TOP 5 OVAL RACING TRACKS
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600CC COULD NOT BE MORE FUN!
GOING HOME BOBBY DONAHUE’S RACE SLED FINALLY GOING HOME
INTO THE FUTURE SAFETY FEATURE CONCEPTS AVALANCHES WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO VOL 11 • NO 2 • $ 5.95
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POLARIS.COM/SNOWMOBILES
Offers valid on select new 2018-2021 Polaris snowmobiles purchased between August 1st, 2020 – October 31st, 2020. Minimum payments required. Offer may not be combined with certain other offers, is subject to change and may be extended or terminated without further notice. Model specifications subject to change. All rebates are paid to the dealer. The Promotional Limited Warranty consists of the standard 12-month y warranty plus an additional 12 or 24 months of additional promotional limited warranty coverage for a total of 24 or 36 months of warranty coverage. See dealer for details. Any additional warranty coverage after the initial 12 month factory warranty is subject to a $50.00 deductible per visit. Valid at participating Polaris Snowmobile dealers only. Model & year exclusions apply. See your local dealer for details. Polaris recommends that all riders take a safety training course. Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your capability. Always wear a helmet and other safety apparel. Never drink and ride.
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NOW AVAILABLE IN CANADA 2021 Arctic Cat snowmobiles have been issued a green light to be sold in Canada. Event: Snow Shoot 2021 Model Year Location: West Yellowstone, MT
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KING OF THE PICKIES Tyler Swarm strikes a pose in front of a Skillet crime scene.
Location: 100 acre field with one group of swamp trees. Rider: Our veteran Dan Skallet
contents
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FEATURES
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SEXY SIXES 600CC COULD NOT BE MORE FUN!
RACE SLED GOING HOME BOBBY DONAHUE’S RACE SLED FINALLY GOING HOME
ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 11 • ISSUE 2
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INTO THE FUTURE
FUTURISTIC SAFETY CONCEPTS
AVALANCHES
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
64 GEARBOX COLUMNS 16 DRIFTS
RICHARD KEHOE
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WINGING IT WITH LEVI
LEVI LAVALLEE
DEPARTMENTS
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INDUSTRY NEWS 18 WORD SEARCH 24 25 SUDOKU SNAP DECISION 26 TAKE 5 28 LAWN ORNAMENTS 34 GOT RISERS? 36
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drifts
Richard Kehoe
ALL ABOARD THE SNOW TRAIN! left over the years, and have made the investment to return. Just like the growth in riders on the dirt side of our off-road fraternity, you can expect the same on the snow side. More snow will make it easier for these riders to ride, and also help them to access the trail networks from their homes or vacation properties. The extra snow will also help with track building for the kids. This year should be very interesting on our 120/200 track, with the introduction of the new Venom and Blast 400cc snowmobiles. As I get older, I’m not sure if these days are more memorable for the kids or for the parents! With these new 400s lining up on the track, track days might end up being more for the adults than the kids. I can picture it now - four to six, 200+ pound, 40 somethings riding ith all that’s happening throughout the world these snowmobiles, and acting like they’re ten years old again. Oh days, I can’t help feel that a ride is long overdue. wait, that’s exactly what snowmobiling is! When the news broke this summer that many of us Let’s be done with 2020 and start a fresh 2021… were in for a season filled with heavy snowfall, according to the friendly Farmer’s Almanac, our anticipation was at an all ALLLLL aboard the Snow Train! time high. And not just a regular heavy snowfall prediction; so much snow in fact, that they are calling it a snow train. Usually around this time of year, us snowmobilers are planning our Fall Sled Shows to meet up at, and getting ready for the upcoming winter season, but this year feels a lot different. However, I believe the winter of 2021 is going to be one to remember. With the expected snowfall highs, it should make every snowmobiler’s season better, and it couldn’t come at a more needed time. We can’t wait to be a part of this snow train and see what it’s all about. Fingers crossed that we get the perfect sledders paradise this year. And this is especially true for the new riders coming into our sport, or even the riders that have
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ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 11 • ISSUE 2
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news CAT 01 ARCTIC ANNOUNCES
BLACK CATS
Arctic Cat’s famed pro ambassadors are back, continuing the legacy of one of the original Black Cats, Rob Kincaid! Kincaid’s closest friend and original Black Cat David McClure, and Kincaid’s son Riley, will continue to share Kincaid’s passion for the backcountry. The team also welcomes newcomers Kyle Saxton from Montana and Washington’s Maverick Walker. Both Saxton’s and Walker’s skilled backcountry riding on Arctic Cat sleds and passion for the sport make them perfect additions to the team.
03 ISOC
ANNOUNCES 2021 RACE TOUR
02 ISMA GIVES
2020 SEASON SNAP SHOT
In the year 2020 there was 123,862 snowmobiles sold around the globe with 94,571 sold in North America. Currently in North America there are more than 1.7 million registered snowmobiles resulting in an annual economic impact of $26 billion in the United States and $9.3 billion in Canada while Europe and Russian combined account for a$5 billion economic impact.
02
ISOC made some major scheduling changes with their upcoming 2021 series from the previous year with regards to venues and dates. For the first time in twenty-eight years the season opener will not be on Thanksgiving weekend at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN. New for 2021, ISOC’s season opener will be taking place at ERX in Elk River, MN, January 8-9, 2021. The 2021 series is set for seventeen rounds spanning over of eight weekends.
04 TAKE THE GUESS WORK OUT OF
YOUR NEXT TOUR AND ENJOY AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
If you want to take all the guess work out of your next adventure but experience everything and more than you can imagine, check out Ontario-Quebec Snowmobile Tours. They offer safe guided snowmobile tours in both the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Every tour features a support truck and trailer following you all the way with all your extra gear in tow. Allowing you to pack all your dancing shoes, extra socks and all the boot dryers you want. Ontario-Quebec Snowmobile Tours even have extra snowmobiles in the trailer “just in case”. Ontario-Quebec Snowmobile Tours look after all your travelling needs such as lodging, food and fuel stops along the trail. You will be staying at a different motel or resort every night and your lead guide and sweep guide make sure that you have a very safe experience and arrive during daylight in time for happy hour. For a list of their tours or if you want a custom tour visit www.ontsnow.com
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POLARIS 06 ANNOUNCES 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH ZERO MOTORCYCLES
Polaris announced a 10-year partnership with Zero Motorcycles as part of their rEV’d up initiative, a long-term strategy to position the company as a leader in powersports electrification. The partnership currently includes their snow and ORV divisions with plans to debut the first electric vehicles to by the end of 2021. Through rEV’d up, Polaris aims to offer customers an electric vehicle option within each of its core product segments by 2025. With Polaris’ scale and broad product lineup, this strategic partnership will be the largest in Zero Motorcycles’ history. Under this 10-year exclusive agreement, Polaris will develop, manufacture and sell electrified ORVs and snowmobiles using Zero’s powertrain technology, hardware and software. Zero Motorcycles has been designing, manufacturing and advancing electric motorcycles since 2006, and this partnership gives Polaris access to more than 14 years of experience and intellectual property.
