Reminiscing of past sleds owned

snopro · May 3, 2020

Rotax_Kid said:
When I was younger we had a variety of machines. I started on a Moto Ski Mirage II. Big change when we added a second carb!

Never thought much of it at the time, but next machine was a 75 R/V that we bombed around on. I still to this day, think it's the best looking machine Doo ever built. Get it on a groomed trail and there is possibly still little out there that handles like that machine did.

Found a project Elite a few months ago that I'm starting work on. It's a 444 L/C machine, but I'm unsure whether we'll keep the 444 or move to something else. Machine isi n rough shape and either way needs a good going through. I have access to a donor 600 ACE motor which I think could be a neat swap.

I followed suit like you lol. I bought a Mirage Special which already had the second carb from the factory and bought a 77 Moto Ski Sonic 340 for oval racing. Like you said one of the best handling and cornering sleds out there. Dominated Stock B and C with that sled in the NWSA. Slow out of the blocks but when it wound up you could pass all the El Tigre Cat 5000's in the corners and leave them on the straights.d

Rotax_Kid · May 3, 2020

snopro said:
I followed suit like you lol. I bought a Mirage Special which already had the second carb from the factory and bought a 77 Moto Ski Sonic 340 for oval racing. Like you said one of the best handling and cornering sleds out there. Dominated Stock B and C with that sled in the NWSA. Slow out of the blocks but when it wound up you could pass all the El Tigre Cat 5000's in the corners and leave them on the straights.d

I wish we would have kept the RV. It was a fantastic machine. Bought a 72 Blizzard 340 in the late 90's with money from cutting grass and doing yard work for neighbours. Still have it and still never made alot of progress on it. Too many things in life got in the way. Keep thinking I should get rid of it as how many things can a guy keep to collect dust? Also was setup to run on Alcohol I believe. Wouldn't be driving that one much and would be a trailer queen. Then I keep thinking don't need the money right now why get rid of it...pretty rare machine....one of these days I realize that between that, 2 old Datsun roadsters, and a late 20's Nash, I have little time to tackle any of this!

LUCKY 7 · May 3, 2020

any pics of the Nash?

Rotax_Kid said:
I wish we would have kept the RV. It was a fantastic machine. Bought a 72 Blizzard 340 in the late 90's with money from cutting grass and doing yard work for neighbours. Still have it and still never made alot of progress on it. Too many things in life got in the way. Keep thinking I should get rid of it as how many things can a guy keep to collect dust? Also was setup to run on Alcohol I believe. Wouldn't be driving that one much and would be a trailer queen. Then I keep thinking don't need the money right now why get rid of it...pretty rare machine....one of these days I realize that between that, 2 old Datsun roadsters, and a late 20's Nash, I have little time to tackle any of this!

Lund · May 3, 2020

Rotax_Kid said:
I wish we would have kept the RV. It was a fantastic machine. Bought a 72 Blizzard 340 in the late 90's with money from cutting grass and doing yard work for neighbours. Still have it and still never made alot of progress on it. Too many things in life got in the way. Keep thinking I should get rid of it as how many things can a guy keep to collect dust? Also was setup to run on Alcohol I believe. Wouldn't be driving that one much and would be a trailer queen. Then I keep thinking don't need the money right now why get rid of it...pretty rare machine....one of these days I realize that between that, 2 old Datsun roadsters, and a late 20's Nash, I have little time to tackle any of this!

That is a cool collection you have, maybe one day you might get to reviving a few.

Lund · May 3, 2020

Got boost want snow said:
Rode a 1975 Sno Jet 340 sst f/a was a very impressive and capable sled for its time. Next was a 1981 440 Kawasaki invader, we tapered the tunnels and rode the sh!t out of them, 1982 550 Kawasaki interceptor fast but really sucked in the mountains. Then came my 1992 Yamaha 750 vmax4 quad pipes reeds made about 175hp fun to ride but heavy. Stock yamaha RX1 over 10,000km when I sold it and about 95% mountain riding. 2006 boondocker apex turbo, boost it fuel system runs 14 psi, has over 10,000 km on it 100% mountain 2015 mpi viper turbo soon to become a boost it turbo. Still have a Snojet 340 thunder jet and a hand built Kawasaki 550 drag sled.

I rode a Kawasaki Invader a couple times, a buddy had one back in the day. It was impressively fast and sharp looking for the time.

Rotax_Kid · May 3, 2020

LUCKY 7 said:
any pics of the Nash?

I don't - it's an interesting piece. Our Nash is a 1929 420 I believe. My dad started restoring the car in the late 70's. As my sister and I became more involved in things, time slipped away from him and he dropped it. Never came back to it. It's about 20% restored and everything is there. He owns an auto parts business that's been there for 96 years and has inventory that dates almost that far back too. I believe our oldest piece of inventory is a set of main bearings for a 1931 V12 Caddy, so him getting parts has been somewhat challenging, but he has enough connections to get whatever he needed.

Apologies to others for getting so off topic!

