MSN March April

Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association

4543 S. Division Ave

Wyoming, MI 49548

(616) 361-2285

Fax (616) 363-0661 • www.misorva.org

Office Staff

Executive Director: Karen Middendorp karen@misorva.org • (616) 293-6256

2022 Executive Board

President: Jeramey Valley jvalley@mac.com • (989) 751-6863

Immediate Past President: John Newman newman029@gmail.com • (586) 596-0389

Vice President: Jim Kelts jkelts49@gmail.com

Secretary: Stephanie Hubbarth Bergen shb16@sbcglobal.net • (586) 524-5802

Treasurer: Mark Pankner (989) 798-0113 cell mpankner340@gmail.com

MICHIGAN MICHIGAN

Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association News is published six times a year for $10 – September, November, January, March, May and July – by Midwest Sports Publishing Network (MSPN), 6595 Edenvale Blvd Ste 180, Eden Prairie, MN 55346. Application to mail at periodicals postage prices is pending at Eden Prairie, MN and additional entries.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association, 4543 S Division Ave, Wyoming, MI 49548.

You’ll find our 4-for-24 Guide to the all-new snowmobiles in this issue. Visibly absent is Yamaha who launches their product March 14th (after our print deadline). Visit our March digital edition of MISORVA then for an updated version with new models from Yamaha included. (mspninc.com)

Features

6 WHOSE FUN IS MORE IMPORTANT MISORVA President, Jeramey Valley, discusses how we all enjoy the trails in different ways.

8 4-FOR-24

There’s a lot new for 2024 snowmobile models and we discuss them here! Which one are you buying?

14 CLUB SPOTLIGHT

PUBLISHER Joel Mellenthin

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Kale Wainer

COPY EDITOR / ADMINISTRATOR

Paula Jones

ART DIRECTOR Corey Friesen

ADVERTISING SALES Diane Voight, Dwain Stadie

PHOTO ARCHIVES C. J. Ramstad

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Beilke, David Fischer, Jim Urquhart

CONTRIBUTIONS: Letters, manuscripts, stories, materials and photographs are welcome but cannot be returned unless sender provides a SASE. Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association News is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and drawings. Submission of articles and letters implies the right to edit and publish in all or part.

ADVERTISING

MSPN

Phone: 952-473-7870 or 800-989-MSPN

Fax: 952-473-7805 • sales@mspninc.com www.mspnads.com

Send all advertising materials to: MSPN, Ad Department, 6595 Edenvale Blvd Ste 180, Eden Prairie, MN 55346

The Tri-County Snowmobile and ORV club in Dickinson County, is located on the western end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Have you ridden there?

16 THE STORY OF SAGUENAY BILL

Sometimes all it takes is a good friend to ride outside of your territory and comfort zone. Saguenay Bill is that good friend. Read about this Quebec riding adventure.

What’s Inside

6 President’s Message

11 Executive Director

On the Web

23 Events

23 Marketplace

Additional photos from MISORVA events can be viewed at mspninc.com/events/photos.

Digital issues of this magazine can be viewed and downloaded for free at misorva.org or mspninc.com/publications/michigan-snowmobile-news/.

For a full calendar of events in Michigan and beyond, visit mspninc.com/events.

Upcoming MISORVA Events

Visit misorva.org for a list of updated MISORVA events.

Magazine Deadlines

Copyright © 2023 by MSPN. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without consent of the publisher.

The deadline for Club Flashback, Club News, Calendar of Events, photos and more submitted for the MAY/JUNE 2023 issue is 4/5/23. Send all submissions to kale@mspninc.com or Attn: MISORVA, 6595 Edenvale Blvd Ste 180, Eden Prairie, MN 55346

After a day of riding the action on the trails, come to Little River Casino Resort and keep riding the action into the night! We offer the best casino gaming, plus, we are located in the heart of Michigan’s great outdoors, where adventures like riding, fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing, golfing, and much more await you! When it comes to the best excitement in Northern Michigan, we’re right on track!

LRCR.COM • 1-888-568-2244 • MANISTEE, MI

39TH ANNUAL RIDE WITH THE CHAMPS – FOUR MAJOR INDUSTRY ICONS INDUCTED

SNOWMOBILEHALLOFFAME.COM

If you are looking for a fun-for-the-whole-family winter snowmobiling event backed by star-power, we’d highly suggest attending the Snowmobile Racing Hall of Fame’s Ride with the Champs weekend in St. Germain, Wisconsin. This year’s event was stronger than ever with the induction of four major industry icons including Randy Karpik, Greg Spaulding, John Daniels and Tucker Hibbert. All were honored during a special induction banquet on Saturday and the SHOF filled the days leading up to it with a bucket list of activities including guided trail rides, a round table Q&A session with the famed Karpik brothers, a Scorpion reunion ride, autograph sessions and a Legend Lap event at the famed Eagle River Derby Complex. This annual celebration continues to grow by providing some of the best social interactions you can have with champs of the snowmobile industry.

SAVE THE DATE! FEBRUARY 15-17, 2024

Thursday Feb 15: Legend Laps

Friday Feb 16: Morning - Hall of Fame open house, Vintage ride featuring Mercury brand sleds; Evening - Friday Fish Fry (Guest speakers TBA)

Saturday Feb 17: Morning - Ride with the Champs event; Evening - Autograph session, Dinner and Induction celebration.

By: Jeramey Valley PRESIDENT

WHOSE FUN IS MORE IMPORTANT

That’s both a question and a philosophical statement. I know, it sounds a bit preachy, but hear me out, as there’s no intention to tell you what to do, but just consider thinking about a situation perhaps a bit differently.

If I ask it as a question, “Just whose fun is more important?” the answer is pretty easy. Not yours, not mine. I may like to ride fast, you may prefer a slower pace and as long as we are both operating safely and legally, we are both entitled to have as much fun as we want. We both should try to be courteous to the other and respect their preferences, with the slower rider being aware of their surroundings and make an effort to let the faster rider by and the faster rider having patience and overtaking the slower rider when safe and in as friendly a manner as possible (ie no roosting those being passed).