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news
07 SNOWMOBILE
HALL FAME INDUCTS FOUR RACERS
John Faeo from Wasilla, AK won the 2,000-mile Iron Dog in Alaska an astonishing seven times between 1984 and 1996 and finished the famed race 23 times with an astonishing 13 podiums. Other notable accomplishments during Faeo’s racing career were nine Alaska Motor Musher XC race wins, six wins of the Talkeetna-to-Anchorage XC, and was also an Alaska Calcutta 120 XC Champ an impressive elven times. Green Bay, Wisconsin native, Dale Loritz has also been inducted this year. Loritz won a lot and won often. His race winning resume features two Eagle River World Championships in 1994 and 1995, fourteen USSA high point class championships. In 1989 Loritz claimed the Driver of the year award from both the USSA and Snow Week magazine. In 2003 Loritz was crowned the USSA Oval Racer of the year. Craig Marchbank of New Lennox, Illinois, has also been inducted in 2021. Marchbank had a snowmobile racing career that began in 1982 and spanned across three decades. Marchbank had more than 2,200 class final wins, twenty six high point championships in pro stock and twenty four high point improved stock championships and was a nine time Minnesota Cup Champion, five time Michigan Cup Champion and three time Wisconsin Cup Champ. Brian Sturgeon from Thief River Falls, Minnesota was the final inductee of the 2021 Class. Sturgeon won an impressive twelve Eagle River World Championship class titles, nine USSA high point championships, two MRP Formula III high point championships and World Series titles. When Sturgeon hung up his racing boots, he became the Arctic Cat Race Manager beginning in 1999.
08 KIMPEX EXPANDS
WESTERN WAREHOUSE
Late last month Kimpex announced that is was expanding its Calgary warehouse. With this western expansion Kimpex is able to meet the demands of both dealers and consumers in the western provinces quicker. Vice President of Sales at Kimpex, Michel Cote commented. “By doubling the storage space, we will be able to meet the growing demand of our Western Canadian markets. More quantity and diversity of products in the Calgary site will allow us to optimize our distribution and speed of our delivery services. This is really great news!” Based in Drummondville, Québec, the company has a network of more than 3,500 retailers in Canada and the United States. With its 2 distribution centres and over 86,000 products available, Kimpex is one of the largest players in the distribution of parts and accessories for motorized sports.
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09 TEKRIDER
STEPS UP AND ANSWERS THE CALL TO COVID-19
Earlier this year Tekrider, like so many other businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic were forced to stop producing their primary product, the TekVest. However, Steve Brand (owner and co-founder since 1996) saw the opportunity to pivot his production line, double the size of his team, and fill the need for medical grade PPE. Within 2 months, the Province of Ontario had provided Tekrider with an MDEL (Medical Devices Establishment Licence). This unique license certifies that any manufactured medical PPE meets the necessary safety requirements laid out by Health Canada. Tekrider has proudly been supporting the Province of Ontario by developing and distributing medical PPE for hospitals, fire departments, EMS, and the Province itself. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
ON SNOW MAGAZINE PRESENTS SNOWMOBILER TELEVISION
New Episodes begin On WILD TV Monday 8PM Wednesday 12PM Thursday 3:30PM
“CANADA’S OWN MOTORSPORTS NETWORK” CONTACT YOUR TV PROVIDER TODAY
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news
10 KLIM IS GIVING
AWAY BIG GEAR PRIZES TO FIVE LUCKY WINNERS EVERY WEEK UNTIL NOVEMBER 30!
In total KLIM is giving away $30,000 of prizes, including the new Edge Goggles, F3 helmets, gear bags, boots and more! In order to enter you have to do is prove to KLIM with a picture of your receipt or a screenshot of proof of online purchase showing that you bought any one of KLIM’s products from an authorized dealer or at KLIM.com on or after Aug. 1, 2020 to 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Nov. 29, 2020. Five winners will be announced each week for 15 weeks and prizes will be shipped upon announcement, starting Sept. 3, 2020 running until Nov. 30, 2020. Prizes will be drawn on the following dates: Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24. Oct. 1, 8,15, 22, 29. Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, 30.
11 LOOKING TO FIX UP YOUR OLD INDY?
Many times, older sleds go away and end up in the scrap heap for all of the wrong reasons. Often finding older parts are tough and without snowmobile trade shows and swap meets in 2020 you might be struggling finding the right stuff on your list. Indy Parts Plus has an abundance of slightly used POLARIS GOLD. Email them for all of your used Polaris stuff indypartsplus@hotmail. com let them know OSM sent you!
12 PLANE CRASH
SURVIVOR CREDITS SPOT DEVICE WITH RESCUE
There are many reason that we can tell you why you should ride with a SPOT satellite messenger but why listen to us when you can listen to John Gregory’s story. It was Tuesday April 23, 2019 and the 79 year old; John Gregory was flying out of his ranch near Challis, Idaho when something went wrong. Trying to make it to the nearest airport in McCall he crashed. When asked about the situation John was quoted, “The engine quit, and I ended up in a tree. By the grace of God, I didn’t fall out of it.” When the plane came to a stop a top of a 60-foot tree, John activated the S.O.S. button on his SPOT Gen 3 device. It took responders about 2 hours to get to the remote scene. where Captain Jason Speer with the Valley County Sheriff’s Office commented, “This rescue was aided with the SPOT device. The EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio beacon) put the crash 4 miles away, but the SPOT was right on the money. This was the most extreme recovery I have seen in 25 years of law enforcement service.” With the help of a harness, rescue crews were able to extract John from the plane and rappel him to safety, he was taken to the hospital as a precaution but was cleared with no serious medical issues, where he was quoted, “I’m glad I had it. I use it every day anyway. I can’t think of a better device.” We can’t think of why everyone doesn’t travel with a SPOT! www.FindMeSPOT.ca/OSM
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“CANADA’S OWN MOTORSPORTS NETWORK” CONTACT YOUR TV PROVIDER TODAY
WWW.REVTV.CA
/ R E V T VC A N A DA |
@ R E V T V.C A |
@ R E V T VC A N A DA
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Need some time alone in your thinking room, have a seat on the throne and WORD SEARCH - OCTOBER "October" E W Z D R U O G A T L M A B A F K P R S J
X G I D V I L R D Y N I C I D E R U S T R
F H E R S M L A I S T K O A L R V M Q I O
O A F N E D R V N F R E L M A A A P U N S
O B D P I L E Y N O I E D S C D N K E R N
T R C U V C L B G N C R F O O U L I S E O
B B T M O T Z I H V K I E B R G I N U B V
A S H S M U S F R X O N B P E H S I M O E
L C A H Y K C O U H R G S L I S Y S S T M
L S R T R Y A O D A T Y F W P T N T Q C S
A H V A A D R D T Y R V A I U L O I U O V
P Y E Y C U C G R A E I T N S O T O A H E
U N S P S E R I P M A V S E B T I D C R N
T M T S I E I F R K T U R K E Y E O I A O
R U F P L K S F E P N C K G W A C K T K T
E T E P I N P Y G I S S P I D E R S C E A
A U P A J L D S H E D Y T L S J E L Y A E
T A C O R N Y P W O R C E R A C S A S T J
M E N Y A O S C H O H T D A S L P E L C R
P K I C E R H A L L O W E E N E S P L I T
Acorn Acorn Apple Autumn Apple Boots Autumn Candy Boots Cider Cold Candy Crisp Cider Fire Pit Cold Football Gourd Crisp Gravy Fire Pit Halloween Harvest Football Hay Gourd Jacket Gravy October Pie Halloween Pumpkin Harvest Rain Hay Rake Scarecrow Jacket Scary Movies October Spiders Thriller Pie Trick Or Treat Pumpkin Turkey Rain Vampire Web Rake Witch
Scarecrow Scary Movies Spiders Thriller Trick Or Treat Turkey Vampire Web Witch
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OSM The Sport. The Lifestyle. For Snowmobilers. From Snowmobilers. SUDOKU - EASY OSM The Sport. 1 The Lifestyle. For 8 Snowmobilers. From Snowmobilers. 5 5 3 3 1 1
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Sudoku - Medium SUDOKU- Medium - MEDIUM Sudoku 9 94
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25
snap decision
Zach Herfindahl #312 Pro Arctic Cat Racer
Eagle River, Wisconsin native, Zach Herfindahl, is a prominent name in the modern Cross-Country racing world. Herfindahl, age 24, has made his name known in the xc scene, in a short ten years of racing. He has claimed six USXC Pro Stock championships and three Pro Open championships. He has also won the USXC I-500 three times, and the Soo I-500 once (2018). For this issue’s edition of Snap Decision we asked Zach four easy questions. Race One, Sell One, Ride One and Collect One…and GO!