Lund · May 3, 2020

In the early days for me, early 70's all i could get was be doubled around on a local lake. Got to sit in some sort of boggan with ski's attached to it and get towed, it did have a windshield. I think my parents called it a Ski-bob. LOL
Other wise basically saw my parents ride off on their sleds, they rode from the house to the trail and generally were gone for the day. We lived in Quebec and pretty much a winter tradition that adults would mass together and go touring on snowmobiles.
My first experience truly came once we moved to BC, I was a little older and my parents enjoyed the sport enough to try to continue riding. At this point though decided that maybe I could start riding my own, so my first sled purchase was a 76 Ski-roule 340. I remember this moment in time because my parents sold the sleds in Quebec when we moved and then they bought the new sleds in BC I got to buy mine at the same time, it was an exciting time for me then.
From that 76 Ski-roule to my 84 Phazer I went through numerous sleds trying to find one I liked plus I was getting older, graduated in 83 I already figured out my riding preference....mountains.
From 76 to 84 went through Ski-roule, A/C Panther, Rupp Nytro, Ski-Doo Blizzard, had fun with them all but non matched the fun the Phazer was.
Then came a snowmobiling lull or break, nearly 10 years, even though I bought a couple of new units, only rode when the opportunity came to be. Recruited to the Army. LOL

Got boost want snow · May 3, 2020

I grew up in Grande Prairie, dad was a Sno Jet dealer thus we became addicted to sleds. Later Kawasaki bought sno jet. Dad sold them till 1980ish. Raced at all the winter jamboree's went on to race the Alberta 150 cross country, sno crossed every chance we got. I was just slightly to young for the oval circuit. My older brother got to do a bit. Rode the mountains from about 12 on as we are only 2 hours to kakwa. My worst day of sledding has always been better than my best day of work. I don't care what a person rides lets just ride and enjoy.

Longhairfreak · May 3, 2020

Got boost want snow said:
I grew up in Grande Prairie, dad was a Sno Jet dealer thus we became addicted to sleds. Later Kawasaki bought sno jet. Dad sold them till 1980ish. Raced at all the winter jamboree's went on to race the Alberta 150 cross country, sno crossed every chance we got. I was just slightly to young for the oval circuit. My older brother got to do a bit. Rode the mountains from about 12 on as we are only 2 hours to kakwa. My worst day of sledding has always been better than my best day of work. I don't care what a person rides lets just ride and enjoy.

Even if it's a Wedge with an 1160?

Got boost want snow · May 3, 2020

Longhairfreak said:
Even if it's a Wedge with an 1160?

I've don't run anyone else's iron down, you do you and I will do me. I like my fat 4 stroke turbos that can't be rode in the mountains. Hahaha. Every manufacturer has goods and bads. We would be totally f'ed if there was only one brand. And ya I would ride with the 1160 wedge!

Longhairfreak · May 3, 2020

Got boost want snow said:
I've don't run anyone else's iron down, you do you and I will do me. I like my fat 4 stroke turbos that can't be rode in the mountains. Hahaha. Every manufacturer has goods and bads. We would be totally f'ed if there was only one brand. And ya I would ride with the 1160 wedge!

I just built a 260hp M9000 ditch banger that I may bring to the mountains.

Got boost want snow · May 3, 2020

What engine is in the m9000?
I'm about to change my 190mtx viper to a 240ho boost it kit

Longhairfreak · May 3, 2020

Got boost want snow said:
What engine is in the m9000?
I'm about to change my 190mtx viper to a 240ho boost it kit

1100 Suzuki twin.

Got boost want snow · May 3, 2020

Ah cool they pull hard!

Longhairfreak · May 3, 2020

Got boost want snow said:
Ah cool they pull hard!

Yes But not like a Ski Doo 850T. They make 165 HP at 8000 ft.

Caper11 · May 3, 2020

I rode a 1100T once, could not wait to give it back to its owner, even at 260hp it was still a tank.

Boosted viper on the other hand was a much nicer sled to ride, and it did not feel as heavy as the 1100.

Got boost want snow · May 4, 2020

Back on track, loved riding/racing the old iron. Started my riding on an old 339 sno jet at about 7 years old. To look at the advancement manufacturers have made is amazing.

Lund · May 4, 2020

Well like i said earlier in my post year 2000 brought some big changes for me. Darrick Bannister from Banner seas and ski approached me for a job, i ended up with 2 newly release Summit Highmarks 700, complimentary of Banner and BRP.
Involved in BRP's hill climb team till an incident at Boulder in 2006 at Big Iron. In 2004-05 was involved with R&D testing of the RT1k and then with testing of the 2008 XP where we had a falling out.
In 2009 left the organization and with the encouragement of my buddy Chad at CR-Racing stepped into the 4stroke world for the first time with the purchase of a 2010 Yamaha Nytro in a crate for a full build.
Which brings me to today, with a custom built Sidewinder that will be starting on its 4th season next winter. It will be interesting to see where I will go from here, will see what the market brings and if the wife retires from riding.

In that time period I had several different Ski-doo's, two 2000 Highmark 700, 2004 Summit X 800, 2005 Summit X RT1k, 2007 Summit 600sdi.
I also had, unknowingly to BRP and Banner 2004 A/C 900 Kingcat, preferred it over the Doo's LOL, but sold it to get with the program.
In 2007-2008 guided customers who registered with Banner and took potential customer test ride new units, it was short lived because of our falling out.

Too Many Toys · May 7, 2020

06yamahaapex said:
nice wedge! How many miles on it?

It’s about 4500 miles.

Reminiscing of past sleds owned

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