While I don’t recall specifically who I learned this philosophy from, I do recall a few key points where it sank in over the years. It applies to much more than just fast or slow riders.

One snowmobile trail recording trip I was running out of Watersmeet and pushing 200 mile/14 hour days through northern WI. Conditions were decent for snow, but grooming or trail

conditions varied pretty good. Most of what was on the day’s agenda had a lot of “not recently groomed” trails which makes a big mile day really long. Around the 12 hour mark, hours after the sun had set, I popped onto a trail the groomer had just gone through within the last hour.

Without a doubt, the trail-side critters would have puzzled looks when they heard all of the hooting and hollering coming from my helmet as I passed them. Zero tracks, sidewalk smooth, winding and hilly, surely the remaining hours back to camp will be fun. Admittedly I’m one of “those guys” that purposely run a bit less aggressively on fresh groomed sections, easier in the corners, doing my part to help keep it nicer for the next guy or gal. Within five miles a group of three sleds went by, coming from the direction I was headed. Based on the gear, the machine (newer, but not new) and the sounds (at least one had a pipe), it looked like a group of younger guys out having a great time. That included stopping every hundred yards or so and doing holeshots racing to the next corner and judging by the squirrelly tracks spun from edge to edge, there were no studs in use. Those three sleds had the groomed surface so tore up, you could no longer tell a

groomer had been through. Their ruts and snow piles made the trail rough and you really had to pay attention to safely navigate through. The remaining 20 miles of that trail were the same. Now, I could be mad at them for “tearing up my trail,” but really, they were having fun, probably a lot of fun. Good for them, nothing being done was illegal. Sure, my “fun level” was lower while riding through what they left behind. But if they rode the way I did, as in not “tearing it up” would they still be having fun? Probably not. So, is their fun more important than mine? No, but neither is mine more important than theirs. Neither of us should have to suffer to appease the other.

On a late summer afternoon, I was out grading our club’s ORV trail, which is one of those 50-inch wide trails for bikes and ATVs. We run an ATV pulling what’s effectively a downsized snowmobile drag. It can be hot, dusty and otherwise somewhat unpleasant and is pretty slow going. We have to do a pass in either direction, so 25 miles of trail works out to 50 miles of operation and a full summer day. This was earlier on, before we had a rolling packer to compress the dirt back down. The grader did a good job of flattening and leveling, but it was still soft in between the whoops and needed time and/or rain to settle things. About halfway on the return pass, along came three bikes and an ATV. The bikes were on it, running a good pace and all were higher strung MX bikes. All had one throttle position (full on, I believe) and they were having a great time. The quad was following along at a slower

clip and was just rolling through. In comparison, the bikes were each leaving their own trench from corner to corner, snaking across the previous guy’s tracks. Good for them, out having fun. That’s why we have trails.

As the grading operator, I was a bit displeased as you could not tell I had just been through that section an hour earlier. On the positive side, as I continued forward, the grader did a good job of making their tracks disappear, but of course behind me was now a different story where the riders had continued on.

Perhaps a bit disappointing to the grader operator, but, they were going to be having fun out on that trail either that day or the next or the week after, it really makes no difference on when. The work that grader and groomer operators do is important but we all know it’s also just temporary. The need will continue to exist and those willing to do the work will still be out there, eventually, to make things a bit better.

Again, this comes back to the question of whether their fun was more important or less important. The answer remains that it is neither more or less, but the same as others. Maybe this was the only day they could get together to ride.

The next time you are out riding and encounter another safely and legally riding differently, or in a different machine or on foot or hoof for that matter, I challenge you to ask yourself the question if your fun is more important than theirs.

Approximately half of our snowmobile trails legally allow wheeled vehicles and the remainder can have non-motorized users including hikers, skiers and even dog sleds, not to mention hunters and trappers. Our motorcycle-only trails allow horses, hikers and bikers, our ORV trails allow all of those plus machines up to 50-inch wide and our ORV routes allow for any size of machine. We are blessed to have so many options and opportunities and when it is on public land, we the public must share or we stand to lose it all.

Thanks for reading and please, when you are out riding, remember there is always something around the next corner, might be a downed tree, might be a groomer, might be a law enforcement truck, might be a little kid chasing after his windblown glove. Have a safe ride!

FOUR FOR 24 –SKI-DOO

New technology continues to be the focus for Ski-Doo as they enter the 2024 model year. While more sleds will make the transition to the REV Gen5 platform, the news that will initially garner the bulk of the headlines and spring order interest will come from an over-the-top equipped turbo charged trail sled. Plus, Ski-Doo gives us a possible glimpse into the future with their first all-electric snowmobile.

TURBO FOR THE TRAIL

Last season it was Polaris making noise with their turbo-charged trail sleds aptly named “Boost.” Now for 2024 it’s Ski-Doo’s turn, and leave it to the kids in Valcourt to turn up the heat a notch further. The new 850 E-TEC Turbo R powerplant developed for the trail, produces a whopping 180-horsepower with a twist – an industry first water injection system. Using a calibrated mixture of methanol and water, the system sprays a cooling mist into the intake tracts after prolonged fullthrottle burns. The result, according to Ski-Doo, is more consistent power that won’t waiver when things heat up. We’ll be waiting for our test drive invitation to see if the claim holds true.

THE FIRST ELECTRIC SKI-DOO

They announced it was coming over a year ago, and the crew from Valcourt made good on that proclamation with the introduction of the Grand Touring Electric. According to Ski-Doo the new electric buggy will boast a recharge time as fast as 90-minutes to reach 80% charge; or 3-hours to reach a full charge. However, we have yet to hear about range or performance. The Grand Touring Electric will only be available to select outfitters and Ski-Doo’s own Uncharted Society locations.

BACKCOUNTRY GETS NEW LOOK

FOUR IS BETTER THAN TWO

Improved braking performance will be found on high-end XR-S packages. The new Brembo package increases caliper power and pad surface area, thus giving riders improved feel, feedback, and reduced lever pressure. Plus, with twice as many pads at work, brake fade should be dramatically reduced under high demand riding conditions.

