One of the great early promoters of snowmobiling in Wisconsin, Sparky Meyer began his involvement with the sport as a dealer for Polaris Sno-Travelers and later owned the Wisconsin distributorship for Arctic Cat during the booming 1960’s and early 1970’s. Sparky was a skilled businessman, gifted promoter and hard-working volunteer who helped bring many important snowmobile races and festivals into being during that crucial growth period of the sport.

Meyer, together with Walt Goldsworthy and 1992 Hall of Fame inductee John Alward, dreamed up the idea of the World Championship Snowmobile Derby first held on Dollar Lake near Eagle River, Wisconsin in 1964. He organized volunteers, directed track construction and looked after the event planning for the early races. His extensive contacts in the industry assured a big turnout for the race that would later become the World’s Championship Snowmobile Derby.

Before his retirement in 1973 Meyer also had a hand in creating the events at Three Lakes, Marion and Antigo.

Known in those days for his characteristic fur hat, Meyer was part of the action winter after winter as his hard work and penchant for attracting publicity kept snowmobiling in the news during the early days.