March/April 2012 Sno-Dak News by Tari Norby

e d i R e t a t ND S

PRODUCwT Revie

DATED MATERIAL March/April 2012 • Vol 37 No. 6

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 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

where to go...

March/April 2012

www.snowmobilend.org

Departments

SND Board Messages .........................4+5 Region Reports............................................6

Features

CERT Class ........................................13 Product Review ........................................12 Club Reports ................................ 16-18

Why Advertise in the Sno-Dak News? To bring ND Snowmobilers to your business Call Now and Help Your

Business Grow!

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 Page & 1/3 .............................$1,168 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. DISCLAIMER: The contents of advertisements which appear in the Sno-Dak NEWS are solely the responsibility of advertisers. Advertiser Index page 18

Its 163.9 hp* Rotax® E-TEC® 800R engine combines with the lightweight REV-XP™ platform for an incredible power-to-weight ratio. Add the S-36 handling package and a new monster 2.5-inch lug track, and you’ve got a sled that carves effortlessly and climbs anything.

Stop by to learn more about the Summit® and to experience our excellent customer service.

Moritz Sport & Marine

2540 Marina Road SE Mandan, ND 58554 Dealer Imprint 701-222-2000 Goes Here Toll Free 888-338-6544 www.moritzmarine.com Boasting contributions of over $2M to North American snowmobile clubs, to date.

©2011 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. *Result based on independent third-party dyno test. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US, Inc. Always ride responsibly and safely. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Always wear appropriate clothing, including a helmet. Don’t drink and drive. 1107459

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

Greetings’ to my SND Family and Friends

lachows a M y t r a M

Hey what’s with no snow! Hope to catch some action at Lake Metigoshe the first weekend of February. Hope everyone has fun in Fordville in February, they got snow but for how long with these Spring like days. Attended the State ride in Mooreton and they know how to put on a fun run with buses. They had about 4 inches and some sleds were going but no one wants to wear out their track or skins or break anything. Great idea to keep everyone safe and ensure we had a ride back to the hotel in Wahpeton. Thanks Mike for driving one of the buses and Renee for making sure everyone got home that night. SVTA, I want you to have another State run so we can enjoy your flat out trails. I am looking forward to putting on 300 miles in one day on the SVTA trials and thanks again for sponsoring the State Ride. Wow, what a board meeting, it was good to see so many snowmobilers from the east part of the state. I met some of you for the first time and Mike, one of the directors of SVTA, thanks for the pat on the back, I must extend that to the SND Staff and Board of Directors, and it feels great to know you appreciate what we do for the SND throughout the state. It is a good feeling to reflect on that

information and makes the board job so much more awarding. Lots of good discussion was on signing trails. I know we have many hazards on the trail and we ensure these are not within our corridor. It’s a lesson we must all learn, that if you stay within the corridor you will not hit any hazards. Sometimes we may mark the hazard with a blazer on the side of a corridor, so you don’t sled on top of the culvert. That happens once in a great while, Todd Thronson (SND Trail Inspector) will address these problems in our signing class to ensure SND trail is signed properly. I want you to attend the SND State convention on December 1, 2012 at Rugby. The Board of Director meeting will be Friday evening and the Members meeting will be in the morning with trail/groomer classes to follow. Maybe for the first time we might get snow and be able to have a fun run. Everyone has asked why the SND Convention in December? Last year SND officers and SND staff visited the Associations to communicate new issues we had to address. At the meetings we attended there were many individuals asking if we could change the Convention date, well here it is, if we don’t see a 50 percent improvement in attendance we will adjust and possible go back to October. Usually 180 snowmobilers attend the convention so we are looking at 90 more to attend. Everyone that farms and ranches, now is your chance to attend. December is also the time we like to open the trail system, hope Mother Nature helps us out for a good snow this coming winter. There will be a few more board

March/April 2012

meetings throughout the summer so you know we are active and preparing for the next season. We will be discussing the new groomers and what trail system will be getting them. I want you to sit down and note what trails you have not used in the past three years. I would like you to submit the information to our office after you make a decision. Our trails are costing a lot of money and we need to know if you are getting the best for your buck. Grooming the trails is a big expense and if we need to cut a few miles we will still survive. Many areas have been flooded and we can possible move the trail to another section in your trail system but ensure you maintain that area. Hard to believe this is the last issue for Sno Dak news for this season. SND volunteers worked very hard this year to give North Dakota one of the safest snowmobile trails in the country to ride on. To the employees of SND, the SND Board of Directors, SND members, Associate Members and NDPRD, a Great Big Thankyou, without all of you the program would not be able to continue. Don’t forget to get your nominations in for the Snowmobile of the year awards before April, even if they were nominated and not selected last year put them in again. Hope to see you all at the SND convention in Rugby this December…Until then... Happy Snowy Trails to You!

OFFICERS

President

Walhalla FORESTWOOD HOTEL Hwy. 55 West • Walhalla Inn • Steak House • Lounge • On & Off Sale • Banquet Facilities

1-800-853-4302 701-549-2700

Hwy. 55 West • Walhalla, ND

Restaurant Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Fri & Sat. 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

www.forestwoodinn.com

New Management Since 2006

1-866-234-1851 701-549-2651

Continental Breakfast Wireless Internet Fridges & Microwaves

C-Store

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

March/April 2012

Vice President AWESOME!!!! For those of you that didn’t make it this year, you need to come next year. The Pink Ribbon Ride is a great time. Thanks to everyone that donated their time to help with the event. The weekend of January 28th, the state ride was held in Mooreton, ND. We had a great time at the state ride. For the poker run we could go to eleven bars. Yes I made it to all of them. Towards the end of the day it was a little tricky, because it started to snow and the roads became icy. It sure was beautiful watching the snow fall, too bad we didn’t get more. I really enjoyed going to the different bars and meeting people. My goal is to come back to the Mooreton area and ride their trail system when we get snow. Even though we have little to no

OFFICERS

Laura orbes F Hi everyone,

I am still doing my snow dance. We had a great time at the Pink Ribbon Ride. Since there was no snow, we played tire golf, tricycles races and had a scavenger hunt. We had a great time. Not as many people registered this year. Remember people get breast cancer whether it snows or not. For the people that did show, we raised over $40,000.

Unfortunately just because there is no snow, SND doesn’t get by without some expense. Without any grooming, SND will spend approximately $114,000 for insurance, land leases, grooming equipment, signs, etc. It would be nice to have that all to carry over to next season should we get blessed with bulk snow but it doesn’t work that way. Thank you, thank you 4

snow, the SND board has been working very hard to assist clubs and the associations with trail changes, due to water and/or construction issues and other issues that have came up. If you have any questions or comments, please contact a board member. If you have photos and would like to have them in the Sno-Dak, please send them to Keri. REMEMBER! The photos have to be high resolution photos. Be safe, when riding.

Secretary

Sherfimann Hof

W o w , what a bummer this winter has been. If I have one more person asks me how great I think this no snow is, I think I will snap. Is there anything uglier than brown grass? And my kids are about going nuts. “Is there enough snow yet? We want to ride!” I know, I tell them, we all do.

www.snowmobilend.org

volunteers for putting up signs and getting equipment ready. Try not to get discouraged. We still have a little time, maybe we’ll get in a few months here at the end. We could groom until April 1, anyway. That is end date mandated by the legislature and agreed upon in our land leases. This is my second year on the board and I learn something at almost every meeting. Did you know you can license your vintage snowmobile (25 years and older) for free? And you only have to do it once? And that if you do license it, SND gets to count it every year towards the number of registered sleds. And that increases our share of the gas tax money that funds our program. Licensing your vintage can be somewhat of a hassle to do because you have to have a title, but if there are as many vintage around the state as there are in our area, it would add up.

Even with no snow and half of the participants, we still raised $40,000! It truly is a great cause and I hope we continue to support it. A $500 gift card was presented to a gal from ND who has been battling the disease. The PRR brought her and her family (hubby and two young girls) up to Bottineau, paid for their hotel room, and presented the gift during the Saturday night banquet. I don’t know if there was a dry eye in the room. I know mine weren’t. That is what it is all about. Making a difference. I hope their weekend up there was fun and gave them a little break from what is now their normal. PS: The PRR are a finalist in the pinkwell challenge and could get up to $50,000, but we need your votes. This could fund up to an additional 100 patients. Please go to pinkwell. org and vote daily for the PRR!

Thank you to all who attended the Pink Ribbon Ride in Bottineau. Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

www.snowmobilend.org

March/April 2012

Program Manager

r e n n a Keri W

Calling all “Snow Lovers”!!! Get your signs ready, we are going to protest and picket “Mother Nature”!!!! I know we have had some great winters the past few years but come on, really we get jipp’d this season. Taking advice from my husband, it’s time to “Punt”!!! You’ll have to ask him what that means?!?! Since I don’t want to share a depressing article for the last issue of the Sno-Dak News, I’m going to fly through the facts and get to the good stuff. Snowmobile registrations as of December 2011 are done by 540 sleds. This adds up to $18,900 in registration funds alone. And don’t forget the gas tax funds are based upon the number of snowmobile registrations in the state. This means less funds provided to the program to help manage the state trails. The snowmobile program finished the 2009-2011 biennium with a 10 percent increase in snowmobile

state!!! I’m crossing my fingers it all works out for the recreational users. Please know SND is always looking for articles and pictures from clubs and members across the state. Take a stab at it, writing isn’t so bad and besides you can share some cool stories. Pictures are needed too. We are always looking for in state pictures from events. Make sure to have your cameras set on a high resolution setting. It may help your picture get on the cover of the magazine. It will also make sure the pictures are not blurry when printed in the magazine. The Sno-Dak News has been rocking this year. Circulation numbers are up now that we are publishing an E-magazine. Share the links to our website or Facebook so people can check out the latest in the world of ND snowmobiling. Thanks to everyone this season for all of your hard work. ND Parks and Recreation and SND really appreciate all you do help out the state snowmobile program. Keep up the great work and hopefully you will get a chance to enjoy some of your hard work from the seat of your snowmobile!!! Till next time, keep rockin’!!

