Aside from its four 2018 inductees, the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame announced four more honorees for 2018, including the new International Dealer of the Year sponsored by Snow Goer.
Lumped together in the “Special Awards” category are the Cumberland Snowmobile Club from Nova Scotia as the International Snowmobile Club of the Year; Pioneer Motorsport of New York as the International Dealer; Tim Haberberger of Wyoming as the honored International Groomer of the Year; and Bill Schumann of Wisconsin as the winner of the Edgar Hetteen Memorial Award of Merit.
Below is a closer look at all four winners, in the words of the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame. For more information on the Hall, to see past honorees or to learn about their September induction ceremony in Eagle River, Wisconsin, click here. To read about the 2018 inductees, click here.
CLUB: Cumberland Snowmobile Club of Collingwood Corner, Nova Scotia
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Cumberland Snowmobile Club of Collingwood Corner, Nova Scotia continues to grow and prosper. With 130 family members, 1300 followers on Facebook and an active website, the Club is also in tune with modern social media. A “VIP” membership contributes to the grooming expense but also offers extra privileges and perks. The Club maintains and grooms 400-plus kilometers of trails with their three groomers, all operated by volunteers. They built five warming shelters along the trail. Their annual operating budget exceeds $250,000. Each November, to start the season, the Club holds a Dream Ride Lottery and Auction. In 2017, it raised over $20,000. The Club also works with area ATV clubs to coordinate trails. ISHOF is proud to name the Cumberland Snowmobile Club with the International Snowmobile Club of the Year award for 2018.
DEALER: Pioneer Motorsport Inc of Chafee, New York
Ken Armstrong founded Pioneer Motorsport Inc. in 1964 and, together with his family, have built the business into a thriving, state of the art dealership for Polaris, Ski-Doo and Yamaha brands, among others. A key ingredient to this success has been their hands-on involvement with local clubs. They host area club meetings, provide space for fundraisers, promote club membership, have youth rider development programs and demo rides. Working with local and area clubs has been a priority for the Armstrong family since the start. A representative of the dealership can be seen at numerous ride-ins, shows, federation events and functions. Ken has just turned 80 years old, but his son Larry and family continue the traditions he inspired. This has earned Pioneer Motorsport Inc. of Chaffee, New York the honor of being awarded ISHOF’s Dealer of the Year for 2018.
GROOMER: Tim Haberberger of Alpine, Wyoming
With 20 years of experience, Tim Haberberger of Alpine, Wyoming has mastered the art of grooming the challenging varied terrain of Western Wyoming’s trail systems. Conditions that range from wind-swept flats to steep mountainous grades, Tim and his three Tucker Sno-Cats are up for the challenge. His grooming totals over 2,800 miles a year based out of his family owned and operated Box Y Lodge that is so remote that supplies can only be brought in by snowmobile or Sno-Cat during the winter months. Tim has developed several grooming manuals for others to learn from. Even with all his knowledge and experience, Tim still attends grooming seminars. Rated as one of the best all-time groomer operators, Tim is a master groomer that never quits learning and improving. That is a mark of excellence and has earned him the honor of being awarded the 2018 International Groomer of the Year.
HETTEEN AWARD: Bill Schumann of Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin
Few people, if any, can provide as long a list of accomplishments, offices held, programs founded, clubs developed, challenges conquered and awards received than Bill Schumann of Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. His snowmobile journey started in Illinois where he helped to unite 90 snowmobile clubs into the Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs (IASC) which he served five terms as president. His many programs there included receiving $67,000 in grant monies for their trail system, a state trail map, assistance for club operation and maintenance costs of groomers and chairing the 1993 International Snowmobile Congress in Illinois. In 1992, Bill was inducted into the Iron Dog Brigade and has served several officer capacities with that organization. In 1997, he was honored by induction into the IASC Hall of Fame. Bill’s penchant for preserving the old sleds of the sport was evident when he became a charter member of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America (ASCOA) and served as its president in 1993. He coordinated the club’s reenactment of the first Eagle River Derby race. His honors continued when in 1995 Bill was honored as the United States Snowmobiler of the Year, the ASCOA Distinguished Service Award and the Harry Knoll Award for outstanding service. Bill moved to Manitowish Waters in northern Wisconsin in 1998 and quickly continued his involvement in organized snowmobiling becoming treasurer of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs and then its president from 2008 to 2010. In 2016, his Manitowish Waters Snowmobile Club dedicated a major bridge crossing as the “Bill Schumann Bridge” with a plaque in his honor for all of his dedication to the sport of snowmobiling. He is a charter director of the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame and has served as its president until a recent retirement. Bill Schumann’s unselfish dedication to the sport of snowmobiling has brought him many honors and awards. He now adds another to that list as recipient of the Edgar Hetteen Award of Merit.
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