1984/85 SNOWMOBILE RACING

Snowmobile Racing _ The Magic Came Back     The winter of 1984/85 is remembered for snowmobile racing circles for a season of growth, changes and experimentation.
Interests peaked for both spectators and racers across the snowbelt. 
In 1983, The world Series of Drag Racing attracted an incredible 454 entries

ABOUT MYSELF

I would like to tell you a little more about myself.  As I've illustrated in my profile within this blog, my life has been centered around snowmobiles which includes the present time.  I was a Rupp dealer from 1969 thru it's death in 1978.  In 1980, I, along with some help made an attempt to bring Rupp Industries back into existence.  "GO HERE", To read all about this attempt.  In 1984, I moved to South Dakota and went on to expand my snowmobile parts and accessories operation by the name of SnoCat Shack and later was renamed Sport Shack, because of a legal matter.  I sold Sport Shack in 1996 and started a company by the name of Battery Shack and sold over 14,000 batteries in 10 years. "CLICK HERE", To learn more about this business.

1981 POLARIS TX-L

In 1981 Polaris claimed that the TX-L will continue to outshine everything in its class.  It was built with a 338cc liquid cooled mill that performs like gangbusters whatever the altitude, temperature or speed and in the looks department it has become a bonafide "10"

TR-800 JOHN DEERE CLUTCH

The TR-800 clutch has rollers mounted to the flyweights. The ramps are fixed to the movable sheave. Flyweight mas can be altered without affecting the shifting profile.
   This is a new clutch which was introduced to consumers for the first time on the 1982 model John Deere Liquifire, which had logged thousands of miles in the field before it was ever installed in a consumer model.  The TR-800 clutch testing program began in earnest during the 1981-82 winter season.
   Some of the early proto-type John Deere TR-800 clutches were plagued with an overheating problem which caused blown belts, however the problem was solved by John Deere.  First by running it open faced like Comet, but the results were unsatisfactory.
To solve the problem, what they came up with was a combination of a rib with a hole behind it that would move the air like a fan and thereby cooling the moving sheave and the belt.  The cooling veins actually created a low pressure area.

CHAPARRAL THE COMPANY

January 1974 - Chaparral was a division of Armco Recreational Products, Inc., and was located at 5995 N. Washington St., Denver, Colorado.  Armco Recreational Products, in turn, was a division of Armco Steel Corporation of Middletown, Ohio.  Another division of Armco Recreational Products was Red Dale Coach, manufacturer of  live-in recreational vehicles headquartered in Longmont, Colorado.  Other products within the Chaparral Division included sport cycles, bicycles, barbecue gas grills and government defense products.
Chaparral, founded in 1967, was purchased by Armco in 1969.  For the first two or three years, Chaparral  was a highly independent division.  In 1972, however, Armco began to play a more active management role, highlighted by the appointment of a long time Armco executive, to the presidency of Chaparral.

NATURALS VS. SYNTHETICS SNOWMOBILE OIL

September 1988 - There has been a gradual rise in the use of synthetic oils.  Although synthetics are anywhere from two to five times as costly as natural petroleum based oils , they do offer some distinct advantages.
Because petroleum based lubes are refined from crude oil, they can sometimes be just that.  When oil is refined, it is heated and separated into different factions.  The lightest and cleanest factions are used to make gasoline and kerosene.  The oils collected for lubrication purposes are those that are heavier, have a higher thermal point and have settled near the bottom of the refining tower.  The same qualities that give the oil a higher viscosity (sticking ability) and resistance to thermal breakdown, are responsible for a certain amlount of carbon buildup.
Synthetics, on the other hand, are man made lubricants that can be custom tailored to specific applications.  With synthetics, a chemist is not confined to what nature has provided and therefore can produce a lubricant that has a high film strength and burns cleanly.  With petroleum based oils, the higher the film strength, the dirtier the combustion,

NO 1982 YAMAHA SRX

1981 Press Release - There will be no 1982 Yamaha SRX model snowmobiles for the 1982 model season.  The announcement came the last week of November, 1981 from a senior vice president at Yamaha Motors Corporation, USA , in charge of marketing and sales.
   The new 1982 model SRX was to have been A 500cc, liquid cooled snow-stomper. Intense testing was done on the new model in 1981 at Kotzebue, Alaska, Australia and Montana.  "The tests were not totally satisfactory," A Yamaha spokesman said. "Nothing major, just some little nagging things.  We didn't want to let it out to the consumers until everything was just right - so we're not letting them out this year.
   The Yamaha spokesman said a 1983 model definitely will be introduced.

1982 U.S. SNOWMOBILE REGISTRATIONS

September 1983 - Annandale, VA - Snowmobile registrations in The United States totaled 1,415,031 in 1982, according to a survey conducted by the International Snowmobile Industry Association (ISIA).  Canadian registrations totaled 558,084.
The survey was based on responses from appropriate state and provincial government offices.

