DATED MATERIAL February 2012 • Vol 37 No. 5
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR/EDITOR Keri Wanner 1600 E Century Avenue, Suite 3 Bismarck, ND 58503-0649 (701) 328-5377 • FAX: (701) 328-5363 E-mail: info@snowmobilend.org
STAFF
Publisher: Advertising Director/ Editor: Graphic Designer: Production Engineers: Contributing Writers:
Brian Gidley Keri Wanner Denise Sanzo Chelsey Thronson Sandy Durisin Clark Scheurman Josh Siferd Keith Moore Keri Wanner
CONTRIBUTORS: We welcome unsolicited materials and letters for possible publication. The Sno-Dak News accepts no responsibility for returns, losses or damage of unsolicited materials. The Sno-Dak News is the official publication of Snowmobile North Dakota. CF41, 9.SNO-DAK NEWS USPS 393-110) is published six times each year in the months of October, November, December, January, February and March at Bismarck, ND 58501. Periodicals postage paid at SUBSCRIPTION: Subscriptions available through membership to Snowmobile North Dakota for $20 per year. Enclose payment and mail to above mailing address. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: SNO-DAK NEWS 1600 E Century Avenue, Suite 3 Bismarck, ND 58503-0649 ADVERTISING RATES Multiple Issue Rates Full Page Spread.....................$1,677.00 Page & 1/3 .............................$1,168.00 Full Page ..............................$730.00 Half Page (H) ...........................$498.00 1/3 Page .............................$369.00 1/4 Page ................ ..............$245.00 1/6 Page Vertical ..................$184.00 Business Card Horizontal ..............$124.00 COPYRIGHT: All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher.
where to go...
1600 E Century Avenue, Suite 3 Bismarck, ND 58503-0649 (701) 328-5377 • FAX: (701) 328-5363 www.snowmobilend.org President: Marty Malachowski V. President: Laura Forbes Program Manager: Keri Wanner
Departments
SND Board Messages .........................3-4 Region Reports............................................6
Features
Track Talks ...........................................7 Product Review ........................................10 Club Reports .................................12-14
SNDCALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 1st: Gasmann Coulee Cruisers Monthly Meeting at 7:30 pm at the Stromberg’s. February 3rd: Dakota Trailblazers Club Weekend at Lake Metigoshe. February 4th: Ghost Rider’s Fun Run in Velva 11am – 5pm. February 11th: Dakota Trailblazers Club Ride. February 11th-16th: Gasmann Coulee Cruisers Club Snowmobile Trip to Island Park, ID. February 14th: Sno-Trails Monthly Meeting at 7:30 pm at Driftbusters Clubhouse. February 17th 18th: Dakota Trailblazers Men’s Ride. February 17th: Beaver Valley Sno-Goers Meeting at 8 pm at Webo’s Restaurant. February 25th: Sno-Trails Fun Run.
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President
February 2012
www. snow-
in the state needs more blazers and chevrons. Please contact the SND office if your trail is in need of any signs.
wski ty Malacho
Mar
Greetings SND Family and all sledheads! Hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Can you believe the weather we are getting in January? Seems like spring is early, but I hope by the time you read this will have 2 feet of snow and our trails are groomed. Groomed trails are our goal and ensure your signage is up to par. As Todd Thronson SND trail inspector has been working ensuring the trails are signed properly, I have noticed just about every trail
SND and NDPR were to try out new groomers at Bottineau this week (Jan 7, 2012) but the area has not received enough snow. The Equipment Committee has been really busy and has adjusted the schedule for February 4th, we will run the equipment in the morning and anyone interested can be involved in the afternoon. We will make a sound judgment on the new groomers and decide which one to purchase thru the North Dakota State procurement procedures. This will take time and hopefully next year there will be a few new groomers in North Dakota. With the State Ride finishing up I would like to thank the Southern
Valley Trail Riders Association for sponsoring the event. Hope everyone had a good time. I would like to remind everyone to start thinking about people, families, business associations and dealers that you would like to nominate for SND’s yearly awards. Check out the web site for nomination procedures and get them turned in before April 1st, 2012. If you have turned in nominations from the past and the person has not received the award, please resubmit their name and information. There are so many snowmobilers in the state that deserve the awards and the SND award committee loves to have lots of applications to choose from. Ride safe, Happy Snowy Trails!
Program Manager By my calculations it’s safe to say we apparently are not doing enough snow dances in the state. I’ve seen lots of different snow dances over the years and no matter how you do it, it’s time to up the ante. Snowmobile registrations amazingly are still increasing which is excellent for the state snowmobile trail program. However, memberships are circling the drain. We realize snow is a factor to keep people interested, so “Shake Your Booty” and “Drop it Low” so the snowflakes start falling and riders can be reminded what this great state offers. It’s crazy; a person would think no snow would mean less work for SND’s staff. It’s just the opposite. Our staff, although crazy and goofy at times, runs like “One Slick Combine”!!! Your guess is as good as mine on what that truly means, but I’d like to think it means really good!! Years like this throw wrenches like crazy and leave us feeling like a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. And even though some days we leave the office feeling like we’ve been run over by the groomer and drag, then backed over and drove over again, I’m proud to say all of us kick the attitude to the curb and start the next day with a WTF attitude. Eh, get your heads out of the gutter, it means “Winning the Fight”!! We have a great team of staff, board members and volunteers that help us knock each curveball out of the park!!! Keep up the great work
r e n n a Keri W
everyone; SND really appreciates all of your hard work and efforts!!!! So just what have we been working on? This morning I was reviewing trail inspection updates, in a team meeting with ND Parks and Recreation, returning phone calls, hiring an auditor, scheduling an interview on the snowmobile program for the ND Living magazine, working on SnoDak News material and launching the January 2012 E-magazine, conducting backup plans for events due to lack of snow and public releases on this information, um, where was I? To say the least, the office still runs like crazy trying to handle these projects and all of the daily work that comes up. The daily work includes entering memberships, establishing news releases, financials and paying bills, trail inspections and of course answering calls and emails. Now add the “Everything That Comes Up” list to this, and we stay pretty busy!!! But hey, we are the lucky ones; we get to do what we love for a living!!! I thought I lived and breathed snowmobiling before this job! After 10 years of amazing experience with SND, I realized I didn’t have a clue!!! So I did what I know best!!! Dove into the job and proceeded to learn everything I could about the industry. So what have I learned the most?!?! No matter how much we learn, the industry constantly changes and provides new challenges!!! How do we handle this?!?! Easy, always be ready to learn more, dig a little deeper, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and oh ya, “Don’t Sweat It”. This industry started in the 50’s and has grown into “One Slick Combine”. It’s seen ups and downs and went right back to more ups and more downs. So strap on your helmets, because we are all along for the ride!!! And much like it has been for me, I hope it’s the ride of your life!!!!
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February 2012
SND Assistant of our trails open in the state. Also, at this time last season SND had about double the membership that we have this season. With the lack of snow here memberships have been lacking this year, people aren’t thinking about snowmobiling. Clubs need to keep meeting so they can get memberships into the SND Office then the membership can receive their copy of the Sno-Dak News. Clubs can send their memberships to the SND Office or now clubs can
Tari Norby
OFFICERS
As I am sitting here typing my article, there is absolutely no snow on the ground here in Bismarck!! What the heck is up with the weather here in North Dakota this season! By this time last year we had most
Blk
It feels like Spring. By the time you read this the majority of the fun
enter the memberships in themselves by logging in the SND website and paying online through Paypal. I hope to start seeing membership numbers rising soon! Can’t wait to see everyone out on the trails (once it snows)!!!!
Blk & White
Vice President a r u a L orbes F WHERE IS THE SNOW!!!!!
www.snowmobilend.org
runs will be over with or postponed hoping for snow and the Pink Ribbon ride will be over with. I know we will have a great time at the Pink &Ribbon White Ride like we did last year, even if we don’t have snow. Even though the Pink Ribbon Ride is over with a person can still donate funds to the program. Remember it helps
people that are going through breast cancer now and the money stays in North Dakota. We only have a couple of months left of riding, once we get snow and are able to ride, please be safe
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Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs
February 2012
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POSTER CONTEST Poster Contest
.. .. .. .. .. .