OFFICERS

registrations. As of December 2011, the program is tracking at a 6 percent loss. Just how does this affect the snowmobilers? It affects the funds for the trail association budgets. Granted, the program is not spending funds to groom the trails but if the funds are not being earned, there are no funds to provide either. Could make for some interesting budget chats as we enter the spring and prepare for the 2012-2013 season. Club membership is also down. The membership has been affected worse than the snowmobile registrations. As of today’s date membership numbers have decreased by 30 percent. Yucko 5000, if you ask me!!! It’s just a tough year for promotion and I can completely understand the decrease. Now onto a subject that I’m pumped to share! This week the fate of RTP could be determined. Communication from early in the week has reflected certain programs being axed in the Federal Highway bill. And guess what, RTP wasn’t mentioned in those programs. There is a chance it could be funded for another four years!!! ND thanks so much to all of you who have contacted your legislators about the benefits of the RTP program and how it’s helped recreation in our great

Trail Maintenance Inspector

ToddThronson Howdy all! I’m writing this in the middle of our first real cold weather of the year, -15 this morning. Still no snow, no go this year so far! It’s been a very busy and eventful winter none the less. I’ve been on the road for

the past three weeks inspecting trails and attending events. It amazes me every year how much enthusiasm, time and hard work goes into this wonderful sport we all enjoy. We have also been very busy preparing for the groomer testing in the Peace Garden system. Much time and effort was put toward the testing specs and rating system for the equipment test. At this time we have had to reschedule twice due to lack of snow and are keeping our fingers crossed, doing snow dances and even a little praying that we get a good blast of snow. One of the most common signing issues I am seeing this year has to do with the signing of

approaches with culverts. We are seeing repeatedly the use of only two staggered blazers on an approach with a culvert in it. If there is a culvert, we must use at least three blazers and create a corridor, unless the trail is clearly not near the hazard. If this is not done, we run the risk of someone not seeing the hazard from one direction. Let’s remember to sign the safest possible route and sign it like you’ve never been there before!

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

1 Forbes Dean Region 1

Where is the snow???? We are teased with an inch here and an inch there. I wish we could get some snow so we can ride before it gets warm out. Even though there is no snow we still have been going to fun runs and having a great time. By the time you read this the fun runs will be over with, but we can still pray for snow. Keep praying for snow.

Dan Tveito Region 4 Hi everyone!

What a winter we are having. NOT! Last year at this time I had already worn out one blade on my Dakota SnoBlade. As of February, still no snow to speak of in my neck of the woods. The Beaver Valley Sno-Goer’s Club had another successful banquet on January 21. Here are the winners: Winners of the sold-out 2012 raffle were: Grand Prize: 2012 Polaris 600 IQ Shift 121 snowmobile (purchased from Herreid Sporting Center, Herreid, SD) – Annie Masset, Linton; CPL/Montezuma Toolbox (purchased from K&H Electric, Linton) – Marie Vogel, Bismarck; $1000 – Margo Kramer, Bismarck $500 – Mark Doll, Napoleon $250 – Dave Schmitz, Bismarck $250 – Larry Wald, Wishek The Beaver Valley Sno-Goer’s also conducted a Got “U” Covered raffle at the banquet. The winners were: Mandy Horner, Herreid, SD – Beaver Valley Sno-Goer’s coat; Glenn Ketterling, Zeeland – Happy Hour Bar coat; Annie Masset – John R. Beck Insurance coat; Devan Voller, Pollock, SD – Mycogen coat from Appert Farms, Inc., Hazelton; Vicki Jakobsen, Pollock, SD – Carhartt Bib Overall from Nodak Ranch & Home Supply; Stacy Vander Vorste, Linton – Polaris coat (ladies) purchased from Herreid Sporting Center and donated by the Beaver Valley SnoGoer’s Club; Mandy Flemmer, Pollock - Polaris coat (men’s) donated by Dennis & Karen Hum of Strasburg; Dawn Schiele, Linton - Polaris coat (men’s) – Herreid Sporting Center; and Cheryl Hanson, Linton – Vander Vorst Seed donated by Chad & Myra Vander Vorst, Pollock, SD. Pat Gerving of Linton also won a Beaver Valley Sno-Goer’s Club coat because he picked the right chair to sit in. Two other drawings were also conducted from ALL current, paid members. Members did not need to be present to be eligible for this drawing. Dawn Schiele & Dave Beastrom membership was chosen to receive a $100 I Bond from Todd Lang, President/CEO of Strasburg State Bank. Jeremiah Lund of Lincoln received a seed product item valued at $250 from North Central Farmers Elevator, Hague. Unfortunately, nothing exciting to report from this area due to extreme lack of snow. Hopefully, by the time you read this……………..it will have changed.

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

www.snowmobilend.org

TRACK TALKS In the Drivers Seat

Once the snow falls – and even if it doesn’t – this is our snow and show season. Each year we participate in a number of groomer workshops with the goal of getting our customers and potential new customers into the driver’s seat.

In the next 6 weeks we will demo at the: • Walker Equipment Show in St Germain, WI • MN USA Winter Rendezvous in Fairmont, MN • MN Equipment Demo at Giants Ridge Ski Area, MN • MN Groomer Workshop at Windigo Lodge, MN • Michigan Snowmobile Association groomer workshop in Ishpeming, MI • ND field test in Bottineau, ND on March 9th and 10th.

For those of you that will be venturing out to demo all of the new vehicles and drags, make sure you get some seat time in our 2012 Demo – and yes, you can drive it at the show. Tucker has been working on a complete redesign of their dash and we have one of the first ones out there. We will be running it through its paces to test its operation and comfort level. The new dash is integrated to the driver’s seat with a fully proportional blade/drag control joystick which is mounted on the armrest for ultimate driver control and comfort. The dash puts all switches and the state of the art gauge display system right at your fingertips. Our 2012 Tucker-Terra demo was custom built by Tucker Sno-Cat® Corporation in Medford, Oregon USA. It has an extended cab, heated windshield and heated side window glass, power heated mirrors, internal rearview mirror with temperature and compass, Grammer mechanical seats, locking differentials, a rearview camera system, and 4 lower corner lights. We had it built for you to test in the snow this winter. All we need now is more snow and for you to come to a show. Lorene Hanson President Track Inc.

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

March/April 2012

www.snowmobilend.org

Press Release For Immediate Release

Bunke Racing Wins At USCC Grafton 100 Team Claims Four Podiums Moorhead, Minn. (February 13, 2012) – While the Bunke Racing team was carving up the ice at the USCC Beach Bar 200 in Detroit Lakes during the last weekend in January, a winter storm was slicing through parts of Eastern North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota leaving a narrow band of snow in its wake. This snow was the recipe for the USCC Grafton 100 this past Sunday, February 12, and the whole event was a recipe for success for the crew from Bunke Racing. When the weekend was done the team had claimed four podium spots including a win courtesy of Spencer Kadlec in Semi-Pro 600 and third place in the brutal Pro 600 race brought home by Gabe Bunke. Fresh off the team’s win at the Soo I-500 a week before, Bunke and Bobby Menne tackled the 20-mile course in the 10-lap Pro 600 race. The rivers, ditches, fields and woods took their toll on the competition with fifteen sleds taking the start and only seven making it the full 100-miles. Bobby Menne was in third place on the time charts when his sled came to a stop - a stud had punctured the heat exchanger, the coolant leaked out and that resulted in a blown engine. Shortly after Menne went out, Bunke slotted himself into third place, navigating the brutal terrain and crossing the finish line in the podium position. The Semi-Pro 600 class boasted 28-riders. Kadlec, who already had a third place finish in the Semi-Pro Improved class to his credit from earlier in the day, bested them all, taking the win in the 40-mile race and posting a time over a half-minute faster than second place. It was Kadlec’s first win of the season and the second of his career. “I felt confident after the Semi-Pro Improved class, I knew we had a good setup,” said Kadlec. “Our team worked really hard for this one. It’s been a tough season with the lack of snow, but we went off what we knew and put together a winning run.” Pro Women class rider Jen Fuller continues to move up in the finishing order and laid down a run good enough to net her second place in the class. “This is my first season of cross-country so I’m still in the learning process,” said Fuller. “I know what I need to do and I have my target. I’m not happy with second, I want a win!” “They say winning is contagious,” said Bunke. ‘Coming off the Soo I-500 win it’s hard to imagine the season getting any better, but this past weekend in Grafton it was pretty good. The whole team’s been working hard and it’s showing up in the results.” Next up for Bunke Racing is the USCC Red Lake I-500 in Thief River Falls, Minn. For more info on Bunke Racing visit www.bunkeracing.com. You can also follow Bunke Racing on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BunkeRacing

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

meet the next evolution of perfection. The 2013 MX Z® snowmobile features an aggressive new flowing-edge design that lets you know it’s ready for battle. New sculpted body panels improve wind protection and allow for more aggressive cornering positions. The rMotion™ suspension system is the trail’s adrenaline standard – neutralizing every bump, big and small. Nothing comes close to the MX Z. That’s why it’s the best handling, highest performing sled in the business. Visit ski-doo.com/build to design your own.

mx Z

State Ride is Stuck on Snow,

Thanks Southern Valley Trail Riders We’re still stuck on Snow, High on Wintertime. The 2012 North Dakota Snowmobile State Run was held without snow, but fun was had by all. It was so great to see all the support our communities have given the Southern Valley Trail Riders Association in Mooreton, ND. Snow or no snow, the event was a success. Conversing about the lack of snow and checking out the vintage snowmobile show on

main street was a great attraction. It has been discussed that we will make the Vintage Show and (hopefully) Run an annual event in Mooreton, ND. The day started with a state equipment meeting at 9 am, followed by the state snowmobile committee meeting at 10 am. Registration for the Vintage Show started at 9 am with judging ending at noon in front of Paula’s Place in

Mooreton. We had 22 vintage sleds registered and shown on Mooreton main street. The people’s choice best restored 1st place was Dave Link of Mooreton with a 1971 Arctic Cat Panther, 2nd place was Tom Reddy of Breckenridge, MN showing a 1972 Brut. The people’s choice best un-restored 1st place was Link’s 1971 Arctic Can Panther and 2nd place was Bud Hovelson of Lake Park, MN showing a 1975 Polaris TX 500. The most unique was Link’s 1965 Arctic Kitten (in the pic being run) the Bartender’s choice was Link’s a 1971 Arctic Cat Panther.

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

w, High on Wintertime

ers!

By Renee Braun We had two buses arrive to take the Fun Run participants to the participating businesses, arriving back at 7 pm. The club had organized some raffle prizes and also announced the big winner of the New Polaris Ranger at 10 pm as Jim Overby of nearby Galchutt along with numerous cash prize winners. The tickets for our Polaris Ranger were gone before the big day ever happened. Thanks to all our communities for supporting our club, snow or no

snow, we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it without you! And thank you to the club members for all the hard work and support through meetings and signing the trails.

