Just because it’s bordering on June doesn’t mean that it’s truly the “off-season” for hardcore snowmobile enthusiasts. Far from it.
In fact, there are all sorts of things going on for the vintage crowd, plus competition in various forms of racing and an important annual “meeting of the minds” for leaders of our sport. Here’s a quick rundown.
Classic Sled Roundup May 28-29
The sled-racing focused Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, Wisconsin, will once again host the 18th Annual Classic Sled Roundup on Memorial Day weekend.
Specifically, Saturday, May 28, is mostly a social affair centers around the annual cookout. Sunday, May 29, the actual classic round up vintage show and swap meet will occur from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This is one of the most storied vintage snowmobile events for collectors, restorers or people who just like to celebrate the history of the sport. Sleds will be judged in 20 different classes – with various eras and various levels of restoration. It’s all centered out of the St. Germain Town Park, and provides a great reason to head to the Northwoods of Wisconsin on a long weekend. Visit a couple of halls of fame when in the area.
Asphalt Drag Racing Galore June 3-5
Few things are as amazing as the acceleration rate of highly modified snowmobiles – and that’s arguably best displayed on the asphalt at professional drag racing facilities. And the first weekend of June is full of it.
For all things related to straightline speed, we always turn to our friend Chris Riley of the tremendous Super Sled Online Facebook group, and he tells us the first full weekend of June is going to be awesome on the asphalt!
In Michigan it starts with the Outlaw snowmobile drag racing group hosting Outlaw and Pro Mod drag sleds at the renewed track at Milan on Friday, June 3. Then, the attention shifts a couple hours up the road to the historic Mid-Michigan Moto Plex in Stanton, Michigan, on Saturday, June 4, where Pro Stock 800 and Pro Mod showdowns occur, along with bracket racing.
Meanwhile, it gets even more high-profile that weekend out East, where 16 pre-qualified Pro Stock 800 snowmobiles will have a chance to be a part of the big NHRA New England Nationals at Epping, New Hampshire. They’ll be a part of the program each day on June 3-5.
Watercross June 4-5 & June 17-19
Also amazing is watching the world’s best watercrosser racers defy gravity by making their snowmobiles stay atop of the water! That season starts with two weekends of competition in June.
The International Watercross Association season opens with the Thunder At The Lakes event at the massive Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) facility in Brainerd, Minnesota, on June 4-5. It’s also known as the Wet & Wild Watercross weekend. Then, two weeks later, the circuit pops up into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and, specifically, the Keweenaw Peninsula for the Lake Linden WaterX June 17-19.
IWA events are typically very festive and fun, yet the competition is intense in eight different classes, including multi-lap oval racing competition in Pro and Semi Pro Open, Pro and Semi Pro Stock plus a Women’s class. There’s also stiff competition in 800 Drags and 600 Drags.
International Snowmobile Congress June 8-11
Each year, leaders in the grassroots snowmobile community from across the U.S. and Canada get together to discuss mutual concerns and problems as well as share success stories and solutions at an event called the International Snowmobile Congress.
This year, the event is in Dubuque, Iowa, from June 8-11.
Frankly, this isn’t much of a spectator event – it’s filled with meeting in conference rooms among leaders of state and provincial snowmobile associations and not really intended to be attended by the general public. But it’s important for snowmobilers to know that it happens. Whether it’s discussing how to improve or fund our trails, fight off challenges to land access, deal with trespassing or find new folks to take on grooming and maintenance duties, there’s a lot going on each year at this vital event.
National Vintage Show June 24-26
The 17th annual Vintage Snowmobile Club of America (VSCA) National Show will aptly be held this year in a longtime hotbed for snowmobiling in the east: OId Forge, New York.
This championship-level event is held in a different part of the country each year but always brings out truly the best machines for the ultimate prizes. There will be sleds judged in 44 different classes – from rear-engine iron dogs through the glorious 70s, interesting 80s and all the way up to “Modern Vintage,” which is defined as 1985 and newer. There are race sleds, “forgotten wonders,” race sleds, trail sleds, minis, customs and many more.
If you can’t make it to Old Forge that weekend, though, know that there are vintage snowmobile shows and events pretty much every weekend somewhere. Use this link to the VSCA message boards and events calendar to keep track of all of the possibilities.
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