So my snowmobile post last week didn’t exactly set the world on fire (whomp whomp), but at least one good thing did come of it.
CC contributor Aaron65 posted a link to this video in the comments. If you like old snowmobiles, it’s definitely worth a watch. It features late ’60s snowmobile racing at Eagle River, WI – complete with race footage, spliced-in cuts from a Ski-Doo ad, a young Peter Jennings running a Panther off the trail on his Olympique, and a string of oval track bloopers, all interspersed with scenes from a Mad Men-esque post-race party.
It may be a little biased toward the yellow machines (may?) due to its being produced by Bombardier. But still, you’ll see lots of other makes in the mix: Cats, Polarises… I think I even spotted a Mercury. Better check it out!
Good stuff. Reminds me of “Endless Summer” with snowmobiles instead of surfboards. Endless Winter!
If you look closely in the corner of the party scene, you can see “The Most Interesting Man in the World.”
I think he’s having a Dos Equis with Peter Jennings. Peter was Canadian, so it seems appropiate that a man from the Great White North would is reporting on Snow Sleds, eh?
It was said that the Mercury sled was so top heavy it would fall over in the garage!
never a fan of the noise of snowmobiles or Jetskis… just my own peculiarities
I live for this sort of stuff. Futurama anyone? http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zbdqnMNnEFE I have microwave popcorn…
I remember doing all that stuff, racing, trailing in a large groups, but as quickly as the snowmobile was “in” it was “out”. I’m not sure why, but I’ll bet it had something to do with noise and the damage these things could cause to the turf underneath. I haven’t seen a sled in years, I don’t know anyone that has one and I live a 100 miles from Eagle River where this film was made.
Must be a local thing… certain areas and all that. Around here (smack-dab between Minneapolis and Duluth) you can’t avoid seeing snowmobiles this time of year, no matter how hard a person might try.
‘Smatterafact, just this afternoon I was out at a customer’s office, and was greeted by the manager – a woman in her fifties – who was wearing an early ’90s style Polaris sweater. We got talking about old sleds. A woman from the accounting department was walking by, and wanted to put in her two cents. Soon others were chiming in.
Seems everybody in Minnesota has a snowmobile story, if not a machine to go with it.
The snowmobile vs. ATV debate does fire up from time to time, though. My county nearly banned ATVs on right-of-ways a few years back due to environmental concerns (people ripping up the ditches). Strangely enough, at that time the county commissioners specifically noted that they had no issue with snowmobiles. That argument went on for months!
I imagine that ATVs are quieter, more fuel efficient and kinder to the environment and the trails. I remember riding with my uncle on his snowmobile across frozen lakes near Anchorage, headlights the only illumination for miles. The noise and two-stroke exhaust bothered me after savoring pristine snow and the quiet that only comes with below freezing temps at night.
Because of the large surface area of the track and skis, snowmobiles are potentially easier on the environment than walking.
Assuming, of course, that you aren’t an idiot ripping up turf with a 2″ paddle track. There are plenty of those these days unfortunately.
Plus they go places no ATV could including groomed trails to ride on. My home county in central Minnesota had 500 miles of trails plus over 300 lakes to explore. ATVs were for plowing driveways.
And what kind of gear head doesn’t like the smell of a two stroke? But if you don’t, there are 4-strokes available today.
Keep posting your snowmobile stories. They’re a great break from cars only. I welcome the truck, train and motorcycle pieces as well.