Vintage sleds kick up powder in Woodridge

A crowd of snowmobile enthusiasts gathered to compare their rides in Woodridge on March 8, but it wasn’t the latest in sledding technology on display. Instead, the proud owners of vintage snowmobiles gathered for an event hosted by the Woodridge Community Club.

Riders showed off their sleds, enjoyed a pancake breakfast and hit the trail as part of the popular event that had been missing for several years.

Club member Ken Lachnit said they often attract around 125 sleds to the show, saying this year boasted a strong turnout.

The group of snowmobiles mostly fit into the 1960s to late 1990s category, and while he left his own 1979 Polaris at home, Lachnit said it was a great day.

“This is more about guys who like restoring them, keeping them running,” he said of the desire to own vintage snowmobiles. “We rode them when we were kids, so now we keep them.”

A special 12-mile groomed trail awaited the riders who came from as far as 300 miles away.

Lachnit said several things make vintage sleds very different from their modern equivalent.

Bogie wheels versus slider suspensions are just one example.

“These old sleds, if you went 50 miles an hour and hit a bump, you felt it,” Lachnit said. “The new ones don’t.”

The older sleds also had less power, lower speeds and were mostly air cooled until the 1990s.

Rosenort’s Greg Friesen was one of the snowmobile enthusiasts out to showcase his ride. He said his 1971 Massey Ferguson Ski-Whiz was a COVID project.

“I repainted everything and then I put in a Princess Auto four-stroke motor with electric start, because all the old snowmobiles never started very good,” he said.

Dave and Ivy Boutang, a husband and wife team came on a pair of 1971 Arctic Cats, him on a 340 EXT and her on a 440 Cheetah.

Dave said taking part in these events is a social thing and it allows them to own and run sleds they grew up with.

Ivy agreed, and said having old sleds is somewhat unique.

“Everybody’s got a new one, but not everybody’s got an old one,” she said. “Going to the vintage shows we’re meeting with more people our age.”

The couple owns nine vintage sleds.

Roger Cormier attended the event with his brother Andy.

He said the two collect and drive John Deeres from the bogie wheel era. They currently own 16 John Deeres from 1973 to 1977 models.

Roger’s selection that day was a 1974 John Deere 600 which had a 440 motor and an 18” track, three inches wider than the standard.

“She seems a little less tippy so when you go around the corners, this one, instead of wanting to tip, kind of slides more like a crazy carpet,” he said of the difference.

Still in original condition, the 51-year-old sled is still going strong.

Cormier said he and his brother chose John Deere models because that’s what they first drove as kids. In fact, he can still remember the joy of being allowed to drive a snowmobile alone for the first time.

“You’re hooked the moment you get behind the handlebars,” he said of that experience on a black JDX4.

Cormier said snowmobiling on vintage sleds occupies him and his brother in the winter. During summer months they switch to road bikes or sport bikes to tackle the trails.

And while nostalgia plays a big role in why he likes vintage snowmobiles, it’s also the cost that he said is appealing, especially since a brand new snowmobile now exceeds $20,000.

“For $2,000 you could have something like this,” he said.

And the pair are serious about riding, posting as many as 865 miles a season on a variety of vintage sleds.

And while there’s been many breakdowns, he said the fact they ride together has always saved them.

“They’ve always brought us home,” he said. “We’ve doubled often on one, hoping it makes it because the other one conked out.”

Cormier also sticks to groomed trails, saying the annual Sno-Pass is worth the money.

“With these rough riding machines when you’re on a groomed trail, it’s like highway,” he said. “You don’t need that modern suspension.”