Jacque in an early 80's Ski-Doo promo picture. Photo form "Ice and Engines".

4/24/04
LOSE THE JOCK, JACQUES!??
In the April 12th, 2004 issue of SnowWeek, editor Eric Skogman vocalized the opinion of a great many when he gave the legendary Jacques Villenuave the ‘TIME TO HANG IT UP’ award in his issuance of the "Blown Belt Awards" section. As we all know, no one has been more dedicated to the sport of Oval racing than Jocko, but maybe it really is time.

Here's Eric Skogman's opinion from Snowweek Magazine:

"Should Jacques Villeneuve put his jockey strap away? - We’ve watched him during the 30 or more years he’s been snowmobile racing and know the great career he’s had. We like his candid nature, too. However, we think he deserves the Time To Hang It Up award. Although Villeneuve, 50, is still jockeying around oval ice tracks, he seems to crash more often these days, and often takes other drivers out with him. It’s become predictable, too. In a Champ 440 qualifier at the Eagle River Derby, two staffers predicted accurately which turn Jocko would crash and who he’d take out with him. Sorry, Jacques, but it’s time to put the race sled away."

Gilles and Jacque after Gilles won his 1974 Eagle River Championship. Photo from "Ice and Engines".

• Apply for production line job at Polaris or Arctic Cat.
• Open up a racing school and call it "Bump and Grind"
• Move to Shokopee, MN and dig up them Kawasaki SnoPros!
• Start doing commercials for pain relievers
• Study sports psychology
• Take Alouette Twin Tracker out of the garage and turn it into a street rod.
• Join French Army. Immediately surrender
• Write a blistering expose on Ski-Doo's secret plan to clone Yvon Duhamel
• Publish secret love letters written to Liv Tyler.

Jacque after another win at Eagle River... Photo from "Ice and Engines".

Seriously folks - Jacques has had a great career and is definatley one of the all time greats. I'm sure that whatever he does in his retirement will be great and we wish him nothing but the best.

THE LOOP IS BACK?????
According to the Polaris web site, Polaris will recreate the original "loop" from the Polaris Thrill Team in the 1960's at the Roseau celebration in June. Is this correct? What nutball is going to get on a sled and go around that loop??? Will Larry Rugland come out of retirement and perform this insanity???? How cool would it be to see that??

4/21/04
NEW DRAGSTER!
Bob Weaver sent me this drawing of a new Dragster he's building. He hopes to have it ready for the Polaris 50th Anniversary event. It has two Polaris rear suspensions and tracks, and a whole lot of motor sticking out of the hood.

To quote a freind of mine: "If da motor sticks outta da hood, she must be good!" Question is - will it be running in time for the 50th. And where are we going to run it?? Will Polaris haul in ice for the run? Enquiring minds want to know.

Bob is from Bob Weaver Motorsports in Tonowanda, New York.

TEMPER, TEMPER
Here's somebody that doesn't like our freinds at Bombardier. Read at your own risk. We are not condoning this guys message or thoughts. Isn't the Internet cool?

4/17/04
TREASURE HUNT '04!
Two very cool sleds came to my attention in the last couple of days. Actually, a lot more then these two have popped up recently, but these two really stood out to me.

1979 Arctic Cat SnoPro in Sweden. Sitting on it is current owner Lars Wangerud. Lars is looking to sell this fabulous candidate for restoration.

First up is this 79 Cat SnoPro - from Sweden. As may of you may remember, I was hunting SnoPros in Sweden back in 2000. I found on and was going to buy it. The deal was that the owner would ship it to me, I would pay Black Magic Inc., they would pay him.

To date, the owner never shipped the sled, and I've given up calling him to bug him.

Enter Lars Wangerud. Lars has another 79 Cat SnoPro - and is looking to sell. He's checked into shipping - it will be about $800 U.S. funds. I've suggested he use an escrow service to ensure payment and shipment. You can email Lars direct and get more info about this sled. It sure looks like it's all there to me! If you get it, please let me know!

Eleise B's original 1977 TXL - all the original parts, less then 1,000 miles on it.

Next up is this really sweet 1977 TXL. It's owned by Eleise B. of Ericsburg, Minnesota. One of Eleise's close relatives bought it new in 1977. No parts have been changed - it's 100% original as it came from the factory. Complete with rubber track, external rear suspension shocks and the original air box. It has about 1,000 miles on it and starts with one pull.

4/11/04
YOU RULE!
Vintage sled nuts from all over the country raised nearly $6,000 for Breast cancer Research through the eBay auctions of autographed items from last winters Frostbite Days celebration. The Larry Rugland leathers, the PDC hood and the 73 Starfire hood all went to Bob Weaver in New York - congratulations Bob!