Marty Malachowski, President Keri Wanner, Program Manager 1600 East Century Avenue, Suite 3 Bismarck, ND 58503-0649 Phone 701-328-5377 Fax 701-328-5363 E-mail info@snowmobilend.org www.snowmobilend.org
In cooperation with Keep North Dakota Clean Inc., Snowmobile North Dakota is launching a “Pack In cooperation with Keep North Dakota Clean Inc., Snowmobile North Dakota is launching a “Pack it In… Pack it Out” poster contest. Posters are to be submitted to Snowmobile North Dakota where it In… Pack it Out” poster contest. Posters are to be submitted to Snowmobile North Dakota where the posters will be judged by the Promotion and Membership Committee. the posters will be judged by the Promotion and Membership Committee. Awards for the poster winners will be given out at the annual ND Snowmobile Convention. Poster Focus: Snowmobiling theme promoting “Pack it In… Pack it Out”. Awards for the poster winners will be given out at the annual ND Snowmobile Convention.
Prizes Awarded: First, second and third place posters are awarded cash Poster Focus: Snowmobiling theme promoting “Pack it In… Pack it Out”. prizes.
1st Place: $100Prizes Awarded: First, second and third place posters are awarded cash prizes. 2nd Place: $75 1st Place: $100 3rd Place: $50 2nd Place: $75 3rd Place: $50
Rules 1. Contest is open to all students in grades 6 – 8. 2. Entries MUSTRules be postmarked no later than April 1st. 3. Posters MUST be on white paper that is 8.5”x 11” and in landscape format. 1. Contest is open to all students in grades 6 – 8. The posters are scanned to fit on2.a trail sign. Entries MUST be postmarked no later than April 1st. 4. Posters must be 3. reproducible and will be judged on readability at ten feet, Posters MUST be on white paper that is 8.5”x 11” and in landscape format. The posters originality, are scanned to fit on a trail sign. and neatness. 4. Posters must be reproducible and will be judged on readability at ten feet, originality, 5. Each student may enter only one poster and must print their first and last and neatness. name in the 5. on Each student may enter only one poster and must print their first and last name in the lower right‐hand corner the front of the poster. lower right‐hand corner on the front of the poster. 6. All entries must be original artwork created by the student. No computer‐ 6. All entries must be original artwork created by the student. No computer‐generated art generated art or printing, commercial glue‐on letters, or copyright items will be accepted. Stencils or printing, commercial glue‐on letters, or copyright items will be accepted. Stencils may be used for lettering only, but are not encouraged. may be used for lettering only, but are not encouraged. 7. A completed “Entry Form” must be attached to the back of each poster and submitted 7. A completed “Entry Form” must be attached to the back of each poster and submitted by the deadline. by the deadline. 8. All posters must be flat. They should not be folded, matted, mounted, laminated or 8. All posters must be flat. They should not be folded, matted, mounted, laminated or framed. They may be rolled and put into a tube and mailed. framed. They may be rolled and put into a tube and mailed. All posters that are submitted become property of Snowmobile North Dakota and may be used to All posters that are submitted become property of Snowmobile North Dakota and may be used to promote the “Pack it In… Pack it Out” campaign.
promote the “Pack it In… Pack it Out” campaign. Please complete the following and submit with poster:
Name_____________________________ Grade__________ Telephone__________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip__________________________________________________________________
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February 2012
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1
Perry Brintnell Region 3
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Dale Deibert Region 1 Dale Deibert reporting from Region 1 of Snowmobile North Dakota. I hope everybody had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Well this sure has been a mild and dry winter thus far, with very little snow and warm temperatures up to the first of the year. The Minot area snowmobile clubs have had a couple of Fun Runs so far this year. The Dakota Trailblazers of Minot had a Fun Run on December 10th with 281 cards sold. The Mouse River Sled Runners of Towner had a Fun Run on December 31st, with over 200 cards sold. It is great to see many people participating in the runs with not a lot of snow. I would like to remind everybody to join their local snowmobile club and join Snowmobile North Dakota and get involved with their trail systems. There has been some riding in the Lake Metigoshe are. They have had 6-8 inches of new snow the 1st of the year. The lakes are freezing over good. I hope everybody keeps the interest up in snowmobiling and there is lots of snow by the time you read this article. Thank you and Bye for now.
Tonia Dosch Region 2 Well, what can I say. It is Jan. 3rd and WHERE is all the snow? This season is being unbelievably too nice. For the snow enthusiasts and readers of this magazine, this is NOT how we picture our winters to be. The trails are signed. I know we’ve been begging for snow, but I guess all we can do is wait. Events are planned…fun runs, warming house gatherings, landowner appreciation days, family outings. Some will go on without the snow, and others will just have to wait with anticipation of ‘the Big One’ (snowstorm, that is)! The folks from Region 2 are hoping that you are making the best out of this mild year. I guess there is no reason why your sled shouldn’t be well-tuned, there are been plenty of time to prepare. And hopefully by the time you are reading this, it is because you are taking a quick break from riding!
Hello, Well we are still doing our snow dances and praying to the snow gods in this region. We did get four inches last week and I thought that maybe if we would get one more like the last we could try and groom. Now with 40 degrees forecast for the next two days I don’t think that will happen. I see that some clubs in the area are hanging posters for their annual rides. I know our club is going to proceed as normal if we have to cancel, oh well. Even our race groups in the area are crossing their fingers and toes that snow arrives soon. They have put so much effort into the full year already. The only good thing about this is it has allowed the farmers to catch up on a lot of projects that they normally wouldn’t have got done. In talking to dealers they had a good start to the year but now they haven’t been able to sell parts where they make a lot of their money. I guess before I close I would like to advise everybody to still license their sleds because it has a huge factor in funding for SND. Well I guess we will get back to the snow dancing or try to figure a new wiggle that works better or I guess we’ll just have to go fishing. Think snow.
Greg Strommen Region 5
Final greetings from Region 5. One part of writing these articles is that we write this a month ahead of time! So I do truly hope that the snow came through for the State Ride based out of Mooreton. I do appreciate the efforts of the Southern Valley Trail Riders on hosting this event this year! I also hope those of you that attended SnowJam had a good time. If there was no snow, look for the possibility of another event later in the year. Stay posted to the SnowJam website and Facebook page for more info on that. The Snoriders out of Fargo are having their Radar Run on Feb 11. Check out their website at www. snoriders.com for more info on that. Also the Davenport Lions will be hosting a charity ride Feb 18 starting in Davenport, ND. I write this article with sad emotion. #1 is that we do not have any measurable snow yet! #2 is that this will be my final column that I write in the Sno-Dak News. I started this venture by getting a drink of water. When I came back I was told I was the new Region 5 board member.... I admit I was not quite ready to take that jump. I envisioned performing this task in a few years after I got to know how things were done in ND. I have a passion for this sport and I was glad to do this. I wish that I would have been able to continue to help out but I have to be closer to my kids. This opportunity has given me more appreciation for all that we do. Granted some things were harder to accept than others. Coming from Minnesota and now signing trails in North Dakota was the first MAJOR shock! But at the end of the day I do not believe any of us while riding the trails, have ever complained of too many signs! Typically we are often frustrated by trails not having enough signs. So, please remember that when you are out there signing! It is worth it believe it or not. And if you have ever stuffed a ski in a culvert then you do appreciate more that they are marked accordingly!! I continue to wish SND continued success. I do want to thank Parks and Recreation for working with SND the way they do. That is a very good partnership and I hope that continues in the future. I also want to thank the SND Program Manager. The one thing I do appreciate is all the “babysitting” (for lack of a better name) that goes along with that job. The office staff is always reminding us of deadlines and trying to get our paperwork in on time. So a big thank you to them! I wish you all the best!
NLTB (of Rugby) is hosting the SnowBunny Run (Ladies Ride) Feb. 25th and Family Day Feb. 26th – all are welcome!
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Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs
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TRACK TALKS Are your volunteers trained?
My aunt had a neighbor. He was a friendly and “helpful” man. Every week he would come over to her house and “fix” something that wasn’t broken. The problem was that once he finished, the items no longer worked. This would result in a phone call to my father, who would secretly come over and repair everything the neighbor had “fixed”. My father was happy to repair while he visited with his sister, and my aunt was always careful to control the costs of what the neighbor fixed. So the elderly neighbor stayed active and felt useful for as long as he was able, and my father was always happy to see him smile and wave. Some Tucker’s come into Track Inc. looking like this neighbor has been working on them. intentions.