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

PRODUCwT Revie

PowerMadd Star Series Handguards

When you combine high speeds with low temps, the resulting wind chills can give you frostbite in minutes. Bunke Racing competes in these harsh conditions all winter long, and often for several hours at a time. We trust PowerMadd to keep our racers frostbite free and comfortable so they can focus on winning the race! We’ve found the combination of the Star Series Handguard and Tall IQR Cobra Windshield to provide excellent wind blocking protection. The flare and race flare are extra insurance on those subzero days.

Trail Tank Dealer Trail Tank’s flagship product for Polaris IQ Mountain Sleds. An oversized fuel tank made of a durable polyethylene plastic designed to bolt in to the stock mounts.This tank is our first offering for the Polaris line of snowmobiles. NOTE: The current tank will not work on the 2011 Pro RMK chassis. We are currently working on making tanks available to fit that model.

MID-TANK ACCESS PLATE: Allows easy installation of rear tank anti-slosh foam kit. Allows hand access inside middle-rear of tank for positioning fuel pickup assemblies. Easier to inspect and clean inside the tank. * Fits 2008-2010 IQ chassis * 15.5 USG / 58 L capacity * Uses OEM cap * Available in clear and black * Comes with all necessary mounting hardware and Installation Instructions

Nash Car Trailers

Nash Car Trailers builds 5 different models of enclosed car trailers, 3 different models of motorcycle trailers, 3 different models of snowmobile/ATV trailer, 1 all purpose, 4 models of open car trailers as well as a variety of sizes of enclosed cargo and open utility trailers. All of these are of aluminum construction.

Bunke Racing Apparel Gilden Dry blen 50/50 T shirt 50% cotton/50% polyester 5.6 ounce ultra blend™ t-shirt. Double-needle stitched neckline, sleeve and bottom hem. Shoulder-to-shoulder taping. Seamless collar

Book A Snowmobile Adventure Package At Togwotee Mountain Lodge And Ride With Bunke Racing 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. Call 866-278-4245 to book your trip or visit www.togwoteelodge.com/ bunkeracing or www.bunkeracing.com for more information.

www.bunkeracing.com

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

North Dakota hosts nation’s fi1st snowmobile CERT class by Sarah Werner with the ND League of Cities North Dakota has two things that can make snowmobiles an essential part of emergency management – lots of snow and long distances of wide-open prairie between places. This need became apparent during the spring of 2011 when a blizzard stranded motorists across the state – many of them in rural areas. Fortunately for these motorists the Roughrider Snowmobile Association, a group of snowmobile enthusiasts from the Bismarck area, was one group requested to assist emergency responders. The snowmobile association had manpower, snowmobiles and, most importantly, a desire to help. While the snowmobile group has been a part of the county’s resource directory for many years, what they didn’t have was emergency management training. As the winter of 2011-2012 began, the group decided to seek out training to be better prepared to help out in future emergencies. This is where Burleigh County Emergency Management, the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department and CERT stepped in. “After the snowmobile club’s involvement during the blizzard last year, we approached them to see if they would be interested in some training,” said Burleigh County Deputy Sheriff Tom Schroeder. “I had heard of CERT training from our emergency manager and the group decided that it would be the best option to fit their needs.” The snowmobile association began coordinating with the Burleigh County Citizen Corps Council led by Burleigh County Emergency Manager Mary Senger and soon started CERT classes. The classes were held during the group’s regular twicemonthly meetings. “We had 29 people who were very excited to take CERT training,” said Schroeder. “As a sheriff’s department, we were excited to gain a trained volunteer group

who would have a better idea of what to do, and what not to do, in an emergency situation.” Because of the different needs of a snowmobile rider, modifications needed to be made to the basic CERT kits that are provided to participants in North Dakota. Instead of standard backpacks, the snowmobile association members were outfitted with special snowmobile backpacks. The backpacks sit higher on the back and have waist and chest straps to prevent them from falling off while riding. The backpacks contain basic first aid supplies, but also have extra heat packs, collapsible shovels, emergency blankets and ribbon tape for marking vehicles that have been searched. The Roughrider Snowmobile Association completed their CERT training on January 17 with a final exercise simulating a snowmobile accident. The group worked with the sheriff’s department, rural fire department and ambulance service on the final exercise, during which they practiced triage, assessment, bandaging, splinting and carrying. Now that the snowmobile association members have completed their training, the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department plans to put their newly trained volunteers to work. “We have placed the CERTtrained members into the county’s Reverse 911 system so that dispatch, emergency management or the sheriff’s department can call them out when needed,” Schroeder said. “We have also established protocols for marking vehicles, working within the ICS structure, working in teams and ensuring safety so that the department is more comfortable utilizing these volunteers. In addition to response activities, the club is already planning to take CPR and First Aid training next fall. They are also working with the sheriff’s department to

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

create an informational brochure they can provide to stranded motorists with survival information for them to review until they are rescued. According to Schroeder, “It has been a lot of fun to see the excitement of the club members during the training. Our administration has been very supportive and is looking forward to working with this newly trained volunteer base.” The CERT program in North Dakota is jointly sponsored by the North Dakota League of Cities and the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. For more information on CERT or other Citizen Corps programs, contact Sarah Werner at 701-223-3518 or sarah@ndlc.org.

March/April 2012

North Dakota Park’s & Recreation

www.snowmobilend.org

Howdy sledheads!!

Since snow has been a little light this winter, 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.

Anyone else agree that we have had a weird winter! This winter has been less than plentiful as far as snowfall is concerned!! Just letting everyone know that if the snowfall cooperates, on March 9th and 10th, NDPRD and SND will be holding a groomer and drag field test and demonstrations at the Twin Oaks resort located at Lake Metigoshe. If you are in that neck of the woods, please pop on in!

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 for 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.

Erik ietrich D

Ice is a funny thing, it could be 20 in. thick on one side of the 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!! 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.

Universal Repair, Inc. 701-282-3997

SND

www.universalrepair.net Manager Darvis Sommer

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

March 2nd: Dakota Trailblazers Monthly Meeting at Bottom’s Up at 7:30 pm.

TERRAIN

March 7th: Gasmann Coulee Cruisers Monthly Meeting at Club House at 7:30 pm.

MORE MORE MORE MORE

March 13th: Sno-Trails Monthly Meeting at Driftbusters Club House at 7:30 pm.

REAL. WORLD. PERFORMANCE.

Snowmobile Salvage Cylinder Sleeving Crank Shaft Rebuilding

DOMINATION

ADVENTURE. VERSATILE. ULTIMATE. FLICKABLE.

March 16th: Beaver Valley Sno-Goers Monthly Meeting at Webo’s Restaurant at 8 pm. (701) www.joessportcenter.com

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile 14 Clubs

SPRING IS HERE. BETTER START THINKING ABOUT NEXT WINTER.

SEE YOUR DEALER FOR THE GUARANTEED BEST DEALS OF THE YEAR ON 2013 SLEDS! Still wishing it was winter? Then get down to your local Arctic Cat® dealer now to order your new 2013 sled! But hurry in; these deals end April 15. CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE 2013 MODELS AT A SPRING SNOW SHOW. VISIT ARCTICCAT.COM FOR A TOUR SCHEDULE AND TO SEE THE FULL LINEUP.

™

Club News

Rural Cass Smowmobile Club By Char Gust Rural Cass Snowmobile Club building new warming house Work is near completion on a new warming house for the Rural Cass Snowmobile Club. This new warming house is 16 x 20 feet and will be located along the northern edge of the rural Cass trail, about seven miles east of Arthur. It is only accessible by snowmobile. A huge thanks to the volunteers that helped construct the new warming house. The only costs, amounting to about $4000, were for materials. All labor has been volunteer.

At the annual Snowmobile North Dakota convention in October, the club was awarded a $356 grant to help pay for some of the costs of the warming house. Cass County Electric of Kindred also provided a $250 donation for a heater and American Legion of Harwood donated $1500, a portion of which is earmarked to help fund the building project.

enough snow. Watch the club website for further details.

Club members are planning a grand opening for the new warming house later this year, providing there is

Rough riders snowmobile association club By Al Hoesel Hello fellow snowmobilers from the Roughriders! Here we are again with no snow or barely anything on the ground to have fun with. Frustrating! How am I to get a brand new snowmobile next season if I hardly get to use the one I have now? Trying to justify this to my wife may be troublesome. I can say because I have ridden some of the new snowmobiles, that now I may not be able to follow where they are heading for back country riding in the mountains. I have made two trips to the mountain’s (Wyoming / MontanaIdaho). What great vacations they were! I was sore (muscles) from the first trip, but was much better for the second trip. When people say the sport we are in is not that physical, they should spend some time riding with us! Also, it’s a very good thing I don’t smoke. I could hardly breathe while I was digging myself out! Maybe I am getting old and fat!

The Bismarck/Mandan roughriders have been taking ‘CERT’ Community emergency response team from the Burleigh County Sheriff’s department. Every Tuesday we were in class for 1 to 2 hours completing the recommended time needed to be CERT certified. We are the first club in the nation to be CERT trained and certified. Many Thanks goes out to Tom Schroeder and Jim Hulm for the organization on training materials and people. Our local KXMB TV station did interviews and took videos of the club training. The training we have now can actually help with our own families and friends. Plus, when we will be called out by the sheriff’s department via a 911 call, we are now trained to help and provide support in case of an emergency . The training program was a really nice way to keep our club together. You could see that the members were interested and excited to come to class and to club meetings. This would be

every Tuesday every month. Wow, what dedicated members we have! Again I cannot say enough as to how proud I am of our club members. It is very hard to keep any interest in a snowmobile club when we have no snow. We actually have been gaining members, mainly because we are showing interest in ‘cert’, showing more support for our sport dealers and community service. We had all these great plans to do fun runs, snow scramble etc., but I think our snow dancing must have be considered some kind of tropical Polka and messed with the snow gods. I know the same feeling must be felt by the other clubs as well. Wonder how they classify a mental issue of ‘Missing snow’? For now my truck and trailer are getting major abuse traveling to the mountains.

