Before & After
All the fun without the skinned knuckles & blown budgets |
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Before & After Snowmobile restoration in 1 easy step I wish I could say that I thought of this . Thanks to Gary Merritt for an excellent suggestion for a feature page. In order to keep it less labor intensive for all parties , what you're going to see here is a couple shots of each subject. Before the project was started & of the finished product. Last Update : 7/16/09 New " Before & After" pics Before & After is another feature that originated right here on RetroSno.com.
1979 Polaris TXC
This sled came to NHTom with most of the tough jobs done. It didn't take much to get it looking good and back on snow.
The Boss Edmund Vigneault sent in pics of his 69 Arctic cat Panther Boss Cat with 634 Hirth.
Quite a difference with everything all shined up.
Beautiful job Ed!!!! Thanks for sharing!
A few years ago at the Maine Fall Classic (my first) I had the pleasure of getting to meet a bunch of people in the hobby who welcomed me in and showed me how great the people involved are. One of the people I met was Gary Bright. Gary was kind enough to pass along a great story about a very cool sled and we couldn't resist sharing with the Retrosno audience. In 1972 our little town was like most of the others in the Northeast. Seems like three or four snowmobile dealers in each town. We had Polaris, there was also a Sno Jet, Auto Ski, and Bolens that I remember. And neighboring towns had other brands. Most had a race sled or two. There were a variety of races every weekend. You would have a choice of races to participate in depending on how far you wanted to travel. But come one weekend in February it was Boonville (The Place to be). Oval races Sat. and Sunday at the fairgrounds, huge crowds watching the high banked 1/2 mile. But this year they were having speed runs on Friday at the airport. All mod classes plus the special built speed run machines. The Sno jet dealer in our town had gotten a pair of Thunderjets ( a 295 and a 440). Two brothers; Fred (a body shop owner) and Floyd ( a teacher/ athletic director) Emery were the drivers. We were often at the same races and usually pitted close. For the Boonville speed run it was decided Fred (who drove the 440) would run the 295 because he was a little smaller. The little Jet won Mod 1 with a speed of 78.6 mph (not bad for a 1972 295 single). Not only did it win Mod 1 but was faster than any 340 and would have been 3rd or 4th in 440 and this was against factory tuned sleds. Well after the season the sled was sold to a high school friend of mine. He played with it for a year and then decided he wanted something a little more Trail friendly. I traded him a 295 TX for the T-Jet. I played around with the sled off and on for a while until my new wife and I moved to Texas in 1980. The sled was stored at my father in laws and one day he called and asked if I wanted to sell it to his nephew. Sure, get me $150 I don't need a T-jet here in Texas. Fast forward to the late 90's I am getting into vintage. I would like to get my old T-jet back but the nephew doesn't want to let go. Patience pays off, we finally make a deal and it is back home, only took about 10 yrs. She needs quite a bit of work, a lot of scars. But it will be worth it knowing the history of this sled. I am still friends with Fred Emery, gave him a call. He was excited to here about the old sled. Thinks he still has his old bib and maybe some pictures. It would be nice to see it in its glory for restoration. I will keep you abreast of the progress and hopefully get it up to Maine for your show. Your Friend, Gary Bright
Great story Gary! We'll be waiting for the After shots! 1974 Raider Double Eagle sent in by Jerry Schmitt.
Well done Jerry! Our latest submission comes from Joe Holborn.. " picked up this machine last winter after it was advertised as a '72 Ski-doo T'NT wide track."
How come I never see classified ads like that ?? Great pics , Joe ! This one came in from Mario Desjardins of Sudbury , Ontario Canada. He located this Alouette Super 440 a couple of years ago..Check out what's been accomplished since then.
Job well done , Mario !! Thanks for the pics. Dave "RV" Trueman's 1979 Blizzard 7500+ :
"This was probably the worst condition sled I've ever restored. It had been painted in the '76 RV colors, ...... it needed, lots of suspension work, new pan, new windshield, new seat, paint and decals, new steering frame, new gas tank, new foot rest, new airbox stand....
This one was a wee bit worse than I thought whenI got it.
It seems that "TIM" (see the front Grill) a previous owner really gave this one a workout..."
" Hey, shouldnt those handle bars be straight like the ski's.????...More work..."
The finished product.
You can see more of Dave's sleds on the RV/Sonic Gallery page.
Next up .....Paul File's John Deere JDX 8:
" 1973 JDX 8. Sled was found under a wooden deck full of nasty spiders. 85% restored. The hood was autographed at the 2007 Hall of Fame ride in St. Germaine, Wisconsin by Enduro Team Deere"
Another sled that comes under the .." the more I look at it..The cooler it is..." category. John Deere JDX's are far under appreciated... No Bull !! Mike Johnson of Big Lake MN sent in these pics back around the 1st of January..This story is long overdue for posting...Read on. This another Scorpion Bullwhip that I just finished up.Thought you might like to see it and some of the work that I had to do.
I'm sure many of us remember the pics from this auction.