They are full of good
So what do you do when your volunteer mechanics lack the skills they need? • Remember that volunteers take pride in what they do and they want to feel appreciated by the other club members. Try to redirect their efforts and assign specific tasks that they can succeed at. • Call Track Inc and schedule an on-site inspection and service. Our technicians can review the maintenance and service schedules with your volunteers and show them how and what needs to get done. • Send club members to our service school to have them “trained”. • Consider making “trained” a requirement for working on the vehicle. • Make sure our phone number (952.888.7372) is convenient and let the volunteers know they can call us whenever they need help or disagree on how something should be done. Club member’s who long ago quit rolling under their cars are still working on Tuckers. The easy access of the engine and components makes this possible. Many of the elderly mechanics are very good at what they do, while others are fixing the 2005 Tucker-Terra vehicle the same way they serviced the 1985 Tucker Sno-Cat your club once owned and teaching this to the new members. Proper maintenance saves time and money, so invest in a little training this year. Track Inc. service school is free – your only cost is your time, hotel, and meals. Dates will be set in the spring and classes will be scheduled in the fall. Lorene Hanson, President, Track Inc.
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Congratulations 3rd North Dakota Snow Run Congratulations to the 3rd North Dakota Snow Run held at the Twin Oaks Resort In Bottineau on January 13th & 14th raising $40,000 and still counting. The Snow Run event is a combination of two days of fun with a silent and live auction and the even is open to both men and women to attend. The Snow Run event incorporates a Friday night welcome party and a Saturday awards banquet. The main activity on Saturday is an organized snowmobile ride that provides trail leaders and groups are based on a person’s riding ability. The Snow Run event is the main fundraiser for the state of North Dakota’s Patient Assistance Program within the Pink Ribbon Riders® (PRR) organization. Funds that are raised at the event are distributed to residents of North Dakota that are diagnosed with breast cancer. A man or woman can apply for the assistance and receive the gift of $500.00 two times in a life time. The Pink Ribbon Riders have 7 total Snow Run events on the 2012 Snow Run Tour which fund the Assistance given to patients that reside in 7 states in which the events are held. The North Dakota Snow Run had a challenge this year as the events main activity on Saturday of snowmobiling had to be changed to Tire Golf and Tricycle Racing. The lack of snow, would not stop the event or the cause. “Cancer doesn’t care what the weather is, neither does the PRR.” In attendance this year 60 people came from all over the state of North Dakota and even Montana! The
February 2012
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February 2012
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North Dakota Park’s & Recreation
Erik ietrich D Hey all you snowmobilers!! WOW!! We are into February already. We have had a weird winter with no snow and trails not opening until after December! I hope everyone has been enjoying their winter!! The snowfall we have been getting does not always seem to be cooperative but our state always gets our fair share of below zero weather.
In this article I am going to talk about riding on the ice. That’s right, lakes, rivers, creeks and slews. These are places that a lot of snowmobile enthusiasts like to ride on but should also know some of the hazards associated with bodies of water.
lake and on the other side it could be 2 in. thick or have open water! Remember, be very careful when driving on bodies of water and NEVER completely feel safe on the ice! ALWAYS be WATCHFUL of where you are going!!
First things first, if you don’t see any tracks going out onto the water, don’t try to be the leader and make first tracks because it is probably not being driven on for a reason. NDPRD and SND recommends that the ice be AT LEAST 8 in. thick it to be safe for you to take your snowmobile out on. A good rule to go by is if you see ice houses out on the lake or river, it is probably safe to ride on.
If you have any questions or any stories you would like to pass on, please feel free to call me at 701328-5357. Be safe and enjoy the snowmobile season!! I’ll see you on the trail, Erik Motorized Recreation Coordinator
Ice is a funny thing, it could be 20 inches thick on one side of the
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Club News by Claire Greciar Ridge runners
Hello and Happy New Year From Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club
If you’re like our club, we are all praying to the snow gods to give us a little more snow so we can get some riding in. It’s nice to go on trips but it’s better yet when you can go and ride right off your door step. We are busy planning our rides for the year. Our first ride is our 2nd Annual Youth Ride to be held on Feb. 12. Last year
we had 35 young guys and gals that were very enthusiastic even though it was 15 below zero. It even made me think young again. We hope to continue to make this event grow both in numbers and prizes. You do not need to be a member to go on this ride. Everyone is welcome. Our next event is our 3rd Annual Adult Ride on Feb. 18th. Come one come all to this fun event. Both rides are held starting in Fordville. We use the Red River
South Trails for both of these events. On April 14th our club is bringing back our Steak Fry and Dance You will get the best ribeye and baked potato around plus you can dance to the music of Dirty Phoenix. Watch for posters on all of our events for more details. We’d like to wish everybody safe snowmobiling and hope to see you all on the trails.
Gasmann Coulee Cruisers by Kelly Stromberg Howdy Everyone, I had this prepared for the January issue, but I forgot to send it off to Keri before we left on vacation the end of November. So here it is! It was great to see all of you at the convention and we’ll meet again in Rugby next year. Once again I’d like to thank our club (Gasmann Coulee Cruisers) for all their help in making the convention run so smoothly. We are a fairly new club, we/they really had no idea what to expect, but we all worked together and did an awesome job! The money raised throughout the convention is going to help flooded families that are in need of financial help. We are hoping to pick 10 families and deliver the funds to their door, with our mission being that we’ll delivery a little bit of “HOPE” to their holiday season. We’d also take our hats off for a well deserved “THANK YOU” to all the local businesses that support us each and every year. These events wouldn’t be as successful or enticing to the attendees without all of the door prizes we collect! With that little dusting of snow we received the beginning of November, it reminds us that it’s time to dust off those sleds, pull that rope, then get parts ordered, so we’re ready to ride!
The new snow sure gets us geared up for the upcoming events, whether it’s a fun run, club ride, club trip, state event or maybe that trip to the mountains, so always travel and ride safely. Keep in mind when riding the mountains those beacons, probes, and metal shovels are a very cheap insurance policy! When we gathered in December, the members were to bring a name of a family/(ies) that they thought were in need of help, due to the flooding this summer. Well needless to say we had many families we could help. After much discussion we decided on 16 families and gave them each $500! WOW! We couldn’t have done this without everyone’s support at the convention. Yes, all of you helped raise the funds that we hand delivered before Christmas. When we meet in January we are planning to help a few more families. Hopefully this will help them believe that there are “ANGELS” out there watching over them. We’ve received numerous “Thank You” cards from the families expressing their gratefulness of “our” generosity and feel blessed for “our” thoughtfulness. We (GCC) would
like to send out a “THANK YOU” to all ofthe SND members for your support, hopefully this sends a warm fuzzy feeling in your hearts also! As 2011 comes to an end, we are still waiting for the snow to show up! The trails are marked and ready to be ridden on. With January around the corner it means a fun run almost every Saturday. We are no exception to this as our fun run is January 21st, ending at the Hunters Den in Foxholm. We hope all the clubs have good attendance for your fun run! Ride smart and be safe! Oh Mr. Snowy, where are you! Best Wishes this snowmobile season from the GCC club.
Club News
December 2011
www.snowmobilend.org
By Al Hoesel Rough riders snowmobile association club
Hello fellow snowmobilers from the Roughriders!
Well didn’t get my wish from Santa! I only wished for a mountain range in North Dakota, starting at 6,000 ft. to 10,950 ft. Including large open meadows, nice valleys etc. Is that asking for too much! After supporting the snowmobile ,truck, trailer, tire, fuel, clothing etc. industry for many years. It sure would be nice to have mountains at home . I guess it’s the pay to play type sport we have but man I wanna play and not pay!!! BAMMM, door slams on evil Al, now back to the other voices inside my little head. Hee hee Oh well , maybe next year ! I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. X-mas was good to me .Having great family and friends makes the holidays the best. Would’ve been even nicer if we had some usable snow on the ground (rant), ooops evil Al trying to come out again . The
garage riding is starting to get old! This is what makes the mountain trips so precious, smell of fresh air at high elevation, even the pine trees smell good. Not like the dry dirty trees at home, plus after a while my garage fills with blue smoke and I have to open the doors to see anything. Well a few of our lucky club members have already made a trip to Cooke city over Thanksgiving weekend. Made a little junk and some tried to become helicopter pilots. Sometimes sh@t happens, but everyone was ok and that’s the best thing. Back to great camaraderie ( brand vs brand) wars are on !!! But my dog is still better than your dog ( white maltese/7 lbs) .Teeth as big as a polar bear and faster than a speeding Jaguar !!! Ok, not, burst my bubble, I am old/slow and nimble, not sure why I get asked to go along to the mountains! The trips out and back from the mountains are like a
bad soap opera tv show.