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

Club News

Red river snowmobile club by Steve Magnuson

Hello from the Red River Snowmobile Club, what a rotten winter it has been so far. It is February 1st and we have not had our groomer out yet this year. We have had a couple of small snows, one around New Years and one on January 27th. Ten of our club members did get out to Pinehurst Resort near Naytahwaush, MN the last weekend of January. We had more signed up but some

cancelled because of the conditions. Those of us that went had a great time. We had a couple of inches of new snow the first day and about an inch of new snow the second day on top of a 6 to 10 inch base. Most of the riding was good to excellent and we ended up putting about 320 miles on which is great for this year. A few club members have gone to the U.P. of Michigan and some are going out

west in March so hopefully everyone will get some riding in. We had some projects planned this winter for changing our trail routes some but with no snow that has been put on hold. Hopefully we will get a big dump of snow in February or March and we will still get lots of riding in. Stay safe on the trails.

Northern lights Trail Blazers by Tonia Dosch What a year it has been…quite different from the past few snowmobiling seasons we have had. Nonetheless the members from NLTB have not been sitting around. The fun must go on, which means our regular events must go! In January we held our annual Landowner Appreciation Supper, which about half of our landowners attended. It is always a nice evening to let them Greetings. The construction of roads, know we don’t take our ‘privilege’ dikes, and etc.. will require trail for granted. The access they grant changes be more permanent us, does and not will go unnoticed! We feel in nature. The lake finally the very fortunate in our area froze to have weekend Dec. 3rd , with desuch greatoflandowners that single our trails gree temps. We are now making ice. provide minimal ‘ditch banging’. We hosted the youth safety course, mailed out you flyers to read 13 neighboring By the time have this, NLTB schools. beverage were will have Pizza hostedand their 9th Annual provided and a It helmet wasday given Snowbunny Run. is a great out away. for the ladies (don’t worry, the men Our monthly continue usually have theirmeetings fun too. They just

head the opposite direction!). Mark your calendars for the last Saturday in 2013 to join in for the 10th Annual Run…It is sure to be a good time! Thanks to the Swanson’s, who planned this year’s family day, kids of ALL ages had a blast! STATE CONVENTION – we have been busy working on the plans. Yes, the convention has been set for Dec. withwith many in attendance. 1st all members classes, the Year End Thanks toand thosethe of you who can make Banquet Annual Meeting the meetings. ourare club that day. But, ifAs you up continues for some to promote SND, to fun – you will wantwetowould be surelike your welcome back Friday our associate memplans include and Saturday bers, family and individuals. night festivities! We (NLTB and We have added to for the SND) hope this new later members time frame associate page works again this In the convention well.year. With an addition,inwe also of increased our increase thehave number registrants, family and individual memberships. the convention will be looked at A be big held thankthat youtime goesframe out to to for you. the Trail signs years. are in place. Let’s show proceeding

LAKE REGION SNOWMOBILE CLUB

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

respect for these land owners, without land leases our trail system would be in jeopardy. As a club, we will continue to promote snowmobiling in a responsible and safe manner. Tread lightly…if you pack it in, then pack it out.. Hope you are in good health and Happy New Year from the Lake Region Snowmobile Club!!

January 2012

Gasmann Coulee Cruisers As much as we’d like to of had some snow, it’s been a nice mild winter for a change. I’m ducking from all the make-believe snowballs that are being thrown at me….ha..ha..ha. Despite no snow, the trails are marked and ready if we would happen to get a spring snow storm. If that doesn’t happen well it’ll be easy to retrieve those trail signs, we won’t have to worry whether we need wa-

by Kelly Stromberg

ter boots or hip waders in the ditches! Toward the end of January we had our Fun Run, WOW what a crowd we had for no snow! Regardless of no snow everyone was very supportive of the event. There was a great response to our Wild Card fundraiser, this year the proceeds are going to the Peace Lutheran Church in Burlington. The church was affected by the flood, as of the end of November it started having church and Sunday

School and arranged everything to work on the main level of church. We send best wishes to them during their rebuilding process. We wish everyone the best and safe riding, wherever that may take you this year!

TERRAIN

MORE MORE MORE MORE

DOMINATION

ADVENTURE. VERSATILE. ULTIMATE. FLICKABLE.

REAL. WORLD. PERFORMANCE.

(701) www.joessportcenter.com

Advertiser’s Index Arctic Cat...........................................15 Forestwood Hotel................................3 Golden Hills Resort...........................19 Johnson’s Sports................................7 Joe’s Sport Center.............................18 Moritz....................................................2 RV Sports.............................................9 SkiDoo..................................................9 Spearfish............................................19 Track...................................................19 Twin Oaks...........................................18 Offering: Rooms, Cabins, Seasonal RV Spots, Extended Stay Suites, Dining Lounge and Rentals to fit Every Need!!! Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Metigoshe, North Dakota, Twin Oaks offers guests an experience unlike any other. Our deluxe hotel combines the best in service and comfort. Featuring a versatile convention center that caters to your every convention and wedding need. It’s the perfect escape for any family or group looking to relax and unwind. Winter guests can hit the slopes of the nearby ski resort or snowmobile enthusiasts can traverse the more than 250 miles of trails in our area!

U Motors.............................................19 Universal Repair................................14 Walhalla Inn..........................................3 Yamaha..............................................BC

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

www.snowmobilend.org

Stop in today and meet your Klim Pro or shop online at www.umotorsinc.com’

701-232-5000 217-38th Street S. Fargo, ND 58104

SNOW BUSINESS...

Snow Warmth come for the

stay for the

Enjoy an adventure in the snow covered hills of South Dakota, then come in at night to warm your feet in front of the fire. Nestled in the heart of Spearfish

Canyon, the to Lodge offers all of Bringing the Best the Midwest

...is our business NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST DEALER OF SNOW GROOMING VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT

Take On the Snow with Track Track is the Midwest’s source for competitively priced, reliable, new and used snow grooming equipment and vehicles. We offer a wide range of versatile groomers and trail maintenance equipment from top manufactures. We have brought safe and fun, groomed snow trails to thousands of snow sport enthusiasts, including snowmobilers, alpine and cross-country skiers and snowboarders. Whether you have thin snow, hard snow, soft snow, wide trails or narrow trails, we can help you find the snow trail equipment to help you produce a superior trail.

call us today! 952.888.7372 | www.trackinc.com

the amenities an enthusiast or a beginner will need to enjoy snowmobiling at its best. Located at trailhead #4 on the Black Hills trail system. Our rental center can outfit you for exploring the 350 miles of groomed trails that wind through the magnificent Black Hills.

Winter Mid Week Special Sun-Thurs

New Reservations Only* Snowmobiling for Two Accommodations for Two in a Standard Room Breakfast for Two Reserve Today and Save!

*Only

$169.99 www.spfcanyon.com 877-YR-LODGE (877-975-6343)

Published by Snowmobile North Dakota - An Organization of North Dakota Snowmobile Clubs

* does not include taxes, upgrades are in addition to the base package price, some restrictions apply, based on availability, management reserves all rights. Based on availability. Some restrictions apply.

SPRING POWER SURGE THE YAMAHA

Talk about pouring it on. Reserve any new 2013 Yamaha sled by April 16, 2012, and you’ll also ride off with a turbo boost kit, a custom fleece jacket and great financing. All powerful reasons to head to your Yamaha dealer today.

Turbo or Supercharger Kit**

PLUS

(only available via this offer)

($2500 savings)

PLUS

DOWN

FREE 45th Anniversary Fleece Jacket

INTEREST

for 6 months*

*Finance offer subject to credit approval. Applies to purchases of new 2013 Yamaha Snowmobiles made on a Yamaha Installment Financing loan account from 3/2/12 to 4/16/12. Maximum contract length is 60 months. Minimum amount financed is $5,000. 0% interest will be charged until six months from delivery. After promotional period a Fixed APR of 11.99%, 13.99%, 17.99%, 19.99% or 21.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Standard down payment requirement is $0 to 10% of amount financed based on credit approval criteria. Re-approval may be necessary if original Approval Term has expired prior to delivery. See dealer for complete details. **Customer pays $1500 for Turbo or Supercharger, plus the cost of installation. Rider shown operating an FX Nytro MTX. 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. ©2012 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158. 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

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

VICE PRESIDENT Laura Forbes 45 Rolling Hills Dr Minot, ND 58703 701-839-1050 (H) 701-240-4229 (C) dlforbes@min.midco.net

Dean Forbes 45 Rolling Hills Dr Minot, ND 58703 701-839-1050 (H) 701-240-0395 (C) dlforbes@min.midco.net

PROGRAM MANAGER Keri Wanner 1600 E Century Ave, Suite 3 Bismarck, ND 701-328-5377 keri@snowmobilend.org

REGION 2 Mark Shipley PO Box 493 Devils Lake, ND 58301 701-739-8263 (C) 701-662-6896 (H) marley493@yahoo.com

SECRETARY Sheri Hoffmann 4320 Camp Ave Larimore, ND 58251 701-397-5260 (H) nwhoff@polarcomm.com

Tonia Dosch 626 6th St SE Rugby, ND 58368 701-776-5230 (W) 701-208-0439 (C) toniab@gondtc.com

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Byron Norsby PO Box 914 Minot, ND 58702 701-728-6688 (H) outbackautobody@srt.com

REGION 3 Perry Brintnell 12668 57th St NE Fordville, ND 58231 701-229-3267 (H) 701-229-3683 (W) xcr600pb@polarcomm.com

Clubs

2011-12 Beaver Valley Snow Goers Dan Tveito PO Box 394 Linton, ND 58552 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

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) Brad Rodin 408 2nd Ave Marion, ND 58466 701-669-2308 (H) 701-669-2386 (W) bvrodin@drtel.net REGION 5 Troy Klevgard 601 Cottonwood Dr Casselton, ND 58012 701-347-9867 tklevgard@gmail.com Greg Strommen 903 9th Ave SE Barnesville, MN 56514 (701) 212-7002 gstromm@i29.net

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

Pain Reliever 212 Main St Nekoma, ND 58355

Rugby Eagles 2809 Hwy 2 W Rugby, ND 58368

Ward Trucking 3917 Hwy 1 Lakota, ND 58344

Wright Place Bar Box 158 Egeland, ND 58331

Berube Crop Insurance PO Box 255 Rugby, ND 58368

Peterson Construction 4678 78th Ave NE Devils Lake, ND 58301

Ryan Fisk Farms 414 Warner Ave Doyon, ND 58327

Weber Trucking Box 116 Lawton, ND 58345

Xtreme Signs & Graphics 401 6th St SE Devils Lake, ND 58301

Big Dog Saloon 117 Pleasant Ave Surrey, ND 58785

Planet Powersports Inc. 3930 Memorial Hwy Mandan, ND 58554

Scherbenske & Sons 2511 17th ST SE Jamestown, ND 58401

Webo’s Restaurant 217 S Broadway St Linton, ND 58552

Boehmer Farm Snowmobile Repair 9446 62nd St NE Lawton, ND 58345

Revolutions Power Sports 4225 36th Ave S Grand Forks, ND 58201

The Bar Box 7 Lawton, ND 58345

Wheels, Inc. 432 36th St S Fargo, ND 58103

Rolla Auto & Arctic Cat Sales 913 Main Ave Rolla, ND 58367

The Glass Shop 319 S College Dr Devils Lake, ND 58301

White Buffalo Lounge 110 Main St S Granville, ND 58741

C&L Electric LLC 409 7th Ave Munich, ND 58352 Corrigador Bar 202 Hwy 17 E Wolford, ND 58385 Dan Poland Machine 8056 36th ST SE Jamestown, ND 58401 Devils Lake Visitors Committee PO Box 879 Devils Lake, ND 58301 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 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 OK Corral 424 Main St Edmore, ND 58330 Outback Auto Body 307 18th Ave SW Minot, ND 58701

Become an associate member for only $31 a season!

