b'Club EventsNOSTALGIA FUELS VINTAGE SLED INTERESTBy Mike Swartz, with contributions from Mike LapierreThis year, vintage snowmobile meets or ride-ins, akin to automobile cruise nights, have seemed more prevalent than ever. Who doesnt love to see a 70s vintage Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, Polaris, and Snow-Jet and of their youth? While the interest is primarily from aging snowmobilers memories of the glory days of snowmobiling, vintage sleds are also gaining in popularity amongst a new generation of riders. During the late 60s and early 70s, the interest in snowmobiles and snowmobile racing was at a fever pitch because the snowmobile was stillCountry Rider Vintage winner for OldestCountry Rider Vintage winner for Most relatively new, and it was an excellentSled and Oldest Rider: Reggie Field with hisUnique: Laura Galvack with her 1985 way for people in the snow belt to1964 Polaris Sno-Traveler Voyager K12. Mantaenjoy winter in a brand-new way. At the peak in the early 70s, there wereVintage snowmobiling has alsoa native NEK-er who created the close to 100 manufacturers. Somespawned a lot of social mediaVintage Snowmobile Lovers Facebook were small garage operations, andcoverage. Mike Lapierre from Vintagepage in 2009. With over 50,000 most established businesses alreadySnowmobile Lovers interviewed afans, it is the largest community of making lawnmowers, motorcycles,few Country Riders vintage ride-invintage snowmobile enthusiasts snowblowers, and outboard motorsparticipants before they embarkedanywhere, Facebook or otherwise. It were jockeying to get a slice of theon a quick ride around a local loopis home to the most extensive vintage vast, new market. Familiar names likethrough Newport Center, Troy, andsnowmobile videos on the internet.Harley Davidson, John Deere, MasseyWestfield, recording the ride send-Ferguson, Kawasaki, Evinrude, andoff for his popular podcast. ThisIf you get the chance to come to one Mercury fought for market share,live, weekly podcast about vintageof these vintage ride-ins, youll see status, and profits. But by 1980, onlysnowmobiles in its second season isthat the passion of these enthusiasts is a handful of them had survived thesimulcast to eight different placescontagious. Im determined to come to industry consolidation and attrition.on Facebook and YouTube. Mike isone next year with something vintage However, interest in the bygonebesides the rider!era has never waned amongst the snowmobile enthusiasts.Many snowmobile clubs have sponsored vintage ride-ins this year because of this renewed interest and partly to generate interest and fund-raise. This past January, the Washington Snow Flyers Vintage Rally was so well attended that they struggled to find room for everyone to park. On Jan. 22, the first Country Riders Snowmobile Club vintage ride-in was held at OS29 in Tetreault Flats. Over 125 people braved the sub-zero temperatures to sample warm food and drinks and view 27 vintage sleds. Prizes were awarded for Oldest Sled and Oldest Rider (Reggie Field-a 1964 Polaris Sno-Traveler Voyager K12), Most Unique (Laura Galvack for a 1985 Manta), and Best in Show (Ray Parenteau with his 1973 RuppAlina and Brandon Phillips II with dad Brandon Phillips 1972 Skidoo Elan and caboose, Magnum). winner at the Washington Snow Flyers Vintage Rally in the 71-73 unrestored category.Late Winter 2022 | 13'