PAGE 2 SNOWMOBILE NEWS OCTOBER 2012

It was an absolute honour to sit downand have lunch with one of the threefounders of the Polaris snowmobile,David Johnson. Mr. Johnson will turn 90in February and is still an active snow-mobile rider at his home in Roseau,Minnesota.

“ We began working on the snowmo-bile in 1954. The name Polaris was therefrom the start as a partnership withHetteen Hoist and Derrick in the site ofthe current liquor store in Roseau,” saidDavid Johnson who had Alan and EdgarHetteen as his partners in the business. “ We were the northern most manufac-

turing firm in the US at that time andmade all types of machinery for farmingand then started playing with snowmo-biles. We were mainly interested in mak-ing something to play around with in thesnow ourselves. We were lazy and didn’twant to walk too long.” smiled DavidJohnson.

At that time the small company hadabout 40 employees starting in 1948. “ In 1954 to 1955 we made a smallsnowmobile like those of today. Today atPolaris there are about 2000 employees.They are always trying to hire 200 morebut they are hard to get. People don’twant to work anymore. We did not haveany idea it would be this big when westarted. Then it was the outdoors peoplewanting to get outside and ski, snow shoeor hunt and the snowmobile helped getthem out in the winter,” said Johnson. “At the beginning the sleds broke quite abit. There is a lot of difference in makinga snowmobile for your own use but whenthe public get on it you have to keepgoing and make it better and better which

has been done well by Polaris.”

The first person to buy a Polaris snow-mobile was named Harley Jenson. Hebought No 2 Polaris for $ 425. Jensonwas from Northwest Angle. He cut woodout on the Lake of the Woods and had towalk 3 miles on the ice to get out thereand 3 miles back so used the Polaris toeliminate the walk. The No 2 Polarissnowmobile is now on display( see pic-ture front cover) at the PolarisExperience Centre next to the plant loca-tion in Roseau.

The company started in an old dancehall with about 1000 square feet of spaceand right now there is 800,000 squarefeet in the plant. David Johnson was inthe navy and sent $ 11 of his $ 20 payeach month back to partners EdgarHetteen and Alan Hetteen to help run thebusiness. He was in the business beforehe even got home from his service. Itwas struggle at first according toJohnson. You needed good backing andmoney. In those days the employeesmade 75c to $1 dollar per hour. Thepartners would sit down then and givethem 25c cent more.

To this day David and his wife EleanorJohnson ride snowmobiles especially totheir camp some 70 miles away. Thisyear the couple will get a 2013 PolarisSwitchback 600 and 2013 PolarisWidetrack. “ We can go to our campthere and back and ride some 200 miles.We have Nexus and a remote area bor-der-crossing pass so can go into Canada.I still love the sport,” smiled DavidJohnson who can put over 2000 miles onin a season. The Johnsons have 4 chil-dren and two of their youngest sons haveworked at Polaris. “ I am waiting for thesnow to come this year. We only madeone trip to our camp at Northwest Anglelast year because the snow conditionswere so bad.”

“ I think the snowmobiles of today arevery good and don’t break down. I don’t

go 70, 80 or 90 MPH anymore. 50 MPHor so is what about I like. Last yearcrossing the lake going to our camp Itipped over a couple of times because wecame back in a snowstorm. I couldn’t seebeyond the windshield. I would not rec-ommend anyone riding in a snow stormon a lake because you can’t see any-thing.” laughed David Johnson.

Johnson and his company started in theATV business in 1983 with what theycalled a Trail Tractor. Today the PolarisCompany has two models of motorcyclesand David Johnson enjoyed riding motor-cycles in the past.

“ In the beginning if there was some-thing to do we did it so worked longhours and 6 days a week,”said Johnsonwhose health is good. “ I will continue toride snowmobiles and ATV’s althoughwe like snowmobiles better because it iscleaner with no mud. Our life has beengood through all of our history.”

The Johnsons live about 2 miles fromthe Polaris manufacturing facility andDavid still visits the plant about twice aweek.

Rob Miller is a snowmobile-manufactur-ing engineer for Polaris and on the trailCommittee of the Roseau CountyTrailblazers that has 180 members. “ Wehave the largest club in the state ofMinnesota and about 350 miles of trail tolook after. We have a large ditch trail and alarge bush trail so have a pretty good vari-ety and connect to the other clubs in thearea. You can cross the border into Canadajust north of Roseau. We have a lot ofPolaris riders and many travelling riders.We have two groomers. The trail permit is$45 for three years here in Minnesota.”said Rob Miller