RACE ON E
ARCTIC CAT ZR6000XC
Zach says it’s the best all-around handling snowmobile in production right now! And given his blazing speed and hardware to back it up, who are we to argue?
RI DE ONE
YAMAHA ENTICER The go to sled for all ages! Like many in our youth, Zach has fond memories of ripping around Wisconsin on an Enticer and being instantly hooked on the sport.
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NE SELL O
1980 ARCTIC CAT SNO PRO
When you have a massive collection that he describes as “getting out of hand”, it’s expected that something has to go. We were a little surprised to learn he’d want to sell what was quite possibly the most beautiful Arctic Cat race sled of all-time.
COLLECT ONE
ARCTIC CAT
We asked Zach to choose one. No dice! Zac is a huge Arctic Cat fan, and his collection shows it. His 25+ snowmobiles all deserve their own pedestal.
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take 5
TOP 5 OVAL RACING TRACKS
Turning left is harder than you think! I’ve heard all the barstool banter in the world regarding oval racing, but truth be told, this is where most of the biggest innovations in snowmobiling originated. From IFS, (Independent Front Suspension) to track and traction product design, to steering, braking, rear suspension, engine development, and so much more. We put our heads together to come up with what we believe are the most influential 5 oval racing tracks of all time. Currently (and historically), the big oval racing association has been the USSA, (United States Snowmobile Association) and many of the tracks here are hotspots for this fantastic group of sled enthusiasts (see more below on USSA). We understand there are plenty of places around Canada and the US that could be on this list, but here is some fodder for your next discussion with your friends. In no particular order, here are our top 5… Valcourt, Eagle River, Soo I-500, Ironwood, and Beausejour (or Eagenville).
IRONWOOD
On the very western side of Michigan’s upper peninsula, bordering Wisconsin, is a place where the snow is deep, trails are great, and there’s an oval track with many years of history attached to it. The little town of Ironwood, MI, and its sister town of Hurley, WI are prime destinations for riders and racers alike. Just a little ways south of Lake Superior, it’s hard to find a greater local for snowmobile racing. In 1968, the first race was held here, and the ½ mile track has seen plenty of innovations from Polaris. Its first IFS sleds dominated some of the fastest racing snowmobile engines on the planet, screaming around the ½-mile. In recent years, the racing has not always been able to take place for several reasons, so this has not been 52 years of consecutive events, but the significance of this arena cannot be understated when talking about the top tracks in North America. The TLR cup has made this a stop for many recent racing seasons, and all the aforementioned big names of the past have run here. Like Eagle River and many other oval racing venues, the vintage class on the USSA circuit is very popular, and there has been literally a class for every racer at Ironwood throughout the years. It has been a breeding ground for both OEM innovations, and grooming up and coming racers.
SOO I-500
One of the most grueling races out there! That is the truth when you are talking about the I-500 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This little area town actually straddles the Canada/US border, as there is both a Soo Ontario and Soo Michigan. The event draws racers heavily from all across both countries, and you can’t miss the track off I-75 as you come into town. In 1969, the first I-500 was held, and loosely made to mimic the Indy 500, with race coordinators attempting a 500-mile race. In those days, (as now) that was one heckuva long race! It tests endurance; mind; body; machine; crew; and more, like few other races ever conceived. The 1-mile racetrack was actually put together by folks from the U.S. and Canada and the Corp of Engineers. Racers like Gabe Bunke and Corey Davidson are multiple year winners here, and other famous I-500 racers from the past like John Wicht III, Gerard Karpik, Brian Musselman, and many more have held the checkered flag after the unbelievable feat of finishing. In the early days, this was a snow-only event, but now is mainly an ice-event… however, if you’ve ever visited the Soo, you know that 10-20 inches of snow in a day is not uncommon!
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EAGLE RIVER
If it is Valcourt in Canada that is the grand-daddy, it is Eagle River in the US that holds that kind of respect from sled-heads. Every great oval racer has laid tracks on this circle, and plenty of big name snocross and freestyle folks have raced here as well. In the heart of the Midwest Snowbelt, Eagle River, one of several places that calls itself the “Snowmobile Capital of The World”, has drawn crowds since 1964. Just down the road is where Carl Eliason claimed he invented the first snowmobile… but obviously, that is a bar stool racing discussion that many Bombardier purists will discuss at length. The Decker family bought the Derby in 1985, and it has been in their family ever since. P.J. Wanderschied still holds the most wins at this historic venue with 4, and Jacques Villeneuve is second with 3 wins. Other winners include snowmobile hall of famers Mike Trapp, Brad Hulings, and soooo many more! The weekend starts out with Friday Night Thunder, and racing all Saturday and Sunday. Like other premier venues, The Derby has heated VIP areas, a huge indoor exhibit area, CTV system to watch anywhere inside, and plenty of cold and warm beverages to keep you hydrated throughout the weekend. The Derby Track is also closest in proximity to yours truly, (Mark Boncher) and after shooting, doing video, and being ringside for many years… well, there is just nothing like this event and venue!
VALCOURT
Home of BRP, Ski-Doo, and the birthplace of the snowmobile! There’s plenty to do up here for the sled enthusiast, from touring the J. Armand Bombardier museum, to seeing the factory, to trail rides. But there is also the Grand Prix De Valcourt! For almost 40 years now, this oval racing event, (yes, there have also been snocross events here for some time but stay focused) has brought in people by the thousands. It is no wonder as Ski-Doo is a company near and dear to the hearts of many Canadians. Today, this is still a true ‘event’ with 5-7 different types of racing from kids, to snow bikes, to ovals to snocross, and drag-racing in many years as well. Heralded by many as the first international snowmobile festival in 1982, there is live music, heated VIP areas/lodges and more. The racing is second to none, and heritage is thick in the blood of Ski-Doo oval racers with names like Yvon Duhamel, 3-time winner Jacques Villeneuve, and many more plastered on races and throughout the event. This is the 4th stop on the USSA Prostar oval racing series, and takes place in early February12-14th, 2021. The sheer amount of people (roughly 30,000 on a good year) that this event brings in from many across Quebec, but also all over North America, is testament to the viability of this oval race making our top 5… just remember to use the local language as much as possible. A friendly “Merci” goes a long way when ordering that Budweiser in the stands.
BEAUSEJOUR
The Canadian Power Toboggan Championships (or CPTC) is held each year in Beausejour, Manitoba, just northeast of Winnipeg. It is plenty cold up here, and other than having pro hockey back in town, folks get equally excited about snowmobile racing. This place had to make the list just for the words ‘Power Toboggan’ in the name! Like plenty of other places and people making snow vehicles shortly after WWII, some of the first single person, track-driven snowmobiles were created by fabricator Mike Bosak just north of Beausejour. Getting its start by the Lions Club in 1963, this race lays claim to the oldest and longest running snowmobile race in the world. I don’t care what kind of snowmobiling you like, if you are a sled enthusiast, you have to appreciate a history like that. The true oval racing was established there in 1967, and in 1969 the race was featured on the Wide World of Sports. In 1976, the surface started using ice instead of snow for the racing surface on the oval. Old school track racers like Yvonne Duhamel and Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve, and Dick Trickle, (NASCAR folks might remember this name) as well as many newer racers like Terry Wahl, Gary Moyle, Nick Vanstrydonk, and P.J. Wanderschied have all raced here. The CPTC has had some big payouts to racers over the years, but you know what they say about racing, ‘the best way to become a millionaire in racing is to start off as a billionaire.’ The ½ mile track also boasts being the premier snowmobile racing event in Canada. I am sure other venues would dispute that, but you can count those other places on less than one hand.
