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Snowmobile Hall of
Fame and Museum
St. Germain,
Wisconsin
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2009 Classic Sled Roundup a huge success................
click here to see ! !
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26TH ANNUAL RIDE WITH THE CHAMPS by Modine HotDawg Garage Heaters was a huge success. Some one hundred riders gathered for this historic event and fund raiser for the SHOF. The Vintage Challange group had some 30 riders !
Old John Deeres, Cats and Polaris sleds attempted to make the 175 mile trip to the U P for lunch at Fish Tales on Lake Goegibic. Jon Carson and Brian Nelson of Team Enduro Deere fame, guided the die-hard vintage riders on their 30 year old iron. More photos and stories to come !
They all made it back to the evening banquet for the Induction Ceremonies......some on trailers, some in pickups and some behind tow ropes.......however most made the entire 175 trip on their old sleds. This is what great memories are made of.
GO TO RIDE WITH THE CHAMPS PAGE |
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This valuable 1960 Ski-Doo now in SHOF. Early production sled is historic.........read more about it. |
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Snowmobile Hall of Fame Announces 2009 Inductees
 St. Germain, Wis. - The Snowmobile Hall of Fame (SHOF) announced today the four distinguished inductees for 2009: Mike Houle, Paul Groth, Ken Konop and Donald Finck. Each of the inductees has a distinguished record and will be formally inducted into the SHOF during its annual banquet on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009.
Mike Houle is synonymous with oval racing greatness, having risen to the top of that discipline in the 1980s and continuing as one of the best in the 1990s. Houle, of Cedar, Minn., made his mark in the Midwest snocross and oval circuits aboard Polaris and later with Ski-Doo. A smart, strong rider who was set-up rider whose style often drew on strength, Houle enjoyed multiple wins at the Eagle River World Championships, USSA High Point titles and MRP championships.
Speed run competition achieved high popularity in the 1980s, due to the fantastic machines, competitive personalities and outstanding speeds. Paul Groth of Frontenac, Minn., was chief among these protagonists and a driving force in speed run popularity. His reiteration of Boss Cat II as the Budweiser Sno-King brought a huge multinational advertiser to the sport and set multiple speed records in the NSSR circuit.
For more than 30 years snowmobile trail riders and racers have enjoyed greater personal safety thanks to Ken Konop, inventor of the Saf-Jac protective vest. Inspired by the accidental death of his wife, Jacque, at a snowmobile race in 1974, Konop brought his Saf-Jac to market for the 1975 season. It has since established an exemplary legacy of quality and safety, having prevented countless serious injuries to thousands of thankful riders and racers.
The sport of snowmobiling is built upon the tireless efforts of club and association members. Donald Finck is one such person, having served as President (two terms), Director and Trail Master in the Vermont Association Snow Travelers (VAST), as well as introducing innovative snowmobiling services and programs in the association. Finck, now of Carson, Wash., also founded the successful and venerable Rock Maple Racing Circuit in Vermont.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW INDUCTEES PAGE
Contact the SHOF for info on the Inductees and the 26th annual RIDE WITH THE CHAMPS by Modine HotDawg Garage Heaters at 715 542-4HOF (4463) or info@snowmobilehalloffame.com
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Two more classic sleds from the Warning collection are now on display at the HOF. Pictured below are a 1970 Skiroule rtx 750 and a 1971 Sno Jet 433 Thunder Jet. The Warnings rotate their extensive collection at the HOF on a regular basis. |
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To view 2008 CLASSIC SLED ROUNDUP Photos and Results CLICK HERE |
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Mouse over photos to enlarge
  These sleds found a home in our museum in St Germain after the Roundup May 25th. The #69 Polaris racer (440 cc) is the original 1974 Don Omdahl factory sled owned and restored by Larry Preston. This was a four year restoration effort and it turned out spectacular. Larry drove up to Roseau to have Don sign the hood in time for it's first showing here in St. Germain.
