IRON MOUNTAIN, MI – Place your bets!

The Rotary Club of Iron Mountain-Kingsford is once again hosting its car plunge contest in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, in which participants pay $10 to make three guesses as to when a bright orange 1998 Saturn sedan will sink through the ice and fall into a local caved-in mine called Chapin Pit.

The person who most accurately guesses the month, date, and time the car plunges will win $1,500. That date has varied in recent years, which you can see below.

· 2015: April 4 at 5:41 p.m.

· 2016: March 17 at 1:57 p.m.

· 2017: April 2 at 4:07 p.m.

· 2018: April 26 at 10:40 a.m.

The contest is underway. A live webcam feed of the car can be seen at www.rotaryimk.org. Bets can also be made online.

This is the fifth time the club has held the event. The car has been altered to be environmentally safe by students at the Dickinson - Iron Technical Education Center under the supervision of Rich Henrion.

The engine, transmission, power train, battery, radiator, fluid coolers, master cylinder and heater hoses have all be removed. As have oils, greases, road grime, and other unintended vehicle contaminates.

The Saturn was painted and lettered by students under the supervision of Keith Stachowicz. The vehicle will be removed once it falls through the ice using an apparatus donated by Champion, Inc.

A 3/8" diameter steel wire rope which was attached to the rear of the car to lower it onto the ice. The car will remain attached to that rope and secured to an anchor on city property. Upon plunging, it will be retrieved in the same manner.

Participants must be at least 18 and must make their bets by March 15. All proceeds benefit local projects of the Rotary Club of Iron Mountain - Kingsford