Ok club stuff, We are trying to get our local retailers that us snowmobilers support to support us and our events. Which we drafted a letter and hand delivered(asking for more money and involvement). Working on the club snow scramble and trying to make this event really special. Taking Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training classes from instructors Tom/Jim. Setting up fun runs and trying to get our website up to par. This keeps the club members fairly busy. Reminder to club members: license and have insurance on your snowmobile , also have major health care as you never know when something may happen. Our sport is physical and sometime things happen. Be safe all and see you on the snow soon!!!
Red River Snowmobile Club By Steve Magnuson Hello from the Red River Snowmobile Club. This season has gotten off to a slow start. We have cancelled our December ride, and just postponed are January trip for a few weeks. We have not groomed yet (as of January 1st) but we
received just enough snow at the end of December for me to get a little ride in. Hopefully the snow will keep coming and we will still have a great year. The best riding is in February and early March most years anyway so we still have plenty of time. We
hope to see you on the trails.
Club News
www.snowmobilend.org
an oakes snobusters By Judy Hoffm
On March 12, 2011, Oakes Snobusters set out to raise money to help Janel German-Girodat, a native of Oakes, ND and currently living in Kindred, ND. Janel had battled cancer off and on for 10 years and a benefit was decided to help the family with medical and personal expenses. The run ran from Oakes, Verona, Englevale and back to Oakes. Along the run many people made cash donations and we had 40 plus sleds along with many people who followed in their vehicles. We ended the run at Rudys/The Other Side in Oakes with a raffle benefit and free will donation. The out pouring of donations was awesome along with
the cash donations we received. The benefit was wall to wall people and by the night’s end we raised $10,500 and Modern Woodmans matched a donation up to $2,500 for a grand total of $13,000!! On March 26, Oakes Snobusters was going to present Janel and her family with the $13,000 that was raised, sadly Janel passed away on March 21, from breast cancer. Janel’s family had informed her of the amount raised from the benefit and the awesome turn out we had. She was extremely thankful and we as a club were just as thankful to have had a benefit for such an awesome person. If anybody knew Janel, she never
once let cancer get her down. She always had a smile on her face and thought of others first. We are hoping to make this a yearly run, with all donations going to the scholarships Janel had set up before her passing.
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Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs
February 2012
www.snowmobilend.org
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Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs
15
The NEW RS Vector
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This document contains many of Yamaha’s valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only, and are not intended to be an endorsement. Rider shown operating an RS Vector. Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection. Observe all state and local laws. Respect the rights of others. Ride within your capabilities. Allow extra time and plenty of distance for maneuvering. Do not perform stunts. ©2011 Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Visit your nearest Yamaha dealer or Pro Yamaha dealer today. For more on Pro Yamaha dealers, visit yamahasnowmobiles.com
BLAKE’S MARINE & SPORTS 434 HIGHWAY 2 W. DEVILS LAKE, ND 58301 (701) 662-6655
REVOLUTIONS POWER SPORTS, INC. 4225 36TH AVENUE SOUTH GRAND FORKS, ND 58201 (701) 746-4997
Board of Directors
SND Officers: PRESIDENT Marty Malachowski PO Box 172 • Granville, ND 587414 701-728-6350 (H) • 701-720-6350 (C) lmmala@srt.com VICE PRESIDENT Laura Forbes 45 Rolling Hills Dr • Minot, ND 58703 701-839-1050 (H) 701-240-4229 (C) dlforbes@min.midco.net PROGRAM MANAGER Keri Wanner 1600 E. Century Ave., Bismarck, ND 701-328-5377 • keri@snowmobilend.org SECRETARY Sheri Hoffmann 4320 Camp Ave. • Larimore, ND 58251 701-397-5260 (H) nwhoff@polarcomm.com DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Byron Norsby PO Box 914 • Minot, ND 58702 701-728-6688 (H) outbackautobody@srt.com
Cattail Snoriders Scott Erickson PO Box 174 Hope, ND 58046 Dakota Trailblazers Vickie Brabandt 917 53rd St SE Minot, ND 58701 Flatland Trailblazers Joey Schimelfenig 2363 46th Ave NE Harvey, ND 58341 Gasmann Coulee Cruisers Brandon Bock PO Box 14 Burlington, ND 58722 Ghost Riders Alden Hollenbeck 4647 14th Ave. N. Velva, ND 58790 Jim River Driftskippers Dennis Sand PO Box 1764 Jamestown, ND 58402 Lake Region Mark Shipley PO Box 981 Devils Lake, ND 58301
Dean Forbes 45 Rolling Hills Dr. Minot, ND 58703 701-839-1050 (H) 701-240-0395 (C) dlforbes@min.midco.net
Little Missouri Snowmobile & ATV Club Mike Storley 1491 1st Ave E Dickinson, ND 58601 Magic City Driftbusters Laura Forbes PO Box 1094 Minot, ND 58702 Marion Snoriders Kevin Isakson 10510 63rd St SE Litchville, ND 58461 May-Port Sno Travelers Corey Thykeson Box 221 Portland, ND, 58274 Minto Area Joy Riders Albert Haugen PO Box 84 Minto, ND 58261 Moonlighters Snowmobile & ATV Club Dennis Karsky 9341 103rd Ave NE Langdon, ND 58249 Mouse River Sled Runners Mike Bryn PO Box 523 Towner, ND 58788 Nekoma Trailblazers Bob Wilhelmi Box 116 Nekoma, ND 69355
Brian Sauer 1405 9TH Ave. E Langdon, ND 58249 701-256-2824 (H) 701-256-5499 (W) 701-370-9019 (C) 701-256-5488 (F) bnc@utma.com REGION 4 Dan Tveito PO Box 747 Linton, ND 58552 701-254-4433 (H)
REGION 2 Mark Shipley PO Box 493 Devils Lake, ND 58301 701-739-8263 (C) 701-662-6896 (H) marley493@yahoo.com
Brad Rodin 408 2nd Ave Marion, ND 58466 701-669-2308 (H) 701-669-2386 (W) bvrodin@drtel.net
Tonia Dosch 626 6th St SE Rugby, ND 58368 701-776-5230 (W) 701-208-0439 (C) toniab@gondtc.com
REGION 5 Troy Klevgard 601 Cottonwood Dr Casselton, ND 58012 701-347-9867 tklevgard@gmail.com
REGION 3 Perry Brintnell 12668 57th St NE Fordville, ND 58231 701-229-3267 (H) 701-229-3683 (W) xcr600pb@polarcomm.com
Greg Strommen 903 9th Ave SE Barnesville, MN 56514 (701) 212-7002 gstromm@i29.net
Clubs
2011-12 Beaver Valley Snow Goers Dan Tveito PO Box 394 Linton, ND 58552
REGION 1 Dale Deibert PO Box 99 • Surrey, ND 58785-0099 701-852-9378 (H) • 701-857-1617 (W) 701-857-1666 (F) vdeibert@srt.com
2011-12
North Valley Riders Mark Briese 14399 County Rd St. Thomas, ND 58276
Ridge Runners Perry Printnell PO Box 132 Fordville, ND 58231
Sno-Busters Dirck Nash 609 Ivy Ave Oakes, ND 58474
Northern Exposure Snowmobile Club Kyle Teubner PO Box 102 Leeds, ND 58346
Roaring 20’s Loren Johnson Green Acres #4 Bottineau, ND 58318
Southern Valley Trail Riders Association Joel Sirek 17290 78th St SE Wahpeton, ND 58075
Northern Lights Trail Blazers Joanie Bruggeman PO Box 191 Rugby, ND 58368 Northwest Trailblazers Jason Brenno 9451 101st Ave NW Columbus, ND 58727 Pembina Hills Trail Riders Tod Soeby PO Box 825 Walhalla, ND 58282 Ransom County Driftskippers Todd Rasmusson PO Box 365 Lisbon, ND 58054 Red River Sno-Riders Brian Mullenberg PO Box 2295 Fargo, ND 58108 Red River Snowmobile Club Steve Magnuson 225 Plain Hills Dr Grand Forks , ND 58201