Lyle Grindy is the Director of Promotionsfor the City of Roseau which has a popula-tion of 2600 people. Major employer,Polaris employs over 2000 here. “ We havesome employees that live in Thief RiverFalls and commute everyday 140 miles 12months of the year. A few years ago thecity was under water and Polaris madeevery effort to not flood with dykes etc.Roseau is a hockey town with three sheetsof ice. In the trails system in the state ofMinnesota there are more groomed trailsthan 4 lane highways. This is an outdoorcommunity.www.roseau.com and www.goroseau.com

www.slednews.com

Polaris Founder David Johnson Still Rides Snowmobiles

SNOWMOBILE NEWS OCTOBER 2012 PAGE 3

BY SCOTT A. SUMNERNW Ontario Snowmobile News

Lisa, Rob Miller , of Polaris , Eleanor and David Johnson centre along with Lyle Grindy, of Roseau at the Polaris staff in thePolaris Experience Centre, Roseau, Minnesota

Cardo Systems, Inc., the world’s marketleader in wireless Bluetooth communica-tions for motorcycle helmet headsets,announced today the availability of its newupdated scala rider® G4 PowerSet forSnowmobiles for communicating withother snowmobilers while on the move.Having introduced Bluetooth® sled-to-sledcommunication via small and light head-sets that easily clamp to snowmobile hel-mets, Cardo is introducing significant newfeatures and upgrades for the new seasonto enhance the great clarity and rangeoffered by the scala rider® communicationsystems. Cardo’s scala rider® communica-tion systems come with ultra-thin micro-phones especially designed to fit snowmo-bile helmets comfortably. Users can enjoyeasy communication with their group viathe hands-free wireless communication

system.

Software Version 3.1 introduces multiplenew features for riders including a click-to-link feature enabling calls between therider and any other snowmobile G4PowerSet user within the product’s range.The scala rider® G4 PowerSet forSnowmobiles now features parallel con-nectivity to a MP3 device and mobilephone devices, giving users additionalfreedom to place phone calls or listen tomusic while riding. Other great features inaddition to the intercom include streamingwireless music from your smartphone,talking on your Bluetooth phone and lis-tening to GPS directions. For users whoprefer to listen to the radio while riding,the new Version 3.1 includes AutomaticRadio Tuning that will help capture avail-able signals, even in remote terrain. Users

can now press one button to setup to six station presets, and usea new station scanning feature forsafer hands-free operation.

The new scala rider® headsetalso offers added versatility. TheVersion 3.1 software upgradeincludes an innovative micro-phone feature that gives users theability to adjust the gain of themicrophone to switch betweensnowmobile and motorcycle

usage. In addition to the gain control, userscan also move the VOX sensitivity levels

to match their need. Adjustments can bemade either through the PC software or thedevice’s own Voice Configuration Menu.

“This upgrade marks a significantenhancement for our industry-leading scalarider® G4 PowerSet for Snowmobiles,”said Abraham Glezerman, CEO of CardoSystems, Inc. “With our new click-to-link,users can now talk to any other G4

PowerSet within range, allowing groups ofriders an additional layer of meeting upand security. The several audio-relatedupgrades enhancements allow connectivityto other devices, and increased controlover the audio quality of conversations andthe radio. The product is the right choicefor snowmobilers who demand a wirelesscommunication solution that is comfort-able and intuitive to use and enhances theenjoyment and security of riders.”

The scala rider® G4 PowerSet forSnowmobiles is available through selectdistributors, retail outlets, specialty snow-mobile shops, and directly from the CardoSystems web site atwww.cardosystems.com.

Current users of the scala rider G4PowerSet for Snowmobiles can downloadthe free Version 3.1 software upgrade atwww.cardosystems.com.

February 4, 2012 marked the 5th annualGreenstone Loop Poker Rally and onceagain it was a great success.The poker rally is put on by the Nakina

Sno Club and connects the A 109 trailbetween Nakina, Longlac and Geraldton.200 km of some best groomed trails inNorthern Ontario. This year 88 sleds par-ticipated in the rally with riders from

across the north and beyond, Hearst,Timmins, Marathon, Thunder Bay,Wisconsin were some of the visitors’.Riders from Geraldton and Nakina woulddo the loop counter clockwise and ridersfrom Longlac did the loop clockwise. Allriders met at the Nakina Community com-plex where a super and prize were award-ed.We also had the pleasure of having DennisBurns of the Canadian Council ofSnowmobile Organization and GordLinfield and Norm Lavoie, SnowmobileTrail Officer Patrol (S.T.O.P.) on hand.Even the Mayor of Greenstone, Ronald

Beaulieu was out for a ride. We alwayshave snow! And many organized toursflock to Greenstone to ride our trails everyyear.Many volunteer hours are put in to host aneven of this kind, Special thanks to Gabyand Dorene Boulanger for keeping theevent going and fun. Buy where your ride.For more information on what Greenstonehas to offer visit our web site atwww.snowmobiling.greenstone.ca

Highway of SnowGreenstone Loop Poker Rally

PAGE 6 SNOWMOBILE NEWS FEBRUARY 2012

Cardo Systems Launches New Upgraded scala rider G4™PowerSet for Snowmobiles

Left to rightGord Linfield, President Marathon Sno- Kickers and District 16 S.T.O.P

Dennis Burns CCSO Office - Exec. Dir. Gaby Boulanger, President, Nakina Snow Club, District 16 Governor

Norn Lavoie, District 16 S.T.O.P

The sport of motocross is a popular onewith such big names as James Stewart,Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey making mil-lions of dollars competing in the AMASupercross series. It was fun for me toattend the local SDR race held just pastKakabeka in August at the KB mx track

The competition is young in the sport andtwo local riders have been riding dirt bikes

almost their entire life. Kenny Mandryk,age 15 has been riding for 12 years and isa regular competitor in the series andbeyond. “ I rode my first dirt bike when Iwas 3 and love the adrenaline rush, speedand jumps,” said Kenny Mandryk. “ WhenI was younger coming up I used to crashalmost every race but not as often now.My favourite rider was Jeremy McGrath.The sport is hard on the body. and youwork out each day to keep in shape.”Kenny does about 20 races each year.