What is the USSA?
Unless you’ve been living under 10-feet of snow for the last seven decades, you have probably heard of the USSA. It is the first, oldest, and most important oval racing association and sanctioning body in snowmobiling. Sanctioning races since 1967 across the US and Canada, and in existence since 1965, the USSA ProStar series has seen just about every innovation, elite racer, and OEM race in their events. The USSA was essential in laying down a uniform set of rules for racing, and especially in the high points of snowmobile sales/oval racing, this was extremely important. Today, each USSA race has trained professional race directors, registration and operation, plus technical inspection folks on site, and the rules have become much more stringent than in the early days. For more info check out www.ussaprostar.com www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
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winging it LEVI LAVALLEE
THE ITCH My view until the snow flies.
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eaves have changed colors, temperatures are coming down, the boats are out the water, and there is an echo of a dirt bike ripping around a track! I am that dirt biker because I have the itch! During the summer we spend as much
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time as we can on the lake, either on the beach or in the boat, but usually by the beginning of August, I start getting antsy to ride. Around that same time each year, my brother-in-law Joe (who loves riding moto) has a group of buddies that go on a family camping / ride weekend over
Labor Day weekend. He has been telling me about all the fun the families have, and all the riding he gets to do over the long weekend. This has always been a trip I think my family would love to go on, but the problem was that we do not have a camper. I chalked it up as a trip we
Did I remember everything?
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wouldn’t be participating in until we owned a camper, but last year at Hay Days, the solution was in the booth right next to ours! The “neighbor” to the LaVallee booth was Fractional Toys. The thing that lured me over to their booth was this trailer with big merchandise windows that had big screen TV’s, couches, bar stools, and everything that made me think- “Man, that would be awesome for tailgating!” I went over to see what the deal was with the sweet trailer, and find out what Fractional Toys was all about. The owner, Rick, greeted me and began to explain that the “Game Day” trailer was indeed the ultimate tailgating set-up, (even has his and hers bathrooms!) as well how Fractional Toys came to be and what their mission is. “We want to get people outside to enjoy the outdoors with campers, ATVs, UTVs, boats, and many other “toys”, but without the costs and worries of all the maintenance that goes with owning them.” This struck a chord with me for two reasons- my brother-in-law Joe just returned from the Labor Day weekend moto camping trip, and also because I have a fair number of toys, it always seems like every time I go to use one, I have to change the oil, charge the battery, air up the tires, or do some sort of maintenance before I can enjoy them! Having access to all the toys that Fractional Toys has without the cost and time of doing
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Fun riding with Ryan Dungey and Mike Schultz.
I’m washing my bike like Daddy.
So ready to be blasting a VR1 down a trail!
Moto Camping was a blast!
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all the maintenance, was making a lot sense to me. This August, I hit up Rick and lined up a camper for the Moto camping trip, and what an awesome weekend it was with the family and friends! We definitely left with some great memories from the trip. Thank you Rick and Fractional Toys for helping make that possible! The next weekend was another powersports infused weekend with the ERXPO and the Ryan Dungey St. Jude charity ride. What a pleasure it was to be on the moto track with multi-time Motocross and Supercross Champion, Ryan Dungey! It’s no secret he is fast on a dirt bike, but seeing him fly by you and not be visible in front of you within a matter of a few corners was incredible to experience, and it became very apparent to me that my dirt bike skills need A LOT OF WORK! Ha ha. The ERXPO really made me feel at home. Being able to see some of the snowmobile industry “family”, and some of the new stuff coming for 2021 was great! It got me all jacked up to ride, so I am in full “counting the days until the snow flies“ mode! For the time being, I’ll be scratching that itch with my dirt bikes and Ranger!
Lauren Schultz (Mike Schultz’s Daughter) won the jersey!
Ryan, Mike, and myself sign my jersey which was raffled off for St. Jude.
This gets me fired up for winter!
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Wheel Pros had this crazy RZR at ERXPO.
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lawn ornaments The fever for Lawn Ornaments has never been stronger as your submissions keep filling up our inbox. From rusted and forgotten buggies behind the garage, to those purt-near-mint, center-of-the-lawn, almost modern rides just waiting for first snow, we want to see the lawn ornaments in your neck of the snowbelt. Snap a photo and send it in. If your photo is selected and published, you will receive a freshly screened OSM t-shirt. Email your pics to info@osmmag.com. Remember, curb appeal is nice…snowmobiles are better. Clearly the Moto-Skis with all of the racing stickers is the only runner of this batch. - Alex Lamore
I found this Ski-Doo Safari Saga in the neighbouring house’s backyard while I was at BarBQ this past summer. Not only has it probably been a solid three decades since the last time I saw a Safari Saga, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s a better one protected under the blue tarp. - Anonymous Passionate Sled Lover
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A face that only a mother could love. This is just a defeated sight. Ripped seat, headlights hanging by a wire, twisted bumper and only one ski. It’s pretty safe to say that this sled needs a lot of love. - Dave Poidy ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 11 • ISSUE 2
If you are wondering what is in the garage? Well so are we. Electric scooter, lawn mower, small trailer and a Phazer II were left out in the hot summer sun. There must be something good in there… Man cave?
Dumped on a pile of rocks beside a dumpster is no way to treat this once beauty. Clearly this Exciter II’s best days are well behind it.
Kevin Leveille emailed this photo in to showcase his love of his ZRTs and his security measures that he has implemented to protect them. Where do we begin.. By taking the windshield off of the one sled, he is able to pick up an extra few miles per hour on Kevlar Lake. The tightly wrapped clear plastic obviously was done to protect the seat and the 150 HP triple cylinder engine and discourage and local thieves. Now how would you protect the other ZRT with a flared Sportech windshield? It’s quite simple really, just take the skis off.
No matter what it is; cars, dogs, children, etc., when you have two of something, one always feels it’s treated differently. And this is true for snowmobiles too! Kevin Van Veen sent this photo in and you can see the way he tucked away the one sled, which has a clean new windshield, an un-ripped seat propped up on a wood pedestal framed by a perfectly manicured lawn. …While the other was laid within a bed of weeds and features nothing but a broken window. ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 11 • ISSUE 2 Kevin, your favortisim is showing.
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tand up and the loud can bark! Our call out for big risers has been met with cheers and plenty of enthusiasm. More than a few of you “know a guy” who not only likes to ’stand-up” but does so with nothing less than 12-inches of finely crafted riser. With that we tip our hat and give you a proper salute with a cheap can of ale to this issue’s best riser submissions. Have you seen a crazy handlebar riser set-up on a snowmobile in your neck of the snow belt? If so, snap a few pics and send them to info@osmmag.com and if we print them you will find a new OSM t-shirt in your mailbox.