The transition to the new look GEN5 bodywork continues in earnest for model year 24 as several models get the smoothed cowls and side panels including the popular Backcountry. While primarily a cosmetic upgrade, the new look gives the Backcountry a sleeker stance that’s ready to tackle the backcountry. The only model that will remain in GEN4 will be the Sport.

FOUR FOR 24 –POLARIS

Polaris has been on the gas like no other manufacturer over the past few years, pumping out new models, new innovations, and new engines at a rapid pace. Last year they dropped heavy hitters in both the trail and mountain segments with the Boost and 9R. For 2024, there’s less all-new, but still plenty of sizzle, as the migration from AXYS to the Matryx platform continues and a slew of improvements have found their way into the 2024 mix across the line-up. In addition, Polaris has added still more reasons to early order under their Snow Check program with a ship date guarantee that puts cash on the table if Polaris doesn’t get your spring order buggy to you before winter sets in.

LOVE FOR THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE

Retro or throwback graphics have been a successful formula for the Roseau maker for many years, often as a Snow Check only offering. While several have caught our longing gaze, this year’s XCR red, white, and blue combo is our favorite yet. With a racetrack pedigree, the XCR is available in 850 or 650 power choices and 128” or 136” track lengths.

ALL-NEW SERIES 9 325 TRACK

Polaris just dropped the gauntlet on the deep snow track wars. For 2024 the company will offer a 3.25” tall lug track available on Boost and 9R RMK models and only during Snow Check. Polaris claims their new track will deliver newfound levels of acceleration and lift, thanks to a lightweight, quick to spool design. The Series 9 325 illustrates the company’s continued commitment and leadership in the deep snow segment.

RIDE COMMAND FOR THE WIN

Polaris launched Ride Command way back in 2012, which means the company has over a decade of experience, development, and enhancements to the interactive, GPS mapping, and connectivity technology. While others have introduced their own versions of Ride Command, as the saying goes, nothing comes close to the original. We’ve been touting the “game changing” attributes of Ride Command for several years, and every season, the Ride Command team keeps making it better. For 2024, the full-color touch screen display that accompanies the technology will make its way on to even more models, and if you have the opportunity to equip your sled with it…the answer is a no brainer. Ride Command is worth every penny.

BUILT FOR THE MIDWEST

There’s no question, the Midwest is home to the best snowmobile trail system anywhere, and the extended track lengths and storage capabilities of a crossover sled is more and more becoming the choice of riders who grace these trails. While there are a lot of crossover sleds to choose from to tackle the trails and the occasional unplowed forest road, our experience with the Switchback XC has always made it a favorite. Polaris likes to call it the perfect 50/50 on/ off trail snowmobile, and we tend to agree. Back for 2024 with a continuous influx of tiny improvements, the Switchback XC will have a reserved spot on our wish list for next winter.

2024 FOUR FOR 24 –ARCTIC CAT

The all-new CATALYST platform powered by Team Arctic’s venerable 600 C-TEC2 engine precipitates the leading headline for Arctic Cat’s 2024 model launch. There’s a lot of newness to discuss beyond styling for the Arctic Cat faithful in the Trail, Crossover and Mountain categories. This riderinfluenced platform boasts dramatic weight reductions, all-new rear suspensions and a departure from the traditional chaincase with an all-new belt drive. If you are looking for a big-bore engine in this platform, you’ll have to wait, but the team in Thief River Falls has been pretty vocal about it, telling us an all-new big-bore is coming next year. If you want more ponies, you’ll find the 800 CTEC2 engine in the legacy ProCross and ProClimb platforms, and those yearning for four-stroke options, will be happy to see the 7000-series engine return while the turbocharged Thundercat continues to own the Performance Muscle category.

ARCTIC CAT BELT DRIVE (ZR CATALYST)

- The all-new Belt Drive system on all CATALYST models is a departure from the traditional Arctic Cat chaincase, but the benefits outweigh any of the unknowns. Eliminating the rotating mass and weight of a traditional chaincase allows the 600cc C-TEC2 engine to spool up quicker providing better throttle response, instantaneous acceleration and frees up horsepower to transfer it to the snow more efficiently. The belt drive also eliminates the hassle of checking and replacing oil levels within a chaincase. Once your belt tension is set, the new belt drive is nearly service-free and hands-off.

Arctic Cat pioneered the front Wishbone Suspension (AWS) and it has been synonymous with confidence-inspired handling for decades. For 2024, the CATALYST platform brings back the legendary name with two all-new segmentfocused designs (Trail and Mountain), providing two different suspension geometries. The outcome, are new AWS generations focused on the ultimate handling and control in all CATALYST platform models.

ALL-NEW 129-INCH SLIDE-ACTION REAR SUSPENSION (ZR CATALYST)

This next generation SLIDE-ACTION suspension design dials up the fun factor at any winter playground! Lightweight, playful and robust, this uncoupled suspension utilizes the long front arm from ZR race models and is designed to transfer weight – the ZR ride becomes fully influenced by the rider’s position. Rip a windblown ditch line with confidence, rail a trail corner by leaning forward and shift your weight rearward to loft the skis exiting it. A 3-wheel rear axle is standard and available with choice of IFP gas shocks or ATAC adjust on-the-fly packages.

AWS FRONT SUSPENSION (ZR / RIOT / M CATALYST)

2024 FOUR FOR 24 –YAMAHA

Yamaha launched their 2024 Snowmobiles and Spring Power Surge (SPS) Sales Program. Popular models like the LE, GT, SE and 400 series have all returned, complemented by Utility, Twoup and Youth models.

THE SRX MUSCLE

Yamaha’s 2024 Legendary SRX is back and paying homage to the 1980s SRX with its eye-catching black and gold colorway. Still one of the fastest muscle sleds on snow, this legend continues to build on its illustrious reputation year-after-year.

THE SOUGHT-AFTER SIDEWINDERS

The crowd-favorite Sidewinder L-TX LE EPS and renowned Sidewinder SRX LE EPS join other 2024 Limited Edition (LE) models for the Spring Power Surge period. This is the only time you can secure these sought-after snowmobiles.