Benefits include: - 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

Arctic Cat Co-Brands 2013 Youth 120 Snowmobile for Yamaha 2013 Yamaha SRX 120 Manufactured in Thief River Falls, MN For the 2013 model year, Arctic Cat will be co-branding their Youth 120 model snowmobile with the Yamaha Motor Corporation. Arctic Cat will manufacture the Yamaha SRX 120 in their Thief River Falls, MN factory per Yamaha’s specifications, but the snowmobile will be based off the popular Arctic Cat Sno Pro 120 platform. Arctic Cat’s Snow Division General Manager, Brad Darling said, “This partnership makes perfect sense for our companies as we’ve been buying Yamaha’s 123cc 4-stroke engine for our Sno Pro 120 since 2009.” The easy-to-start, fan-cooled, 123cc, 4-stroke engine found in the 120 is easy to manage for parents, yet is extremely fun to operate for the Youth rider. Wrapped in a package with bold graphics and color combinations, the 120 will instill a lifelong snowmobiling passion into Youth riders. Darling goes on to say, “Snowmobile consumers are extremely brand loyal, so we don’t see this partnership cannibalizing any of our current Sno Pro 120 sales. Instead, the SRX120 will attract an added number of Yamaha youth to the industry. Any time we can be a part of growing the snowmobile industry, it’s a good thing.”

ARCTIC CAT AND MONSTER ENERGY JOIN FORCES IN SNOWMOBILE GIVEAWAY Grand Prize Winner Receives Tucker Hibbert Replica

Arctic Cat has teamed up with Monster Energy to promote a giveaway involving one of the snowmobile industry’s greatest racing athletes – Tucker Hibbert. One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a Tucker Hibbert Replica Monster Energy Arctic Cat snowmobile of their choice and 50 first prize winners will receive Hibbert’s signature Spy Whip Goggle. “This promotion is the perfect combination of two high-energy brands. We share an army of fans that enjoy riding Arctic Cat’s, drinking Monster Energy and most importantly, following Tucker Hibbert as he dominates snocross racing,” said John Tranby, Arctic Cat Marketing Director. One entry per person during the promotional period, which ends on April 30th, 2012, is allowed to those entrants 18 years of age or older with no purchase necessary. To enter and learn more complete details, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Make sure to support all your favorite convenience stores that carry the Monster Energy promotional pieces, as well as all U.S. Arctic Cat snowmobile dealers. Hibbert said, “Monster Energy and Arctic Cat really stepped it up. I can’t think of a cooler deal than winning a new snowmobile. I can’t wait to see the lucky fan that gets to spend next winter ripping around on this sweet sled!”

Martin takes the win but Ski-Doo’s Tim Tremblay makes a HUGE statement Saturday’s Vision Kia Eastern National at Finger Lakes While night two of 2011’12 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series racing - the Vision Kia Eastern National at Finger Lakes Casino and Racetrack - went to Polaris’ Ross Martin, Ski-Doo racer Tim Tremblay made quite a statement with his 14thto-podium rush in the Pro Open main event - an effort stand-in race announcer Levi LaVallee called the “Best he’s ever seen.” And in Pro Lite division racing Kody Kamm (Polaris) made it a clean sweep on the weekend, topping Ski-Doo’s Derek Ellis with a thrilling last lap pass at Finger Lakes. AMSOIL Pro Open Saturday Final: With Friday’s near hurricaneforce winds subsiding, Saturday night ACSS at Finger Lakes featured stellar racing in both classes. In Pro Open Arctic Cat racer Cody Thomsen pulled the MONSTER Stud Boy Holeshot, leading the rest of the field by multiple sled lengths into the first turn.

Hot on Thomsen’s tail was Polaris’ Ross Martin, followed closely by Friday night’s Pro Open winner Robbie Malinoski (Ski-Doo). Patient and calculating, Martin - who won both of his qualifiers heading into tonight’s Pro Open main - stalked Thomsen and set him up for a pass on lap 13, only to have Thomsen charge right

back. But Martin would have none of it from the rookie Pro Open class Arctic Cat pilot, rushing back past Thomsen in Ski-Doo corner and quickly opening up a multi-second lead that he’d enjoy through the checkers. Said Martin: “I knew he (Thomsen) was up there, it’s a long race,

but I knew I had a long time to get charge through the pack ... eventually reaching the podium (3rd). it done. Sat back, followed where he went - “Somebody went sideways in front just didn’t want to get tangled at the of me, had no place to go. Crashed. Was like ‘Oh, man,’” said Tremblay. beginning of the race. “But I never gave up and I’m reLapped traffic was a tough thing to- ally happy about it. Heck of a race, night. Took a few chances here and bent up sled, really nice to be here there and it ended up working out.” tonight. Found a really good line in the whoop section and that helped.” Added 2nd place Malinoski: “I got out to a good start. But I’ll tell you Note: Tremblay leads Martin by two what, Ross just wanted it tonight a points, 339-337, with three races relot more than me - especially the maining on the 2011-’12 AMSOIL first two laps. Hat’s off to him. But Championship Snocross Series tour. I’m angry. Going to head home and working harder, look to get back on Sledhead 24/7 Pro Lite Saturday Final: top of the podium in Fargo.” With one eye on the leaders, ACSS The most thrilling finish of the fans in-the-know kept another eye weekend - which brought the Vision Kia Eastern National fans at Finger on Tremblay. Lakes to their feet - was certainly The point leader after Friday’s 2nd Saturday’s Pro Lite final. Polaris’ place finish, Tremblay wadded up in Kody Kamm was the man, again, the first turn - then put on a valiant trailing Derek Ellis (Ski-Doo) from

lap 12 to the last turn of the 18th and final lap before blasting his way past Ellis for the win. Said Kamm: “Once we got caught up to the lappers - and got clear - I was able to catch him in the last corner there. Didn’t mean to hit him, but I did what I needed to do to win.” Both Kamm and Ellis separated themselves from the rest of the pack at the start, with Kamm taking the early lead. Midway through the race the two got into some lapped traffic and Ellis was able to take advantage of the situation, getting past Kamm on lap 12 and holding the lead into the last lap. Added Ellis: “It was definitely an experience. First time this season I’ve been able to dice with Kamm. Caught him once we got into lappers, gave him a good hug inside. But in the end he wanted it a little more than me and I’ve got to hand it to him. Probably was a little more cautious than I needed to be, but I’ll take a 2nd over a crash any day.” Joining Kamm and Ellis on the podium was Polaris rider Andrew Lieders, who made it to the main the hard way - through the LCQ before running an excellent Pro Lite final for 3rd.

Friends in High Places By: Keri Wanner Question: What do you look for in a vacation? Answer: Snow, snow and more snow! It’s a question that has various answers, but for any snowmobiler, it usually means a getaway with snow and your favorite toy! I’ve been riding snowmobiles for over 25 years and my riding locations have evolved over time. When I was a kid, riding meant we were heading out to sign the local snowmobile trail. In time, it turned into heading to the Black Hills in South Dakota to take in the 350 miles of snowmobile trails, experiencing what the great state of North Dakota has to offer, and eventually finding that perfect getaway offering a secluded lodge surrounded by snow capped trees and glorious mountain views. I’ve been fortunate to have my travels take me to so many different destinations. But the one question I’m always asked is; “where is your favorite place to visit?” This question is hard to answer considering each area I’ve visited seems to have its own unique atmosphere, making it worthwhile to want to visit again. But there is one place that stands out from the rest and that place is the Big Horns of Wyoming! I’m in a unique position; I work the snowmobile industry five days

a week and then spend the remaining two days enjoying it. The reason I love the Big Horns and the three amazing lodges nestled by Burgess Junction are because I get the true feeling of get-

ting away. It’s the one place I can disappear for a vacation and not be bothered with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I can leave my cell phone on, but it won’t get service and forget about

finding a pay phone because it won’t happen! Just forget your communication devices in the truck and settle in for the most relaxing and fun vacation imaginable. As my friend Nate Blaylock once wrote, it’s the cast of characters located at Arrowhead Lodge, Bear Lodge and Elk View that make each visit enticing and leaving you want to come back. My first trip to the Big Horns was in March of 2011 and it left me wanting more! I’ve made several trips back to the area because I can’t get enough. The “cast of characters” have become my friends and every time I step into one of the lodges, I feel like I’ve entered the latest scene in an episode of ‘Friends’. In one episode you will find Big Mike serving up one of his many homemade scrumptious pies, to die for waffles and made to order omelets. Dennis is working hard to provide groomed snowmobile trails.

Bruce Almighty guiding one of his customized Big Horn Tours and making sure to serve lunch on the snow. He will even help you get unstuck, that is after a good jab or two about your predicament. If you’re lucky, your ride will be joined by none other than Lodge Owner, Roberta Young. Yes, even this young lady will rock your world with her snowmobile skills. She may even record your adventure on the snow making sure to get, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!” And wait, the episode doesn’t stop there! If Rockin’ Rondi gets a hold of the video footage, you may find yourself in the latest advertisement for SnowBunje! Evenings are topped off with nonother than Bear Lodge’s very own Chandler! The Bing can stay at home but Chandler and Petey make sure to provide you with a relaxing evening so you can prepare to do it all over again in the next episode!