Richard Labelle sent a photo of his worked up Thundercat featuring Fusion hand guards to keep his hands warm while being way up there on his adjustable risers. We like the fact that he also has a snack bag for his twinkies on his risers.. yum! Risers Eh! Brah! My Identical twin bro and I picked up some 8” risers, guards and grab bars a few years ago. World of difference on the ole F7s! - Aaron Faulkner
Love the Mag...need some Swag. I stand at 6’ 8” Tall and Risers is the Call. I love Bombing the trails and powder standing, and these bad-boyz make it happen! Hope this gets a notice and keep up the good work! - Thanks from the Trail Tramp
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Travis Alley submitted this photo of his first ride. Yup we’d say he’s got some Riser Brah! www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
eam. T A B The B d n a t h urand B s i r hroug h t s C e s m a rn fro purch a e e r l o t & S utube h t e o i y n i r l w u n e o ng o tO Rid r maili cribe t urand
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BY MARK BONCHER
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MORE FBOUNCNHE!R E B T O N D L U O C BY MARK 600CC
is no reason! No reason, there veral of our tion I got from se That was the reac needed an en asked if they riders this year wh two 600cc e es t done riding th entrants 850, after they go st we ne e s this year. Th ile ob m ow sn ss e cla e th all new ed 600cc class ar into the trail-focus tform, and the e new Matryx pla Polaris VR-1 in th . These two rm tfo the Gen 4 pla in x XZ M oo i-D Sk ight class, and y above their we punch waaayyyy an their 850cc the trail better th honestly handle y instances. an m compadres in y little o sweet and sass We put these tw this ide -s e paces side-by we ponies through th , oy rb ve Lo words of year, and in the ose th r Fo it’! of te y minu were ‘Lovin ever e 80’s, not children of th e ar o wh u yo of smile rt se (in YouTube. you can find it on ers) ad re r ge un yo e emoji here for th
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carbon fiber and rigid-aluminum, plus structural bonding as well as space-age computational fluid dynamics for air flow… well, this sled is more than just light and fun, it is well engineered. The Matryx platform was derived from lessons learned on the race-track, and LOTS of rider feedback. The biggest difference in rider feel, in my opinion, is the 4.8-inch narrower console which is 3-inch narrower at the knees. I am not a big person, so with shorter legs comes less mobility on many sleds. Being able to lean to keep that front ski down in the corners is imperative, and this sled allows very good maneuverability and cuts down on fatigue when riding hard for long periods of time. Skinny side panels and a right-size windshield also help with movement and give a good ‘bubble’ where the rider can relax and be well protected from the wind. Up front is the Polaris IFS front suspension with WER Velocity shocks. Walker Evans makes an incredible absorber, and these are some of the best yet from one of the world’s foremost off-road shock manufacturers. In back is the Pro-CC rear skid with WER shocks as well - A 2-inch diameter front shock and a Velocity rear shock. This is a super playful machine, and you can easily transfer to bring up the front end and toss it around. Plus, buyers had the option of a 15x129x1.25 Ice Ripper XT, or the Cobra with 1.35-inch
THE NEW NIGHBLADE HEADLIGHT HAS SIX PROJECTOR BEAM OPTICS SO YOU CAN SEE FARTHER AND WIDER ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
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EASY STORAGE BEHIND THE GAUGE WAS JUST ONE SMART DESIGN ON THE MATRYX.
SLIM ERGONOMICS AND SCULPTED PANELS PROVIDE EASY MANEUVERING AND POSITIVE AIRFLOW AROUND THE RIDER.
THE PRO-CC REAR SUSPENSION UTILIZES A 2-INCH DIAMETER FRONT SHOCK AND WER VELOCITY REAR SHOCK.
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POLARIS SMACKS ONE OUT OF THE PARK!
OK
, ok, let’s just calm all the Polaris faithful down a bit, because I know you’re all going ga-ga over the new 650 Patriot motor. On second thought, go nuts! This thing is fantastic! Modeled after the 850 Patriot, there’s plenty in common, but from a rider’s standpoint, the throttle pull is extremely smooth, and it’s never doggy. Top speed is better than 700 class sleds that many of us still remember riding, and it doesn’t care if you keep at WOT, or WFO, for those of us who www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
cursed with joy when we first took it out on a wide open lake. The twin cylinder, liquid cooled, Cleanfire injected sled still has the 3-stage VES exhaust with a single pipe, and it actually sounds smooth. Polaris went another step further with this sled by dropping it into the all-new Matryx platform. At 467 pounds dry weight, this sled is one that you can really toss around, and it likes it! Polaris touts a ‘class-leading power-to-weight ratio’, and so far we don’t have reason to deny that claim. Albeit with 50+ more cc’s than others in this class, by all means it should have the best ratio. That said, using
THE MATRYX PLATFORM WAS DERIVED FROM LESSONS LEARNED ON THE RACE-TRACK, AND LOTS OF RIDER FEEDBACK. ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 11 • ISSUE 2
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Rider Comments
This sled sets the benchmark for easiest to ride track/trail sleds in 2020. Adding the extra 8” track length, it will perform even better than its AXYZ predecessor. JASON KAWCZYNSKI, ALWAYS COMPARING ‘TRACK LENGTHS’.
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lugs, or the Storm with 1.5-inch lugs. With the Storm track, this sled actually does VERY well off-trail. If you know how to ride in deep snow, this sled is a blast out in an open meadow or ditch-banging and jumping berms. Even at altitude, this sled was one that many of our riders gravitated towards, over some of the 850 sleds in open play areas. We would certainly suggest the option of electric start, and this comes standard with PERC reverse. Options also included a tall windshield or mid-height shield with
handguards… the mid-height is more of a small shield, so this is a question of form versus function. Finally, you get the all-new 7S digital display. This is the nicest in the industry hands-down as it come with Ride Command, touch screen, GPS, and all the bells and whistles. We love the Bluetooth and USB connectivity, in addition to all the wayfinding options. But equally as nice is all the gauge configurations to see multiple read-outs of engine temp, elevation, mph, tach, etc… and it is big and easy to see.
THE MATRYX HAD 3 TRACK OPTIONS FOR BUYERS INCLUDING AN ICE RIPPER, COBRA, AND NEW STORM 150.
WITH A NEW 650 OR THE 850 PATRIOT LIGHTWEIGHT MOTOR OPTIONS THE NEW MATRYX IS FAST AND FLICKABLE.
FROM THE RIDER’S STANDPOINT YOU CAN SEE HOW EASY AND ACCESSIBLE, ALL THE NECESSITIES ARE.
THE NEW 7S DIGITAL DISPLAY HAS MORE OPTIONS OUT OF THE GATE THAN ANY OTHER STANDARD GAUGE IN THE INDUSTRY. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
WER VELOCITY SHOCKS ARE SOME OF THE MOST CAPABLE SHOCKS ON THE SNOW AND SOAK UP BUMPS BIG AND SMALL. ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 11 • ISSUE 2
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MXZX 600R SET THE BAR
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or many years’, riders have been hard pressed to find a trail machine equal to the MXZx. This year is no different. If you want a sled that you can put just about anyone on and they will have a good time on the trail, the 600r powered MXZx is absolutely a go-to sled for a majority of our test riders and their families. I ‘accidentally’ took a wrong turn on one of our test sessions so I could spend a good 30 minutes just riding this sled by myself around a long loop of twisty, turny, sweeping, trail… and I’ve been riding sleds for almost 40 years.
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If there has ever been a true 600cc motor sled that can hang with 800cc sleds, it is this E-TEC direct-injected 2-stroker. Our little red demo sled had insanely smooth power, and with a 30% improvement in throttle response, that power was always there when you wanted it. A big reason this sled is as silky as it is on and off the gas is the pDrive primary clutch and the QRS secondary. The pDrive may be the best drive clutch in the industry. The liquid cooled twin motor winds out to 8100rpm, and is happy
as a clam holding that speed for miles on end. This sled is soooo lightweight
THE NEW RMOTION X IMPROVES ON AN ALREADY FANTASTIC REAR SKID AND ALLOWS EVEN MORE TRAVEL. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
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THE FORWARD ADJUSTABLE RISER ALLOWS THE RIDER TO CHOOSE ONE OF FOUR BAR POSITIONS BY SIMPLY PULLING A TAB AND SLIDING THE BARS TO THE DESIRED POSITION. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
THE TECHNOLOGY AND OPTIONS IN THE NEW 7.8” WIDE PANORAMIC GAUGE GIVES RIDERS ALMOST ANY READ-OUTS YOU WOULD LIKE.
