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.

SNOWMOBILING IN QUEBEC

September 1979 - The Quebec trails are smooth and well marked with long straight stretches, conducive to fast snowmobiling.
   Some of the trails are mountainous and very beautiful and scenic. The terrain is varied and gives a good overview of Quebec.  The beautiful mountainous scenery of the Portneuf Reserve, is a preserved wildlife area and winds around a mountain clear to the top and back down again.
   The real story is the outstanding snowmobiling available in Quebec, the warmth of the people, the delicious cuisine, and the lively night life.
   For more information about how you can experience Quebec snowmobiling write:  RJ Snowmobile Voyages, 115 East Bernard Street, West St. Paul, Minnesota 55118 or telephone 612-457-2019.  There are packages available for a single couple or group  (I hope this is still accurate as the information was November, 1979)

THE NEW 1976 RUPP NITRO

Snowmobile Ad - November 1975

The all new 1976 Rupp Nitro with all new styling for 1976 and  powered by an all new Xenoah 250cc, 340cc or 440cc liquid cooled engine. The Nitro is available with either the 340cc or 440cc engine and the Magnum has a 250cc, 340ccor 440cc engine..
   From Rupp come four sleds: The Magnum, the super racer. The Nitro,the sleek trailblazer. The Rally for He and She and The Sport for the frugal.
Here are all the ingredients but one... "all we need is you"

ROLL-O-FLEX JOINS ISA

January, 1974 - The International Snowmobile Industry Association has announced that Roll-O-Flex, Ldt., Regina, Saskatchewan has joined the association.
   The company's application for membership was approved at the September meeting of the ISIA in Hot Springs, VA.  The edition of Rollo-O-Flex brings association membership to a total of 19 manufacturer's, who produce over 95 percent of the world's snowmobiles.
   Roll-O-Flex, Ltd. was organized in 1970 for the specific purpose of manufacturing snowmobiles.

SEARS SNOWCRUISER SNOWMOBILE

THE 1969 SEARS SNOWCRUISER-309 SNOWMOBILE - This sled was built by Tradewinds for Sears.  It is identical to The OMC Evinrude and Johnson built in the beginning of 1968, except that the hood, engine and skis were different.
   The Sears 309 had a K309 and K399-2 Kohler engines at 20 or 23 horsepower.  Standard features included a hinged hood, caliper disc brakes, and a cleated track.  It also had a tool kit, including a screw driver, cylinder head socket, plug socket, open end wrench and a rewind rope.
   Specifications: 97 1/2 inches overall length, 30 inches wide and 43 inches high to the top of the windshield.  Track width 15 1/2 inches or 20 1/2 inches.  It had a 4 gallon fuel tank.  The price was $879.00 for the 309 or $1,219.00 for the 399.
   It is a very durable sled and an even better hill climber than the comparable OMC offering, due in part to the lighter engine.

THE 1981 SKIDOO CITATION 3500

December 1980 Ad
Citation 3500 - Big Sled Features, Small sled Price.
The Citation 3500 is straight value. With easy maintenance, oil injection and low operating cost.
   With a 268.7 cm Rotax fan cooled single cylinder engine, Mikuni carb, low end torque so you don't spin your track, and a fixed alignment transfer shaft to keep the power coming.
Nothing else will 'Doo - Ski Doo

THE NEW 1975 MOTO-SKI SONIC RACER

November, 1974 Press Release
Duluth, Minnesota - Moto-Ski has entered the racing arena for the coming season with the introduction of its new Sonic 340TS stock racing snowmobile. The low slung charcoal and orange racer is powered by a 340cc Bombardier-Rotax rotary valve engine, and features a number of developments of Bombardier Ltee., Moto-Ski's parent company.
   With the number of improvements in appearance and features throughout the Moto-Ski line for 19775,Bombardier decided it was time to put a new Moto-Ski racing machine on the track.
   Design materials in the Sonic include aluminum, magnesium and fiberglass for lighter weight and sleeker styling. Bombardier developments are included in the exhaust, transmission, suspension and shocks, track, electrical system and brakes.  The Sonic is designed as a regular stock performer, with a kit available for modified classes.

THE 1975 SNO TWISTER RACING RECORD

September 1975 - AD 

Put our 340 and 440 Sno Twister head-to-head against the rest and bet on Mercury.
In 1975, The USSA results for 340cc and 440cc races show Sno Twister ran of with 154 first place wins. Cat 117, Yamaha 66, Moto Ski 44, Polaris and all others 40.
   When you look at the results from the OSRF and WSRF (Ontario Snowmobile Racing Federation and Western Snowmobile Racing Association) circuit racing, The Sno Twisters not only won,they owned the tracks.  With 184 firsts, seconds and third place wins against Cats 115, Polaris 66, Yamaha's 55, and Ski Doo's 45.
  Now Merc has a 250cc Twister along with the 340cc and 440cc ready to take the Tigr's by the tail, and leave 'em gasping on the track.

1971 RUPP MAGNUMS

1971 RUPP MAGNUMS

 
 In 1971 and 1972 Rupp Industries had
its banner years with over 31,000 snowmobiles manufactured
and sold in 1971,  and over 40,000 sleds manufactured and sold in 1972.

Pictured on the right side of this page, you will see the complete line of the 1971 Rupp Magnum sleds.  The 400, 440, 600 and 800 Magnums.

I was a Rupp dealer in those days, in which I sold one of each of The 400 Magnum, 440 Magnum and a 800 Magnum.  These were beautiful sleds and hard to beat at the races.

On a spring-slushy day at the local fairgrounds, I
remember the 800 Magnum racing against four other
sleds.  This sled was a half a lap ahead of the other four
at the end of the race. As the crowd was cheering and the   driver cracked the throttle in front of the Grandstand, at
the final lap, there was a fishtail of slush about ten or fifteen
feet high.




The 400 and 440 had a twin cylinder high performance fan cooled Rupp/Tohatsu engines, the 600 had a three cylinder Free Air Rupp/Tohatsu engine and the 800 had a three cylinder Free Air Hirth engine.
All the 1971 Magnums had a slide suspension.

"CLICK HERE" TO LEARN ALL ABOUT RUPP'S HAY DAY AND
DOWNFALL.

TESTING SNOWMOBILES IN THE BLACK HILLS

March,1983
Five snowmobile manufacturers testing five different new 1984 models in the Black Hills of South Dakota for six grueling days of riding, evaluating and photography.

Ski Doo SS25
John Deere liquifire
Polaris Trail Inday
Yamaha Phazer
Arctic Cat El Tigre 6000 (Not pictured)