The mornings can’t come soon enough as your thumb is twitching and the smell of two-stroke smoke is in the air. Every trip I tell myself, I’m going to sleep in because, hey, I’m on vacation but guess what?! It’s not even a possibility. The excitement is too hard to ignore, so grab a bite at one of the lodges and then head for the snow! The Big Horns have it all to say the least. Trail riding - CHECK, hill climbing - CHECK, boondocking – CHECK. The terrain speaks to everyone, providing many stories to create your own episode of Friends while visiting the Big Horns of Wyoming. So, if you haven’t planned that big trip for the season or better yet, looking to add another adventure to your season, call the cast at Bear Lodge and they’ll book your first episode of ‘Friends’ starring non-other than Big Mike, Bruce Almighty, Rockin’ Rondi and of course, you!!!

Arrowhead Lodge www.arrowheadlodgewyoming. com 307-752-2444 Bear Lodge Resort www.bearlodgeresort.com 307-752-2444 or 307-752-5444 Elk View Inn www.elkviewinn.com 307-461-4168

Ski-Doo’s Tremblay steps atop the podium again GLYNDON, Minn. (March 4, 2012) - Saturday night snowmobile racing on the border of North Dakota and Minnesota was a smash hit for the locals as one of the larger crowds of the 2011-’12 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series assembled at Buffalo River Race Park’s (BRRP) to witness a superior another display of supreme skill and speed by Ski-Doo racer Tim Tremblay as he again took the Pro Open class victory, while Kody Kamm (Polaris) also completed his sweep of the BRRP Pro Lights class. Tremblay’s win, coupled with a 4th place Pro Open main finish by Ross Martin (Polaris), gave Tremblay a 15-point (425-410) lead over Martin heading into the penultimate round of the ACSS this coming Friday and Saturday at Elk River, Minn.’s Extreme Motorpark (ERX).

AMSOIL Pro Open Saturday Final With Arctic Cat’s Tucker Hibbert parlaying the top qualifying times/places into the No. 1 gate pick, Ski-Doo’s Mathieu Morin would stun everyone - beating Tremblay and Emil Ohman (SkiDoo) to the tape, with Robbie Malinoski (Ski-Doo) and Garth Kaufman (Arctic Cat) rounding out the top five as the defending champ Hib-

bert struggled to get out of the first turn in the top ten. By lap three Morin was still flying, posting a hyper-fast lap time of 41.386, and put three seconds on now 2nd place Tremblay. Lap five of the 14-lap Pro Open main had Morin still up, but Tremblay was closing fast. Three laps later (lap eight) Tremblay took advantage of a Morin miscalculation in the rhythm section and blew past his fellow Ca-

nadian and into the lead - a lead he’d eventually extend through the checkers. Final: 1st Tremblay, 2nd Morin and 3rd Malinoski. Said Tremblay: “I had not started very well all day and finally got a pretty good start in the main, made a good choice for the final. Mathieu was pretty fast, especially during the Sledhead 24/7 Pro Light Saturday Final Sledhead 24/7 Pro Light Saturday Final Sledhead 24/7 Pro Light Saturday Final he early laps. But I was able to get the lead and had a pretty good race after that.” Added Morin: “I got an awesome start, ran and awesome

race ... everything was perfect. I really liked the track and a big ‘Thanks’ to everybody! Sledhead 24/7 Pro Light Saturday Final Ripping a clean holeshot through the crisp Minnesota air, Ski-Doo’s Derek Ellis led the Pro Light race early, towing Polaris’ Colby Crapo and ACSS Pro Light series points leader Kody Kamm (Polaris) into the first turn and through lap two. Then, on the side rhythm section - in one fell swoop - Kamm disposed of both Crapo and Ellis to forcefully take the lead. Crapo went down in the action and Ellis held on strong for second. But it would only be a matter

of time - like one lap - when Kamm had put four seconds up on Ellis. While Kamm cruised to a seemingly effortless win (nine-plus seconds), Ellis remained in 2nd - the same 1st/2nd Pro Light podium finish as last night at BRRP. That said, the fans’ attention was focused on an absolutely ballistic battle between Polaris riders Jake Scott and Andrew Carlson for 4th and 5th, the ferocity of the duel putting them right on the tail light of 3rd place runner Brett Nastala (Polaris). Scott, who placed 3rd on Friday, waited until the final lap to get past Nastala (4th) - while outlasting Carlson (5th) as well. Said Kamm: “That was a fun race, actually. I got a 3rd place start and I obviously had some good lines, so I’m happy with that.” Added Ellis: “I had a good run at the front, got the holeshot and have to thank my team for that setup. It frustrating getting 2nd again, but it’s better than a lot of other positions

The World’s LARGEST classic snomobile event! Whew! The weather gods provided just enough snow and ice depth to pull off the 22nd Annual “World’s Largest” classic snowmobile event in the Twin Cities of Minnesota the last weekend in January. With winter weather the warmest in recent history, the Ride-In Committee fretted. However, in the nick of time, a cold snap increased ice depth to at least 12” and provided adequate snow cover on the ice for the trail ride, ice drags and ice oval racing. On the lake, it was clear that many participants were out for their first vintage ride of the warm winter. Although the trail ride was shortened to stay on the lake, some 426 antique and vintage riders made the circular circuit, many several times around! Speaking of the trail ride, we encountered three Moto Ski machines having fun and visited them when they stopped for a rest on the ice. Here it was three gentlemen from Boston, Massachusetts. One remarked that this fun on Lake Waconia was another check off on his “bucket list”. Another example of a long distance visitor was a real friendly guy who journeyed from Newfoundland, Canada. He explained that he lived farther east than any other state or province on the North American continent. This Canadian may well have garnered the long distance award! There were vintage and antique machines of all makes and colors.

Waconia is well known by those who want to see the rarest and “odd-ball” brands --- all having fun in the cold crisp air. Big smiles were seen on all the racers. Whether it was straight line ice drag racers on Saturday or oval racers on Sunday, these guys were happy to be racing. With so many events canceled previous to Waconia, these racers were tickled to be able to try their latest clutching combination and share some real ice racing competition. Likewise at the swap meet. There were more sellers than ever, simply because for most this was their first opportunity to sell their wares. One vendor proudly reported greater sales than any other year at Waconia. The LOUD snowmobile contest was enhanced this year. The contest was broken into two catego-

ries - Megaphone and tuned exhaust. Winners received special trophies. This year Chaparral was the featured snowmobile. The Ballroom display included many factory racers, prototypes that were never put into production and a 1968 SnowBirdie, the precurser to the Chaparral brand name. On Saturday night, a charity auction was held for a gorgeous 1972 Firebird with 650 Hirth engine. The restored sled sold for $ 5,400 (a record) donated to the Make-aWish Foundation. Next year, the featured snowmobile brands will be Brut & Scorpion. See you there on January 26 & 27, 2013!

Gasmann Coulee Cruisers Snomobile Club Donates Funds to Flood Families The Gasmann Coulee Cruisers hosted the 33rd Annual Snowmobile North Dakota Convention at the Grand International Inn in Minot, ND, last October 28, 29, 30, 2011. There were 148 snowmobile enthusiasts in attendance from across North Dakota. It is Snowmobile North Dakotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way to kick off the snowmobiling season. There are snowmobile vendors in attendance to show off new gear and the newest sleds along with several other vendors such as Jewelry, Tastefully Simple, Pampered Chef, Acme Tool, Bumpers, and Vintners Winery.

There are also education classes on Trail Grubbing, Trailing Grooming, Trail Signing and a Youth Snowmobile Safety course. There is a registration fee to attend, which is used to cover all the expenses to host the event. There were also a few 50/50 drawings, a live auction, and a Chinese auction, which raised money for the Gasmann Coulee Cruisers to donate to a good cause. At the Gasmann Coulee Cruisers December 2011 and January 2012 meetings a total of $9,500 was donated to good causes. $1,000 was donated to SnoTrails, Inc. for Groomer expenses,

which is the parent organization of the 5 surrounding snowmobile clubs that maintain 300 + miles of groomed snowmobile trails. There was also $8,500 donated to 17 flood families in the Minot and Burlington areas. The Gasmann Coulee Cruiser Club Members delivered these checks to the families. The flood families were ecstatic to have this money to put towards the expenses of repairing their homes.

! W O N Finally ... S get the boat out…. Na, what was I thinking, we still got a full month of riding left.

Gabe Bunke

I’m sitting here writing and thinking about the great season of racing we had and probably the worst snow winter in my personal history. I guess the amount of snow doesn’t hold us diehards back from riding. Though the days are getting longer and the sun hotter kinda gives a guy an itch to

Coming up March 2nd and 3rd we are excited to have the ISOC National Snow cross here in the Red River Valley races held at the Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon MN. Although the Bunke Race team riders are not participating we will be there cheering on our favorites and hanging out with whoever wants to come and spectate. Should be a great show and hope you all make it.

As highlighted in previous issues the Bunke Racing team started out ok but we’ve really turned it up the past couple weekends on the race track and hope to finish the season out strong. Our final race weekend of the season is coming up on March 10th and 11th in Warroad, MN. The two day event will consist of two individual one day races to make up for lost race dates earlier in the year. The track mainly on the shoreline of Lake of the Woods has always been great for racers and spectators. I personally

love this race. I’ve won the event once and was second the following year only because I blew a belt on the last lap. It is also in my home territory, Roseau, MN being my original home town and the home of Polaris Industries helps bring out a lot of local fans. From Warroad we get ready to head out for the final trip of the year for Bunke Racing. I would like to invite everyone to come and join us where I know there will be snow, Togwotee Mountain Lodge, WY. I personally will be leaving on March 18th and will ride for the week hitting some of the craziest backcountry and some of the most amazing mountain riding I’ve ever experienced. This

destination

has

been a great end of the year release for me and my team. We are hoping this year will be a repeat of what we’ve seen in the past, epic snow! With the world championship hill climbs going on at the same time down in Jackson Hole, WY March 23rd-25th this trip is going to be one packed with more to do than time will allow.

You can book your trip at a discounted rate and we have an awesome package deal including your meals and happy hour social! I hope you come ride with us. Check out the details at: http://www.togwoteelodge.com/bunkeracing or go to our website: http://www.bunkeracing.com/

e k n u B e b Ga

Friday’s AMSOIL Championship Snocross Fargo BRRP National goes to Tim Tremblay Buffalo River Race Park’s (BRRP) sparkling new facility was packed to the windows with fans on Friday for the running of the BRRP Fargo National, round six of the eightrough 2011-’12 AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series. And taking the main event wins were Ski-Doo’s Tim Tremblay in the premier Pro Open class, along with

Polaris’ Kody Kamm in the support Pro Light division.