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as well, and at 457lbs. claimed dry weight, it is even lighter than the new Matryx. Like the Matryx this sled also came with three separate track options including the Ripsaw and Ice Ripper with 1.25-inch lugs, and the Ice Ripper XT with 1.5-inch lugs. Again, I personally like the 1.5-inch lugs as it makes the machine a little more usable off-trail. Also, with all the accessory options afforded by Ski-Doo’s LinQ system, you can make this sled pretty versatile with hardly any work involved. From extra gas cans to storage, to 2-up seats and more, this accessory platform is still setting the bar for the industry. You can also change ski stance from 42.1 inches to 43.9 inches. This is nice for both trail ridA 600R E-TEC MOTOR OUTPUNCHES ANY OTHER TRUE 600CC SLED ON THE MARKET WITH POWER AND EASY OF USE.
ers and folks who venture off into the fluff every now and then. Also new on this machine for 2020 is the rMotion X rear suspension. The rMotion already set the tone once for trail performance, and Ski-Doo is doing it again with an upgraded version. More travel and a new adjustable angle, longer front arm gives the rider the ability to put more pressure on the front skis, or relax it for a more playful ride. You could also get the quick-adjust system on this sled that easily allows you to change the rebound and shock damping by just turning a cam or knob on each side of the system that is mounted on either side of the running boards, behind your feet. Shock absorption comes from HPG Plus shocks over the skis, and in the center skid shock, while a KYB Pro-36 with easy adjustment is in the rear. Also new is the Pilot X and TX ski. While the debate among our test riders continues on which system (quick adjust TX/TS skis, or Pilot skis). Either way, the more rigid and more aggressive ski does help with some darting, but the Pilots were always pretty darn good at cornering… now they are better, if you can believe that. A larger runner plate and more progressive runner
angle, along with a tipped up end all work together for better, loose snow handling, more consistent grip and predictability. One of the things we love about this sled and ski and the whole package, is how it can track through stutter bumps in aggressive corners and hold an edge. When you see your inside ski just ticking through the bumps in the corner at a consistent level, you know you’ve got it right. Finally, the adjustable riser can move 4-inches forward-back in 4 different locations. This is a really easily adjustable and superbly finished feature that you don’t get on any other sleds in the industry, from the factory. There’s plenty more little things on this sled we can point out that we like, from a service focus and fit/finish focus, but it’s a long list!
THE PDRIVE PRIMARY CLUTCH IS SMOOTH, RESPONSIVE, AND MAKES DRIVING THE MXZX A BREEZE FOR NOVICE RIDERS AND A JOY FOR EXPERTS.
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End of the day
At the end of the day, the Polaris Matryx is the newest sled on the market, and has lots of upsides. The MXZx is tried and true, with tons of upgrades and options too. It may come down to price, and the Ski-Doo is a little bit less expensive for comparable options, but you can’t go wrong with either. If I were to pick one for only the trails, I would go with the MXZx, but if I were to pick one for all-around, almost everything riding, (but mostly trails) I would pick the Matryx. Just my own two cents, so we don’t sound like people who can’t make decisions!
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BY BRENT GEERLINGS.
here’s just something about your first sled that you never forget. Through the good times and the bad, it’s where your snowmobiling journey originated. If you still have your first ride, you’re one of the lucky few. There are those of us that have repurchased the exact same model that we started with, in order to relive those innocent or crazy memories. That said, it’s unusual if it’s ever the same. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
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BEFORE STEVE ST. ONGE OWNED BOTH BOBBY DONAHUE’S AND DOUG HAYES’S 1978 RACE SLEDS, THEY BELONGED TO A COLLECTOR NAMED DAVE BALDWIN.
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or Bobby Donahue, it was even better. He found the opportunity to bring home his first Ski-Doo racing sled from 1978, and in showroom, collector like condition. It was six years ago that we visited the Kushog Klassic event in Dorset, Ontario. This is where we first caught a glimpse of the famed Wisconsin snowmobile racer Bobby Donahue’s 1978 #11 Skid-Doo 440 Super Modified Blizzard, courtesy of the owner Dave Baldwin. Dave not only had Donahue’s #11 but also his 1978 teammate, #8 Doug Hayes race sled. They looked better than they did when they were lined up in front of the factory Ski-Doo
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hauler, waiting to do their business. Needless to say, everyone was taking pictures of the beautiful snowmobile tag team from the Valcourt factory. The crew and I caught up with the the owner at that time of the 440 Super Mods, Dave Baldwin, and he explained to us how he brought them back to life. The snowmobile collector knew that they were a great part of snowmobile race history, especially for Ski-Doo factory racers - Championship racers! Baldwin even had both racers sign their old sleds in specific locations to verify their authenticity.
KNOWING THE TYPE OF ATTENTION THESE SLEDS SHOULD BE GETTING, STEVE FELT THESE SLEDS WEREN’T GETTING THE PROPER ATTENTION THAT THEY DESERVED.
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THIS WAS AN ICONIC NUMBER ON AN ICONIC SLED.
THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL SPILLED IN TO THE DESIGN OF SKIDOO’S 440 SUPER MODIFIED BLIZZARD.
To our surprise, this wouldn’t be the last time we saw these sleds. These soughtafter collectables changed ownership from Dave Baldwin to Steve St. Onge. Steve is the owner St. Onge Recreation, a Ski-Doo dealership in Ontario, and has a passion for vintage snowmobiles. As a result, he has some very rare pieces, and purchased both these race sleds from his good friend to add to his collection. St. Onge knew the relevance of these snowmobiles that his friend sold him. He had this to share about his friend, “Dave’s a big-time collector, super detail-oriented guy. I’ve seen some of his sleds and I was like... jealous. Nice, nice stuff, documented race sleds. So, getting my hands on them was pretty cool.” Knowing the type of attention these race sleds deserved, St. Onge really like the idea of having them on display at his dealership where people could admire them and take photos of them. However, he stressed that many didn’t understand their relevance or their value, and would try to sit on them or put their kids on them for a photo op. What St. Onge really needs is a museum, not just for these snowmobiles, but for his entire collection so that others can ogle over them. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
THE 440 ROTAX WAS A STUNNING POWERPLANT.
FORMER OWNER DAVE BALDWIN HAD DONAHUE PERSONALLY SIGN THE CLUTCH GUARD BACK IN THE DAY FOR AUTHENTICITY.
42 YEARS LATER, DONAHUE IS ALL SMILES WHILE BACK ABOARD THE #11.
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BOBBY DONAHUE TAKING POSSESSION OF HIS 1978 440 SUPER MODIFIED BLIZZARD FROM STEVE ST. ONGE.
At a Ski-Doo dealer meeting, Steve St. Onge bumped into the famed snowmobile racer Bobby Donahue, who is now the owner of a snowmobile and powersports dealership in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin named Donahue Super Sports. At this SkiDoo dealer meeting, St. Onge mentioned to Donahue that he had his old #11 1978 Ski-Doo Super Mod race sled in factory condition. It wasn’t too long after that when St. Onge’s phone started to ring with an interested buyer. Donahue started the dance to regain his old #11. The future seller wasn’t anywhere close to wanting to A – putting a price to it, or B –
selling it. For St. Onge, he purchased both the #8 and the #11, 1978 Ski-Doo 440 Super Modified Blizzards to keep them together in his significant vintage collection. After much thought and many discussions, St. Onge started to understand more of why Donahue wanted his old race sled. When we photographed this sled, St. Onge commented, “If there’s one person in the world that really should have it, it’s the guy who originally raced it.” Back in the day, factory racers like Bobby Donahue didn’t get to keep their race sleds, and for him to have the opportunity to be reunited with his #11 Ski-Doo,
COLLECTORS OF SUCH RARE SNOWMOBILES ARE CARFUL TO KEEP THEM IN SUCH SHOWROOM CONDITION. IF YOU WOKE UP TOMORROW NEXT TO DONAHUE’S #11, YOU COULD BE CONVINCED THAT THE YEAR WAS 1978.