ACT FAST – BUY THROUGH YAMAHA’S SPRING POWER SURGE PROGRAM

This year’s Spring Power Surge (SPS) program runs from March 14 through April 4, 2023 and is the best time to secure your ride for next season. SPS customers will receive great offers, including priority delivery and low interest rates with Yamaha Financial Services.

EVERY MEMBER HAS A VOICE

BY: KAREN MIDDENDORP

It’s already March! I want to throw out an attaboy and huge THANK YOU to the Board of Directors of MISORVA! These guys and gals take their personal time to bring the thoughts and ideas of their riding community forward. Not because they are less busy than you or I, but because the passion lives in their core. Their passion drives their thoughts and conversation, and the views from where they sit.

This does not mean they all agree, but that’s what makes the dream work! That’s also the equal importance of members that do not have the time nor the inclination to attend meetings. To pay their dues, to support their recreation. To ensure motorized recreation continues to move forward. If you are not yet a member, who is counting you? Where do you fit? $35.00 per year, 365 days to be counted.

Every supporting member has a voice, it’s these dedicated individuals on the BOD finding solutions to progress. The massive amount of volunteers driving the association, needs to be commended! The time and energy they put forth are remarkable. From the groomer operators working tirelessly to build a safe network of trails, to those simply paying the yearly dues — each is equally important.

The clubs that work with our landowners to keep the system alive work with hundreds of landowners yearly. My hat is off to each one, they are the ones keeping motorized recreation vibrant in Michigan. Thank you all!

Let’s talk a little about the committees that comprise the BOD. MISORVA has four Standing Committees — Legislation, Trail Coordination, Membership, and Publication. Each one is consistently working proactively together to find solutions to the issues that plague our recreation. Each committee brings the product of the meeting brainstorms to the BOD for their recommendation. Did you know, as a member, you can join a committee? You can! If your schedule allows, you can bring your thoughts to the table. View the event calendar in this issue, or on misorva.org calendar of events, for dates and times as they are being scheduled.

Late in 2022, the legislative committee reached an agreement with the ORV Advisory Workgroup to submit and support legislation to remove the sunset clause in the ORV legislation. MSA members brought about the removal of the sunset in the snowmobile legislation many years ago, now it’s time to do the same for the ORV community. Stay tuned!

The sunset clause in legislation is added to enable lawmakers to enact a law when change or government action is required reasonably for a limited period, when the long-term ramifications of the law in question are difficult

or impossible to foresee, or when circumstances warrant such a legal structure.

As you may already know, HB 4535 timed out at the close of 2022. Our bills, after passing in the House, were in Senate Natural Resources and ready for a hearing once we finally got all the negotiations completed with all the stakeholder groups done in late June. Since that time, the committee did not hold another hearing for the rest of the year (the last committee meeting they had was on June 15, 2022). Our bills needed to be passed by the committee and by the Senate as a whole before going to the governor before the end of the session (end of the year). The session ends every two years, so this next session will run from 2023 to 2024 when all bills can be reintroduced.

In the January BOD meeting a motion was proposed to move our “Draft 8” former HB 4535 legislation forward and resubmit it to our legislators. The BOD vote was nearly unanimous. MISORVA representatives have met with supporting legislators and we should see a new bill number reasonably soon.

FRESH dirt

THE 2023 CFMOTO OVERLAND 1000

CFMOTOUSA.COM

CFMOTO is a market share leader because they offer the best features for your money. For 2023, the CFORCE 1000 Overland has a powerful 963cc V-twin engine letting you rip any trail and traverse mile after mile of rocky terrain. An accessory passenger seat and three hard-side cases let you customize your ride and pack gear for hunting, fishing or camping trips. Starting at $10,199, it’s hard to look past their long list of standard top features.

• 14-inch rims with beadlocks

• Composite-over-steel racks

• Electronic Power Steering

• Front aluminum bash plate

• Front fairing with integrated windscreen and handguards

• Full-length HDPE Skidplates

• Heavy-Duty front and rear bumpers

• LED front flood lamps

• Removable cargo boxes

• Trailing Arm Rear Suspension

POLARIS AND TROY LEE DESIGNS - DRIVEN BY CREATIVE HORSEPOWER

POLARIS.COM

Troy Lee Designs and Polaris collaborated to drop a Limited Edition GENERAL featuring TLD’s Signature Style and with Capability to Go Further, and Gear Hauling options for trail building tools and bikes with plenty of room still for the cooler.

• Walker Evans Velocity Series Shocks

• 30” 8-ply off-road tires

• RHINO RACK® over bed rack and 600-lb capacity dumping cargo box

• RIDE COMMAND GPS navigation + Rockford Fosgate® Stage 3 audio

• Polaris 4,500 lb HD winch with synthetic rope and front bumper

• LED headlights and 11” Pro Armor light bar

FRESH dirt

CAN-AM RELEASES NEW 2023 MID-CC OUTLANDER MODELS

CAN-AM.BRP.COM

For 2023, Can-Am has released allnew mid-cc Outlander recreation and utility models designed and built with the emphasis of improving the rider experience at every touchpoint for both work and play at a competitive price point.

The new recreational Outlander 700 and 500 models, and utility Outlander PRO HD7 and HD5 models are all equipped with classleading power, ground clearance, suspension travel, towing capacity, rack capacity and longest maintenance intervals. The Outlander 700 and 500 are some of the most versatile ATVs on the market, giving riders everything they need for off-road adventure. For 2023, the new Outlander recreational lineup includes the standard models, the 500 2x4, DPS, XT 700, Xmr 700, MAX DPS, and MAX XT 700. The Outlander PRO HD7 and HD5 are built for the ones who have to get things done, they haul, they tow, and they can store more than any other ATV on the market. For 2023, the new Outlander PRO utility lineup includes the standard PRO models, PRO XU, and PRO Hunting Edition.

