The 13th annual Antique Snowmobile Rendezvous in Pequot Lakes attracted a total of 167 snowmobiles and more than 300 members and spectators despite a lack of snow and cold temperatures on Saturday.
"I didn't expect that we would have that many machines," said Dave Guenther, a past Antique Snowmobile Club of America president and event official. "We had a lot of regulars, but we also had a lot of new people from Western Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota."
Snowfall during Saturday's event provided just enough cover for racers at the program, which takes place next to the downtown chamber building in Pequot Lakes.
"We had just enough snow to race," Guenther said of the event, hosted by the Pequot Brush Pilots Snowmobile Club. "The cold really wasn't a factor. The wind was nasty, but we like that kind of weather."
The weekend featured a trail ride with 43 participants and a social at the Pequot Lakes American Legion on Friday. Besides the races and show, there was also an award ceremony Saturday night at the Legion. There was also a breakfast on Sunday morning at the Legion.
Next year's event will be moved to one week earlier (Jan. 18-20, 2008) since the Brainerd Jaycees Fishing Extravaganza is scheduled one week later (Jan. 26). It was also announced that the Antique Snowmobile Club of America national event will be in Pequot Lakes in January of 2010.
Following are results of the antique races:
Oval race
1-Bruce Sampson, Mahtomedi, 1963 Arctic Cat 250
2-Glen Jorgensen, Hutchinson, 1966 Evinrude Skeeter
3-Gordon Nachbar, Nisswa, 1965 Arctic Cat 120D
Reverse oval
1-Dave Guenther, Pequot Lakes, 1963 Arctic Cat 450
2-Rick O'Connell, Hudson, Wis., 1964 Polaris K-80-D
3-Sampson
Obstacle course
1-Chuck Wagner, Dayton, 1965 Fox Trac
2-Ross Brockman, Vermilion, 1964 Arctic Cat 120D
3-Rim Quast, Princeton, 1966 Ski Doo Olympic
Drag race
1-Jim Sailer, Gilbert, 1964 Arctic Cat 170
2-Steve Pierce, Cohasset, 1966 Polaris Mustang
3-Guenther
Judging ballot winners:
Antique original - 1961 Polaris Ranger K-95-D, Andrew Michelson, Hawley
Antique restored - 1963 Ski Doo, Linda Schauderaff, Detroit Lakes
Vintage original - 1973 Ski Doo Elan (less than 5 miles on sled), Sampson
Vintage restored - 1969 Chaparral Snowbirdie, Dave Egge, Barnsville
Mayor's choice - Homemade airsled, Paul Schearer, Lisbon
Club choice - 1969 Puma, Rotary Wankel Powered custom, Kevin Lehse, Fairhaven
Oldest sled (operational) - 1951 "Ralph" Joe Laumeyer, Wyoming
Rat Sled - Mousetrap 1973 Colt, Bill Lildihall, Lake Park
Orphan sled - Moto Jet, Brockman
Cutter - 1969 Ski Boose, John Derksen, Pequot Lakes
Bumpy trail award - 1968 Scorpion, Larry Rassmusson, Pequot Lakes
Best costume - Complete Rupp Snowmobile ward-robe, Tom Peterson family, Champlin
Farthest drive - Dave and Pat Resnichek, North Bend, Neb.
Youngest driver - Alex Brockman, 1965 Arctic Cat, Vermillion
Oldest driver - Howard Miller, River Falls, Wis., 1965 Polaris Mustang
People's choice - 1963 Trailsled Scorpion, Deb Piirainen, Little Falls
Peer's choice - Reproduction of Arctic Cat airsled, Darrel Dey, Vergas
