"My first experience with a bubble nose Oly was during a father & son winter camping trip, circa 1970. Upon arrival at an Upstate NY hunting camp owned by one of the fathers, the rear doors of a 66 Ford Econoline van swung open to reveal an early single cylinder Olympic. What a sight!

I was forever hooked on snowmobiles. During the weekend, we all took turns as a passenger on the back of that smoky, smelly and wonderfully noisy machine. Later on that weekend, the Oly was joined by an even more exotic and desirable machine. A Super Alpine!! A bubble nose with an attitude!! This machine took all us kids on a long distance toboggan ride through the nearby state forest. This trip was all I talked about for weeks following.

About 3 years later, we had moved to our own Upstate NY farm. Dad worked nights as a machinist. Snow was already on the ground when I arrived home from school that memorable day. On the lawn was our very own Olympic. This baby was a opposed twin cylinder model that would defy every effort I made to start it. My father was so confident I could not start it, one day he said: ' If you can start it, you can ride it, any time.' This was such a challenge it could not go unanswered.

So I invited a couple of friends over. After an extended tugging session, we managed to get her fired! Success! Except dad had only left about 6 minutes of gas in it. RATS!! This machine was used, abused and even ridden in the summer after we mowed the first cutting of hay. It would overheat and stall but would restart after we let her cool off. I learned how to ride long distance with only one ski, how to keep it idled up so it didn't stall while my buddies traded places for their turns at the wheel.

Also what it would and would not go over [ Saplings yes, picnic tables NO.] and why you ALWAYS check the throttle before you pull the rope. And last but not least, it taught me how to be a good mechanic. Dad moved on to 73 Panther, a true Cat-a -lac compared to the Oly.

I purchased a used Nordic which didn't last long, even with a 372 JLO heart transplant. Finally the two Ski Doos were traded off for a 73 Ski Whiz 300. I still have the MF and Dad's Cat, but will always remember my introduction to snowmobiling on the seat of an old bubble nose. There are enough stories about our Oly to fill a small book, including a wild ride piloted accidentally by my immigrant grandmother. But those will have to wait for another day.

Gary"