs to my bunk, where someone had turned on ocean wave sounds to help them sleep, which somehow made it even harder for me. Eventually, I grabbed my blanket and pillow and tried the couch, only to discover another snorer already there. After moving around the house several times, I finally ended up sleeping on the stairs. I think I got about an hour of sleep.
The next morning, the event continued much the same, though I ran into a small disaster. While changing memory cards, I dropped one directly into the mud behind our vehicle. I dug it out immediately, but unfortunately lost all of the images from it. Ironically, the photos I was most upset about losing were not track photos. They were photos of people. Those are the images that keep memories alive. At one point, I had to track down the Boston crew to get the key to their car so I could grab my laptop. While I was in the hospitality tent, I noticed Richard Petty showing someone his famous $43 bill. Moments like that happen quickly and disappear just as fast.
One thing that truly stood out during the weekend was how welcoming everyone was. I expected at least some resistance walking around with a camera, but that never happened. Everyone was friendly, open, and happy to talk. Last year, I had the chance to go on a short cruise through New Hampshire with Ryan Tuerck, Tim Murphy, and Fedele Cacia in my Autozam AZ-1. It was such a fun morning with an incredible group of people. Being able to photograph Ryan again at the Ice Race, watching him throw the car sideways and give the crowd a show, felt like a full circle moment.
This trip was a leap of faith. It costs money, sleep, and a lot of energy, but experiences like this are why I love what I do. I will absolutely be back next year. A huge thank you to everyone who made this trip possible.