Snowmobile show planned again for next year
Based on the success of the initial event, plans are in the works for a Second Annual Rogers City Antique and Classic Snowmobile Show. The recent show featured rand names and models of snow machines long forgotten such as Super Snow Bug, Skeeter, Ski Whiz, Wolverine, Sno Traveler, John Deere, Sears, Rader, Rupp, Evinrude, Johnson, Moto Ski, Snow Prince, Mercury, Alouette, and Skiroule. It also featured early models of brands popular today like SkiDoo, Polaris, and Arctic Cat.
It featured the one-of-a-kind designs such as an extraordinary 1936 machine, used for ice fishing on the Saginaw Bay, made to fit in the back of a Model A Ford. There were snowmobiles, which looked more like cars, or motorcycles, or boats, or even lawn mowers than snowmobiles. Many designs were conceived early in the evolution of the snowmobile and all have their place in history. Those who own these treasures and those who browsed the show were brought together by the love of the old and unique machines.
“NEXT YEAR we hope it will be a two- or three-day event,” said Tina Derry, who with her husband Dan were chief organizers of this year’s show. The Saturday event brought at least 160 snowmobiles of many varieties to the parking lots of the Driftwood Motel and the Water’s Edge Restaurant, drawing hundreds of spectators. There were 73 people registered for the event and others brought displays who didn’t register. Dan Derry said the weather was perfect for the show, which helped draw a large crowd to see unique snowmobiles. “The only complaint we heard was that there was no trail to get out of town. Many shows that we go to have a get-together after the show where we ride our machines and have a cookout. Here we couldn’t do that, because there was no easy way to get out of town on a snowmobile,” Dan said. “We only had a ride area available.” The show drew people all the way from Sidney, Ohio, Windsor, Ontario and many other places in Michigan.
PRIZES WERE awarded in several categories including Best Restored Original Antique, to Al Wolfgang, of Saginaw for his 1966 Arctic Cat; Best Original Vintage, to Robert Klein of Richmond for a 1977 Polaris TXL; and Best Restored Vintage, to Chris Malloy of Manistique for a 1972 Arctic Cat. Best of Show and Best Original Antique went to Dan Boyse of Birch Run for a 1936 hand-built, one of a kind machine. “A special award made and donated by Steve Witucki was given to Gordon Breeding for his contributions to the club, and dedication to his wife, who is not feeling well these days,” Tina said.
A special part of the show was the attendance of 85-year-old Larry Heidrich of Farmington and his son Glen. Heidrich owned the Ski-Kat snowmobile company, which made sleds in Rogers City in 1969 and 1970. They were available throughout the day answering questions about the business. They had a display of Ski-Kat brochures, owners
THE DERRYS HAD help from a committee of people interested in organizing the event. The RCHS junior class provided a food booth which served the crowd during the show and the Presque Isle Snowtrails organization had an informational booth inside. The committee had help from the City of Rogers City, which provided picnic tables and trash cans. To cap the evening, 108 dinners were sold at the Water’s Edge Restaurant.
“The Water’s Edge staff did a great job with the buffet dinners, with salad, bread, roast beef, baked chicken, green beans, corn and dessert,” Tina Derry said. It is not often that snowmobile shows are conducted near restaurant facilities which can provide a first-class meal, she said. Plans are for the second show to be conducted the second weekend of March next year.