February 7, 2011
Pat Mach, owner and president of the United States Cross-Country (USCC) race circuit, died early Saturday morning from injuries suffered in a snowmobile crash. According to the Grand Forks Herald, Mach was traveling on a groomed trail near Forest River, N.D., with three other snowmobilers at about 1:40 a.m., when he was thrown from his sled. The 42-year-old husband, father and former snowmobile racer lived in Minto, N.D.
Mach started the USCC in 2002 when most people had written off cross-country snowmobile racing. Fast forward to this season and Mach’s circuit was enjoying record racer entries. Mach grew the sport he loved from near dust into something that now has race fans and industry officials abuzz about the sport’s comeback. Friends, fans and racers alike will say that he did it with a smile.
Mach was president of the Minto Park Board and was a founder of Friends of Minto Baseball. He has coached basketball and golf for Minto High School and was currently a baseball coach. He worked for Bremer as an insurance agent. Mach is survived by his wife, Lisa, son, Adam, and parents Harold and Mary Mach.
Mass of Christian Burial will be February 9 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Warsaw, N.D. Visitation will be February 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church. Interment will be at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Minto.
