Transportation museum hosts summer Vintage Snowmobile Show

WASILLA — Last Saturday, the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry held its inaugural Alaska Vintage Snowmobile Summer Show. Nostalgic snowmobile enthusiasts traveled from across the state to enter their vintage sleds. Eighty-four sleds were on display, not including the other miscellaneous snow vehicles.

Four judges — John Mielke, Jerry Pelto, Dave Locklear and Thom Dowell, evaluated 58 entries. The sleds were judged based on six categories: Antique (Pre 1965), Pre 1970 (1965 – 1970), Consumer Sleds (1970 – 1974), Consumer Sleds (1975 – 1979), Consumer Sleds (1980 – 1985) Race Sleds (Purpose Built, All Years) and Factory/Sno-Pro Sleds Unrestored (All Years). There were first, second and third place trophies for each category and honorable mention trophies. The oldest model to win in the antique category was 1957 Bombardier Snowbus, a uniquely built bus with snow tracks on the back to navigate through snow.

Alaska Vintage Sleds sanctioned the event. Richard Knox and Victor Knott operate the group. The duo has been in the snowmobile racing circuit for decades. Throughout the years, the two rode in many races and Knox said that their names — Knox and Knott — were often mixed up when they won trophies.

According to Knox, the event was a “huge success.” He said the event had two main purposes — to unite people under a “common denominator” and raise money for the museum.

“It’s a great way to keep our memories alive instead of rusting away,” Knott said.

The goal was to reach $600. There was a donation jar at the entrance and a raffle for a 1974 Scorpion Stinger snowmobile. All funds from the raffle went toward the museum. There were also door prizes like hats and cups provided by Vick’s company, Triton Trailers. The event successfully raised $284 for the museum.

Knox said the event was a nostalgic experience, where attendees could see a sled and the “stories just start flowing.” He said it was chance to swap tales, spanning several decades. There was also an “unofficial” swap meet in the parking lot for those who wanted to buy and trade vintage sleds.

“It’s exciting to see some of this old stuff come out of the backyard,” Knox said.

Back in their day, some crafts were more effective than others, like the old snow bikes with a slim, single track in the back. Those bikes were more limited in the amount of snow they could handle.

Since the 1920s, engineers have experimented with various models to travel in the winter. According to the Alaska Transportation and Industry’s curator and Executive Director, Sherry Jackson, the history of engineers trying to figure out how to successfully navigate Alaska’s frigid environment hits home with the museum.

“It really fits in with the ingenuity that people had to build our great state,” Jackson said.

Winning results by class (HM is Honorable Mention):

Antique Sleds: 1st Tim Stewart (Wasilla), 1957 Bombarbier Snowbus 2nd Robert Pieper (Wasilla) 1965 Arctic Cat 20D 3rd Alan Onderik (Fairbanks), 1964 Husky 444 HM: John Sumeral (Eagle River), 1963 Polaris Sno Traveler

Pre 1970 Sleds: 1st Alan Onderik Fairbanks), 1968 Scorpion Stinger 2nd Kurt Hough (Fairbanks), 1967 Polaris Mustang 3rd Rober Pieper (Wasilla), 1969 Polaris Mustang

1970 - 1974 Consumer Sleds 1st Kurt Hough (Fairbanks), 1974 Ski-doo Elan SS 2nd Dave Locklear (Palmer), 1973 Arctic Cat Panther 3rd Jerry Pelto (Wasilla), 1973 Brut LC440

1975 - 1979 Consumer Sleds: 1st Randy Heimerl (Butte), 1979 Ski-doo 7500 Blizzard 2nd Carl Michael (Anchorage), 1976 Yamaha Exciter 3rd Randy Heimerl (Butte), 1975 Ski-doo 245 RV HM: Richard Knox (Wasilla), 1978 Ski-doo CCRV HM: John Mielke (Wasilla), 1975 Ski-doo TNT HM: Paul Pieper (Wasilla), 1977 Arctic Cat Panther

1980 - 1985 Consumer Sleds: 1st Carl Michael (Anchorage), 1982 Yamaha SRV 2nd Carl Michael (Anchorage), 1980 Yamaha SS 3rd John Sumeral, (Eagle River), 1981 Polaris Centurion HM: John Sumeral (Eagle River), 1981 Polaris Indy HM: Fred Groendyke Wasilla), 1985 Ski-doo Formula HM: Fred Groendyke Wasilla), 1984 Ski-doo SS25

Race Sleds: 1st Victor Knott (Anchorage), 1972 Arctic Cat EXT 2nd Carl Michael (Anchorage), 1982 Yamaha Exciter 3rd Victor Knott (Anchorage), 1974 Arctic Cat Porter Sled HM: Jim Bailey (Anchorage), 1976 Mercury Sno Twister HM: Jim Bailey (Anchorage), 1976 Mercury Sno Twister HM: Mike Lebents (Fairbanks) 1971 Polaris TX Racer

Factory/Sno-Pro Sleds: 1st Richard Knox (Wasilla), 1977.5 Ski-doo Sno-Pro (Aardvark) 2nd Richard Knox (Wasilla), 1978 Ski-doo Blizzard SS 3rd Victor Knott (Anchorage), 1981 Ski-doo Blizzard Sno-Pro HM: Victor Knott (Anchorage), 1980 Arctic Cat Sno-Pro

Unrestored Sleds: 1st John Sumeral (Eagle River), 1963 Polaris Sno Traveler 2nd John Sumeral (Eagle River), Chrysler Sno-runner 3rd Richard Knox (Wasilla), 1977 Scorpion Bull Whip HM: Robert Pieper (Wasilla), 1964 Arctic Cat 100

Best Of Show: 1st Alan Onderik (Fairbanks), 1968 Scorpion Stinger 2nd Randy Heimerl (Butte) 1979 Sk-doo 7500 Blizzard 3rd Richard Knox (Wasilla), 1977.5 Ski-doo Sno-Pro

People’s Choice: 1st Alan Onderik (Fairbanks), 1964 Husky 444 2nd Robert Pieper (Wasilla) 1965 Arctic Cat 120D 3rd Alan Onderik Fairbanks), 1968 Scorpion Stinge