Engine

An all-new rear facing 650cc single cylinder, liquid cooled, fuel injected Rotax Advanced Combustion Efficiency (ACE) four-stroke engine design and configuration are complemented by a new integrated transmission design and pDrive clutch, all of which give the new Outlander platform class leading power and towing capabilities. Thanks to ECU calibration and different camshaft designs, the 700 and PRO HD7 models have 50-horsepower and 41 ft-lb of torque, while the 500 and PRO HD5 models have 40-horsepower and 37 ft-lb of torque.

All Outlander 500 and 700 machines are equipped with the new pDrive primary CVT transmission for smoother

shifting, increased durability and feature L/H/N/R/P gearing. The Outlander PRO HD5 and HD7 machines are equipped with a new pDrive primary CVT transmission that also features work calibration along with Extra L/H/N/R/P gearing. Both the Outlander and Outlander PRO platforms share a selectable 2WD / 4WD with ViscoLok†, Visco-Lok† QE or Visco-4Lok with auto-locking front differential drivetrain offered according to the packages.

Storage & Accessories

The Outlander and Outlander PRO both come standard with incredible storage capabilities, starting up front with the new 1-gallon integrated glove box compartment and select models also feature a magnetic phone mount and USB port to keep riders’ devices charged while they are on the go.

The new Outlander platform is available with 125 different LinQ accessory options, it has something for everyone. The vehicle accessory options are broken down into three categories, front cargo area, handlebar interface and ergo zone, and rear cargo area. There are ergonomic accessories like heated grips and windshield options. Storage accessories for the front and rear of the vehicle for things like gun racks, chainsaws, and just about any other necessary tool. Utility accessory options include items like a winch, plow, and auxiliary gas can. Performance accessories include items like skid plates, snow trax, and HID lightning options. The numerous accessories available to riders help them make the most out of their day, whether they are working or playing.

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

TRI-COUNTY SNOWMOBILE & ORV CLUB

TRICOUNTYSNOWCLUB.ORG

FACEBOOK: TRI-COUNTY SNOWMOBILE & ORV CLUB

EDITOR NOTE: MISORVA is going to feature a new Michigan club every issue to spotlight the many volunteers within who work tirelessly to perfect the trail systems spanning the great state of Michigan. Whether snowmobile or ORV, without the clubs and volunteers, there would be no trails to adventure on. Hopefully through these Spotlights, the importance of what they do will shine through and even inspire you to explore the areas they work so hard to perfect.

The Tri-County Snowmobile and ORV Club in Dickinson County, is located on the western end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The club has been active since 1971 and supports both snowmobiles and ORVs. With a current membership count of 45 and 38 business members, the $5 dues are more than reasonable. Meetings are held monthly and club rides are scheduled throughout the year.

Tri-County grooms 119 miles of snowmobile trail and maintains 52 miles of ORV trail, utilizing seven volunteer groomer drivers. Trail reports and club information can be found on their Facebook page or website and are updated weekly during the season.

Both local, and visiting riders in the area, can pick up maps at local businesses or at kiosks along the trails. Lodging can be found in both Iron Mountain and Norway. Tri-

County trails are a great mix of grade and winding trails that cut through dense woods and some of the best photos are taken at the Bluffs in Iron Mountain on Trail 5. This area is a true, must-see!

Tri-County always welcomes additional members and doesn’t require volunteer hours, but many say their volunteer hours include a lot of fun and camaraderie. They start trail clean-ups in September and continue every weekend until November 14. Big trail clean-up days end with a cookout to show thanks from the club.

Help is needed in two key areas including general trail maintenance (brushing and signing) and growing the club socially via more fundraisers and outings. TriCounty recently purchased a Forax brush cutter to make the work easier and even received a Ski-Doo Snow Pass grant for $5,000 to help fund brushing of the trails. They have applied for a grant through the Toro Giving Program in hopes of buying augers for post hole digging. Next season, they would like to host a poker run, which is another opportunity to help as this will require donations for prizes as well as volunteers to help the event run smoothly.

THE STORY OF SAGUENAY BILL

Submitted by: Ted Truckey and John Anderson

How many of you snowmobile 7,000 – 10,000 miles a season? My experience is the majority of riders although intrigued by the prospect of riding high mileage cannot fathom just how one would accomplish it. If your passion for sledding matches ours, read on.

The bug bit us early! Although many of us rode dirt bikes and perhaps a street bike, there was a certain appeal to snowmobiling those other motorsports can’t deliver. Snowmobiling offers a combination of appealing dopamine releases, powerful machines, unlimited trails, scenery, cold (sledders like that), comradery, all while testing personal limits. If you’re smiling like me right now, you get it! However, this article is less about the adrenaline rush and more about the comradery. Snowmobiling continues to be a significant contributor to life’s journey regarding the importance and value of relationships.

Similar to a special person introduced in this article, my story begins in Quebec. A snowmobile buddy asked, “Have you ever ridden in Quebec?” My initial reaction like others; long drive, foreign language, border crossing, expensive permits, and zero knowledge of the trail system. Having ridden thousands of miles in Michigan, why would I want to invest the time, expense, and effort to trailer off to Quebec?

After our initial one-week trip to the Gaspe region, we were hooked! Enthusiastic to get back, the research began. Asking questions, studying weather, collecting brochures and maps, the decision was made to try the Saguenay Region. The trip to Saguenay meant I was the group leader and had to determine where we stayed, how the trail system worked, average daily temperatures, fuel stops, etc. That first trip to the Saguenay Region we stayed outside of Jonquiere in a small lodge that was nice enough

and had indoor heated parking for the sleds which was sweet, but also isolated and there were only a few fellow sledders at the lodge.

We saddle bagged some of the days and ended up staying one night at what was then a Holiday Inn and today is a Delta Hotel, part of the Marriott family. I remember parking our sleds and walking in with saddle bags at the end of the day, to find a small group of sledders in the lobby socializing. It became apparent quickly that Bill McFarlane was holding court and seemed the selfappointed host for sledders. He was friendly and inviting and introduced himself as Saguenay Bill. In minutes it felt as though Bill was a close friend, interested in Michigan and what riding was like back home. He was sincerely curious about where we had ridden in the Saguenay region, offering assistance and guidance about the trail system. We exchanged our mutual passion for snowmobiling, shared experiences, and then talked about our planned ride for the next day.

