Forrest Hess is working on a raffle to benefit one of our favorite charities – the Make-a-Wish foundation.

The sled they are raffling is a 1968 Moto-Ski Zephyr with a 300cc Hirth in it. To take a chance on winning this beauty, the tickets are just $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. You can send a check to Forrest Hess at 1601 Battleboro Drive, Webster N.Y. 14580. Worried about getting it home? Don’t be. Terry Bashoor has offered to transport the machine to New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin or Minnesota at NO cost to the winner! Read more about it or ask questions in this thread in SledTalk 24/7!

Last year, a bunch of guys had such a great time building the Ski-Whiz for Forrest Hess that they want to “doo” it all over again. But this year in honor of Ski-Doo’s 50th Anniversary at Waconia, it will be a “Doo” that gets “done”.

So group of Bull Session members (led by Steve McLaen) have found 12/3 69 Olympic that will be converted into a 1970 Blizzard clone, with a 340 twin Rotax as the power plant. The sled will be all repainted, restored and sexy – and will be auctioned off at Waconia, all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish.

I’d like to point out that the only reason these guys are doing this is that they just want to get together, hang out, and work on a cool sled. How fun is that? Even better? Your all invited.

On January 3rd, at Justin Clack’s house (aka Clackinator) in Menahga Minnesota, all interested persons are welcome to hang out, help build, or just supervise the work. Even as you read this, people are donating parts, time and materials on the official thread on the Bull Sessions.

Your efforts for socializing with a bunch of vintage sled heads will go a long way to making a kids dream come true.

So get yourself to Waconia, bid early, bid often, and your dream of owning a shiny “new” Ski-Doo can come true!

On May 31, 2008, Alysia Downs from West Yellowstone Big Brothers and Big Sisters accepted a $500 check from the Western States Vintage Snowmobile Association.  WSVSA generated this contribution from the 5th Annual Vintage Snowmobile Roundup held in conjunction with the annual SnoWest Expo in March. Special thanks to Rexburg Motorsports and the community of West Yellowstone for their support. L-R – Jeremy Huidekoper, Jacob Moss, Eithan Stanley, Alysia Downs – Director BBBS, Brooklyn Conaghan, and Perry Hesteness, President WSVSA.

It was Mid December 1968. In the small town of Sebewaing, Michigan, with about 2,500 inhabitants. The local merchants normally had a drawing every year around Christmas. I remember that when you shopped you would get a ticket for every dollar that was spent. You put your name and phone on it and drop it in the big drum. The grand prize was normally a TV or furniture.

But this was the only year they gave away a Snowmobile. We as a family went up to town and met with friends. My Mom said that Dad, for some reason, did not want to go that night but he went anyway. Good thing he did, as it was my Dads name that was pulled out of the drum of tickets! We won a snowmobile!!

I was at the great age of 10. So I was really excited to have a snowmobile! This was Friday night and I think we had to go to the dealer to pick it up. The dealer was “Gettels”, a John Deere tractor dealer. I remember that we were supposed to get the cheaper one (the Colt) but I think they sold it. Instead, we got the Polaris Charger with a 300cc JLO. The trailer did not come with it.

I remember I could not start that sled but if Dad started it I was off to the school and rode that sled all around the football yard, and around the house. The picture below was in the local paper the next week. Left to right: Standing next to the sled is my Father, Fred Gnagey. Sitting on the sled is me Brian and my brother Kevin. Standing: sister Lou Ann and Nelda, my Mom. Dad passed away in 2001.

That night changed mine and my brothers life for ever! We both still ride sleds and I am into the Vintage as well.

Thanks for the memory! Brian Gnagey.

Remember the “Win a Colt” promotion from Polaris? Dealers sent in the name and addresses of their customers and Polaris sent them each a key. Anyone that got a key could come on in to the local Polaris dealer and try the key in the lock of a shiny new Colt. If it opened the lock, you won!

Pictured below is Dave Crumb’s dad, with an un-named Polaris representative next to him. Dave’s dad was a Polaris dealer, and sitting on the Colt is the lucky winner from his dealership.

Does that shiny new Colt look like fun or what?

Darrell Day sent in this photo of Chad Widnes’ boys. I guess vintage sled fever starts at a very young age in mid-Minnesota. Jarod Widnes is doing the pulling (He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother!) and brother Jacob is doing the “driving”.

What’s that shiny new Arctic Cat doing on the front of VintageSleds.com? Well, it’s a good story of why vintage sledders are the coolest people in the world.

Sitting on his new Cat is Zach Kruger. Standing behind Zach in that really fashionable Cat SnoPro suit is Paul James. Paul, as you may recall from past posts, won the Hall of Fame raffle this winter at the induction ceremony. Paul won over $8,000 that he could use to go on a shopping spree at a dealer of his choice.

He did buy a new mini-Cat for his daughter and a spiffy new jacket, but the rest of the cash he spent on the new Cat. Zach is the surviving son of Tracy Kruger, who you may recall lost his life an a senseless act of violence some time ago. Tracy and Paul were good friends and drag raced together for many years. At a vintage drag race this winter, Paul delivered the Cat to one very happy young man.

Now that’s a good story.

Jordan Carlson (daughter of John Deere racer Jon Carlson) is just 18 years old, but has committed to raise 1 million dollars to fight breast cancer. She will walk to raise money – 720 miles in 12 cities over 12 consecutive weekends! 1 out of 8 women will fight breast cancer. You can help by visiting Jordans website, or the Susan G. Koman foundation.

Like golfing? The ISOC (International Series of Champions cross-country series from the 1990’s) has a reunion and CJ Ramstad memorial coming up on August 17th and 18th at the Mill Lacs Golf Resort & Marina in Garrison Minnesota. Download the brochure here. John Damiels, the ISOC and Sled Head 24/7 founder credits CJ as the man that helped him accomplish so much in the snowmobile world. What was to just be a reunion of ISOC members has converted to being a memorial golf outing for CJ.