Snowmobile show the biggest ever, despite warm weather

by Angie Asam, Staff Writer

Although many may find it hard to believe, snow is not a necessity when hosting a snowmobile show. The organizers of the Sixth Annual Antique and Vintage snowmobile show held at the Water?s Edge Restaurant and Lounge this Friday and Saturday learned that first hand as they had their biggest show ever even with no snow, warm temperatures and rain lingering.

New to this year?s show were the outhouse races, which were held Friday evening beginning at 7 p.m. Nine outhouses with teams of three participated in the inaugural event which was enjoyed by about 200 spectators, even with the district championship basketball game being held at the high school. According to organizer Dan Derry and the show committee, the outhouse races will become a mainstay of the show as he believes the size of that event could double next year.

More than 180 antique and vintage snowmobiles lined the parking lot at the Water?s Edge Saturday. ?It was the biggest show we have ever had. People came out. You never know what is going to happen but we had a lot of people this year that have never been here before,? said Derry. Awards were handed out for best original vintage, best restored vintage, best original antique, best restored antique and best of show. Winners were not recorded this year as the model, make and the owners name were not recorded on the registration sheets. The only event that had to be cancelled due to the warm weather and lack of snow was the ride on Friday at the 208 camp. According to Derry people understood it being cancelled as the entire state has seen a lack of snow this winter.

Derry said the Chinese raffle and auction went very well and they sold out nearly everything, hats, dinner tickets and all of the other things they had for sale, a good problem to have. Tots Aboard and the Huron Sports Boosters did well as they provided concession stand food Friday night and Saturday respectively. Warmer than normal temperatures and the threat of rain in the area did not deter the public from coming out and seeing what the show was all about. Derry felt that many people came out for their first time and enjoyed what the show had to offer.

Derry, who attends many of these shows throughout the year, said that every show he

has been to has been somewhat down this year, but for some reason the show in Rogers City did not follow that pattern. Derry and some of his friends who attend every show in the area were present at the show but many people came to the show for the first time as well and it was nice to see the large crowd of local people. Selling out of merchandise and dinner tickets was a good problem to have according to Derry, who said he wasn?t used to humbly turning people away from the dinner once they were sold out of tickets. More than 150 dinners were sold for the chicken and whitefish dinner prepared by Mary Fairbanks.

Derry and his dedicated committee, which he says is ever growing as more people continue to come forward and ask how they can help out with the show will meet this week to tie up the loose ends from this year?s show and begin planning for next year.