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especially in the like-new restored condition it was in. This was simply a phenomenal opportunity, and selling Donhaue his old race sled turned out to be turned out to be more important for Steve St. Onge than having it in his private collection. Donahue wasn’t always the Valcourt factory’s stud racer. Prior to him swinging his leg over the Ski-Doo 440 Super Mod in ‘78, he used to be a factory Yamaha driver. When he was growing up, his father was a Yamaha and Moto-Ski dealer which made it easy for Donahue to start racing and eventually become a factory Yamaha racer. When Ski-Doo approached the
THIS 440 SUPER MOD LOOKS EVEN BETTER TODAY THAN IT DID 42 YEARS AGO WHEN THE RACE SHOP FROM VALCOURT, QUEBEC DELIVERED IT TO EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN, FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
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a Ski-Doo, but not before 1988. Clearly, it wasn’t the same snowmobile as the famed run a decade earlier, but the sled still had #11 on it. However, that 1978 Ski-Doo 440 Super Mod was a huge part of his life and snowmobile racing career. When Steve St. Onge agreed to sell the old #11 Ski-Doo to Bobby Donahue, Donahue said it perfectly, and anyone would only be thrilled for him to have his original Ski-Doo back, “It’s nice to be united with it again, it’s a part of history that I’m taking back home with me. It’ll be with me for the rest of my life.” This was part of St-Onge’s pride collection, and a true showpiece and that’s why he purchased it. I think it’s important for all to know, that he chose to sell this snowmobile to Bobby Donahue for not a penny more than what he purchased it for from Dave Baldwin. Steve St. Onge knew the importance of this snowmobile when he bought it, and humbly knew that the best home for the original #11 Ski-Doo was with Donahue.
young Donahue, they knew prying him off a Yamaha wasn’t going to be easy, especially with his father having a dealership. He wasn’t too sure if his father was enamored with the idea of racing Ski-Doo, but his father and good friend Dick Trickle both said to the young Donahue, “If SkiDoo thinks your worth that much money and Yamaha doesn’t, you’d better ride that darn yellow Ski-Doo!” Donahue’s first race with his new factory was in 1978, at the Champion’s Race in Eagle River, Wisconsin. He almost won that race, which was the World Champion-
ship on the new #11. While Donahue was picking up his race sled from St. Onge he drifted back 42 years like it was yesterday to recount that race for us. In his words, “It was a 15-lap feature race back then. Factory Polaris driver Steve Thorson had a big lead in the race, and I kept moving up in the ranks. With about five laps to go, I was in second place and was closing in on him. I probably got it down to three or four sled lengths, and ended up blowing a belt with a lap and a half to go. We almost kind of expected it, because we had a spare belt duct taped under the back of the bumper. And back then, the only person who could work on a sled was the racer. I threw the hood off, threw the clutch guard off, and burned my hands to a pulp changing that belt. You have to know if it was hot enough to blow, then those clutches were burning. I put the belt on, threw the hood on, threw the clutch guard over the fence, and we went on to finish fourth.” Unfortunately for Donahue and his new factory team, the World Championship race in Eagle River wasn’t an easy victory. Many thought that he would just dominate this track after the first time on a Ski-Doo in 1978. He was a heavy favorite for many years after his heroic run in 1978. He ultimately got to the winner’s circle aboard
THE ORIGINAL GAUGES EVEN LOOKED NEW.
FORMER OWNER DAVE BALDWIN HAD DONAHUE SIGN BOTH THE CLUTCH GUARD AND THE COWLING, SCENE HERE TO PROVE AUTHENTICITY.
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F
or this issue’s edition of Into the Future, we take a look at two futuristic safety concepts that may not be so out far away from landing on the production line of a prominent snowmobile manufacturer.
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Hazard WarnIng Lights
Speed and obstacles on the trail are the largest safety issues for snowmobilers. The thought behind the “hazard warning light” is that if the snowmobile exceeds the trail’s speed limit by a set speed of “X speed”, a light would alert the driver. Similarly, If there was an obstacle on the trail such as a groomer or a tree, a light would alert the driver. This safety feature might interest more than just the rider. The big arm of the law across the Snowbelt would welcome any technology to slow excessive speeds, that tend to result in accidents on trails. Insurance companies would be another group that would encourage any technology that would reduce accidents, that result in insurance claims. The “hazard warning lights” would be featured on the snowmobiles gauge panel, with snowmobile gauges/display panels now resembling more of an automobile type, with their features and luxury.
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On the snowmobile’s GPS display within the display panel, it could be set to warn the driver of the speed limit, and if it was exceeded, would produce a bright light. Most snowmobilers have come around a corner at some point in their snowmobiling career, and found themselves face to face with a groomer or a downed tree. The GPS system on the display panel could warn the operator of upcoming trail debris or obstacles on the trail, and possibly even other approaching snowmobiles. This type of safety system could quite easily alert the driver with a bright light.
vehicle information is projected onto the windshield in front of the driver. This could be very useful for snowmobiling where the driver would not have to take their vision off of the trail, in order to read a gauge. This concept would be especially useful if a rear-view camera was mounted on the snowmobile’s rear bumper, allowing the driver to see snowmobiles from their group behind them, or potentially faster moving snowmobiles passing. If hard wiring the bumper camera was an issue, it could be easily linked via Bluetooth to the snowmobile’s projector.
Windshield Projector
The Designer
Small projectors are becoming more and more popular in luxury vehicles, where information such as speed, GPS, radio and other
These renderings were produced by Jan Metelka, who is located in the Czech Republic. Jan studied at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague. WINDSHIELD PROJECTOR
HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS
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AS
a flat lander snowmobiler, I was under the impression that, “All snow looks good, unless there’s grass sticking out of it.” Basically, that as long as the ground is white then there’s enough snow to cool the sled and if it’s deep enough to cover rocks and roots so your sled won’t get damage then it’s ok to go for a ride. Then I moved to the mountains and everything changed when I learned about avalanches and the danger they present. Once you start mountain riding, the snow depth and cover isn’t the number one concern like it is on flatter terrain.
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Unless of course, it’s early season, and in order to save the sled’s A-Arms, we may need a meter of snow to cover the rocks and stumps depending on where you are riding. In the case of avalanches, it’s what’s happening within the snowpack that matters. Here is a saying that needs to be remembered by all mountain riders. “If there’s enough snow to ride, there’s enough snow to slide.” It doesn’t take very much snow to have dangerous avalanches. The problem with thin snow packs is that they tend to be weak. If it does slide, many rocks will be exposed and trauma could be a problem.
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PERFORMING THE EXTENDED COLUMN TEST. SHOWS FAILURE AND PROPAGATION.
Digging snow pits. To really know and understand snow and the potential for avalanches, we need to dig a snow pit and perform stability tests. We dig down and make a smooth wall, to identify and explore the different snow layers and how those layers interact with one another. It’s important to know whether the snow layers bond to the other snow layers around them and are able to support the snow layers above them. We’re identifying and quantifying the density of each layer. Different stability tests are used to determine how weak the snowpack is, the propensity for an avalanche to propagate, and the force (weight) it will take to initiate failure.
Some snow basics
Snow is always changing.
AFTER SNOW FALLS, the snow crystals can turn into rounds or facets. Rounds are snow crystals that bond with each other, and facets are crystals that do not bond with each other. TEMPERATURE differences within the snowpack create the rounds, (cohesive snow) or the facets (uncohesive snow can be like sugar). SIMPLIFIED - a strong temperature gradient within the snowpack, a change > 10 degree Celsius in 1 meter of snow creates weaker snow (facets). This can also happen on a smaller scale. 1 degree Celsius in 10 cm. WEAK LAYERS may be created by surface hoar that forms on top of snow. It’s winter’s form of dew that grows on the surface. On the surface, it’s not a problem, but once buried, it may prevent the layers above and below it from bonding. THE PROBLEM is when the weaker snow (facets) are within the snowpack, and there is a cohesive slab above it. THE BIG QUESTION IS: How much weight will it take to collapse the weak layer to trigger an avalanche? The amount of wind, snow, rain, and sun all have a very active influence. It can also be influenced by where the snowmobiler (weight) is on the slope. Are you hitting a thin spot that allows your weight to affect the weak layer? PERSISTENT weak layers are faceted layers that remain in the snowpack for an extended period of time. They can be reactive for weeks and even longer. Persistent weak layers may be dormant until more weight is added, and there may be no signs of any instability.
