Vics 1980 Bob Elsners #3 factory race sled

[Vics stuff]

 Some of you guys know that I have documented Bob Elsner's 1980 #3 factory race sled. This sled is a unrestored as raced sled . It is 99% complete and needs TLC. I have been tossing around to leave as raced and just get it back up running , or do a full blown restoration . Looking for input from all you guys.
 Let me know your thoughts
 Vic

[Vintagesleds.com]

[mr bolens]

It is org only once

[SRX SnoPro]

I think I'm with Mr. Bolens, but somewhat depends on how much TLC it needs.   Does it resemble as raced by the factory, or is broken up and/or repainted to look totally different etc.   If it is just a used hard version of the original sled, I think I would go with getting it running and driving.     

[emrickmn]

Vic, you’re more than qualified to make the call. You’ve restored more racers than most anyone.

“Remember, it’s only original once”- only applies to when it first came from the factory and BEFORE it was raced. Almost all racers were modified.

 Nothing wrong with bringing it back to how it was before the season, before it was ridden hard and put away wet. Some of these sleds were screwed up years after their race days when some kid hopped on it and bounced it through a field. Or, it had a 40# sack of crap sitting on it in a barn for 10 years.
It can be really tough to truly know the “as raced” condition.

My 79 was raced and then modified for drags. At that point, nobody knows what it really looked like during its racing days so I brought it back to how it looked at the beginning of the season.

I’ll look forward to seeing this build.

[Vics stuff]

 This sled has not been beat. Actually it is a great candidate to just clean up as raced and get it back running .
 Not a good picture but already have started the  disassembling process. Saving all the original bolts and nuts for reassembly. Just want to go through it and replace bearings and go through the engine. Put it back to the way Bob parked it for the season. It does need some parts which I have tracked originals  down. Been looking for 6 years for all the correct parts. Now it is time to jump on this one while waiting for a few items for my 79 Ski Doo SS to show up.
 Vic

[nobog]

Put a Monster decal on it and call it a day ! 

[191merc]

wow thats amazing that the sled is that complete after all these years. I just finished restoring stan hayes 76 merc sno-pro and it was a long process. But the route i took was finding out as much info as i could and working with everyone else who has merc sno-pros and building the parts that were not stock. there will be a lot of parts on your sled that are one offs and a lot of people tend to just replace it with a stock parts. on the merc sno-pro there were 99 items that are different from a stock 76 sno-twister. good luck and hope to see lots of pictures

[HudCo]

ive allways been a big fan of orginal work clothes but it also needs to be mechanicly ready to go a shiny new part in the middle of some faded scratched paint does not bother me

[Vics stuff]

191merc
 Yes you are correct that this sled is a real nice original sled. I know the whole history of this sled since it left the race team in the spring of 1980 when the racing season ended there and this sled came to Alaska . One of the previous owners started to make a enduro sled by throwing away the radiator and attempting to mount something in the nose , but that is as far as this sled sled has been changed. They filled the slot in the top of the hood  for the radiator and drilled a bunch of holes in the front and added a lot of fiberglass reinforcement to the hood. Found a original nice hood and correct radiator to put back as was when raced by Bob.
 Vic

[emrickmn]

You can stage your own Sno Pro race pretty soon.
You've got the RXL, ski doo and now cat.  All you'd need would be a SSR

[Vics stuff]

emrickmn   Yes ,  I have a gammot of sleds. My next sled after this is a 80 Scorpion Sno Pro.  Would like to find a Yamaha SSR  to ad to my collection,  but  these sleds are a bit expensive.  Always keeping my eyes open and feelers out there.
 Vic

[Vics stuff]

   Here are some cool pics of the engine cylinder and skid on some things that they did. The cylinder transfer ports were so enlarged that the engine builder ground through the outer casting and had to repair with marine tec epoxy. The slide rails hyfax was gun drilled to allow more lube on the track .
 Vic

[jschaffer]

Vic, Yamaha did the same thing on the hyfax.  They even had a bulletin on it around '77/'78.

[SRX SnoPro]

Pretty common in the drag scene back in the day as well. 

[Vics stuff]

 we here used to run graphite hyfax that had been drilled .
 Vic