SNOWMOBILING IN OREGON

From Lake-Of-The-Woods north to Hoodoo/Ray Benson Snow Park, you'll discover some of the finest snowmobiling locations in The West, including the southern Cascade Mountains, Crescent Lake, Royce Mountain, Paulina Lake, East Lake, Diamond Lake, Crater Lake, Three Creeks Lake and Mount Bachelor.
   Eastern Oregon also offers some superb snowmobiling near Tailgate and Bates, and in the Wallowa Whitman National Forest east of LaGrand, Oregon.  Oregon offers an excellent grooming program to provide great trail riding. There are hundreds of miles of groomed and marked trails throughout these snowmobile areas

THE 1974 POLARIS

In 1974, Polaris claimed that, "If you own a 1974 Polaris, you own more than a quality snowmobile. You own an image."
1974 Polaris has the look and the feel of performance.  Its models are lower and with a wider stance and is reminiscent of the famous Polaris TX.and is heritage of quality and performance which Polaris claimed is a factor as important as any in setting Polaris above and apart from all others.

1978 RUPP SNOWMOBILES

In 1978, "Rupp's final Year", they manufactured only two lines of snowmobiles - The Nitro 440 and The Sport 295.
The two models are basically the same as their 1977 lineup, except some decal changes.  In 1978 Rupp built approximately 1500 snowmobiles

CLIMBING MOUNT ROSE

Mount Rose is located just east of the north end of Lake Tahoe.  The elevation is between 8,000 and 10,000 feet with an average of eight feet of snow in the higher elevations.
   There is about twenty square miles of great riding in the Mount Rose area.  So gambling isn't the only thing to do in the area.
  From the first appearance, the slopes of Mount Rose looks like it easily could be climbed, but the deep snow makes it difficult to power up the mountainside to the microwave towers perched near the summit, but the open sidehill allows riders to cut a trail across the slope.
   On first attempt, the riders work hard to reach the narrow trail halfway up the slope that leads to the towers. But reaching the trail proves to be much easier than holding the trail.
   At first, trying to make it thru the freshly fallen powder to the micrwave towers was just for fun-A stab at the slope to see if it's possible, but the snow is to deep and the slope to steep. Still, the snowmobilers persist.  Each attempt nets them about ten more yards, as each rider follows in the previous trail, cutting into the slope and packing a lane, still several hundred yards away from the top, but eventually, when the snow sets up they will conquer the hill.
   You can't go everywhere you want...especially when it snows.  You have to wait until the freash snow sets up, and then you can go about anywhere...until it snows again.

MASSEY SALES TRIPLE

November 1974 - Des Moines Iowa - Spokesmen for Massey-Ferguson reported that the company's Ski Whiz snowmobile sales so far this season are more than triple of those in 1973/74, and add that prospects are "excellent" for a record year in 1974/75.
   "We may not sustain this rate of increase throughout the winter months." said the vice president of marketing, "but with heavier than average snow fall and below average temperatures predicted for snowmobiling areas this winter, we're hopeful of doubling our snowmobile sales this season compared to last.".

THE 1980 YAMAHA SS440

All new for Yamaha for their 1980 Snowmobile lineup was the SS440.
   The SS440 had a new fan cooled 440cc engine which was mounted lower in the frame, resulting in a snowmobile that had remarkable handling and control.  To top it of, the SS440 is 15 pounds lighter than the 440 Exciter.  It had many features which the Exciter does not have.
   Yamaha claimed, "when you go out to make fresh tracks in the snow, make them with the freshest snowmobile on snow."

1974 CHAPARRAL SSX

The 1974 Chaparral SSX got a new liquid cooled Xenoah engine in 1974 and Chaparral claimed that it runs cool all day long, reduced the chances of piston seizure, smoother, more consistent power output and virtually eliminated the possibility of vapor lock. The SSX was available with either a 340cc or 440cc.  Chaparral claimed the 340 put out 40HP and the 440 50HP

1976/77 POLARIS COLTS AND THE PRICES

A Polaris ad with the features and prices of their 1976 and1977 Polaris Colt sleds

Polaris Star Engines
Torque Balanced Drive System
Polaris Slide Rail Suspension
Polaris Hydraulic Disk Brakes

Polaris Advertised: Squeeze the throttle and away you go.
The Polaris Colt will give you a run for your money 
 

THE BEGINNING OF SNOCROSS RACING

AFTER YEARS OF WAITING IN THE WINGS, THE SNOWMOBILE RACING EVENT KNOWN AS SNOCROSS HAS BURST ON THE SCENE WITH MUSCLES, ICE AND FIRE.
The first seeds of snocross were planted in 1976, when Sno Pro drivers returned from Scandinavia with reports of a different kind of snowmobile racing being practiced there.
   Based on motocross, the summertime event for motorcycle consisting of a mile or two of rough, bumpy terrain full of hills, jumps, sand and stones, snocross is a natural extension of the sport for Scandinavians.  Snowmobiles there are called "scooters" and most Europeans regard sleds as motorcycles for snow.
   The American drivers saw upwards of twenty Scandinavian sledders at a time racing on motocross style tracks carved out on the deep Arctic Circle snow.  It was fast, popular with both drivers and fans alike and although no one could report seeing anyone hurt racing snocross, it looked scary.

MOTO-SKI'S VACATION CONTEST

Valcourt, Quebec - As winners in Moto-Ski's  "Winter Dream Safari" contest, 10 couples received a free snowmobile vacation in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, during the first week of February, 1975.  The contest ran from October 15 to November 30, 1974 for consumers who registered at participating Moto-Ski dealers.
   Winners were flown to Reno, Nevada then driven to Lake Tahoe for the six day vacation, which included guided safaris through the mountains.