Fall 2017 | 47 the great times he and I had. That got my wheels turning and in the spring of 2008 I bought a 1972 40hp Rupp Yankee and started to tear that sled apart to rebuild it, while I was doing that I bought another Rupp a 440WT. It was November by the time I was done with rebuilding those two Rupps. They came out looking like show room condition. They were even pictured in a Rupp calendar. I wanted to ride them this winter but Connecticut had no trails so I registered them in Vermont. I needed an enclosed trailer, so I traveled to Pennsylvania and purchased one to start snowmobiling in Vermont during the 2008/09 season. I did over 600 miles that season on my vintage Rupps, and let me tell you, I was cold. By the time the next season rolled around, I picked up some newer sleds. They were a 1998 and 2000 Polaris. This made riding the trails a lot easier and I got to explore more ground. I love the outdoors as I hunt during all the seasons with a bow, shotgun, rifle and muzzle-loader. Just being outside connecting with nature is all I need to clear my mind. I snowmobiled every year since 2008 and have been enjoying it very much, meeting a lot of people and making new friends. In March of 2015, after a week of riding the Northeast Kingdom with some friends and putting on over 1,000 miles, I had a massive heart attack with a triple bypass the next day. That was the end of sledding for me for the rest of that season. I wasn’t going to let that stop me, so I got better and in the middle of summer I bought a new sled with a longer track and electric start that made it easier for me to get out and ride. I’ve been hitting the trails ever since. Soon the wife and I will retire and head to our house in Maine and start all over in learning the trails up there near my house. The real reason why I love snowmobiling is that it brings back my childhood memories. I am a member of 12 clubs and do this to help support the sport in Vermont. SATURDAY OCTOBER 28, 2017 Orleans Snowstormers 23rd Annual Giveaway 6 p.m. –12 a.m. Elks Club, Derby gramg7@live.com; 802-334-6179 orleanssnowstormers.com $100 per ticket FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2017 Barre Town Thunder Chickens 35th Annual Snowmobile Raffle 6 p.m. Canadian Club, Barre btthunderchickens@gmail.com $125 per ticket SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2017 NEK Snow Blasters Hunter Supper 5 p.m.–8 p.m. Chez Pidgeon, 1282 VT Route 114, Norton kimberlylampert@bensonschevy.com 802-779-7194 $10 adults,12 and under $5 SATURDAY JANUARY 13, 2018 2nd Annual NEK Snow Blasters Calcutta 5 p.m. to end Time Out Tavern, Canaan kimberlylampert@bensonschevy.com 802-779-7194 $100/ticket SATURDAY JANUARY 20, 2018 Foote of The Mountain Sno-Travelers Calcutta Dinner Dance 5 p.m. American Legion, Middlebury $100 per couple SATURDAY JANUARY 27, 2018 Orleans Snowstormers 23rd Annual Nicholas Gage Poker Run 10 a.m. –5 p.m. Orleans area trails and business gramg7@live.com; 802-334-6179 orleanssnowstormers.com $5 per hand SATURDAY FEBRUARY 03, 2018 Upper Valley Snow Packers 47th Annual Chicken BBQ 11:30 a.m. –2 p.m. Westshire Elementary School 744 VT Route 113, West Fairlee stuart.b.bacon.ii@dartmouth.edu; 802-333- 9473 Full meal $12, 1/2 chicken $8 uppervalleysnowpackers.com SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2018 Buckaroos of 302 41st Annual Dick Page Ride-In 11 a.m. Groton Town Garage,2681 Scott Hwy., Groton glamberton@charter.net; 805-584-3917 $10 per meal buckaroosof302.com SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2018 Chester Snowmobile Club Valentines Day Bonfire 4 p.m.–8 p.m. Follow signs from WR51 in Chester schoiniere13@comcast.net Free SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2018 CT Valley Sno-Riders Ride-in Cookout at “The Roost” 11 a.m.–3 p.m. j.orlowski@ymail.com Corridor 1 between EX-401 and EX-523 802-328-2182 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2018 Woodford SnoBusters Special People Ride 12–3 p.m. 8651 VT Route 9, Woodford jmckenna6@comcast.net snobusters.org SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2018 Chester Snowmobile Club Annual Poker Ride 4 p.m.–8 p.m. Chester Rec. Field, Lover’s Lane, Chester schoiniere13@comcast.net $10 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2018 NEK Snow Blasters BBQ 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Poker Palace, Trail 114 kimberlylampert@bensonschevy.com 802-779-7194 FREE SATURDAY MARCH 3, 2018 Drift Dusters Snowmobile Club & NEK Snow Blasters 2nd Annual NEK Poker Run 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Cow Palace, Route 5, Derby kimberlylampert@bensonschevy.com 802-779-7194 $10/hand SATURDAY MARCH 17, 2018 NEK Snow Blasters Silent Auction 3 p.m. Chez Pidgeon, 1282 VT Route 114, Norton kimberlylampert@bensonschevy.com 802-779-7194 Volunteer & Snowmobile VAST CLUB EVENTS CALENDAR