Rough Rider Snowmobile Association LeeRon Plante PO Box 4162 Bismarck, ND 58502 Rural Cass Snowmobile Club Jason McSparron PO Box 58 Casselton, ND 58012 Sargent County Snowmobile Club Lori Yagow PO Box 166 Milnor, ND 58060 Seldom Seen Snowmobile Club Myra Mattson PO Box 1093 Rolla, ND 58367 Sheyenne Sno-Drifters Joel Iverson PO Box 342 Valley City, ND 58072
Tri-County Snow Dusters Bev Bachmeier 10517 55th St NE Brocket, ND 58321 Tri-County Trailriders Christian Larson PO Box 55 Park River, ND 58270 Turtle River Roughriders Brandon Thorvilson PO Box 131 Manvel, ND 58256 Valley Snow Drifters Gene Loftsgard 125 Manvel Circle Grafton, ND 58237 Walsh Coulee Cruisers CHad Lindell 7101 123rd Ave NE Adams, ND 58210 Williston Trail Riders Dustin Johnsrud PO Box 235 Williston, ND 58801
Associate Members
2011-12 Balta Bar & Grill 202 N Main St Balta, ND 58313
Ward Trucking 3917 Hwy 1 Lakota, ND 58344
Berube Crop Insurance PO Box 255 Rugby, ND 58368
Weber Trucking Box 116 Lawton, ND 58345
Big Dog Saloon 117 Pleasant Ave Surrey, ND 58785
Webo’s Restaurant 217 S Broadway St Linton, ND 58552
Corrigador Bar 202 Hwy 17 E Wolford, ND 58385
Wheels, Inc. 432 36th St S Fargo, ND 58103
Dan Poland Machine 8056 36th ST SE Jamestown, ND 58401
White Buffalo Lounge 110 Main St S Granville, ND 58741
Dizzy’s Bar 107 3rd Ave W Bisbee, ND 58317 Durum House Box 625 Cando, ND 58324 Dusty Roads 123 Main St E Brocket, ND 58321 Dutchs Bar Box 248 Bisbee, ND 58317 Eagles Hwy 2 E Rugby, ND 58368
2011-12
Become an associate member for only $31 a season!
Benefits include:
Farmers Insurance Group 1005 S Washigton St Grand Forks, ND 58201 Guthmiller Earthmoving 305 2nd Ave S Cleveland, ND 58424 Hanson Ranch 1390 Hanson Lane Linton, ND 58552 Harper Oil 120 S Main Rugby, ND 58368 Haugland Trucking PO Box 13 Lakota, ND 58344 Hoffman & Son Rentals 1820 Hwy 32 Walhalla, ND 58282 Jamestown Implement 600 20th St SW Jamestown, ND 58401 Jeff’s Sport Shop 11 54th Ave SE Minot, ND 58701 Outback Auto Body 307 18th Ave SW Minot, ND 58701 Planet Powersports Inc. 3930 Memorial Hwy Mandan, ND 58554 Revolutions Power Sports 4225 36th Ave S Grand Forks, ND 58201 Rugby Eagles 2809 Hwy 2 W Rugby, ND 58368 Scherbenske & Sons 2511 17th ST SE Jamestown, ND 58401 The Bar Box 7 Lawton, ND 58345
- A monthly subscription to the Sno-Dak News - Recognition on the Snowmobile North Dakota Website - Free business listing in each of the six issues of the Sno-Dak News in both the printed version and the E-magazine
Pink Ribbon Riders organization kicks off the 2012 Snow Run seven state tour The Pink Ribbon Riders is a grass roots non profit organization that toured to Grand Rapids Minneosta this past weekend at the Sugar Lake Lodge hosting the 6th Annual Minnesota Snow Run. The Snow Run is a two day event open to both men and women that incorporates a Friday night welcome party, silent and live auctions, live music food and on Saturday an optional snowmobile ride. The Minnesota Snow Run event raises funds that are distributed to men and women residents of Minnesota that are diagnosed with breast cancer in $500.00 increments to help off set medical bills, gas costs to treatment and any other expenses while they battle the disease. The Minnesota Snow Run raised $49,000 + and still counting. The top fund-
raiser was Jack Schuster from Mound, Minnesota raising $4,525. 170 participants and supporters came out for the great food, auctions and more to support the Pink Ribbon Riders mission. Fun activities such as tire golf, broom ball and tricycle racing were done in replace of snowmobiling this year. The event never cancels even if the activity part of the event which is snowmobiling can not be done as the Pink Ribbon Riders commented, “ Cancer does not care what the weather is, neither should we.” The Snow Run event is the organization’s main fundraiser for each states financial assistance program and in many states like North Dakota this coming weekend, it’s the only event that funds the year of patients that will apply.
The Pink Ribbon Riders 2012 Snow Run Tour takes off this coming weekend to the 3rd North Dakota Snow Run and will make stops in Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the newest state added of Colorado. All funds are distributed in the states in which the Pink Ribbon Riders organization has a snow run event. This was set up this way so that not only can local financial assistance be given where the event is held, but regionally and statewide the residents of that state are diagnosed are supported. The Snow Run event is unique as patient(s) from the local area are invited to attend the event and are presented with the $500.00 PRR Assistance Program gift. This year Jolene Oviatt from the town of Bovey was cho-
sen to receive the $500.00 gift along with 3 other patients from the area of Minnesota. Founded in 2006, the Pink Ribbon Riders has helped more than 800 people diagnosed with breast cancer in states throughout the country.
The organization provides direct financial support to patients and families struggling to pay for medical bills, groceries, and gas money. Inspired by breast cancer survivors, the Pink Ribbon Riders attend sporting events and organize rides in honor and in memory
of loved ones who have battled breast cancer. Participants of the Snow Run events come from all over the USA and the state in which the Snow Run is held.
ARCTIC CAT DOMINATES 2012 USCC CROSS-COUNTRY OPENER Brian Dick Wins Pro 600 While Team Arctic Takes 13 of 17 Class Titles Thief River Falls, Minn. (Jan. 20, 2012) – If there were any questions about which brand would start the 2012 USCC cross-country race season on top, Team Arctic answered by winning 13 of 17 classes (while sweeping the podium of six) and going 1-2 in the vaulted Pro 600 final. The dominant performances by the team aboard the new 2012 Arctic Cat Sno Pro 600 and Sno Pro 500 race sleds on Pine Lake in Gonvick, Minn., proved beyond doubt that when it comes to speed, cornering and handling, Arctic Cat is the one to beat. Leading the charge in the Pro 600 final was defending I-500 champion Brian Dick, who found the fast balance of speed, intensity and smooth line choice on the 10-mile lake course to move into the lead halfway through the first of 10 laps and never look back on his way to the win. His two Team Arctic/Christian Bros. Racing teammates would keep him honest, as D.J. Ekre finished a strong second while defending USCC Pro Champion Ryan Simons took fifth in his first-ever ice cross-country race. Jordan Torgerson served notice that he’s gunning for the Semi Pro title this year by taking both the Semi Pro 600 and 600 Improved classes. Joining him in double-victory category were Boris Mahlich (who won Sport 600 and Sport 600 Improved) and Bryce Buchanan in the Expert 85-hp classes (where Arctic Cat swept the top-9 places in both). The indomitable Jolene Bute returned to her familiar place atop the Women’s class; Dustin Isaak led an Arctic Cat sweep of the Sport 85 class; and it was all green atop the Junior classes with wins by Matt Feil, Cole Lian and Kelsey Pladson. “With low snow cover, USCC was forced to go lake racing, which is a form of cross-country that we hadn’t focused on for more than a decade,” said Mike Kloety, Team Arctic Race Manager. “Our racers and crews responded with a winning performance that matched the ZR period of lake-race success. And the new Sno Pro 600 in the ProCross chassis proved it has the speed and handling needed to win in all forms of cross-country.”