Tremblay now leads by nine points, 883 to 872.

With the win, which came after Polaris’ Ross Martin was black flagged by ISOC officials for aggressive riding - and docked five spot during the race - Tremblay took over the overall Pro Open points lead, which Martin had tied before the main with two heat race victories.

AMSOIL Pro Open Friday Final A wild Friday night of Pro Open racing at the new Buffalo River Race Park was highlighted by a flawless performance by overall Pro Open points leader Tim Tremblay (Ski-Doo), who walked away with the overall win over first-time 2011-’12 podium finisher Emil Ohman (Ski-Doo) in 2nd and defending Pro Open class champion Tucker Hibbert (Arctic Cat) in 3rd. With Arctic Cat’s Cody Thompsen pulling his second-straight Stud Boy Holeshot, teammate Kyle Pallin quickly moved into second, before Mike Bauer (Polaris) hopped into the second spot. Things

would soon get a bit hectic as, according to ISOC race officials, Polaris’ Ross Martin parked Pallin in a corner and was quickly black flagged. Martin, unaware of the (rolled) black flag, possibly due in part to the snowy conditions, took a couple laps before he backed his sled down dropping five positions. Tremblay would stay on the gas the whole time and put upwards of 11 seconds on Thompsen and a charging Robbie Malinoski (Ski-Doo). On lap seven Thompsen would wipe out in the rhythm section, giving Malinoski 2nd place. Around this time Hibbert would suffer some sort of mechanical issue, which he would later explain on the podium was his kill cord getting pulled out on the far back corner on the half mile track. On lap 11 Ohman would move into 2nd place when Malinoski appeared to suffer some sort of mechanical issue. At the same time Hibbert appeared back in the top five, from as far back as 11th, and was picking off

riders left and right. Tremblay would cruise through the checkers, taking with him the red No. 1 plate into Saturday night’s race at BRRP. Ohman would hold off Hibbert for 2nd. Said Tremblay: “Tonight was really good for me in the final. I found some new lines in the parade lap that worked well for me in the race. There was a lot of new guys up front (Thompsen, Pallin and Bauer), which makes for some good racing for the fans. So I pretty much want to come into Saturday and charge real fast, hope to keep the No. 1 red plate right through the end.” Added Ohman: “It’s been two rough seasons for me, so to get back up on the podium makes me so happy. I must really thank my team for everything tonight.” Sledhead 24/7 Pro Light Friday Final Rocketing his Polaris sled out to the Pro Light holeshot at BRRP was Kody Kamm. Following closely behind were Ski-Doo rid-

er Derek Ellis and Polaris’ Jake Scott. As the three broke away from the rest of the field, Kamm put about 1.5 seconds on Ellis at the halfway point of the ten-lap contest, while Ellis had about a two-second lead on Scott. As the final laps clicked off, Kamm made up some more time on Ellis in the middle section of the half mile course and Scott stayed well ahead of fourth place Travis Muller (SkiDoo) and fifth place Corey Watkinson (Ski-Doo). At the checkers it was Kamm, Ellis and Scott making up Friday’s Pro Light podium at BRRP. Said Kamm: “I had an OK start, got into the lead on the first lap and stayed there.” Added Ellis: “That was a good race. We really have to give it up to the guys at BRRP. They really pulled this place off.”

Soo Sweet! Bunke Racing Wins Soo I-500

Bunke Racing riders Gabe Bunke, Aaron Christensen and Bobby Menne won the Soo I-500 this past Saturday, February 4, 2012. It was Bunke’s third win at the prestigious 500-mile enduro race and his first since winning the race back in 2005. Held on a 1-mile ice oval in Sault Ste.

Marie, Mich., the Soo I-500 is the only race of its kind in snowmobiling and one of the crown jewels of snowmobile racing. The Bunke Racing No. 74 sled set the pace at this year’s event, leading over 269-laps of the 500-lap race including the last 53-laps as the team put a stamp on its

race win.

The Soo I-500 is much like a NASCAR Sprint Cup race - it takes place on a 1-mile oval and includes pit stops for fuel and sled service and features the same caution flags and a pace vehicle just like Sprint Cup. This year’s race began on

an ice oval that had steadily deteriorated in the days leading up to Saturday’s 500-mile race. Warm temperatures combined with qualifying, a Pro Am race and other events in the days before the race left the already soft ice on the track thin and rough. On race day the track was down to dirt in more than few places just 100-laps into the race. Many wondered if the race would be called as the track continued to get worse throughout what is typically an 8-hour event. Officials kept the race going though, and riders fought the challenges of dirt and mud as well as the few icy and snow spots that managed to hold up over the course of the day. As the race wore on, the No. 74 Autolite Polaris with riders Bunke and Christensen was able to stay on or within a lap of the lead lap the entire race. The team was often setting the pace, laying down fast laps and forcing the teams behind them to push their equipment. When it came time to make the final drive for the win the No. 74 sled

was in the lead. With just 50-laps to go and ready to make a run at victory, yellow flags kept the only other sled on the lead lap within striking distance of them, forcing the Bunke sled to continue to push until the final lap. As Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over til it’s over,” and no one was able to relax until Christensen, who was aboard the No. 74 in the closing laps, had actually taken the checkered flag on lap 500 with a winning time of 9 hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds. “I think about winning this race every day of the year,” said Gabe Bunke. “To actually hold this checkered flag is about the sweetest thing I can imagine.” Bunke last won the race in 2005 with co-riders Josh Davis and Corey Davidson, and before that he won as part of a team with Mike Gentz, Jr., in 2002. Now, Gabe is a team owner and fields two machines in the race – his own sled No. 74 and the No. 537 piloted by Ryan and Travis Faust and Scott Maciag. That

sled finished in 7th place, a respectable finishing spot in such a grueling race. Bunke and Menne also brought home third place in Thursday’s Pro Am race, a 40-mile event held to give new riders to the Soo some valuable seat time. Menne, a Rookie Soo rider, started 21st and rode his way into 4th placewithin 20 laps. Bunke got aboard the sled for the final 20 laps and picked up one more spot to put the sled on the podium. “You could say this is what we planned for and we did,” said Bunke. “However, there is a lot of luck that comes into play in this race as well. But sometimes you make your own luck, and our team has worked really hard the past few years trying to get this win.” Bunke continued: “This team isn’t just me; there are a lot of hard-working, knowledgeable people behind us that are key players that make it all happen like my co-riders, my crew and all of our sponsors. This is a victory for all of us.”

UPDATE: February 6, 2012

The Honorable Ralph Hall Chairman House Committee on Science, Space and Technology 2321 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson Ranking Member House Committee on Science, Space and Technology 394 Ford House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515

The undersigned organizations urge you to support H.R. 3199. This important piece of legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct necessary scientific and technical analysis on the implications of introducing mid-level ethanol blends into the marketplace before EPA moves forward with registering such fuels. Several objective studies indicate that significantly more research and testing needs to be completed before gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol, known as “E15,” or other mid-level ethanol blends can be introduced into commerce. H.R. 3199 will require the NAS and EPA to conduct a necessary comprehensive assessment of the testing that has been conducted and still needs to be done of on-road, off-road, and marine engines, vehicles and related equipment prior to the implementation of any waiver for mid-level ethanol blends. This bill takes a critical step towards ensuring that any mid-level ethanol blends are introduced into commerce in a manner that protects consumers and the environment. While our organizations have divergent priorities, consumer protection is a common high priority and we are united in opposition to the premature introduction of E15. Simply stated, this bill will halt EPA’s rush to introduce mid-level ethanol blends and ensure such fuel blends receive the proper scientific analysis before being put into the marketplace. We collectively urge you to support Representative Sensenbrenner’s legislation (H.R. 3199). Sincerely, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers American Frozen Food Institute American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers American Bakers Association American Meat Institute American Petroleum Institute Association of Global Automakers Boat Owners Association of The United States California Dairy Campaign Competitive Enterprise Institute Freedom Action Friends of the Earth Grocery Manufacturers Association International Liquid Terminals Association International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association Milk Producers Council

Motorcycle Industry Council National Association of Shell Marketers National Black Chamber of Commerce National Council of Chain Restaurants National Marine Manufacturers Association National Meat Association National Restaurant Association National Turkey Federation Outdoor Power Equipment Institute Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council Snack Food Association Southeast Milk Inc. Specialty Equipment Market Association Specialty Vehicle Institute of America

P.J. WANDERSCHEID WINS $25,000 TLR CUP WITH DRIFT RACING

Plymouth, Minn. (Feb. 17, 2012) – Combining blazing speed and race-winning performances with dogged consistency, P.J. Wanderscheid emerged from a fiercely-competitive field of Champ oval racers to claim the coveted 2012 TLR Cup and its $25,000 top-prize – the largest series payday in snowmobile racing. With six events spread between Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, the TLR Cup and its $101,000 total purse attracts the fastest oval racers in the world. Hailing from Sauk Centre, Minn., P.J. and the entire Wanderscheid Racing Team

targeted the TLR Cup as a primary goal for the 2012 season. Wanderscheid captured the prestigious title with a win, two second-place finishes and three topfives. “Winning the TLR Cup is a huge achievement for me and the entire team,” said Wanderscheid. “It’s the most important series championship in oval racing with the fastest and most competitive racers. Plus it’s a huge payday!”

In addition to P.J. winning the Cup, Mark Wanderscheid was recognized for his outstanding work creating the Arctic Cat Champ

race sled that he was named “TLR Mechanic of the Year.” P.J. and the entire Wanderscheid Racing team race to the top of the podium wearing highperformance DRIFT Racing apparel.

A tribute to Edgar

The Antique Snowmobile Club of America is very proud to honor the "grandfather of snowmobiling" Edgar Hetteen with this beautiful carved granite plaque. The plaque depicts the man and machine, in historic setting right after Edgar's 1960 trip across Alaska. This project was headed up by Gary Koska, of Cold Spring Mn. What a wonderful tribute to a man who changed winters for many of us. Thank you.

