Karine Verville started drag racing her motorcycle in the Harley Drag Race Series (HDRS) back in 2014. Verville’s Harley ran well and was consistent, which placed her on the podium regularly. Like many racers, Verville invested in her race bike in the off-season, looking for more power and quicker times. Again, like many racers, she learned performance improvement is not linear; some modifications work well, and others not so much. As the only female HDRS racer in her area, Verville certainly had the attention of the guys in her class.
In 2018, Verville was approached by a small group of riders to join them on a Saturday afternoon to try drag racing on ice. The intent was to have some fun and to see how it could work. Verville and the others had a great time. She decided to push herself out of her comfort zone to create an event with competition classes, simple rules, and prize money to attract riders. With her energy and passion for motorcycle drag racing, the first Harley Tempête (English translation Harley Tempest or Harley Storm) was held in the Municipality of Saint-Ferdinand, Quebec, on February 26, 2022. That first event saw 28 competitors take to the ice of William Lake.
The most important element of any successful event is location. Verville absolutely selected the right venue for Harley Tempête. Saint-Ferdinand, Quebec, is located in the Appalachian foothills, on the shores of William Lake, northeast of Montreal, and southwest of Quebec City. Saint-Ferdinand is a very welcoming community with a wonderful French-Canadian rural culture that inspires local festivals and outdoor activities in all seasons. The location is perfect for vacations and summer homes. It is the culture and attitude of the residents that gave Verville the green light for her first event. It has been a solid partnership which Verville values and appreciates very much.
Harley Tempête has remained a one-day event held on the last Saturday of February. Competitors typically get into Saint-Ferdinand on Friday to get settled in and make sure they’re rested for a long day on the ice the next day. Saturday morning at 6:00 am the competitors have access to the pits. Spectators are welcomed at 9:00 a.m. Testing and qualifying get underway at 11:00 a.m., eliminations are at 2:00 pm with the event wrapping up at about 5:00 p.m. Unlike many other events, there is no planned social time before or after the event. Being on the ice for ten or twelve hours on Saturday, in the fresh air of Saint-Ferdinand, means you want to get a good rest Friday night, and you are spent on Saturday evening.
Verville has ensured that both racers and the public are as comfortable as one can be during a Quebec winter on a frozen lake. Harley Tempête has facilities, food trucks, safety fencing, and a sound system with a professional announcer. The atmosphere is electric as the crowd is entertained by the competition as well as a group of stunt riders with studded tires to allow them to perform on the ice.
Plans for the 2027 Harley Tempête are to continue to attract more competitors from Quebec and the United States. Payouts for first and second place in each class totalled $3,500 in 2026. Verville is determined to increase total payouts to $7,000 for 2027. Spectators are not left out of the plan for 2027. To add to the entertainment, Verville is planning to introduce a new class, One Wheel. That’s right, there is such a thing as one-wheel motorcycle drag racing, though it’s unclear if it is raced on the ice anywhere else in the world. To attract and inspire racers, Verville is planning a $3,000 payout just for the One Wheel class. As well, Verville is planning to have this a full weekend of Harley Tempête ice drag racing. In Verville’s words, this will be something truly “grandiose”.
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