This absolutely mint 1972 Skidoo 300 Olympic Standard will be up for raffle at the LIVE ON SKIS ride in Lapeer Michigan on February 13th, 2010.

It came right from the original owner, and was kept in a heated carpeted garage. We can’t find anything damaged – and the only thing "wrong" is that it is missing the engine/carb covering. It Runs and looks fantastic!

The standard Oly has the sleek style seat just like the TNT, and has the fixed headlight. Comes with a mint condition matching OEM Cover and original tool kit.

Raffle tickets will be sold THIS WEEKEND at the A-1 for just $5 each! This sled will be at other events throughout the season and tickets can be purchased by contacting me, LIVE ON SKIS Lapeer Michigan host Doug Lubahn.

Proceeds from the raffle will go to benefit both MAW (a fantastic Michigan based handicapped hunters organization) and Wheelin Team 457

Drawing will be held at the LOS Lapeer Event- need not be present to win.

Here is an update on the John Deere Make A Wish sled.

The project is winding down now and the final build date has been set. It will be October 17th at (lloyd Krohn) “Mercdivers” place near Forest Lake, MN. Within the next couple of weeks, we plan a small get together of some local guys up here near Menahga and we will be installing the suspension, track and fitting the seat on the machine. We will have a head start on the build if we can get that stuff done in advance.

John’s Upholstery has the seat on its way to us via UPS. So many people have helped out so much with the build and the very, very hard to find parts! Nearly everything on a 340/S is unique to a 340/S and this has presented us with quite a challenge. Special thanks to Kenny Heins, Joe Rainville and Don Amber for their assistance with some very unique parts. If not for their generosity, this project would not have happened.

Jerome Kretzman has been a project saver as well. Donating his time to rebuild the crankshaft for us. The 340/S crank was also completely unique to the 340/S only. Our original was beyond saving and 2 donated extras were also not salvageable. We had a very generous benefactor donate an excellent crank that Jerome is in the process of freshening up. I’m still looking for another crank to replace the one that was donated. The gentleman that donated the crank needed it, but he also knows there is a chance we wont be able to replace it. If anyone out there has another crank, even a rebuildable one, I would sure like to lay my hands on it so I can return one to the generous donor.

The body repair and paint work alone on the chassis has been a huge job! I told my body/paint guy that whatever we had left over from the donated funds would be going to him for his time and effort. To date, we only have $136 left in the kitty. It would feel much better to hand him a bit more money than that for all of his effort. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks some more donations will come in so we can compensate him a little better.

Its a great group of vintage sled enthusiasts who have made this possible. It has been a joint effort between many members from 4 different vintage sled websites and has managed to bring together many new friends. All in the name of charity. It doesn’t get much better than that!

As an avid fan of vintage snowmobiles here in the state of New York, I’m trying to get New York state to adopt a limited use permit that would allow you to use your vintage snowmobile (any snowmobile 25 years old or older) at related functions such as shows, parades and fund raisers, and for trail riding without the full license fee.

Other states such as MN, VT, MA, CT and ME have already adopted such a permit. Fees generally run from free to $45 for lifetime use of a vintage sled.

For this to be possible in New York, we need as many owners as possible to get involved. I am asking you to contact your local New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA), your state and local representatives, speak up at you next local meeting, or contact me with your interest in helping with this project.

Feel free to email me, or visit with me on Bull Sessions to see how we can all get this thing done!

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”.