LOREN HEALY DOMINATES FAT ICE RACE BIG SKY MONTANA

## 35.712 Seconds Of Perfection Loren Healy's 1000-horsepower Ford Bronco El Bandito clocked a blistering 35.712-second lap to claim overall victory at FAT Ice Race Big Sky Montana, then secured the win with a 36.804-second lap in the final Shootout. The February 27-28 event drew approximately 2,000 people to Moonlight Basin, marking the first time the European ice racing tradition landed permanently on American soil. Type7, the Porsche-affiliated cultural publication founded by automotive photographer Ted Gushue and creative director Thomas Walk, documented the event as part of their mission to connect automotive design with architecture, photography, and contemporary art. The publication has built a following of over 70,000 on Instagram by treating cars as design objects rather than mere transportation. El Bandito, built to dominate open desert at triple-digit speeds, was reconfigured specifically for the tight ice course with short-strapped FOX suspension to control its 20-plus inches of travel. The result was a masterclass in adaptation. Power matters, but precision wins races. ## Material Honesty On Ice Mother Nature challenged every machine as the track would freeze overnight, then soften under intense sun and mid-40-degree temperatures each morning. This constraint became the defining design element of the weekend. Every vehicle had to prove its material honesty against physics. A Singer DLS Turbo driven by Chris Harris and a RUF CTR Anniversary slid around the track at speed, while Barry Lundgren took his Ferrari Enzo on the ice course both Friday and Saturday. Allan Thom's 1989 Porsche 911 Keen Safari took first place on day one and second on day two in the Rally 2WD class. Rivian's stock R1S quad-motor, equipped only with a race seat, five-point harness, and studded Pirelli tires, ran within seconds of the custom El Bandito builds. That performance gap tells the real story: modern engineering has closed the distance between production and purpose-built machines. ## The Lineage Of Alpine Racing While ice racing started decades ago in Europe and was revived recently, with a U.S. version in Aspen in 2024, the 2026 Big Sky event elevated the format. Organizer Ferdi Porsche explained the philosophy: "Our motto is: fun over speed. There are around 8,500 visitors here on site. They're cool people with a positive attitude, who simply want to enjoy themselves and experience a great party, while at the same time taking an interest in motorsport history". Professional drivers like Lia Block, Sara Choi, and Christopher Polvoorde competed alongside creatives including Jeff Zwart, Emelia Hartford, Don Toliver, and Lucy Block. This mixing of disciplines reflects Type7's core thesis: design thinking transcends categories. Porsche debuted its new Cayenne Electric at the event, offering demonstration laps and passenger rides. The all-electric SUV produces up to 850 kW (1,156 PS) and 1,500 Nm of torque. Electric power on ice represents the future arguing with tradition. ## Constraint As Feature Tickets cost approximately $500 for two-day general admission, with VIP access running three times that price. This economic constraint created the event's character. Attendees were genuine driving enthusiasts who wanted to experience special machines in a unique format while enjoying high-end automotive culture in a beautiful location. Allan Thom captured the ethos: "I don't call myself a car collector. I call myself a car guy, and I drive cars. I've got some pretty special cars, but every one of them has miles on it because that's what they're for". His Safari 911 has 85,000 safari miles. Big Sky appears likely to become the permanent U.S. home for FAT Ice Race. The location provided the high-end amenities and stunning mountain backdrop that defined the event's aesthetic. Type7's documentation of Big Sky proves their thesis: automotive culture works when constraints force innovation, when material honesty meets design thinking, and when the object actually performs its intended function. Ice racing strips away everything except physics and skill. What remains is pure design.