snowmobiles

[1Mech]

Back on the farm in Minnesota, we had a 1970 Sno Prince Hurricane 1. Made in Princeville, Quebec as I recall. Powered by a 24 hp Hirth single cylinder 2 cycle engine. Lots of good memories riding that around. You straddled the gas tank if you sat down and the gas cap, being vented, would splash gas onto your leg, always came home smelling of gas! That is my late brother in the pic.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[airbiscuit]

I think we all did responsible, fun, fast and stupid riding. I also had a Phazer, and it was a fun, reliable sled.

 

[airbiscuit]

I used to like the sound on (other people's) piped snowmobiles

 

[airbiscuit]

But I never did this

 

[airbiscuit]

Andrew Smith and driver Rick Coffman teamed up to get a 2008 Yamaha Nytro snowmachine to travel first 103.3 mph and then 106.0 mph across water on Monday, October 7, 2013 on a side channel of the Knik River outside Palmer, Alaska

 

[Williy]

We have lived here in Texas for over 40 years and only once we had 14 inches of snow and it only lasted 3 or 4 days Th;en one other time we had a blizzard and I drove in the drive way at 40mph and it was a wet snow and I got stopped half way to the house and the car was 2 feet up in the air from all the packed snow under it. Back in the 70's in Wisconsin we called the Merc's lead sleds. I never rode one no interest. Too
many other things to do

willy

 

[Jstpssng]

70's in Wisconsin we called the Merc's lead sleds.

I'm not sure which way you mean "Lead". Were they always out in front, or a lead weight like you use for fishing? I do recall that they were one of the first liquid cooled sleds, although the JD Liquifire was right behind them.

Edit; I just answered my own question.
From this site;

1974 Mercury Sno-Twister

When the history of snowmobile racing is written there will be a select few sleds that will be recognized for totally dominating the competition. The 1974 Sno-Twister was just such a sled. It arrived at the time when Mercury Marine had decided to go racing after manufacturing sleds that had...

www.snowtechmagazine.com

On the snow, the Mercs were for the most part “boat anchors” with two skis and a track.

The Sno-Twister was the complete opposite

This thread has gotten me to search out vintage sled sites and articles, and brought back some good memories.

 

[Tinhack]

Lead sled was a term used to describe a vehicle with a lot of custom work or repairs to sheet metal. Molten lead was used to fill dents, holes or join sheet metal panels then sanded smooth. The art has all but disappeared and replaced with "Bondo" or fiberglass. You could still find factory sail panels using lead filler to join the roof to quarter panels well into the late 80s and early 90s. It was also used on the roof to pillar joints. The lead dangers forced auto manufacturers to change designs and alter assembly lines.