ARCTIC CAT PROCROSS ON TOP OF THE CANTERBUY PODIUM Tucker Hibbert Leads the Team Arctic Charge at ISOC National Snocross his second of the season, further confirming his immense talent and drive. Runkel led a Team Arctic-sweep of the Transition Limited final, while Christian dominated the 120 Champ class.
Thief River Falls, Minn. (Jan. 10, 2012) – For the second time in the still-young 2012 ISOC National snocross season, Tucker Hibbert proved the power of the Arctic Cat ProCross chassis with a spectacular win in Pro Open final in Shakopee, Minn. The Arctic Cat/Monster Energy phenom delivered a jaw-dropping, comefrom-behind performance that brought 12,000 screaming fans to their feet and highlighted his insatiable desire to win. “That was one of the all-time great displays of power, determination and talent,” said Mike Kloety, Team Arctic Race Manager. “Tucker proved once again that he’s an incredible champion, and that the 2012 Arctic Cat Sno Pro 600 is destined for greatness.” Joining Hibbert on the top step of the podium at the Canterbury snocross were
Canterbury Park in Shakopee marked the third stop of the eightrace ISOC National Tour. With nearly a month until the next event, Feb. 3-4 in Farmington, NY, Team Arctic racers and crews will continue to test and improve the new race sled.
Team Arctic pilots Tyler Adams, Trent Wittwer, Reid Runkel and Evan Christian. Adams continued his seasonlong quest to rule the Junior classes by taking the win in Jr. 14-15 and finishing second in Jr. 16-17. Wittwer’s victory in Jr. Novice 10-13 was
“We’ve seen significant progress with the new Sno Pro,” said Kloety. “Much of the improvement is simply getting more seat time with the new chassis. But we’re also learning improvements in calibration for specific conditions, which is a necessary process every time we introduce a new chassis.”
What an Adventure! Israelis, Floridians and the U.S. Air Force trek into Yellowstone Park by snowmobile Jack Welch, BlueRibbon - Special Projects Consultant On Sunday the January 15th I had the opportunity to join a guided group on the trek from West Yellowstone, Montana to Old Faithful. Our guide was Gaylon Tibwell from Yellowstone Arctic and Yamaha Tours, one of the commercial trip providers from West Yellowstone, Montana. On my trek, I saw first hand how international visitors, fellow citizens and member of the U.S. Air Force from Utah enjoyed the snowmobile as a form of transportation to Old Faithful. The Israelis really enjoyed the adventure and took lots of pictures! In addition, the couple from Orlando, Florida stated at lunch “Snowmobiling to Old Faithful was something we will long remember!� Here is a summary of our trek. We started our day by meeting at the Yellowstone Holiday Inn and to meet our guide and were assigned our Arctic Cat snowmobiles for the trek. We signed the rental forms and got suited up for the adventure. Next we had a short safety talk by Gaylon, our guide, who covered the operation of the Arctic Cat four stroke snowmobiles and the hand signals we would use as we toured the Park. Next, we set out for our first stop, the Yellowstone Park West Gate. This is a very popular stop because of the large Yellowstone entrance sign, a great place for group pictures. With only a few miles under their belts, the group really looked forward to riding the Arctic Cat four strokes, and the guide and I wanted to make sure they had a great experience on the trek. I also wanted to explain the history of the\ winter access issue and snowmobiling in the Park. After Gaylon, our guide, checked us in at the West Gate and we were off to our destination for the day, the Old Faithful area. At Old Faithful we planned on having lunch and seeing the geyser. In addition we would have time to view the new Old Faithful Visitor Center and its many exhibits. The weather was cool and crisp with gusts of wind to 40 mph. The trail was, of
course, the groomed summer highway and it was smooth. As we headed for our next stop, the Madison River overlook, the riders got their first taste of the beautiful scenic vistas of the Park as we traveled along the edge of the Madison River. They also saw evidence of an eagle’s nest and many elk, bison and a group of swans on the river. At the Madison River overlook the Israelis commented that so far the snowmobile was a great way to experience the Park and looked forward to the rest of the day. In addition, one of the riders asked why the snowmobiles had restrictors on the throttles. I explained the Park’s speed limit is only 45 mph and these Arctic Cats without restrictors would go much faster. I also pointed out to the group that the snowmobile is just one of the
forms of transport in Yellowstone for winter access. The group commented that this trip in the Park would be the major highlight of their holiday weekend in West Yellowstone! We continued on to the Old Faithful area with a short rest stop at Madison Junction Warming Hut. During our stop at Madison Junction my group got to see several snowcoaches and asked about how the coach fit into the
Yellowstone transportation system. I explained that it was another form of access to the Park. The group commented they liked the snowmobile better! Our next stop was a tour of the Fire Hole River side road. We stopped on the road to check out the Fire Hole River Falls. We also had a chance to view the only authorized river swimming area in the Park. This side trip allowed the group to take a lot of great pictures of this
special river! We next reached Old Faithful just as the geyser went off. In other words, we missed it and had to wait another ninety minutes for the next eruption. With time to spend before the eruption our guide suggested we eat lunch in the Geyser Grill. During the lunch I was asked why anti-groups want to eliminate access by snowmobile to Yellowstone.
we started back to West Yellowstone. We arrived at Holiday Inn at 4:30 p.m. After filling the Arctic Cats with fuel we thanked our guide and the group agreed that “closing snowAfter lunch we saw Old Faithful Geyser and spent mobile access to Yellowstone would just not be some time viewing the right because they felt that new Old Faithful Visitor Center which just opened the snowmobile provided the best form of transporlast summer. We next tation to see the natural headed toward the thermal areas on the road back wonders of Yellowstone Park!” to Madison Junction. Yellowstone by snowmobile and that it was wrong to limit the choices on access to the Park in the winter.
The group had their first opportunity to experiI explained the issues and ence a bison herd on the how the snowmobile com- groomed road. The folks from Florida really liked munity had solved the the experience of being up many issues presented. close and personal with The entire group commented that they thought those “Big Animals”! that many of their friends Time was growing late and would enjoy an outing to
As we said our goodbyes they stated they would return some day for another Yellowstone winter snowmobile adventure!
Book A Snowmobile Adventure Package At Togwotee Mountain Lodge And Ride With Bunke Racing Nestled high above Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in the mountains of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Togwotee Mountain Lodge offers some of the best snow conditions and riding in the country. With huge snowfall totals and some of the best mountain scenery the world has to offer, Togwotee is considered by many to be the ultimate snowmobile riding experience. This season it gets even better because Bunke Racing is partnering with Togwotee Mountain Lodge to offer the Bunke Racing Snowmobile Adventure Package. The package offers guided tours, meals, social hour, lodging, discounts on snowmobile rentals, airport pickup, and more. It is a “come when you can, leave when you need to” opportunity for snowmobile riders of every experience level. Riders can take it easy on the 600 miles of groomed trails that lead right out of the Lodge or go extreme in the 2.5 million acres of varied backcountry terrain. “Togwotee has some of the best snowmobile riding in the country, we are so excited to share this experience with our fans this year.” ~ Gabe Bunke The special Bunke Racing Adventure rates are available from March 19-25. Your trip includes these extras from the Bunke Racing Team: Friday, March 23rd - Bunke Racing Guided Snowmobile Ride Bunke Racing Meet and Greet and Social at Togwotee Saturday, March 24th - Bunke Racing VIP Social at Sidewinders Tavern in Jackson Hole In addition, the legendary Jackson Hole World Championship HillClimb will take place March 22-25. Book your trip in conjunction with the HillClimb and experience the ultimate race to the summit of Jackson Hole’s Snow King Mountain.
