Hey Pete just how cold is it really?

Back in the days when there weren't any groomed trails and we would just run the fields and roads, fences and barbed wire could be a problem. some would even mount these gaurd/cutters to their sleds:

8122pbrainard wrote: Yes, it seems drinking and sledding is common. Most of the trails were created between bars! It's common to hear about accidents around 2am just after closing time.

Speaking of trails, back in the early days there weren't any. Yup, just as you mentioned Larry, it was just get out there and go wherever you could. The well traveled routes were nothing but moguls. 

Those are not actual photos of ours, but closest I could find.  The first one is a "Capri" model MotoSki, whereas the first one we had was a Zepher, the difference being, the zepher was the 3 passenger model, so was a bit longer.  The Capri was the better 2 person model and the Cadet was a very basic 2 person model.  The Skiroule was pretty quick, but a guy we shared the farm fields with (at home) had a skidoo TNT.  That machine was "the bomb" back in the day.  I mentioned at home.  At home, we rode around the farm fields.  "At camp" we rode on unplowed dirt roads, any country road, powerline rights of way, and alongside or on the railroad tracks.  We never rode on the ice.  Despite it being like 22 feet thick, it was a household rule.  Surprisingly, we never did see much traffic on the lake.  Snowmobiling and drinking did not mix but of course people did anyway.  This bridge was near out camp.  One night some guy was driving his sled across it and it got stuck.  He stepped off to see what was the matter....like really....stepped off.....  I dont recall the details, but if I recall correctly, he did not survive.

It seems like those old sleds are becoming few and far between.  It used to be pretty common to see them parked in people's yards in rural areas.  I met a friend of Baracuda's a few years ago that had about 10 of them all restored and on display in a room at his house.  Probably a good item to pick up if you find one cheap enough and have the storage space.

75 Tique wrote: My family had a few, back in the day. The first 2 were early - mid 60s then the green one was early 70s. height="340" width="425">

DVskier wrote: Do you run studded snow tires most of the year?

Gary S wrote: Yes,yes he does. He likes to keep it original.

Pretty awesome that kind of ingenuity flourished that long ago.  Do any of these old machines ever show up on the frozen lakes nowadays?

Does Pete even have a snowmobile?

Tim,  I feel for ya.  It was -30 here yesterday morning.  So if my math is correct you are 55 degrees warmer!  Get your long johns on or you could near freeze to death down there!

SNobsessed wrote: I hope all our southern friends got their boat engine drained before the big chill hit.

DVskier wrote: An ancient snow mobile?

An ancient snow mobile?

There’s more to life than boating.

My feet and ass crack very much appreciate winters.