Bill suggested some special places to ride and a few trails to avoid. It was quickly decided, lets ride with Saguenay Bill tomorrow. The next day was life changing. In the course of the next day and many others to follow Bill taught us not only about the best place to cross the river, the best trails and times to explore Mont Valin, but more importantly when to ride fast and when to ride slow. To manage the thumb so we didn’t pile up a mound of snow at the stop sign or in the corners. Bill taught us to enjoy the journey, not just the destination. To respect the trails, other riders, and the environment so our high intensity egos didn’t destroy the experience for everyone else. Bill taught us to get out early before the other sledders and equally important get back early before space ran out in the sled lot. More importantly after 4:30pm that far north in Quebec they turn off the heat at dusk and riding to 6pm can be bitterly cold and feel more like midnight.

As our 20-year relationship evolved I brought back group after group to the Delta and the excellent riding in Saguenay for three reasons. Great trails/conditions, great people, and Saguenay Bill. As the years went by, we would check in with Bill about conditions and ask for suggestions on how to make this year’s trip special. Every year he would arrange for trail permits before the ability to order them online.

One year as we transitioned from two stroke sleds to four strokes, he found an indoor garage to keep the sleds warm overnight so they could start on 25 below mornings. During breakfast and again in the evenings, Bill introduced us to others staying at the Delta who shared an equal passion for snowmobiling. Over the years this comradery gave me the confidence to trailer up for extended stays without bringing anyone along. Comfortable with the trail system and learning from Bill how to make new friends at the Delta, riding became as simple as joining a new group. When Bill wasn’t present, the mere mention of his name

immediately made a connection, almost like extended family. All because of one special man.

Looping back to where the article began, how do you ride over 7,000 miles in a season? Again, Bill was the inspiration; he rides upward of 10,000 miles each season! As we talked, I discovered he would set aside as much as a month to ride in the Saguenay region. It made sense, riding 250 miles on that trail system could easily be accomplished in 8 hours of daylight and you’re not worn out because the trails are not a series of moguls. As a result, we discovered riding in northern Ontario and northern Quebec offered similar experiences, smooth, wide, groomed, well-marked trails, coupled with a low volume of snowmobilers during the week.

Today at 64, I take the month of February off from work solely for snowmobiling. In January riding in Michigan is the warmup with extended weekends. February is a minimum of two weeks in Quebec, one or two weeks in Michigan and if possible, another in Ontario. March in Ontario is the best riding because it’s not as cold, the snow conditions are excellent, and rider volume drops off. My lowest mileage year over the past decade was 6,500 miles and my highest 10,000.

Hopefully you can find a friend like Saguenay Bill in your trail system to enhance your snowmobiling experience, or you can join us at the Delta in Jonquiere.

MY WEST YELLOWSTONE ADVENTURE

YELLOWSTONEDESTINATION.COM

By: Dwain “Duey” Stadie

One year ago (March 2022), Burt and Heather Veldhuizen of our snowmobile club decided to assemble a West Yellowstone, Montana trip, and forty of us who joined are thankful they did. I’ve never been to West Yellowstone before, but several in our club have, as have all my coworkers at MSPN Publishing.

WEST YELLOWSTONE FACTS

West Yellowstone receives snow from the first of November to the first of May, with an average of 166 inches (almost fourteen feet). The average duration of snow cover is 213 days for elevations up to 7000 feet, and this duration increases at a rate of 29 days for each 1,000 feet of elevation. We rode in Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin National Forest, and Targhee National Forest. This is all part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem which is made up of 20 million acres of protected land.

friendly staff could set us up with our Ski-Doo Renegade Adrenaline 600s that would serve us well on this 3-day adventure.

We rode north out of town, past the airport to the Horse Butte loop on the north side of the Madison arm of Hebgen Lake and stopped at the weather station at Horse Butte look out, a hill with some great views. We took the Madison loop and proceeded north up the Big Sky trail until we got to the point where grooming stops. We headed south from here and took the south loop around the Madison arm where we found several dog sled teams training for the local weekend races. Taking the Little Snowy Trail from that point, we went west to a couple of beautiful lookout points, then made a nice loop before returning home for the night with 110 quality miles on the odometer for the day.

RIDE DAY 2

I was informed the vast amount of snow in West Yellowstone would be alarming to see for a first-time visitor, and that couldn’t be a more accurate statement. Snowbanks were eight feet high everywhere and up to the eaves on quite a few homes. The sight is quite impressive and one I’ve never seen. Our travel day concluded with a meet and greet party and planning for group rides – my excitement level was at an all-time high!

RIDE DAY 1

I was in a group of eight riders, and after an early morning breakfast, we were geared-up and found ourselves waiting at the front door of Yellowstone Adventures at 8am so the

After breakfast, we headed to Backcountry Adventures where our group of eight took the guided snowmobile tour through Yellowstone National Park on the Old Faithful tour. Only 500 snowmobiles are allowed to go through the park each day (groups of eight with a guide). The greatest part of West Yellowstone is how the town caters to snowmobilers. You can ride your snowmobile on any street in town except US Route #20 and #191. Since the streets aren’t plowed down to bare pavement, we cruised through town and entered the west gate of Yellowstone National Park. Shortly after entering the park, we crossed from Montana into Wyoming, stopping at a lookout over the Madison River, and Benny (our guide) educated us about the area. We also stopped to see elk and buffalo before a short break at the Madison Information Station. We then headed up Firehole Canyon, stopping to take some pictures of a neat waterfall and rode further to see a hot spring before arriving at Old Faithful Inn for lunch.

With a bit of skepticism in my mind, Old Faithful gushed at 12:19pm, as we were told it would. Every 93 minutes it

erupts on schedule and everyone should see this once. Benny told us there are 1,000 geysers in the world and 600 are in Yellowstone National Park. The park is a mustsee and is truly beautiful. We finished the day with 67 stunning miles.

