And go fast they did.

The stock cars, a colorful gang of beat-up, rusted out Fords, Chevys, Toyotas and others, started things off with a bang, their drivers putting the pedal to the metal trying to gain any advantage they could on the 900-foot oval track. Skidding around on the ice and kicking up plumes of snow behind them, the cars jostled for position, often banging into each other heading into the turns and sometimes helplessly spinning out into the berms.

A good-sized gathered crowd, most of them huddled in their vehicles a safe distance away from the mayhem, stayed close to their heaters and radios -- the racing play-by-play is broadcast on 99.5 FM -- and honked their horns in approval for their favorite drivers. The dead cold temperature -- minus 4 degrees at race time -- made the coffee and hot chocolate being sold by Homer Head Start popular.

In the second race, also a seven-lap heat, the "modified" class got its turn. The group of hulking open-wheeled Frankensteins, built on truck chassis with mismatched engines, transmissions and parts from various makes and models, are crowd favorites. With loud engines, louder paint jobs and colorful names like "Ice Angel," "Full Power" and "My Sin II," it's not hard to see why.

Murphy, in her first year as association president, also drives "Ice Angel."

"We all want to win really bad," said Murphy. "We're not playing for money, only a trophy and a jacket but, a little later in the season, we start wanting that jacket really bad."

For Murphy, who has been racing for 20 years and shares driving duties with her daughter, Michelle, part of the draw to ice racing is the fact that it's a family affair.

"It's a great family activity," she said. "We have to work on those cars during the week and the kids will actually stay home and help you work on your car."

Phil Celtic, the defending stock car division champion who took the division Sunday in his number 88 Chevy, a black-and-white job affectionately called "Cop-Sicle," echoed the sentiment.

"A lot of people out here bring their families," said Celtic, who has been racing since 1991 and is joined in the pit area by his wife and daughter. "It's just way too much fun."

Mike Devaney, a seasoned ice racing veteran with 50 years experience under his belt, won the modified division Sunday in his number 10 car, a big, noisy behemoth of a vehicle built on a Ford chassis with a Chevy engine and transmission. The secret to his success on the ice, he said, is patience.

"You don't have to have the fastest car. You just have to be ready to capitalize on other people's mistakes," said Devaney.

Murphy said the first races of 2009 were a roaring success, despite the bone-chilling cold.

"People come down and watch us go around in circles but the work behind it is huge," she added. "We couldn't do this without the pit stewards and all the people that work in the shack and get us on the radio. We start about 10:30 a.m., getting the track set up and inspecting the vehicles for safety."

Devaney and Celtic are responsible for maintaining the track and they often plow it several times a week, said Murphy.

"We also spend a lot of time cleaning the lake," she said. "People come out during the week and sometimes make a mess. We don't mind people being out there, but it would be nice if they respected the work that goes into it. If they're interested in our playtime, they should come to one of our meetings."

The association holds a meeting, open to anyone interested in driving or helping out, every Friday at 6 p.m. at Full Power Repair at 990 Seaplane Court.

"Anybody is welcome to learn to drive or participate behind the scenes," she said. "We always need more help and we'd especially like to get some kids to race."

The Homer Ice Racing Association will continue holding races every Sunday at noon throughout the winter.

"As long as the ice holds, we're there," said Murphy.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaronselbig.@homernews.com.