The 650 cc 3 cylinder Polaris TX Starfire is Doc Jim's'. It is the twin to the factory built air cooled sled that Jim Bernat drove to his World Championship at Eagle River in 1975. Bernat's original has been in the museum for 14 years and is now in Roseau, MN at the Polaris factory museum. It is nice to have other example of the big 650s run by the two other factory drivers, Dom Omdahl and Larry Rugland during that 1975 season. Only three of these Starfires were built along with 3 extra engines. |
The Arctic Cat world speed record sled is the one Dale Cormican drove to his record speed of 91.55 MPH for a single engine snowmobile. It is powered by a 793 Hirth engine. The sled was built by Arctic Cat Enterprises of Theif River Falls, MN during the haydays of factory sponsored speed run challenges. |
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James Hoover and his daughter Abigal pose next to their great 494 cc Ski-Doo Olympic. This beautiful sled will be calling St. Germain their new home. Jim showed the sled at the Roundup. |
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| NEW 2008 RAFFLE WINNERS! |
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| Grand opening of the new Warning Gallery and the Ramstad Center, Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, 3:00 pm and the 25th annual RIDE WITH THE CHAMPS by Modine Hot Dawg Garage Heaters, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008. See RIDE WITH THE CHAMPS link for information. |
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Andy Baker |
Christopher Twomey
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2008 NOMINEES NAMED
St.Germain, WI......The Board of Directors of the Snowmobile Hall of Fame (SHOF) and Museum are proud to announce the 2008 Inductees. Four distinguished honorees will be enshrined on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at the banquet held at the Whitetail Inn, Hwy 70 W, St. Germain, Wisconsin. They are ANDY BAKER of Beausejour, Manitoba, CHRISTOPHER TWOMEY of Thief River Falls, MN, C. J. RAMSTAD (p) of Deephaven, MN and CLAYTON NEUMAN (p) of Coon Rapids, MN. Ramstad and Nueman will be inducted postumously as they both passed away earlier this year. Ramstad, a co-founder of the SHOF and a board member, was killed in an auto accident along with his son in May and Nueman passed away of cancer in September, just after learning of his induction. Read more...
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C.J. Ramstad |
Clayton Neuman |
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Our co-founder of the Snowmobile Hall of Fame is honored by many in the sport
Please visit his site to read these tributes. The Ramstad Memorial Library and Media Center will be part of the new expanded complex in our St. Germain Hall of Fame and Museum. To contribute to this great tribute, contact the SHOF and for additional info about the founding of the SHOF visit our HISTORY page. |
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2007
Classic
Sled Roundup
(Click on photo to enlarge)
More photos & results... |
Bill " Elvis" Stull's 1973 Rupp 340 Magnum and a rare collection of 1973 clothing and accessories. Bill had a special display of Rupp sleds that was outstanding. This sled was driven by 2004 inductee Gene Bloom of Alaska. |
The Hall of Fame displayed their 1967 World Championship sled of Duane Frandsen, this unique sled had the first racing exhaust pipes at the Derby and was one of the first to have a cutom 494 Rotax motor. This sled was donated by Duane in 1992 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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Tom Ische of Glencoe, MN brought six outstanding Arctic Cats including a 70 Puma, 71 King Cat (793),ext, 75 SnoPro 650, 78 SnoPro 250 and a 80 Sno Pro 340. |
John Jantsch, restorer of Mike Trapp's factory racer, Phil Mikelson, former race manager for Ski-Doo and service manager at Duluth and Kurt Krueger, owner of one of the special Ski-Doo displays at the Classic Sled Roundup....all three have yellow blood in their veins. |
Mike Trapp, Mod II World Champion at Eagle River 1973 sits on his just completed restoration of his factory Ski-Doo racer and his mechanic from the factory team, Real LaRochelle of Montreal, CA holds his 1st place Derby Lions Cup. This event was the first time the original sled, the mechanic and the driver were re-united in 35 years. |
Jim Murphy brought a group on unique sleds including his unique NGC, a 1971 Snow Flake and the custom Tom Cat along with his 66 Scorpion Buckskin, 76 Polais Colt, and his 1971 Nasral Snow Sprite. |
The Vintage SnoPro Championship Series presented their awards for the season at the Roundup again this year. Season Champion Jay Sperry, Jr sitting on his championship Rupp, holds the Hall of Fame SnoPro Cup as president Loren Anderson congratulates him. The coveted award is on year around display at the museum in St. Germain. |
The Warning family of New Lenox, IL again brought a cutom speed record sled. This year it was their Bud King sled driven by Paul Groth to a speed of 201.469 MPH in 1992. Paul was at the show and did the start your engine that brought everyones attention to this piece of racing history as the big V* fired up. |
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Funeral Information:
11:00 am, Monday, May 14.
