Vintage Snowmobile show sees blanket of white

The eighth annual Vintage Snowmobile Show took place at Southside Marine on Saturday, Feb. 28. The event is usually held on Clear Lake, but moved to Southside because warm weather had made the ice unsuitable. The venue was changed to the parking lot, where about 4 inches of snow collected on the machines, owners and visitors during the show. Owners had to brush the snow off so visitors and judges could appreciate their machines.

 

Although weather complicated everyone’s arrival, by the end of the show there were 31 snowmobiles from makers including Arctic Cat, Polaris, Yamaha, Bohlen’s, Snow dogs, and Herter’s.

 

Awards were given in three categories: Hunter Priebe won the “Bailey’s Choice” award with his 1976 Arctic Cat Jag 2000. Dave and Lynda Schlie won the “Best Restored” award with their 1969 Bolen’s Diablo Rouge, originally owned by Dave’s father Herman Schlie. Breck Joseph Howard, accompanied by his grandfather Steve Hale won the “Best Unrestored” award with his 1972 Arctic Cat Panther.

 

Terry Huber, Vice President of the Sno-Secas was overseeing his second snowmobile show in a month’s time, the first having been the Herter’s machines shown on Jan. 31. “The weather was surprising today, I wasn’t expecting this.” A giant diesel-fed flame warmer melted snow as it fell, creating a 5-foot area around the flame free of snow. A lot of the participants used that area to stamp the snow clear from their boots. In that small area of warmth, snowmobile stories were exchanged and adult beverages were passed around.

 

A truck pulled into the parking lot, pulling a long, covered trailer behind it and Huber said, “I hope that’s more we can add to the contest” and sure enough, out came two more Polaris, an Arctic Cat and an Evinrude, brought by Steve Hale, who said the snow and traffic had worked together to hold him up. 

 

Inside the Southside Marine building was April’s Crafty Space, a craft store set up for the day’s show. April said, “I sell a few things here year-round, but today I’m set up for the show.” She offered seasonal coasters, wind spinners with snowmobile themes, cards, keychains, coffee cups-both metal and ceramic–hot and cold tumblers, and more.