Jim Dimmerman - One Fast Cat

By Larry Preston
©2005 Vintagesleds.com

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

84 World's Champion Photo from "Ice & Engines".

Part two of my discussion with Jim Dimmerman focused on his 84 World Championship title and where he's been since. Jim had made attempts at winning the World's Championship going back to 1975, before nailing it in 1984. He did it with lots of help, of course, but without the backing of the Arctic Cat factory. He was the last single track to win it until the twin track sleds were banned.

Dimmerman ran hard during the qualifying for the big race. On the final qualifying race, Dimmerman came off the line last, but worked his way back up through traffic to leader Dave Wahl. He could have easily have finished second and qualified. But in a controversial move, Dimmerman made a very close last lap pass cutting Dave Wahl off in turn four for the win. Asked about the move later, Dimmerman replied "I didn't want Wahl or anyone to think they could beat me. Not in a heat race, not in the World's Championship".

In the final, Dimmerman was again last off the line. Dimmerman found the high line - complete lots of ice shavings - and stayed on it. It worked for him as he passed driver after driver. By lap 13 he caught race leaders Dave Wahl and Allen Decker. Wahl and Decker had worn their carbides to a near nub by then, and got in a little tangle. It left just enough room for Dimmerman to zip by and become the 84 World' Champion on "The Phantom". Ted Nielsen, Jim's sponsor was ecstatic, as was Jim. Snow Week magazine declared it "Independents' Day, in honor of Dimmerman being the first independent in 13 years to win the coveted title. He got his name on the cup and $12,425.00 for his efforts.

The party afterwards reached legendary status.

The 1984 Phantom World's Championship sled featured custom built glass. Photo from "Ice & Engines".

Vintagesleds.com: We got a lot of questions about your 1984 World Champion win. Let's start with the sled. How much of it was actually Arctic, and where did the name 'Phantom' come from?
Dimmerman: "When I went to work for Ted Nielson, we were trying to decide the look of the sled. Initially it was to be black. Cat was gone and bankrupt, but we felt the spirit of the company lived and we wanted to keep that going. Ted called it the Phantom - it was rising up out of the ashes of Arctic Cat. We all liked that, and CJ Ramstad helped us design a logo for it."

Vintagesleds.com: How much of the Phantom was made of Cat parts?
Dimmerman: "All of it! The Cat name was still lurking even though Cat was out of business at the time! Part of it was from the Scorpion sleds from Hulings, part of it was old Cat Snopros, really the best part of each. I felt the Scorpion fiberglass was a better aero package, so we used it for two years, unchanged except for color.

In the summer of 84, we redesigned the nose of the hood for wind resistance, and we were still working on getting more speed. We contracted John Lundberg from Scorpion (he did it out of his garage at the time) and he made the 84 Phantom glass. We used a Suzuki motor in it.

Here's a little known secret: At the time, Polaris wanted Ted Nielsen to make a big order form them. Ted said okay if some of the guys from the now defunct Polaris race team would help us with the motor. Polaris agreed, and Jerry Schenk did the dyno on the motor at Polaris - Polaris even built the pipes for it. We needed help to beat Ski-Doo and we found Polaris to be very willing to help. It was still kind of weird going into Polaris after they had been 'the enemy' for so long. The Actual 1984 World Championship sled had a 340 Rotax in it, built by Mike Weindandt, [Mike is the builder of 2005 Vintage SnoPro champ Mark Anderson] and is still with the sled at Nielen's place."

Vintagesleds.com: What happened to the World Championship trophy?
Dimmerman: "Nielsen had a copy of it made. I'm not sure if Ted or I got the original. I still have all my original leather suits, including the Phantom suit. My first Arctic suit was left in Sweden - they bought it right off my back!"

The 83 Phantom used Scorpion glass. Photo from "Ice & Engines".

Vintagesleds.com: How did you get started with the Asphalt drag racing?
Dimmerman: "It started out with wheel kits on Jags that were used like an ATV would be used today - for running around the Brainerd raceway during events. You know the story, when you get two of anything with motors in the together, they will start racing! That evolved into making drag sleds. Eventually an exhibition was set up. Al Shimpa rom team Arctic Racing built an 800cc ZR and fried the track lugs off to make the track a solid surface. We made a few passes and the NHRA approved sled racing during intermissions. I went about 112 or 115 MPH between car races. Of course Ski-Doo jumped in then. Initially it was to be sled vs. motorcycle, but the NHRA said no and a class for asphalt dragging was created. It wasn’t for any kind of R&D, it was just exhibition - and fun!"

Vintagesleds.com: A lot of people felt you just kind of disappeared - what happened? Where did you go?
Dimmerman: "My dealership was doing well, but the low snow years and the pressure of selling more each year took the fun out of it. It got to be to that I wasn't enjoying myself anymore. I mean I loved the people I worked with. I loved Arctic Cat, but it was time for a change, so I got out. I didn't have a thought as to what I would do with life after snowmobiles.

I was out riding horses one day when I was asked to manage a large horse stable near my home. I had no idea what they job was about, but they figured my experience with the dealership was enough. The money they offered was very good. It's a very large stable located in one of the Anoka County [Minnesota] Parks. It has a camp ground, golf course and the stables. It was undergoing a complete renovation, all new in door arena, office, feeding barns, lesson programs, day camps, horse drawn hay rides and sleighs. I manage about 25 people, get to take the winters off, and I'm loving it."

Jim has three kids, Jimmy is 16, Molly is 14 and Samantha is 12.

Vintagesleds.com: What do you think about how popular vintage racing has become?
Dimmerman: "I think it’s great – keep up the good work! "

Vintagesleds.com: Say a fella had a 1980 Cat SnoPro and wanted to win the 2007 Vintage SnoPro Master Series. Would you help since you have the winter off?
Dimmerman: "Sounds like fun, but the price would have to be really, really right. Mexico is really nice that time of year, I’d have to be convinced to turn that down! (Laughter)"

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3