1982 KAWASAKI INTRUDER

December 1981 - Introducing the 1982 Kawasaki Intruder. The latest edition of a Kawasaki Classic, powered by a fan cooled version of the engine that held the Worlds 24 hour speed and endurance record.
It has a 436 cc fan cooled engine with lightweight aluminum Mikuni carbs and CD ignition.  A smooth-riding Vari-Ride suspension - A Kawasaki exclusive.
Kawasaki called it a SUPERFAN

1975 BOA-SKI

In 1975, Boa-Ski advertised that their sleds were fun and dependable.
Whether you buy a Boa-Ski for racing, for running trails or just for family fun, you know your snowmobile must be dependable.

PLANS 1985 ARCTIC CATS

December 1983 - The 1984 Arctic Cat Panther and The El Tigre were the first machines to bear The Arctic Cat nameplate after it's resurrection. But what about the other Cats? When would the rest of the line go back into production?  How about The Jags and The Pantera and the IFS and The direct drive models that were on the drawing board when Arctic Enterprises went down, were the questions that were asked, but this lineup and it's features did make it back in 1985.

1989 YAMAHA TEIKEL CARBURETOR

Yamaha's single float Teikel carburetor has two main jets and two pilot jets for individual cylinder tuning.

I will not have any postings for the next 3 or 4 days as I will be away from my computer due to an out of state wedding which I must attend.
Larry Raile 

EAGLE RIVER CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Eagle River Snowmobile Derby celebrated their 25th anniversary on January 15th thru the 17th of 1988.
Included in the celebration were historical recap of past Eagle River Races and driver profiles of the top racers competing at the 25th anniversary event and a look at products used by top professional racers.

1980 JOHN DEERE SPITFIRE

The lightweight spitfire was designed for the rider that liked to control the machine through the corners and slopes with a lot of body English.
The Spitfire was powered by a 340 Free Air engine with a slide suspension and only weighed 275 pounds.

THE 1976 SKI-DOO EVEREST

The Everest by Ski-Doo had a new look in 1976 along with a new adjustable suspension and a Rotax 5-port twin cylinder engine. Ski-Doo claimed that everything about it feels right when you ride it.

1971 RUPP SNOWMOBILES

The 1971 Rupp snowmobile lineup and and the specifications.  Rupp manufactured 14 models including three Magnums.
Rupp Industries had it's heyday in 1971 and manufactured and sold approximately 31,000 snowmobiles.

1972 SKI-DOO'S RACING MACHINE

November 1971 - Ski-Doo's New Blizzard. Features a lower center of gravity than previous racing models by placing the engine in the extreme front, wider ski stance, new steering system, hydraulic brakes, new transmission system and a lighter suspension system including a new slide rail material to make the track more free wheeling.

1984 SKIDOO SAFARI GRAND LUXE

The 1984 Ski-Doo Safari Grand Luxe was the top of the line, with a 436.6cm Rotax engine, with electric start standard.    New longer travel TRS6 suspension which had 6 full inches of rear travel and full instrumentation, including speedometer, tachometer, low oil and high beam headlights.

1974 EVINRUDE SKIMMER

Evinrude had three new sleds in 1974 and they were all called SKIMMERS.
There was a 400 with 35HP, A 440 with 40HP and A 650 with 50HP., all with reed valves which increased performance dramatically.
   They all had a 15.5 inch track with a totally new suspension system.
   Evinrude Advertised: "Get One or Get Used To Seeing Tail Lights"

1985 TUNDRA

TRACK ENDURO RACING

November 1981 -                                                             
ENDURO - Exciting and Professional
Call it Track Enduro, Triple Crown racing, anything you like.  It's a no-holds-barrel, long distance team race that takes hours to win.  In 1981-82, after years of development in its Michigan birthplace, track enduro was growing strong in every direction.
   Until you've seen a track enduro, you couldn't imagine the tremendous thrill created by fifty wildly-modified racing machines all on the track at once coming around on the parade lap looking for a green flag and a start of a race that won't end until the winning team has logged 250-350 miles, comparing to long distance style auto races
   This is non-stop, furious track action, pit stops and well trained teamwork to captivate thousands of fans

KALAMAZOO TO RACE1975 RUPP FA

October 1974 - Kalamazoo Engineering, Grand Rapids, Michigan announced that The Kalamazoo Engineering's Kyotee racing team for the 1975 season will run Kalamazoo-modified Rupp Nitro FA machines on the PDC circuit.
   Other companies to compete  on the new circuit were Arctic Enterprises, Inc., Mercury Marine and Polaris. There was four classes, 340, 440, 650 super mod classes and the 440-X class.
   The circuit included several new locations,and included not only USSA races, but also those sanctioned by other organizations

THE BEGINNING OF THE RUPP SNOWMOBILE

THE 1965 RUPP SNOWMOBILE
There is no information available as per models and specs on the 1965 Rupps, other than there were approximately 500 manufactured.                      

There is no information available as to the production of any Rupp snowmobiles manufactured  prior to 1965.
                                                                             
THE 1966 RUPP SNO SPORT AS PICTURED
There were approximately 1,000 Rupp Sno Sport Snowmobiles manufactured and sold in 1966. The 1966 Rupp Sno Sports featured two engines, A Hirth 053 and a JLO L-252.  The 1966 Rupp snowmobiles had a 15 inch track with a bogie suspension.