Here’s a great video that explains how the weather affects the stability. www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
apter 4 Weather. Throttle Decisions Ch 181683512 https://vimeo.com/ ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 11 • ISSUE 2
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SURFACE HOAR
Snow is complicated Avalanche Canada does a great job of forecasting avalanche danger. You can’t only read the danger rating to tell you about the current snow condition. The avalanche forecast tells you very little of the snow’s history. You need to read through the entire forecast to get the full picture of what you’re dealing with.
Forecasts and class information for Canada; www.avalanche.ca
There’s an app:
Avalanche Canada Forecasts and class information for U.S. www.avalanche.org
There’s an app:
Avalanche Forecasts or Backcountry Access
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Here are the 4 ingredients
1
for a slab avalanche. 30-45 degree slope
2
Slab of snow
5 Signs of instability Nature can sometimes tell you when it’s unstable:
2 4
Recent natural avalanches on the same aspect.
Collapsing or cracking of the snow.
3 1 3 5
Weak layer
4
Trigger
Significant snowfall or rain in the last 48 hours. Recent wind - 15 mph is all it takes. Which slopes are getting wind and are loaded with snow?
Rapid rise in temperature.
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Persistent weak layers are responsible for the most avalanche fatalities. It’s important to know however, that there may be no signs of instability. You have to check the avalanche forecast to know if these layers are present. The only way to manage is to stay off 30-45 degrees slopes where the problem is present. Riders need to be aware of remote triggers with these avalanches. You don’t have to be on the 30-45 degree slope to trigger the avalanche. You have to be very aware of what is above you on the slope, and how far the avalanche will run down.
What training is recommended? When you are riding in avalanche terrain, it’s a thinking game. You need to know what to look for and how to analyze it. More knowledge = better decisions.
Take an on-snow avalanche course. AST 1 in Canada. Level I in U.S. Knowledge is essential in avalanche terrain. Do yourself a favour and don’t wait until after a close call. Those with training know what conditions that you need to back off in. It’s very sad to see so many fatalities when the conditions were very prone to large avalanches.
More training for free.
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gear
1
2
SCORPION EXO-AT950 OUTRIGGER ELECTRIC HELMET Scorpion’s EXO-AT950 SE Helmet was designed to play in the snow, and that’s what we plan on doing with it! It has all the same great versatile features as their standard AT950 but with a few snow specific advancements. Comes with an ELECTRIC DUAL-PANE shield combined with a cold-weather breath box. The internal drop down Speedview® sun visor has been replaced with an amber tinted visor to help with the sun. Inside the KwikWick® II liner will keep you comfortable all day long even as conditions change throughout the day. Additionally, the no-fog face shield can be removed, and you can use the EXO-AT950 with most goggles for warmer days. Play it safe and head over to www.scorpionusa.com to check them out!
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SCOTT PROSPECT SNOW CROSS LIGHT SENSITIVE GOGGLE SCOTT’s Prospect Snow Cross Light Sensitive Goggle is the best of the best when it comes to snowmobile goggles. Like the regular Snow Cross Prospect, it offers riders a maximum field of vision and features the proven SCOTT Lens Lock System, articulated outriggers, No Sweat Big 3-layer molded face foam, an ACS Air Control System and NoFog™ Anti-Fog lens treatment for unrivalled performance. What puts the Prospect LS into a league of their own? We’d say it’s the Light Sensitive lens, which engages photo-chromic technology and adapts automatically to sunlight intensity, meaning you only need one lens for all weather conditions. Start seeing clearly today and check out www.scott-sports.com for more info!
3
FXR RANGER INSTINCT LITE MONO 21
FXR’s Ranger Instinct is the most advanced monosuit in the industry. Engineered for the hardest riders in the harshest conditions, the durability and the mobility of the Omni-Stretch™ shell is made for aggressive riding and built to withstand snagging or tearing on tree branches. Check it out for yourself at www. fxrracing.com www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
gear
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FXR CH CX JACKET 20
Get the kids the jacket they really want this winter! Stand-out at school, on the trail, or in the backyard with FXR’s classic CX Jacket custom designed for youth. Packed with warmth this jacket acts as protection from moisture, wind and snow. Bolstered with the added safety of our buoyancy assistance technology found in F.A.S.T.™ the kids will stay nice and warm this winter. Visit www.fxrracing.com to start your holiday shopping early!
6 CASTLE X CX950 HEX Helmet
This helmet has it all - DOT Approved! A modular snowmobile helmet like no other, the Castle’s “All-In-One” helmet can be transformed to meet your needs no matter what or where you plan to ride. The versatile EXO-CX950 can be configured as a Modular DualSport Snow helmet when the visor and shield are installed or an Aerodynamic Sport Touring Snow helmet when the visor is removed! Pick one up today at www.castlesales.com www.snowmobilertv.com for stations and times in your area
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WAHL BROS RACING - FRONT ARM SUSPENSION ADJUSTER
Now you can easily adjust your front arm with little effort and easy to install hardware! Composed of lightweight Aluminum and Molyplating, this adjuster allows 1 1/2” of heightening and lowering adjustment. Comes with 10-32 cap screws that can be easily placed into your tunnel with a 3/8” mounting bolt. Wahl Brothers has made one more way to make your testing easier and more efficient. Take a look for yourself www.wahlracing.com
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STUD BOY “CATAPULT” SNOWMOBILE TRACK DRAG STUD
Offered in both 7mm and ¼”-20 threads, the “Catapult” drag stud is recommended for competition use only. Get all the advantages of a
“Push Through” stud with the light-weight performance of the T- Nut style stud. This snowmobile drag stud offers superior traction off the line, on both grass and ice! The “Catapult” is the best combination of penetration and bite available for competition. With its flat pushing surface, the “Catapult” absolutely launches your sled off the line, and really holds onto the track. Mix them with “Ice Pixx” to be prepared for any icy conditions. Pick up a set today at www.studboytraction.com ON SNOW MAGAZINE • VOL 11 • ISSUE 2
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SCHAEFFER’S SPECIALISED LUBRICANTS PENETRO 90®
TAKE CONTROL
Schaeffer’s Penetro 90® is a high-performance penetrating oil that lubricates all types of moving parts that have become difficult to operate. Penetro 90® is oil based and blended from Schaeffer’s patented formula of penetrating oils, synthetic isoparaffinic hydrocarbons, special friction releasing and extreme pressure additives, and three different types of rust and corrosion inhibitors. This unique blend allows Penetro 90® to penetrate deep into the pores of metals, and cover surfaces with a light, clear lubricating film with lasting staying power. When sprayed onto rusty bolts, Penetro 90® coats each rust particle and acts like tiny ball bearings, allowing the rust particles to easily slide over each facebook.com/ other. Keep it slick and grab a can today at www.schaefferoil.com
TRACTION BY
231-853-2323
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SNOW
2021 SRVIPER L-TX GT Trail Performance Meets Trail Comfort. New Stryke Single Keel Ski I Deluxe GT Series Wind Deflector I Plush Heated Trail Seat
YAMAHA-SNOWMOBILES.COM
©2020 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Product and specifications subject to change without notice. Professional rider on closed course under controlled conditions. Always wear an approved helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Ride responsibly and always ride within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvering, and respect others around you. Know the conditions. Observe all state and local laws. Don’t drink and ride.