Special thanks to all those that dedicated their time to the cause - including Ken Beito, Dave Thompson, Larry Rugland, Roger Skime, Larry Coltom, Jim Bernat, Don Omdahl, Bob Eastman, Ed Monsrud, Ray Monsrud, Bob Prezekwas, Burt Bassett and Arlyn Saagee. Special thanks to Aaron Johnson and Dick Peterson for conceiving of and pulling off this special event. I hope we see more like it!

WOLF LAKE OUTLAWS
I attended the Wolf Lake racers banquet s couple of weeks back in the thriving metropolis of downtown Forada, Minnesota.

A good time was had by all, including the years top drivers, Wayne Poirier (Sno*Jet), Scott Tillman (Ski-Doo) and Darrell Saxton (Rupp, Ski-Doo).

Top dogs for 2003-2004 for the Wolf Lake Racers: Left to right, Wayner Poirier, Scott Tillman and Darrell Saxton.

Remember these faces. These are the guys to beat next year!

The S.L.E.D.S. Banquet was held yesterday - I should have some photos and highlights soon. I did hear that Arctic's Roger Jansen was going to make an appearance. I sure wish I could have gone to meet him.

SOME BEAUTIFUL "NEW" SLEDS
With all the changes going on here, I hadn't the chance to show off some "new" sleds that have recently come out of the proverbial wood work. First is Stephen Burdick (from the N.H. Snowmobile Museum) with this really excellent condition 73 433 Yamaha SR. It's all original, and it has found a good home with Stephen.

Stephen Burdicks' nearly new Yamaha SR433.

This photo, sent in by Doc Jim, shows an NOS Arctic Cat 170 Deluxe!

Next up is a brand new (that's right - brand new) Arctic Cat Model 170 Deluxe. Doc Jim sent me the pictures of this baby - it had NEVER been driven until this year, when the current owner pulled it out, put some gas in, fired it and drove it around the block for the first time - ever!

3/26/04
1967 CHAPARRAL PROTOTYPE UPDATE
The Snowmobile Hall of Fame sent me this link showing ORIGINAL photos of the 67 Chaparral prototype under construction in Keith Hubers shop. How cool is it that they saved photos???

THE HISTORY OF THE WAHL BROTHERS
Almost everyone in the vintage sled hobby has heard of Wahl Brothers Racing. Those of us fortunate enough to have gotten to know any of the Wahl clan knows that they can only be described as the "good guys" of the snowmobile industry. Not only for their excellent performance products and services, but also for the raw passion this family has for high performance sleds. They also have a sense of humor that is near legendary.

The Chaparral Birthday - 1967

The really cool thing about Wahl Brothers as a business is that they do it purely because they love it. That's a rare and wonderful thing in business. But how much do you really know about the Wahl clan? On their new web site is a very cool article (if I do say so myself, cough cough) about the history of the Wahl Brothers - World Champions, business men, practical jokesters - American success story. Check out the new web site, order the new catalog (vintage parts!) and read all about the racing-fume, fast & winning history of the Wahl Brothers.

3/24/04
SHARK HUNTING UPDATED
One of the most popular things ever put on this site was my story of trying to find the 1977 Kawasaki "Shark" SnoPro sleds. Although I never found one, the article turned out to be a good thing for me. I've updated it a bit and put it in the features section. I've also added part 7 to the original 6 parts to the story. Including the sad tale of the phone call I got from a guy who saw one of the sleds being pulled out of the ground many years later.

New, reproduction 73 starfire hood, autographed by Polaris and Arctic Cat racing legends.	Larry Rugland's ORIGINAL 75 PDC (high-point driver of the year) leather suit and helmet! You could own them now!
Left to right: Ray Monsrud, Ed Monsrud, David Johnson, Burt Bassett, Arlyn Saagge, Jim Bernat, Bob Presekwas, Don Omdahl, Larry Rugland and Bob Eastman. FLAGS FOR AVAILABLE - THIS IS THE LAST OF THEM! Ken Beito Ray Monsrud Bob Eastman	Larry Rugland and Bob Eastman signing one of the posters now being auctioned on eBay to support the Snowmobile Hall of Fame!

3/23/04
MORE BENEFIT AUCTIONS!
This is going to be the big one! Click on the links above to bid on a NEW reproduction 73 Starfire hood (looks really, really nice) autographed not only by the 73 Polaris race team, but also the Arctic Cat race team! How about this - Larry Ruglands original 1975 leather suit! And his helmet (I think it's his helmet from his time at Ski-Doo? It's been repainted blue), not to mention the first of the autographed Frost Bite days posters, Ray Monsrud and Ken Beito's flag and... 1973 World Champion Bob Eastman's flag!

All benefits go to the Susan Koman breast cancer foundation, except the poster - those funds go to support the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in their quest to build a facility worthy of the collection they have.

Have fun!

