Second Annual Vintage Snowmachine Show revs up from last year
WASILLA— The second annual Vintage Snowmachine Show at the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry pulled in a bigger crowd, more participants and raised over twice as many funds for the museum than last year.
This show is a combined effort by the Alaska Vintage Sleds race club, ran by Richard “Skip” Knox and his longtime friend, Victor Knott; the museum, and the new addition, Mat-Su Snow Machine Vintage Racer Club, directed by Randy Heimerl.
“These guys, they’re so into this,” Knox said.
The collation of the two race clubs, the addition of more events and competitions, and the presence of a food truck seemed to boost the overall turn out and further encourage participants to return next year.
“This was perfect,” Alaskan Events and Catering Executive Chef, Kirsten Pedersen said, outside her food truck.
This show brought various generations together under a love for nostalgic sleds and all of the work they’ve put into then. Another major staple of this event is the sharing of stories between participants and spectators, be it about their own rig or sparked from someone else’s.
“It’s bringing it back to life!” Mat-Su Snow Machine Vintage Racer Club president Tim Stewart said.
This year’s show raised $700 in donations, surpassing their $600 goal and crushing their $284 from last year. There were three judges this year. They meandered and debated over each entry. There were scores of machines to review.
“They’ve been arguing all day,” Knox chucked.
Eric Pebsworth is the new, official racer for Alaska Vintage Sleds. Pebsworth left AMMC racing, favoring the comradery. He said that this club had no fees, which definitely encouraged him to come over.
“This is more family oriented,” Pebsworth said, leaning against his 1999 Polaris XC.
This is certainly a lifestyle for most of the participants. Many claimed to spend many hours working their rigs, collecting parts, trading buying and selling all year long. Aside from showing off their rigs, most these club members race together and against each other. Knox said this year’s growth has prompted him to add more events throughout the year, including cross-country races, closed course races, and radar runs. Both clubs are looking for more vintage sleds for next year’s how, more members and continued support from the community.
“We’ll see you next year. This is only getting better,” Knox said.
To learn more about either club, look them up on Facebook or contact: akvintagesleds@gmail.com for the Alaska Vintage Sleds or 907-351-4592 for the Mat-Su Snow Machine Vintage Racer Club.
“If you’ve got a friend with great stuff in their backyard, try and get them infected with this great disease,” Knott said.
Results from the 2018 Alaska Vintage Sleds show:
Antique – Pre 1965:
1st Place: John Summeral, 1963 Sno Traveler
2nd Place: Robert Pieper, 1965 Arctic Cat 250
Consumer Sleds 1965 – 1970:
1st Place: Galen Caudill, 1968 Evinrude Skeeter
2nd Place: Robert Pieper, 1969 Arctic Cat Panther
3rd Place: Paul Pieper, 1969 Mercury 220
Honorable Mention: Paul Pieper, 1969 Yamaha 351
Consumer Sleds 1971- 1974:
1st Place: Robert Pieper, 1971Arctic Cat Panther