RIDE DAY 3

We had big plans for the day, this time heading west, and crossing the Continental Divide, entering Idaho around Two Top Mountain, and then south toward Island Park. Here on the east side of town we met a couple of moose – these majestic animals are beautiful, huge and amazingly fast. After several pictures were taken, we headed down to where the old Railroad Trestle crossed Henry’s Fork of the Island Park Reservoir for lunch.

Our entire group of forty gathered for a campfire and the greatest outdoor lunch I’ve ever inhaled. Trailside cookouts can be the most memorable parts of a snowmobile trip, and we enjoyed roasting brats and hot dogs on the open flame. After the fire was extinguished and everything was gathered, we attempted to make our way north to the crest of Two Top Mountain, but the weather socked in ending our day with 130 stellar miles.

RIDE DAY 4

I joined the Snow Coach Canyon tour of Yellowstone on snowmobiles, and was treated to something special as we were leaving town — six different dog sled teams went past us as they were competing in their big race which we had seen them earlier in the week practicing for. Our first stop was at Big Springs. Amazingly, this spring produces 120 million gallons of water a day, and it is the primary source of the North Fork or Henry’s Fork and the Snake River. The springs are famous for very large rainbow trout waiting to be fed by tourists.

The upper and lower Mesa Falls are a must-see if in the area. The upper falls is just over a hundred-foot drop and two hundred feet wide, which is a breath-taking view. Only a mile away is the lower falls with a sixty-five-foot drop. These are truly the coolest waterfalls you’ve never heard of.

We headed north and west on this beautiful crystal clear day and headed to the top of Two Top Mountain. The top of the mountain is 8200 feet above sea level and with its frozen trees, it is breathtaking and astounding to say the least. As you ride amongst the trees, you feel like you’re on another planet. We crossed back into Montana and finished the day with 140 magnificent miles.

RIDE DAY 5

A handful of us took the car looking for wildlife toward Island Park (Idaho), roaming around the river looking for moose, but no such luck today. We then headed north and turned northwest on route #87, past Henry’s Lake and then west on Route #287, following the Madison River up through the pass to Ennis where we saw deer, antelope, a moose, and hundreds of elk. We finished the day souvenir shopping in town and although we didn’t log snowmobile miles, it sure was fun.

West Yellowstone needs to be on your list of places to ride, and I encourage you to start planning your own adventure today — I will absolutely be back.

wertz warriors RIDE

WERTZ WARRIOR SNOWMOBILE ENDURANCE RIDE

WERTZWARRIORS.COM

Right before we went to press with this issue, a headline in my Facebook feed grabbed my attention, “Snowmobilers Raise $325,000 for Michigan Special Olympics.” After further inspection, the group who raised the money calls themselves the Wertz Warriors. The Wertz Warriors zig-zagged their way across 900 miles of northern Michigan for their 42nd Anniversary Ride. Beginning at the end of January in Chesterfield Township, the ride spanned seven days ending in Mackinaw City. Enjoy a bit of their history and photos from their adventure. Check out their site for more information.

MISORVA Editor

THE WERTZ WARRIORS – ONE MAN’S DREAM TRANSFORMED INTO REALITY

Vic Wertz, a former Detroit Tiger and Michigan Hall of Fame member, had a dream “to completely underwrite the Special Olympics Michigan Inc. (SOMI) State Winter Games.” So, in 1981 he set out and succeeded to enlist many of his friends to help him with his dream. Together they considered a variety of ways to generate the money needed to fund the Winter Games for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Michigan.

Their idea was to create an endurance snowmobile ride throughout northern Michigan. The ride would not only raise funds for SOMI, but it would help create awareness for those with intellectual disabilities. Since 1982, the Wertz Warriors have raised more than $11.2 million for SOMI. Each year, warriors ride over 900 miles as they journey across northern Michigan.

Take the ride of a lifetime

Be a part of the ride that changes lives.

The Wertz Warriors are looking for riders to join the cause. Riders who participate will enjoy the seven-day ride touring northern Michigan, be a part of the Opening Ceremony at the SOMI State Winter Games, and will have gas and most meals provided. Riders must meet a fundraising commitment to participate. Anyone interested can contact the Wertz Warriors at (586) 725-9660. Become a Wertz Warriors Rider Today!

