SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – There’s three weeks to go until the International 500 Snowmobile Endurance Race in Sault Ste. Marie, and volunteers continue to prep the grounds for the grueling 500 mile race.

The track is solely made of ice so the recent cold weather perfect for crews to lay nearly 2 million gallons of water on it to freeze up.

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To withstand the nine hour race, the ideal ice thickness is 16”. The green flag drops Saturday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m.