2009 Spike’s Challenge time trials off to a soggy start

It was only natural that when the AuSable River Canoe Marathon started 62 years ago that Spikes Challenge canoe race become a part of the celebration of Grayling’s canoeing heritage. Spikes Challenge is even older that the Marathon itself. 

Originally conceived by Harold “Spike” MacNeven, owner of Spikes Keg O’ Nails, and several other local business owners in 1932, the race was designed to help promote Grayling.  It took center billing in a Canoe Carnival weekend, which ended with a 50 mile canoe ride down the AuSable River.  Every boat in the county was pressed into service, at $1 per boat, to carry 105 visitors from Grayling on the excursion.

Held every year on the Saturday before the actual marathon, Spike’s Challenge remains one of the fun events in the Weyerhaeuser AuSable River Canoe Marathon.

Despite the November like drizzle last Saturday morning, 67 teams qualified for Sunday’s Spike's Challenge race.

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