Polaris held a hometown party in Roseau, Minnesota, on August 16-17 to recognize its 70th year.
Even though Polaris has grown into a massive corporation that builds all sorts of powersports equipment, in Roseau the focus is still largely on snowmobiles. Lucky for us, those are the vehicles we love the most!
Our buddy and test pilot James Johnstad made the trip up to Roseau to take in the festivities. Here are 10 interesting images he captured at the Memorial Arena. Enjoy.
Any trip through Polaris snowmobiling history has to start with a peak at the old, rear-engine Sno Traveler and like machines. Some fine examples of Polaris first sporty snowmobiles – the Mustangs (left) and Lil Andy (right) debuted in 1965, the first Colts (in the middle) first appeared for model year 1966. Some riders like to claim their modern RMK is an unstoppable force… others are aware of the Polaris Rampage military project! It’s not even possible to speak to a longterm Polaris fan without hearing about the Midnight Blue Express team! This poor bastard has been searching around Roseau for a new Polaris PWC to test ride for 20 years now! The company discontinued its watercraft effort in 2004.It was fun to see an old Snow Week magazine on display… oh yeah, and the restored version of Jack Struthers I-500 winning sled from 1994! Examples of Polaris’ racing history were everywhere. Polaris’ off-road division of ATVs and UTVs is now its largest line, but its early days with such product weren’t quite as robust! The Judnick Racing semi provided one of the backdrops for more modern Polaris racing history, but those aren’t just snocross sleds parked out from. We spied a winning Bunke Racing Soo sled (74) and Jackson-winning Keith Curtis sled (711), among others. Long, long before the Slingshot, Polaris offered another sorta goofy looking hotrod called the Star Car in the late 1960s. Most were recalled and destroyed, so seeing one is a special treat.
I frikking want that Polaris Rampage , its positively awesome , this machine looks like you could mount a machine gun on the roof there , and the platform
was gyro-stabilized like tank guns be able to accurately fire it on the move .
These machines would be ideal for US airbases in Alaska where the winter
weather is very unpredictable .
That was an era when polaris actually gave a crap on what and how they built things, unlike today I wouldn’t take one even if it was given to me and if I did it would either sit at the dealer for stupid recalls or burst into flames, all I can say to people is BE PREPARED, and check your mailbox or email often for notices.
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Great news and pictures!
I frikking want that Polaris Rampage , its positively awesome , this machine looks like you could mount a machine gun on the roof there , and the platform
was gyro-stabilized like tank guns be able to accurately fire it on the move .
These machines would be ideal for US airbases in Alaska where the winter
weather is very unpredictable .
Real trip down memory lane, wished I could have been there.
I also would have loved to see the old race sleds.
About a hundred years ago I chased that darn Bob Eastmam around west Yellowstone a few times.
I missed it, darn it. I should have fit it into my busy schedule. Bring the 75th back to the Twin Cities and bring John Fogerty along again (PLEASE).
That was an era when polaris actually gave a crap on what and how they built things, unlike today I wouldn’t take one even if it was given to me and if I did it would either sit at the dealer for stupid recalls or burst into flames, all I can say to people is BE PREPARED, and check your mailbox or email often for notices.
Awesome. I was at the 35th and 40th. They were great. Keep these at Roseau.