You can see that Mike didn't start with a whole lot...But.. That doesn't matter when it's a Bull Whip. " Has an A.C. ZR 580 motor and this thing does fly."
" So far it has the title of "THE WORLDS FASTEST BULLWHIP". "
" Will see how long it will last. "
"Thanks again." Mike, Big Lake,MN I'm finding that I'm a great fan of these "Resto-Mod " sleds. Thanks for sending the pics , Mike ! Kevin Cooke : 1975 Mercury Trail Twister 440
"This 1975 440 Trail Twister belongs to my 15 year old son, Kevin Cooke in Great Village, Nova Scotia. It was given to him by a friend of ours who used to race Mercs back in the day. "
" Together we have restored since late December and recently took it to a vintage drag race in PEI."
Kevin Cooke Sr. Always glad to see another Twister back in action..
Kevin Hunt
1976 John Deere Cyclone
" My name is Kevin Hunt and I'm from Woburn Ma. It has taken a long time for me to send you pictures of my Cyclone because I wanted the complete pictures of it to be on the snow . Well that finally happened on Saturday so here they are to place where you wish . Thanks for the many hours I have enjoyed looking and reading on your site , I visit almost daily .
Here's a little about the sled ;
It's started life as a 76 john deere 340 and i have upgraded it to a 440 and a complete restoration. When i bought the sled the guy threw in a an extra 340 motor he had . It turned out to be a rare 340 rs/2 from a from a JD 340s.
I hope to find a chassis some day for it ."
****
Steven D. McLaen
Forman ND
1971 Viking
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Scott Evoy
Edmonton , Alberta Canada
1972 Massey-Ferguson Ski Whiz Formula IV 440
" I have to say .. it really is inspiring to see just how many of us there are getting these "left for dead" sleds back on the snow.
I am sending you some pictures of a machine that was certainly left for dead and would not have seen the light of day possibly again. I placed a wanted ad for a 72 Massey Ferguson Ski-Whiz machine and got a call from a gentleman in Maple Creek Saskatchewan to say he had an old 1972 MF Formula IV 440. The machine had been left outside by the original owner and it had deteriorated pretty badly by the time he got it.
He stuffed it into a barn and there she sat for the next 20 + years. He sent some grainy pictures and I bought it. Needless to say she was in very rough shape, but nothing 6 months, 2 parts sleds and a few dollars couldn't fix. "
****
Guy Maloof
Danbury , NH
1975 Evinrude Rotary 45
Samuel Girard : Chicoutimi , Quebec Ski Doo Olympique 12/3
****** Joe Francis : Manistique , Michigan 1976 Rupp Magnum 250 L/C
***** Martin Lesage : Quebec Canada 1965 Snow Cruiser C1400
Beware of Black Ice. Black Ice Racing hails from Holland , MI. Team member , Ross Flamboe , sent in a pic of the latest addition to their racing stable.
1980 Scorpion TK. Ready for the vintage racing season. Just to give you an idea of the handiwork involved in prepping the TK , have a look at what Ross started with.
Black Ice Racing is sponsored by: Outlaw Customs , Stud Boy traction products , Blue Marble oil , & NGK spark plugs. 1970 Polaris TX 400 Tony " Polartone" Brenna
1973 Moto Ski SR 340 Jay Egan Suffield , CT
1979 Moto Ski Super Stock I.F.S. 250 Jay Egan
1972 Sno Jet Thunder Jet 440 Scott Wittmayer
196? Arlberg John & Dianne Schmitt Saskatchewan
John has since sold the Arlberg to a fellow collector in Minnesota & it was at the Waconia show in the recent past. If you look in the background , we should have some more before & after pics from John in the future. 1973 Rupp American turned " Nitro clone" Tom Silvert
1979 Ski Doo Blizzard Cross Country Dave Trueman
1971 Yamaha SR 433 Mark Elwell
1981 Ski Doo I.F.S. Jay Egan : Suffield CT
1972 Polaris ATX 335 Gary Merritt : Caribou , Maine
Restoration : Gary Merritt Polaris TX 500 Limited Jeff Filleul : Weare NH
Restoration : Jeff Filleul 1970 Fox Trac Spoiler 760 RetroSno.com collection : Newport , Maine
Restoration : Dale F. Carsley 1973 Polaris Starfire 440 Jeff Filleul : Weare NH
(I love the keyhole saw handlebar loop )
Restoration : Jeff Filleul 1979 Kawasaki Invader 440 Tournament of Champions #5 RetroSno.com collection : Newport , Maine
Restoration : Dale F. Carsley 1976 Arctic Cat Z 440 Jay Egan : Suffield CT
Restoration : Jay Egan 1971 Skiroule RTX Racer 440 RetroSno.com collection
Restoration : Dale F.Carsley 1972 Arctic Cat EXT Bob Botticello : Manchester CT
Restoration : Jay Egan 1974 Skiroule RTW RetroSno.com collection : Newport ME
Restoration : Dale F. Carsley 1975 Sno Jet Thunder Jet 440 F/A RetroSno.com Collection : Newport , Maine
Restoration : Dale F. Carsley Now let's see your sled..... |
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