3/22/04
SUPER RARE SLED FOUND!
Read it and weep! This is one of the first two Chaparrel's ever built! Rather then me giving you the story - here it is, straight from Loren Anderson at the Snowmobile Hall of Fame:

 

1967 Chaparral Prototype 1 of 2 built

"Well it has arrived. The [1967] prototype Chaparral built in Illinois by Keith Huber and his buddies before the company was officially formed. Two were made to lure potential investors. One blue and one red. The red one went to Minnesota to a show and race of some kind, and this one survived many years in Keith's possession and just arrived from Gulf Port, Mississippi where he now lives and has a manufacturing plant. It has JLO motor, bicycle handlebars and brake, gas tank under seat, fiberglass tunnel (steel angle iron for support) and two headlights. The color is right off a 1957 Chev BelAir coupe and the seat looks like those early fiberglass boat seat style and colors ! ! Keith is sending photos of the two sleds being built on their shop floor in Galva, IL in 1967. One person's trash.....another person's treasurer ! ! ! ! Thanks to Dave Z for getting this most unusual piece of Chaparral history. Dave meet Keith several years ago at a trade show in Memphis and they started talking about their pasts. Sledding came up and the rest is history.

I have sent photos to Bud Knapp, our Chaparral expert in Michigan for his comments".

SITE MOVE
The web site move is still in progress - some of you have let me know the links on the page (top and bottom ) are not working - that's because I do not have the content converted yet, it may be a slow and painful process. Hopefully all will be up to snuff in a few weeks.

3/16/04
FROSTBITE DAYS RACING
Besides all the great vintage events that went on at the Roseau Frostbite days races, they also had a full slate of kids races. I found the oval kids races (particularly the modifieds) to be some of the most entertaining racing I have ever seen. This photos (from David Hughes Photography) is an awesome example of what these races are like. Here the youngest racer from the Wahl Dynasty (I believe it is Justin Wahl) jumps off the line in a wheelie, just like his older relatives Terry and Dustin Wahl. Not only that, but going around the corners he looks exactly like Terry or Dustin Wahl. On this day, the young Wahl just couldn't be beat - he was always first of the line, first to the corner and first to the flag.

Champ sleds? No. Future Champ drivers? Absolutley.

I don't know if he or his relatives were more excited.

By the way - check out Hughes Photographies web site. There is TONS of racing pictures there and David is a GREAT photographer. The web site is setup nice and it's real easy to see his work.

3/13/04
MORE FROSTBITE DAYS AUCTIONS
Vintage sledders and a host of people giving their time and effort have already raised around $1,500 for breast cancer research. Now there's even more auctions to bid on. More flags and another hood. The flags were all donated by Wahl Brothers Racing and Larry Rugland Motorsports. The hood was donated by superstar vintage racer Dick Peterson. Go get 'em!

3/13/04
WEB SITE CHANGES
While the web site is being upgraded, all the old content is off-line. As I get each section upgraded, I'll make the links active and put a notice up when each section or feature is fully available. Thanks all for your patience as I get this huge hog of a website converted to an entirely new format. The upside is that the new format will allow me (and others!) to update the site faster, & easier. Over time I will also be adding a series of interactive features that will, I hope, get more of you involved with each other.

Oh this is going to be fun!

3/09/04
IT AIN'T EASY POSTER FOUND!
If you've been following the site for some time, you know I went in search of and eventually found the lost movie "I Ain't Easy". Arguably one of the worst films ever made - you almost have to watch it just to enjoy how really awful it is. But it does contain some awesome vintage snowmobile footage - some of the best ever done in 1972.

Original poster from this classic film!

Doc Jim was cool enough to send me this picture when he found it another web site - I bought it immediately so I can have it framed!

3/08/04
MORE VINTAGE SLED PHOTOS!
Not here - on the March 2004 issue of Snowtech Magazine - formerly known as Race & Rally! It arrived in the mail today - should be on newstands soon. Twelve photos of racing between 1968 and 1970. One really cool shot of a 1970 Arctic Cat Fuel injected racer. Stunning shot of a Double Eagle, the Rupp dragster and several color version of black and white photos from Race & Rally and Warriors of Winter.

eBay Charity Auctions
Vintage sledders rule. On the auctions (listed below) vintage sledders coughed up almost $1,500 for the Susan Koman Breast Cancer Reasearch Foundation. Thanks! More auctions coming very soon...

The more things change - the more they stay the same?

Welcome to the temporary home of vintagesleds.com. A number of big changes are underway. First and foremost, the classifieds are being temporarily taken care of by our good freinds at the New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum.

TO SEE THE CLASSIFIEDS - CLICK HERE!

POLARIS IS LOOKING FOR YOUR SLED!
If you have a vintage polaris sled that you can display at the Polaris 50th events in either (or both) Roseau or the Twin Cities - Polaris wants to know about you!! Go to this link, download the PDF file, fill it out and send it in - HURRY! You only have a few weeks!

The eBay auctions for breast cancer research are still going - all these items are signed by the big time Polaris and Arctic Cat racing legends!
New 1975 650cc PDC Hood
Arlyn Saagge's Flag
Burt Bassett's Flag
Bob Przekwas' Flag
Larry Coltom's Flag