Winter 2018 | 45 Club News and apples during our lunch break while watching a snowmobile safety video. We then moved outside to check out the parts a of a snowmobile and try to pull start one. After this, we went inside to warm up and complete the class. All eight students passed the test! They were provided with a starter safety kit, club map of our trails and info on the club and VAST. We hope to see them on the trails! Ernie Dematties, Media Manager Like us on Facebook Ernie Dematties and Tom Coloutti instruct the Poultney Valley Snowmobile Devils’safety course. Shrewsbury Sno-Birds The Sno-Birds’ winter season started the week before the riding started but we had an equipment issue right off. The first time out with Mark Quesnel riding with me, we were almost home when the groomer just died. We walked out to where my dad could pick us up with my truck. The next day, it started right up, went a little further and died again. I had my testers with me and I tested for hours. It went to a bad injection pump mod, which means you have to replace the injection pump. Two days later, with my dad’s help clearing the trees out of the trail with his tractor, it started again and made it back to the groomer shed. Two days later, Todd Potter with Anderson Equipment was at the groomer shed testing again and replacing the pump. We were going again in less than a week. We have not missed a week yet and the trails are in great shape! Our club also ran a safety course with four people. Everyone had a good time and passed with flying colors. Our club furnished the food for lunch at no cost to the participants. Our new club secretary, Mike Gabriele, is a nice addition to our club. We had a meeting with our web guy to get him up to speed with posting on our website and sending out things like our monthly minutes and photos of some of his rides. Hopefully, we will see some photos soon! Another thing that we are doing this winter is, along with help, plowing out snow and grooming it out with the compactor bar so they can slide on Center Street in Rutland. It is for their Winterfest on Feb. 20. Russ, who heads up the event, says the sliding hill is the best part of Winterfest. I have gone back after getting the Tucker back home with Dave Fucci and watched the kids slide. There is usually a long line waiting to slide while listening to a live DJ! There are a lot of happy faces! Our club meetings are the second Tuesday of every month at the Southside Steakhouse in Rutland starting at 7 p.m. Ride safely and ride right! Roy Arthur, Vice President & Trailmaster Shrewsburysnobirds.org Like us on Facebook Club member and volunteer Mark Quensel assists with the first grooming run of the season.