2nd Place: Earl Erickson, 1973 Ski-doo Elite
3rd Place: Paul Pieper, 1974 Arctic Cat El Tigre
Honorable Mention: Paul Pieper, 1973 Mercury Max 440
Consumer Sleds 1975- 1980:
1st Place: Randy Heimerl, 1975 Ski-doo 245 RV
2nd Place: Carl Michael, 1980 Yamaha 440 SS
3rd Place: Carl Michael, 1977 Yamaha Exciter
Honorable Mention: Randy Heimerl, 1979 Ski-doo 7500 Blizzard
Consumer Sleds 1981- 1985, only one entry in this class
1st Place: Randy Heimerl, 1984 Ski-doo 9700 Blizzard
Consumer Sleds 1981- 1990 IFS:
1st Place: Carl Michael, 1982 Yamaha SR 540
2nd Place: John Summeral, 1981 Polaris Centurian
3rd Place: Paul Pieper, 1983 Polaris Indy
Honorable Mention: John Summeral, 1981 Polaris TXL
Race Sleds/Sno-Pro:
1st Place: Steve Adams, 1975 Sno-Jet Thunder Jet
2nd Place: Vic Knott, Arctic Cat EXT
3rd Place: Vic Knott, 1978 Moto-Ski SS
Honorable mention: Vic Knott, 1980 Arctic Cat Sno-Pro
Consumer Sleds 1975- 1980:
1st Place: Randy Heimerl, 1975 Ski-doo 245 RV
2nd Place: Carl Michael, 1980 Yamaha 440 SS
3rd Place: Carl Michael, 1977 Yamaha Exciter
Honorable Mention: Randy Heimerl, 1979 Ski-doo 7500 Blizzard
Mini Sleds:
1st Place: Elijah Bartz, 1977 Arctic Cat Kitty Cat
2nd Place: Elijah Bartz, 1995 Arctc Cat Kitty Cat
3rd Place: Scott Haston, 1973 Arctic Cat Kitty Cat
Honorable Mention: Ryan Rofidel, Snowcycle
Consumer Sleds 1975- 1980:
1st Place: Randy Heimerl, 1975 Ski-doo 245 RV
2nd Place: Carl Michael, 1980 Yamaha 440 SS
3rd Place: Carl Michael, 1977 Yamaha Exciter
Honorable Mention: Randy Heimerl, 1979 Ski-doo 7500 Blizzard
“Other”:
1st Place: Tim Stewart, 1957 Snow Bus
2nd Place: Transportation Museum, Home made Areo-sled
Consumer Sleds 1975- 1980:
1st Place: Randy Heimerl, 1975 Ski-doo 245 RV
2nd Place: Carl Michael, 1980 Yamaha 440 SS
3rd Place: Carl Michael, 1977 Yamaha Exciter
Honorable Mention: Randy Heimerl, 1979 Ski-doo 7500 Blizzard
Project-Work in Progress:
1st Place: Robert Pieper. 1972 Brute LC29
2nd Place: Robert Pieper, 1971 Polaris TX
3rd Place: Scott Haston, 1971 Massy Ferguson Ski-Whiz
Honorable Mention: Robert Pieper, 1969 Yamaha 351SL
Best of Show:
1st Place: Randy Heimerl, 1984 Ski-doo 9700 Blizzard
2nd Place: Galen Caudill, 1968 Evinrude skeeter
3rd Place: Robert Pieper, 1971 Arctic Cat Panther
Honorable Mention: Vic Knott, 1972 Arctic cat EXT
People’s Choice:
1st Place: Robert Pieper, Arctic Cat Big Mouth Panther
2nd Place: Sara Bartz. Arctic Cat Kitty Cat Sno Pro
3rd Place: Jody Payton, Ski-doo Olympics
Loudest Sled:
1st Place: Steve Adams, Sno Jet Thunder Jet, 130.1 decibels
2nd Place: Carl Michael, 1976 Yamaha SRX, 129.0 decibels
3rd Place: Vic Knott, 1978 Moto-Ski SS, 128.3 decibels
4th Place: Mike Lebert, 1971 Polaris TX Racer, 127.8 decibels
5th Place: Eric Pebswort, 1989 Polaris Dragster, 127.6 decibels
6th Place: Robert Pieper, Arctic Cat Panther Montana Piped, 127.1
7th Paul Place: Pieper, Arctic Cat Panther, 126.2 decibels
8th Place: Scott Haston, Arctic cat Kitty Cat, 110.0 decibels
Furthest Traveled to Show:
Mike Lebert, Fairbanks
Larry Sine, Gakona
Jody Payton, Skwentna
Raffle Winners:
1976 Yamaha: Sara Bartz
Fishing Trip: Barry Bulot
Contact Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at Jacob.mann@frontiersman.com.