Here's the story in Gary's words:

I'm from Cold Spring, Minn., and a member of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America (ASCOA). I first met Edgar in 1975 at the Dayco Spectacular oval race in Alexandria, Minn. I had bought a new Arctic Cat 440 Z and decided I was going to be a racer. When I arrived in Alexandria with my new Z, it only had 2.8 miles on it. And when it was my turn to take to the track, I shot off the first turn and did a few flips. As I sheepishly made my way back to the pits, I was met by this stately older gentleman who said to me, "Looks like you didn't come to prepared!" This older gent was Edgar, of course. We talked for a long time, and I ended up with an invitation to Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, for a job interview in the computer area. Well, that opportunity didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work out and, six months later, I was a truck driver in Alaska But, from that date on, Edgar always knew my name whenever our paths crossed, and I always enjoyed his company. He was one of the Guys. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my Edgar Story, and what made me want to do something special for him after his passing last February. So several months ago, I started the ball rolling on getting a tribute for Edgar Hetteen, founder of Arctic Cat and Polaris. It's a 15 x 18-in. block of Labrador Green granite from Brazil, then processed by a local granite counter shop. A friend of mine, Ron Dietman, who owns Free Bird Monuments in Kimball, Minn., did the fantastic etching on the stone. Tom Anderson from the World Snowmobile Museum in Eagle River, Wis., has reserved space for the Edgar Tribute, as well as a similar stone in the making for Bud Wieman, one of the founders of the ASCOA. We ALL miss Edgar, and I particularly miss my monthly trips to Grand Rapids, Minn., to give him his "secret stash" of burnt peanuts.

Polaris Announces Early Release of the Best Selling Sled in the Mountains and ample open space for optimal snow evacuation. The 800 Pro-RMK 155 is built on the strong, ultra-stiff PRORIDE Chassis™, which is 300 percent more rigid and is the most flickable chassis on the snow. A rider enjoys precise control with less effort.

The very definition of Terrain Domination in the 2013 Polaris snowmobile lineup is the undisputed king of the mountain, the strong and incredibly lightweight 800 Pro-RMK 155 – the most flickable sled on the snow with the innovative QuickDrive™ Low Inertia Belt Drive System and dry weight of just 417 pounds! This dynamic new sled is being introduced on February 10, in advance of the rest of the 2013 models, which will be revealed to the public March 5. Photos and complete details about the new ProRMK are available on the Polaris snowmobile home page (www. terraindomination.com). The new 800 Pro-RMK 155 provides mountain and deep snow riders with exactly what they need for Terrain Domination: A strong, lightweight – 417 pounds – flickable chassis and outstanding power.

The 800 Pro-RMK 155 features strong, lightweight materials and components such as the QuickDrive™ Low Inertia Drive system, the first belt drive system in production snowmobiles. The complete system – lightweight brake, extruded drive shaft and maintenance-free belt drive in place of a chaincase – reduces sled weight by more than 6.5 pounds, and provides a 21 percent reduction in rotational inertia for enhanced efficiency and acceleration. This Pro-RMK model has carbon fiber overstructure for strength and light weight, and the belly pan and suspension torque arms are also lighter yet strong and durable. All-new PowderTrac™ Running Boards are strong, high-traction platforms consisting of minimal structure for the lightest weight

The RMK® Coil-Over Rear Suspension is the ultimate deep snow suspension. Equipped with premium Walker Evans shocks, this suspension delivers outstanding flotation and deep-snow performance, and offers an improved on-trail ride. The PRO-RIDE RMK Adjustable IFS also has Walker Evans shocks and the ski stance is adjustable to 39, 40, and 41 inches. This sled is powered by the 800 Cleanfire® engine, which provides outstanding throttle response for instant acceleration and automatically calibrates as elevation and temperature change. A rider enjoys greater maneuverability and enhanced riding comfort with the new Pro-Lite Seat. The tail of this new seat is 5.5” shorter so it’s easier to throw a leg over. The front of the seat is flatter and over 2.5” wider for greater comfort, and the seat is lighter, as is the strong new seat support.

Yamaha Cross Country racers win Lake Parlin 100, Podium at Beach Bar 200! The Yamaha Snowmobile Cross Country team served notice that it is a force to be reckoned with in its second week of competition, earning a victory at the Lake Parlin 100 in Maine and a podium finish at the Beach Bar 200 in Minnesota! Big win in the eastern series opener: Aboard his 2012 FX Nytro, Yamaha’s Erik Frigon put in a commanding performance to win the Semi Pro class at the Lake Parlin 100 crosscountry snowmobile race in western Maine on Sunday, Jan. 29. So dominant was Frigon aboard the four-stroke Yamaha that he finished only three seconds behind the Pro class in the grueling three-lap, 18-mile race. The victory was the talented Yamaha racer’s first of the year while Scott Brownell, another FX Nytro driver, finished seventh. “We are proud of Erik’s first win of the season and look forward to more wins on his way to a Semi Pro championship,” commented Wade West, Yamaha’s snowmobile market-

ing manager. The racecourse’s six long miles encompassed a wide variety of frozen terrain – including Lake Parlin surface ice roughened by wind drifts, its nearby shoreline, and the surrounding woods. Frigon, a Maine policeman and perennial Yamaha demo ride contractor, had just a single day to test his FX Nytro race sled and set the suspension, clutching and gearing to his liking prior to the event. Riders were flagged away at 20-second intervals, and when Frigon quickly caught the first rider ahead, he knew that his FX Nytro had a power advantage. In all, he eventually passed nearly a half dozen sleds by the finish. Posting seven-minute lap times, he also averaged over 51 mph – wicked fast considering the difficult nature of the course. A time-trial event structure made it impossible for drivers to know their overall place or class position while competing – especially since Pro, Semi Pro and Masters sleds

were on-course simultaneously. This meant the only approach was to go out hard and keep right on doing it for the entire race. And that’s precisely what Frigon did, using the FX Nytro’s blend of four-stroke power and handling to best advantage – and validating the machine’s multiple American Snowmobiler Shootout acceleration awards in the process. “I was impressed with the power,” he said afterwards. “Without a lot of test time I didn’t know how much power it was going to have, but I could easily tell that I was gaining on riders in front of me.” Lindbom backs up his debut race with second podium: Yamaha Semi-Pro racer Ben Lindbom backed up the second place podium finish at his first ever cross-country snowmobile race two weeks ago with another podium at the J&K Marine Beach Bar 200 in Detroit Lakes, Minn., this past January 28-29. Pro rider Ross Erdman, who won the Pro final at the opening race on Pine Lake near Gon-

vick, Minn., grabbed a hardfought fourth-place finish in the Pro final at Detroit Lakes. The two-day event used combined times from each day of racing to place the riders in the final standings. The race was held on Big Detroit Lake and featured a 7.2-mile track with 44-turns. The event was the largest in the recent history of crosscountry snowmobile racing with upwards of 300 total race entries. The Semi-Pro class is one of the biggest and hardest-fought classes on the circuit and Lindbom faced a field of 22 other riders on his way to taking third in the class, posting a time just over 30-seconds out of first place after two days and 36-miles

of racing. “This is only my second cross-country race and my second race on ice,” said Lindbom. “The team has worked really hard to get me to the front and my Yamaha Nytro RTX is the best, most reliable machine out there. I’ve got a second and a third, next time out I’ll be looking for a win for sure.” Erdman, fresh off his Pro win at Pine Lake, had an equally good showing in the highlycompetitive Pro class at Detroit Lakes. After two days of racing Erdman placed fourth, missing a podium finish by just three seconds on the time charts.

Yamaha’s Eric Josephsen added, “This is the second ice race in a row and backing up our results from Pine Lake shows we’re right at the front. These guys are great riders and our crew is top notch I see more wins coming this season for sure.” 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.

Yamaha wins 7 for 7 in Mercer! Yamaha FX Nytro snowmobiles won a perfect seven out of seven Sport, Semi-Pro and Pro events they entered in a great day of cross-country racing in Mercer, Wis. on Saturday, Feb. 4. Proving the FX Nytro trail machineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s versatile performance in the rugged conditions were Yamaha snowmobile R&D engineer Andy Storbeck, who won the Sprint and Distance races in the amateur Sport category, Ben Lindbom, who swept the same events in Semi Pro, and Nathan Titus, who likewise topped both events in the Pro category. Making the day even better, Titus later teamed up with semi-pro racer Jake Jorgenson to win the team race, wrapping up Yamahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most successful

cross-country in years.

weekend

Thanks to varying weather and ground conditions, the long 7.5-mile course at Trude Lake proved an especially tricky one, giving the adaptable fourstroke FX Nytro a key advantage as the day progressed. While the course was run almost entirely on the lake surface, it featured speeds from just above idle to over 100 mph in some places â&#x20AC;&#x201C; along with plenty of obstacles and challenges. For instance, the lake surface had packed snow atop thick ice, which sprouted whoops and berms as daytime temperatures climbed and an impressive 117 sleds tackled the course. At the lakeside, frozen

marshland warmed up during the day to expose devious stumps and jumps. In some places, standing water atop the ice made the sleds look more like WaveRunners as they planed across it. And whenever the course reached a wooded peninsula, it went up and over, launching sleds high into the winter sky. In short, it was snowmobile terrain racing at its most demanding. Racing started at 10 AM, with Sprint races scheduled for three to four laps apiece and Distance races slated for seven to eight laps each. Timing was old-school, with two sets of double horseshoe turns carved into the course so scorers could slow down and then record each sled as it

passed. One by one, Storbeck, Lindbom and Titus started racking up Yamaha victories, ultimately amassing an impressive tally of six class wins, while freestyler Matt “Tinger” Tingstad added a Pro podium of his own on a borrowed FX Nytro after his rival two-stroke sled broke. The team race added a final dose of excitement as each driver, upon finishing their laps, parked their sled ran 15 yards through the staging area to tag the next driver. Titus drew the Yamaha

team’s first leg, putting his FX Nytro into the lead over two laps and then making the sprint to tag Jorgenson. With daylight fleeting at that point, Jorgenson only got a single lap in before officials wisely waved the checkers. But that was enough to give Yamaha its lucky seventh win on a memorable day of cross-country snowmobile racing. “This was the first full terrain race of the year, and everyone on the team was really excited to finally

get on some snow to see how we stack up against the competition,” said Yamaha’s Eric Josephsen. “Sweeping every class we entered, including our engineer Andy Storbeck taking a pair of wins, validates all of the hard work and determination the team has put into this challenging season. It’s the most successful any manufacturer has been in a single weekend in recent years, and it proves that the performance accessories we’ve developed for the FX Nytro really work.”