Plan for the week or the weekend, it’s your option. The Bunke crew just hopes to see you sometime. We thank you for your support through the racing season and we’re looking forward to getting out there to rip it up with some of our fans. Space is limited, so book your Bunke Racing Adventure Package today! Call 866-278-4245 to book your trip or visit www.togwoteelodge.com/bunkeracing or www.bunkeracing.com for more information. Bunke Racing Adventure Package • Lodging (lodge rooms or cabins available) • Dinner (off the menu in the Grizzly Grill or Red Fox Saloon) • Hot Buffet Breakfast • Snowmobile Guide • Transportation to and from the Jackson Hole airport (3 nights minimum stay required) • Social Hour (Open Bar/Hot Appetizers) Details of the Bunke Racing Adventure Package: Social Hour: The Package begins with Social Hour after check in, from 5-6:30 PM of all you can drink domestic draft beer, basic well drinks, wine and appetizers. Social hour is included each night of your package. Lodging: After drinks and dinner, relax in our hot tubs then retire to your cabin, lodge room or suite for the evening. Dinner: Following Social Hour guests can join us in either the Grizzly Grill or Red Fox Saloon for dinner. The Grizzly Grill Menu includes, pasta dishes, salads, soups and appetizers to mention a few. Package guests can choose from any entrée on the saloon or restaurant menu. Fountain sodas are also included. The bar menu is a typical pub-style menu of burgers, sandwiches, chicken fingers and various appetizers. Dinner is included every night on the package. Breakfast: In the morning, join us for breakfast in the Grizzly Grill for a hot breakfast buffet. We serve eggs, pancakes, biscuits & gravy, bacon, sausage, fruits and yogurts, cereals and pastries. Breakfast is included every morning after the first night.
Snowmobile Guide: Once you have finished breakfast, join a guide for backcountry riding or a scenic trail ride. Full day guided groups depart at 9 AM every day. We form cohesive groups to match our guests’ experience, riding style and desired riding. We try to limit our groups size to no more than 10 guests per guide. The guide service is included everyday between your arrival and departure day. Guide service must be reserved 30 days prior to arrival. Bookings within 30 days are subject to availability. Transportation: To and from Jackson Hole Airport ( 3 nights minimum stay required) HillClimb Option: From Friday, March 23rd to Sunday March 25th. Guests may use their shuttle trip to/from the airport or to the town square (walking distance to the Hill Climb). Guests receive one round trip on the package with 3+ night stays. Also, a daily shuttle will be offered to and from the town of Jackson, departing Togwotee at 9:30am and departing Jackson at 6:30pm. Cost: $25/person (minimum 4 people). For more information on Bunke Racing please visit www.bunkeracing.com. Follow Bunke Racing on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BunkeRacing
Ross Erdman scores historic USCC Pro Open win at Pine Lake 100 Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ross Erdman scored a landmark Pro Open class win aboard his fourstroke FX Nytro in the USCC Pine Lake 100 in Gonvick, Minnesota, on Sunday, Jan. 15. Not only was Erdman’s victory against a field of rival two-strokes, but it will also go down in history as the FX Nytro’s first-ever USCC pro race win. Also aboard an FX Nytro, teammate Ben Lindom fought to an unofficial second place in the Semi Pro 600 class, while Erdman likewise ran a strong second in Pro 600 before retiring with a minor mechanical issue just two laps from the finish. Other FX Nytro racers flying the Yamaha flag were Nathan Titus in Pro 600 and Pro Vet, and Jake
Jorgensen in Semi Pro Improved. Unfortunately at press time, official timing and scoring challenges prevented a complete tally of these results.
– especially at speeds averaging nearly 80 mph. Adding to the drama was that officials didn’t even receive final permission to hold the event until the previous Monday night.
With little snowfall in the Midwest so far this winter, the USCC postponed its first two cross-country races of the season, and instead quickly created the Pine Lake 100.
Fortunately, it all came together on a beautiful Sunday morning that proved historic for the FX Nytro.
Instead of the typical cross-country course, the Pine Lake 100 featured a lengthy 10.2-mile track laid out entirely on the frozen lake.
The Pro Open race that Erdman and his FX Nytro dominated utilized a time-trial format, with sleds flagged off at halfminute intervals and then running flat out for two laps each.
With numerous sweeping turns and long straightaways marked with small orange and black signs, racers needed keen eyesight in the sometimesblinding snow dust to even follow the course
With such a format, it’s impossible to know how you’re doing against other drivers, and so the winning strategy was simply to run hard and fast for the entire race distance of 20.4 miles. Starting about
two-thirds of the way down the 17-rider field, Erdman did just that.
Erdman commanded the race and the podium.
A previous winner of the grueling three-day USCC Red Lake 500, Erdman owned not only the aggressiveness and focus needed on Pine Lake, but with the FX Nytro’s stupendous four-stroke power, he also had the performance.
“The whole team worked really hard to get this win,” Erdman said afterwards. “All of the machine prep, the fitness regimen and testing showed not just in my results but the rest of the team’s results as well. I’m really happy and looking forward to more wins this season.”
Racer after racer accelerated onto the course, wringing everything possible from both muscles and sleds, and when the final run had been made,
Yamaha’s Eric Josephsen added, “I am really impressed with this team because the race got thrown together at the last second. With little testing
time on the ice, the guys still did really well, and to come away with a first and hopefully a second – I’m just over the moon!” Yamaha racers are sponsored by: DynoJet, Fly Racing, Camoplast, Woody’s, SpeedCell, Fox Racing Shox, Trail Tank, FXR, Yamalube, Ulmer Racing, Evolved Nutrition, and EVS! Stay up to date with the Yamaha Race team on the Yamaha Snowmobiles, USA Facebook page.
Hello Bunke Racing Sponsors and Supporters poned. This weekend’s race will be a ice race on the lake, our team has been practicing and adjusting for these different conditions and we are hopeful we will have quite a few Bunke Racing racers on the podium this weekend.
Gabe Bunke
I wanted to personally checkin with all of you and give you an update on the racing season. First of all, we actually haven’t started racing yet. Our first race has finally been scheduled for this weekend and it will not be the typical USCC Cross Country race we are used to. Many of you know we have had the weirdest weather this year, and we have yet to get any measurable snow in the region where we race. Our first three races, including the legendary I-500 have all been post-
I wanted to check in with all of you and let you know that the lack of snow has not stopped us from promoting our team and the sponsors that support us. Our website continues to be busy with new visitors going to the site everyday and our facebook page has also gained some momentum. A couple of things we have been working on this year, off the track....... -We partnered with Tharaldson Ethanol and the NDSU Clean Snowmobile Challenge team. We have been meeting and offering advice to these engineering students and it’s been really fun. Their national competition hap-
pens in March, so keep in touch with our website and facebook for more updates. The original announcement for the partnership can be found on the Bunke Racing website. -We are officially, I think, unofficially, now a dealer for NashCar Trailers. We had the opportunity to meet the leadership team from Nashcar at HayDays this year and we were wowed by their awesome trailers, so much so, we have one now that will be showing up on the track Plus, if you know of any one in the market for a snowmobile, car or toy hauling trailer, let us know, we would love to show you what we can do. Their website is www.nashcartrailers.com - As many of you know, we added Jennifer Fuller to our team this year. Our first woman racer. Jennifer was an “elite” member of the deans
list last semester at Michigan Technological University studing Civil Engineering. She is one smart cookie on and off the race track. We are excited to see what she will do on the track and are thrilled that Divas Snowgear was willing to sponsor Jen this year as well. Look for an announcement about that soon. - We continue to get coverage and stories written about us highlighting our Bunke Racing team and we haven’t even started racing yet! We have been covered in Wheels of Thunder magazine, just this week on SledRacer.com and more. Imagine when we start racing? -We have also partnered with Snowmobile North Dakota this year and they have asked me to be a contributing writer. It’s been fun to get feedback from people who read the column. http://www.snowmobilend. org/?id=38&ncid=1&nid=18 - We are really excited also that the SOO-I-500 is right around the corner. This year we have a new sponsor on board; Autolite spark plugs! We are glad to have them and we will have Jordan Yankee www.ArcticFXgraphics. com make us a tricked out wrap again this year featur-
ing Autolite. Thank you Jordan- he always has us looking good! The SOO is one of the premier races in the country and we want the top spot bad. Our facebook page will be a great place to check out the live coverage on the day of the Soo, Feb. 4th. -Finally, we are thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Togwotee Mountain Lodge and will be offering an end of the season Bunke Racing Snowmobile Adventure Vacation Package with them. More information can be found at http:// www.togwoteelodge.com/ plan/specials--packages/ bunke-racing-adventurepackage.aspx We would love it if you would want to join us out there! It will be the end of our race season and a great way to reconnect with all of you. Not to mention, it is the
weekend of the World championship hillclimb in Jackson Hole, we will definitely have a great time, we hope we can see you out there. Again, thank you for your support of Bunke Racing, we really do appreciate it and our goal is to offer our sponsors the opportunity to use Bunke Racing as a vehicle to promote their brand or company’s story. Have an idea? Run it past us, you never know. We love the sport of snowmobiling and we appreciate organizations like you that make this happen. Now, I got to get back to the shop. We’re gonna race this weekend! Thanks for everything!