Matthew Drazecki, age 15 has been racingfor 9 years locally as well as in the AMADistrict 2 series and in Southern Ontariodoing about 25 races each years.” We wereracing guys from Texas at the beginning ofthe summer. Our parents help us to do this.It is about $500 to $1000 per weekend torace in the US,” said Matthew Drazecki.

“ I have an injury to my knee right now, atorn ACL and will have surgery inSeptember. I like dirt bikes the best ofmany sports I have played. My goal is toget as good as possible.”

Brady Love, age 16 is from Kenora,Ontario and also an avid motocross rider.

In the Pro Am class he came third in themoto with Earl Reimer first and BobLeBlanc second. Brady started ridingmotocross at age 7 but motocross is sum-mer training for Snocross, which is whathe is going for the most. He races inManitoba and regional ISOC series eachwinter.

“ This year I will be riding a 2013Polaris 600 IQ race sled. We got a littlesponsorship from Polaris. In the regionalcircuit I’ll probably be doing Pro Lite. Innational I’ll do Sport,” said Brady Love. “ Last year our circuit had troubles withonly 2 races but I got top 3. In the states Iam top 5 riders. We may also try SouthernOntario and the CSRA.”

Anyone who has followed the sport ofsnocross is familiar with Earl Reimer. Earl,age 44,has been racing motocross for 29seasons. “ I started snocross in 1995 whenI was 27 and made a living at it for 10years. I rode for Ski Doo and Arctic Catmostly and then 1 year on Polaris. In 2003I won Pro Open and Pro veteran races at

Duluth, which was my biggest, win of mycareer. It is probably somewhat of a recordto win both at the same weekend at anational event in the US. I had just turned30 at that time,” smiles Earl Reimer. “ They changed the age from 30 to 35 forveteran when they did that I turned 40 andit became harder after that. I had won thePro Vet class for 4 seasons before that butit has been harder to win since then. Sincethey have changed the age to 30 I havewon two races and I used to win most ofthe races.”

Last year at Duluth Earl finished 5th buthad a broken fibula in his leg, which was-n’t diagnosed until 2 weeks later. Thisyear he would like to do the National Vetseries and some local races in Manitoba. In1997 Earl won the Semi Pro Nationalchampionships in 440 and 600 classes andin 1998 won some regional pro champi-onships in the US but never a Nationalchampionship.

“ I did win a national title when there wasa small indoor series that went from thePontiac Silver dome to the Toronto Skydome and a few others,” notes EarlReimer. “ People say it is pretty amazingto do this sport when you are 44 and rac-ing a 16 year old but I can’t quit, I’ll getold. In the last 29 years I’ve probablyburned about 15 billion calories and wouldbe a fat old man if I wasn’t still doing it.”

Earl Reimer has had the nickname “

Scrap Iron” for much of his race career. “ Tom Rager and Bill Rader were incharge of the race shop when I startedthere at Ski Doo. At one of the Duluthraces I crashed in practice and busted thehood on my sled and the visor on my hel-met. Bill was right there and asked if I wasok. I said I better do that jump again or itwill bother me all day so I tried it againand made it. Ever since then he has beencalling me scrap iron because of somewrestler he knew called Scrap Iron. Hecalled me that for three or four years untilGreg Creamer who was the announcer atthe Nationals heard it. Once he head it gotblasted on the loudspeaker every weekendand it became my nick name I guess.”laughs Reimer.

The snocross racing is getting bigger allthe time over the years Earl Reimer hasbeen racing. “ The guys a re making somepretty good money out there. There is waymore money in the pits now with all thehaulers, but about the same amount ofspectators about 25 to 30,000 at the races.There is more TV but we don’t get to see itin Canada, “ notes Earl. “ I have a haulerat home but don’t use it because it is veryexpensive to run. You need sponsors to dothat. You really have to sell your team tosponsors and that was never really myforte. I just rode and if somebody wantedme to ride for them I’d deal with them butI wasn’t the guy to go hunting sponsors.I’m basically a racer.”

SNOWMOBILE NEWS OCTOBER 2012 PAGE 7

BY SCOTT A. SUMNERNW Ontario Snowmobile News

Superior Dirt Riders Event Exciting

Kenny Mandryk & Matthew Drazecki

Brady Love

Earl Reimer with his son and daughter