For about five years now, Diane Miller has been so nice as to invite me to her show in New Lothrup Michigan. Each year, as I am thinking about heading out, something comes up and I have to apologize for not being there.

Not this year. I made it, and I’m very glad I did.

Thursday night I stopped off in Obama country (sorry, I had to throw that in!) for an open house held by the Warning family. Their collection of riders, racers and original factory hardware gets more amazing every time I stop in. I can’t pick a favorite out of the bunch, there is just too many. But let’s see.. Dave Wahl’s Cat twin tracker maybe? The chrome Sno-Ponies? The 79 Scorpion?? Nope. Too many to pick any one. They even put out a spread of food including chicken and potato salad for everyone, and that was impressive.

Early the next morning we all headed up to the HRP Motorsports in Rockford Michigan, Brad Hulings’ base of operations. I rode up (and back later the next day) with Tom Groves. I had not met Tom before, but Tom has been racing snowmobiles, oval, cross-country and sno cross for about 30 years now. We had a great conversation about the whole “vintage sled thing”, clutches, the various forms of racing, Eagle River, etc. It made the drive an absolute breeze.

Once we got to HRP, we got a sneak peak at some cool stuff Brad is working on, and his in-house photo gallery from all the various forms or racing Brad has dominated over the years… flat track motorcycle racing, the Sno-Twister years, his time on the Polaris factory team, three years on the Scorpion Squadron, Ski-doo, midget car racing, stock car racing…. this mans been a head of the pack and going fast in a circle for more years then I ever knew.

When the rest of the group headed for A-1, I stayed behind and got the interview with Brad for the book. I’m not spilling any details here, but all I can say is that it was a GREAT time talking with Brad, and his story of his time at Polaris is really amazing – and not what I had expected at all. Brad’s a pretty private guy, so I am really and truly grateful he took the entire afternoon to chat with me.

Then, it was on to A-1! New Lothrop did not appear to really be a town – just spot on a map with a very nice field attached that looks like it was made for a vintage show and swap. While Friday everyone was wearing shorts and t-shirts, on Saturday it was cold, windy and did I mention cold? I was not dressed properly, that is for sure. I caught up with Diane as quick as I could and got to visit with her and her daughter briefly. All I can say is Diane is one amazing lady with enough class to fill one of the Great Lakes.

Enough of my yappin’ – here’s the photos. I didn’t get enough time to walk up and down all of about 4 rows… so I didn’t even see 1/32 of the show!

{Click on any photo to see a large version!}

Ski-Doo factory prototype engine – 1976. On sale in the swap meet!	Smith Brothers Racing (not the guys from Alaska!) brought this Twin Tracker.	71 795 (stuck motor) for $1,800. The 73 next to it is a 73 800 on a 72 bottom, custom built to race in Michigan, circa 74-75 – and not for sale!
Boss Cat II and friends – Left to right – Keith Warning, Brad Warning, Perry Hestness, Jim Warning.	The Lady Diane Miller in front of a poster of her winning yet another award for her racing efforts.	This all original 73 Polaris 295cc Starfire is just as it was when it competed in the Winnipeg to St. Paul Race in 1973.
Another 73 800cc Starfire – on a 72 crankcase.	A very nice original condition 72 800cc Starfire with brace to keep the chain case from being ripped out.	Shawn and Susan Horner, with their 72 ATX 500 – they will be one of the Live on Ski’s hosts this year in Alliston, Ontario.
This was one of my show favorites: A 1971 OMC Rapido 500. It took owner Jeff Carmiche of Owen Sound Ontario 4 years to restore – but what a great job he did. This is #80 out of 93 produced,a nd it features a 440 Kohler and some seriously big pipes!