e k n u B e Gab
Arctic Cat, Polaris and Yamaha to introduce 2013 models this spring In a series of 22 locations across the snowbelt, Arctic Cat, Polaris and Yamaha will give snowmobilers a “Sneak Peek” at their new models for 2013. Each manufacturer will display 15-18 sleds. That’s 50+ new snowmobiles for 2013 displayed on one show floor all at the same time. Snowmobilers can see, touch, sit on and inspect the sleds that will be at their dealer in the fall. Final decisions and taking advantage of the special incentives offered during the spring buying programs can be made with hands-on inspection of the various models. Outdoor events may have an admission charge and show times will follow that event’s schedule. Indoor events are from 4-9:00 PM with free admission. See special times for Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center and Manchester. The Colebrook, Old Forge, Lake Geneva, West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole shows are outdoor events and will follow the hours of that event. For more information: 1-800-746-8963
Eastern Tour: Colebrook, NH. March 2-3, 2012 Coleman State Park
Novi, MI. April 11 Suburban Collection Showplace 46100 Grand River Ave.
Augusta, ME. March 6, 2012 Civic Center - 76 Community Drive
Duluth, MN. April 19 DECC - 350 Harbor Dr.
Old Forge, NY. March 10-11 North street Recreational Center Syracuse, NY. March 13, 2012 NY State Fairgrounds - Horticulture Bldg.
Western Tour:
Lake Geneva, WI. March 16-18, 2012 Geneva Grand Resort
Denver, CO. March 13 Merchandise Mart - Expo Bldg II - 451 E. 58th Ave
Stevens Point, WI. March 20 Holiday Inn - 1001 Amber Ave.
West Yellowstone, MT. March 16-18 Holiday Inn
Green Bay, WI. March 22 Shopko Hall - 1901 S. Oneida St.
Jackson Hole, WY. March 22-25 Snow King Resort
Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN. March 24-25 Earle Brown Center - 6155 Earle Brown Dr. Brooklyn Center, MN Saturday from 2-8 PM and Sunday from Noon-5
Puyallup, WA. March 28 Americraft Showplex - Center & East 110 9th Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI. March 28, 2012 Delta Plex Arena - 2500 Turner Ave NW Buffalo/Hamburg, NY. April 2 Fairgrounds - 5820 S. Park - Hamburg, NY Allentown, PA. April 4 Fairgrounds - Annex Bldg - 302 N. 17th St. Manchester, NH. April 7 Radisson Hotel - 700 Elm St. Show hours 2-8 PM
Spokane, WA. April 2 Spokane County Fair & Expo 404 N. Hauana Boise, ID. April 4 Expo Idaho - Center Bldg. 5610 Glenwood Layton, UT. April 6, 2012 Davis Conference Center - 165 North 700 West Fargo, ND. April 9, 2012 Fargo Dome - 1800 N. University Dr.
Bunke Racing Kicks Off USCC Season With Podium Finishes
The Bunke Racing team kicked off its season at the USCC National Guard Cross-Country Snowmobile Championship race held on Pine Lake near Gonvick. Minn., this past Sunday, January 15. Not only was the race the first on the Bunke Racing team’s schedule, it was also the first cross-country lake race in over a decade. It posed a challenge for the team to come up with a competitive race setup for the
twisty course set up on the icy surface of Pine Lake, but the team put in over a week of testing and was able to get their Polaris snowmobiles more than ready for the event. Gabe Bunke put his sled on podium with a third place finish to start the day in Pro Open. Bobby Menne had a good day in that class as well with both riders feeling more than comfortable on the 10-mile ice
course that consisted of right- and left-hand turns and featured two, 1-mile straightaways. Pro Women rider Jen Fuller was totally new to ice racing but took third place in the Womens class, less than a minute behind the winner. Spencer Kadlec, Jeff Klein and Matt Burkhardt finished 5-6-7 in the five-lap Semi-Pro 600 race. The Top 5 riders in the class were so close that Kadlec
was only 12-seconds out of a podium podium spot in the class. This season is only Kadlec’s second racing snowmobiles and it’s his first season on Polaris. “This was my first lake race and it was definitely a challenge,” Kadlec said. “I learned a lot though and I’ll be looking for a Top 3 finish at the next event for sure.” Pro riders ran a 1-lap
qualifier for the 10-lap, 100-mile Pro 600 race. Bunke and Menne both ended up in the second of three rows to start the race. Bunke got a good start and settled into 8th place while Menne was a couple spots back. On the seventh lap Menne’s sled suffered a track problem that put him out of the race. Meanwhile, Bunke had moved up a spot into 7th, where he would ultimately finish.
“I think the team had a great weekend,” said Bunke. “We got two podium finishes and we were really competitive. Everyone is so fast, but we’re right there so I can’t see why we won’t be able to win some races this season.” Next up for Bunke Racing is the USCC J&K Marine Beach Bar 100 in Detroit Lakes, Minn., January 28-29. For more
Injuries Sideline Polaris Freestyle Champs Levi LaVallee & Daniel Bodin; Both Will Miss 2012 Winter X Games Just two weeks after setting the world record for motorsports distance jumping, Polaris snocross racer and freestyle rider Levi LaVallee (Team LaVallee) sustained injuries in a practice incident that will prevent him from competing in the 2012 Winter X Games and will put his racing season on hold. His Team LaVallee freestyle teammate, Daniel Bodin of Sweden, was injured in a separate practice incident and will also miss the Winter X Games one year after winning two gold medals at the event. “We were sad to receive word of Levi’s and Daniel’s injuries, but we’re relieved and excited to know both are expected to make full recoveries,” said Mike Jonikas, Polaris VP Snowmobiles, Sales & Marketing. “On behalf of everyone associated with Polaris, I pass along our best wishes to Levi and Daniel, their families and their team.” A Team LaVallee spokesperson reported LaVallee broke his left tibia in a practice accident while Bodin “suffered fractured vertebra but did not sustain any spinal cord damage and has full movement. Both athletes anticipate a full recovery.” “I’m super bummed about Daniel and I getting hurt,” said LaVallee. “I was riding on a high after my record distance jump on New Year’s Eve and was pumped for Winter X. And Daniel was working hard to defend his gold medals from last year. I love our sport but it can be cruel sometimes. We will both be back as soon as possible and want to thank our sponsors for their support during this time.” One of the most popular athletes in Winter X games history, LaVallee will miss his second straight X Games. He sustained several serious injuries in December 2010 while practicing for an attempt at breaking the snowmobile distance jump record. He recovered from those injuries and on Dec. 31, 2011, successfully completed the record jump in San Diego. In fact, his jump of 412 feet, 6 inches, on a Polaris IQ® Race Sled is regarded as world record for all motorsports categories, as it surpassed the record jump distances for ATVs, cars and motorcycles. Robbie Maddison jumped on a motocross bike alongside LaVallee at the event and sailed 378’, 9”.
LaVallee has won four gold medals and seven total medals in eight X Games, and in 2008, when he won two golds, he was named “Athlete of Winter X.” At the 2009 games, he attempted a historic double back flip on a snowmobile in the Snowmobile Next Trick competition. He completed the revolutions but couldn’t stay on the sled when it landed. It remains the only time any rider has attempted a double back flip in competition. He won gold in Snowmobile Knock Out in 2009, and has also won gold in Snowmobile Speed & Style (2008), Freestyle (2008) and Hillcross (2004). The 2008-2009 Pro Stock points champion on the ISOC snocross circuit, LaVallee was scheduled to compete in freestyle and in best trick at the 2012 X Games. Bodin, who is from Malung, Sweden, won gold medals in Snowmobile Best Trick and Snowmobile Freestyle at the 2011 Winter X Games. He has competed in five Winter X Games and also won the silver medal in Snowmobile Best Trick in 2010. In addition to his snowmobile freestyle accomplishments, he is also a leading motorcycle freestyler.
Because of an injury, Levi LaVallee will not be participating in the 2012 Winter X Games.