misorva

MISORVA Board of Directors and Regions Map

District 1

Ernie Reimann 906-367-1566 erniereimann@gmail.com

Joe Chavis 906-284-1762 upchavis@hotmail.com

Mike Fik 906-288-3110 imstrech@msn.com

District 2

Don Britton 906-458-9594 brittonjd@charter.net

Keith Churill 906-202-3568 keithchurill@gmail.com

Keith Lynch 906-280-2193 upsesky@yahoo.com

Donna Cody 734-636-9295 snowmobiledonna@gmail.com

District 3

David Satchell 989-743-5612 catsatch@gmail.com

Roy Hart 989-370-3779 roylhart@yahoo.com

Rich Rottier 616-550-8201 richrottier@yahoo.com

Grant Dewitt 906-876-2388 grantinhulbert@yahoo.com

District 4

Ken McCrum 989-657-4168 kmccrum@charter.net

John Houk 989-306-2545 rjhouk@frontier.com

Kaye Houk 989-734-7359 kjh64@frontier.com

Andrea Eder 989-350-0208 lovemydaisy1019@yahoo.com

District 5

Gary Blaser 586-202-5452 blasergary@aol.com

Bob Bailey 248-840-2781 robertb814@gmail.com

Greg Ruppel 989-578-0784 gruppelsr@gmail.com

District 6

Pete Finch 231-884-9601 pete@coyotecrossingresort.com

District 7

Todd Maschke 989-551-3913 tmask2013@hotmail.com

Brian E Hicks 989-871-4767 bdhicks@tds.net

Nick Ferrante 248-756-0695 npferrante@gmail.com

Dan White 313-520-3828 drdirt800@msn.com

Devin Gardner 810-623-8709 deving751@gmail.com

District 8

Steve Veltman 231-246-0086 veltmanhardware@aol.com

Jim Berens 616-328-2621 fsr401@sbcglobal.net

Brad Beardsley 231-519-3723 sandmanbb1@yahoo.com

Mike Keith 231-750-4986 xcrkeith@gmail.com

District 9

Lee Palmer 574-286-7457 palmlee@yahoo.com

Jeff Mariucci 517-231-1624 jeffmariucci@gmail.com

David Low 616-550-2707 ddlow@att.net

Joshua Driscoll 616-218-5759 jserepair@gmail.com

Scott Matteson 269-760-0188 michsnowrider@gmail.com

Scott Beltman 616-292-1414 scottbeltman2@gmail.com

Todd Blanchard 847-910-3297 john.blanchard@equitable.com

MARCH

2: The Snowmobile Advisory Workgroup meeting, 10AM – 2PM, SAW assists the Michigan Trails Advisory Council with its duties and responsibilities and provides the Department of Natural Resources advice related to the creation, development, operation and maintenance of the state’s designated snowmobile trail system. misorva.org

2-4: Sault St. Marie, MI. Groomer Workshop 2023, Kewadin Casino, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

4: Seney, MI. Seney Snowmobile Association Vets Ride, Come join us as the Fox River Motel, 1588 M-28 from 8am-5pm for the 19th Annual event, more information on misorva.org

6: Public Relations Committee Meeting Zoom call, 7pm-8pm, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

13: Dirt / Grading Committee Meeting Zoom call, 7pm-8pm, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

16: Grayling, MI. ORV Advisory Workgroup Meeting –Rescheduled, 2pm - 4pm, Grayling Twp Hall  2090 Viking Way 49738, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

18: Rockford, MI. ORV Safety Class, 11115 Northland Dr NE, 49341, 9am-3pm, Please bring a lunch. Great way to get your certificate before the riding season opens for the year. If the student is 10yrs or younger the parent must attend, $10 charge for the class, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

20: Publication / Membership Committee Meetings Zoom call, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

23: Roscommon, MI. MTAC – Michigan Trails Advisory Council Meeting, 1pm-3pm, Ralph A MacMullan Conference Center, 104 Conservation Dr, 48653, more information on misorva.org

Calendar of Events

25: MISORVA Board of Directors Meeting, In-Person location TBD, 10am-2pm, Zoom call available, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

APRIL

3: Legislative Committee Meeting Zoom call, 7pm-8pm, more information available on misorva.org Calendar of Events

10: ORV Initiatives Committee Meeting Zoom call, 7pm-8pm, more information available on misorva.org Calendar of Events

MAY

1: Public Relations Committee Meeting Zoom call, 7pm-8pm, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

8: Dirt / Grading Committee Meeting Zoom call, 7pm-8pm, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

10: ORV Advisory Workgroup Meeting, 1pm-3pm, In-person location TBD, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

15: Publication / Membership Committee Meetings Zoom call, 6:30pm – 7:30pm, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

17: MISORVA Board of Directors Meeting Zoom call, 6:30pm9:00pm, more information on misorva.org Calendar of Events

Sunnyside

Snowmobile

EXTREME POWER SPORTS 2572 S OTSEGO AVE GAYLORD, MI EXTREMEPOWER-SPORTS.COM

FOX POWERSPORTS 720 44TH ST SW WYOMING, MI FOXPOWERSPORTS.COM

INDIAN RIVER SPORTS CENTER 562 S STRAITS HWY INDIAN RIVER, MI IR-SC.COM

K & W CYCLES, INC. 4090 AUBURN RD SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI KWCYCLE.COM

LAKESIDE MOTOR SPORTS, INC. 10964 90TH AVE MECOSTA, MI LAKESIDEMOTORSPORTS.NET

M & M POWERSPORTS INC. 90 NAVY ST HANCOCK, MI MMPOWERSPORTS.COM

MEYER YAMAHA, L.L.C. 1355 US HIGHWAY 41 WEST ISHPEMING, MI MEYERYAMAHA.COM

NELSON’S SPEED SHOP 4566 S GREENVILLE RD GREENVILLE, MI NELSONSSPEEDSHOP.COM

NORTHERN PWR SPRTS OF MIO INC 30 E KNEELAND ROAD MIO, MI NORTHERNPOWERSPORTS.COM

PAT’S AUTO & SPORTS CENTER 10612 HWY M-38 GREENLAND, MI PATSMOTORSPORTS.COM

PEACOCK LIMITED OF BALDWIN INC 276 S M37 BALDWIN, MI PEACOCKLTD.COM

PLANET POWERSPORTS 647 E CHICAGO RD COLDWATER, MI PLANET-POWERSPORTS.COM

PLATINUM POWERSPORTS 11745 CEDAR ROCK DR NE ROCKFORD, MI PLATINUMPOWERSPORTS.COM

PLATINUM POWERSPORTS COLOMA 5270 PAW PAW LAKE RD COLOMA, MI PLATINUMCOLOMA.COM

RAY C’S CYCLE & SPORTS INC 1422 IMLAY CITY RD LAPEER, MI RAYCS.COM

SPEED NATION POWERSPORTS, INC. 56605 PONTIAC TRL NEW HUDSON, MI SPEEDNATIONPOWERSPORTS.COM

STEVENS’ YAMAHA SALES 3638 S HURON RD BAY CITY, MI STEVENSCYCLE.COM

T & R YAMAHA, INC. 215 MAIN ST EAST JORDAN, MI TANDRYAMAHA.COM

TAWAS BAY MARINE & CYCLE 1690 E US 23 EAST TAWAS, MI TAWASBAYMC.COM

U.S. 27 MOTORSPORTS 5301 N US HIGHWAY 27 SAINT JOHNS, MI US27MOTORSPORTS.COM

VILLAGE MOTORSPORTS 13035 NEW HOLLAND ST HOLLAND, MI VILLAGEMOTORSPORTS.NET

ZEIGLER MOTORSPORTS 5001 PARK CIRCLE DR KALAMAZOO, MI ZEIGLERMOTORSPORTS.COM