Westwood Community Church
3121 Westwood Drive
Excelsior, Minn. 55331
www.westwoodcc.org
952-224-7300
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Dear Friends;
We're sorry to report that this is the last transmission from SnowPod.com. The powersports industry lost a true legend on Sunday, May 6th.
CJ Ramstad and his son, JJ, were both killed in a head-on car crash in Minneapolis at 5:00 pm CST. Details of the accident are not confirmed at this time.
CJ leaves behind his wife Karla, daughter Marly and a host of lifelong friends who respected and admired his love for and incredible insight into the snowmobile, motorcycle and ATV business.
CJ was famous for his strong opinions and valuable perspective on the industry. He published several books and volumes of magazine editorial since the early sixties. His work as a photo journalist was unprecedented and his archive of pictures is a treasured legacy reaching back to the very beginning of the snowmobile industry.
Most of all, he brought creative impetus to the business with magazines like Snow Week, Sno-Goer, Minnesota Snowmobiling, Supertrax, All-Terrain Vehicle and Minnesota Off-Road.
Always on the watch for injustices and bad politics, CJ was an outspoken critic whose research was impeccable and his opinions immersed in truth.
He will be sadly missed and long remembered. If you would like to convey your memories of CJ, please join the conversation at VintageSleds.com.
Discussion Form · C. J. Ramstad Photography Collection
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| Dale Loritz of Green Bay, WI, the 1994 and 95 World Champion presented his winning # 67 Twin Track to the SHOF on Tuesday, April 17, 2007. The Cliff & Ceils, Simonar Service sponsored Ski-Doo has been restored to its original colors when Dale won his first world title at Eagle River. As an independent driver, Loritz was very successful in both Formula I and Formula II and was a top oval racer for many years. The St. Germain Hall of Fame and Museum once again expands it's collection of original sleds know to be the most important and valuable collection in the world. |
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St. Germain, WI........The Snowmobile Hall of Fame is now selling the first of the Hall of Fame Poster Series. The posters feature Hall of Famers and their sleds. The first poster is of Mike Trapp, 1971 and 72 World Champion. Mike just completed autographing the 10 posters that now can be purchased at the SledWorld Gift Shop at the museum on Hwy 70 W, St. Germain. Poster number one sold for $250.00 at the silent auction during the Induction Banquet February 22. Only 10 of these valuable collector posters will be printed each year and the first one of each will be available only at the silent auction each year. They are now available for $150.00. Contact the HOF at 715 542-4HOF (4463), hallfame@newnorth.net. |
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The 2007 Snowmobile Hall of Fame inductees are (L to R) Dick Gokey, Robert J. Carlson, Kirk Hibbert and Mark Maki. Read more... |
Blair Morgan and team as they present his gold medal X-Games Championship Ski-Doo to the Hall of Fame. This is the second sled Blair has presented to the St. Germain Hall of Fame |
Blair Morgan taking questions from the media and the fans at the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, WI, Thursday, February 22, 2007.
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Jim Tradup of Oakdle, MN attended the special reception for Robert Carlson the night before the RIDE WITH THE CHAMPS by Modine HotDawg garage heaters on Feb. 21, 2007. Jim left his beautiful 1974 JD 295/S driven by Jim Dano in the Winnipeg I-500 race that year. Thank you Jim for sharing this great piece of history.
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