Heck of the North cancels gravel grinding bicycle race because of the forest fire

Heck of the North Productions cancelled The Fox gravel griding race scheduled for August 28-29 because of the forest fires.

Race Director Jeremy Kershaw said the Greenwood Lake Fire grew another 4000 acers on Thursday, August 26, and was actively burning a few miles Northwest of the starting line in Finland, Minnesota.

Kershaw said the race organizers biggest concern was if the wind shifted to the west, it could push the air quality index past 150.

Furthermore, said Kershaw in an email, “There are active fire crew working not only the fires, but also driving the roads between Finland and Grand Marais.” Some of those roads would have been used as part of the racecourse.

Heck of the North is offering an 80 percent refund to people who signed up to race. Some expenses like insurance, permits and labor are fixed and those dollars have already been spent.

The Fox 120-mile race is a two-stage event. Riders were to race 60 miles from Finland to Grand Marais and then after an overnight rest the racers would have headed back again to Finland the next day.