I-500: Who is Getting Ready?

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:00 pm

Hi Guys,

After 2 low-snow seasons cancelling the I-500 this year and last, it has to happen for 2017. Here is a brief recap of some of the JD guys' luck, or lack of, racing this event:

Summer of 2010: USCC and the late, great Pat Mach announce that he was working with Brian Nelson and John Carlson to bring a vintage class to the I-500. Rules were announced, plans were made.

January 2011: Several Liquifire's lined up at the first ever vintage class in Thief River Falls Seven Clans Casino on a -28 degree morning. Riders included legends like John Carlson, Tom Otte and Doug Oster, collectors like Kenny Waters, Brian Hitt and myself on 80-81 Liquifire's and of course Chuck Moser on a 77. Unfortunately it was carnage central, with 4 sleds down before the first 10 miles. Otte and I died about 6 miles in, 10 feet from each other. JRC and Doug made it a bit farther. Chuck made it to the 2nd gas stop and thank God Brian Hitt managed to his sled across the line, being the only Deere to finish the 180 mile race.

Tim Kudla ran the modern 85 hp class, and Kieth Bylin (Norton) volunteered to be our gas man. He got to be Tim's at least...

2012: Race cancelled due to low snow.

More recap to come...

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:17 pm

2013: Some more really nicely prep'd Deere's showed up, although I don't know all the drivers, a few of guys were members here. Wade Bennett had a really great looking 78 Liquifire.

I crashed hard near mile 6, but rolled on for about 35 miles until the sled starved of fuel. The line inside the tank fell off, killing the fuel supply. Passed Doug O with dead sled, and a few others unfortunately. I got a ride into the gas stop by a local farmer who was driving the course and watching the sleds. Luckily Wade finished as did Dave Chambers on an Invader.

I can't fail to mention our crew chief Todd Shrupp and Dustin Elder for supporting the drivers. Thanks guys.

From USXC's website, Jeremy Klund, #311 finished 6th on a Liquifire, Wade Bennett and Brian Hitt finished 27th and 28th, while Chris Reeve, #169 and myself, #621 DNF'd. To date Jeremy Klund has the best finish of a John Deere driver.

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:58 pm

It was -37 when I got up that morning in 2011. It may well have warmed up to a balmy -28 at race time.

I have never heard such horrible noises coming from my car when it started at 7 AM. Chuck's truck did not fare as well.

Hope there is snow enough in 2017. It is an experience to be there that will last a life time.

Jd sled rider · Post by **Jd sled rider** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 10:11 pm

I have actually built two sleds to give the usxc circuit a try. One is a 78 liquifire that is in the finishing stages of diss array. And the other is a newer liquifire. The newer one is ready for some testing. I hope to have some miles on both in early winter. I hope to meet Matt Gabler for an earlier race in thief river falls. We will see how fall and winter shape up. Still have to purchase all the gear and ask the wife if it's ok. Later Lincoln

The S Man · Post by **The S Man** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 9:10 am

JOE, ya got this... It is your turn!

sledhead16 · Post by **sledhead16** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 1:07 pm

Great pics! I'd love to do this as well one yr, hopefully we get monster snow this yr

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 1:59 pm

2014: This was a better year for me, and 3 of the 4 Deere's entered the race finished. After cartwheeling the sled in 2013, then hitting a tree in the Vintage Challenge, I split the sled and totally rebuilt her with a new bulkhead down here in Fort Worth.

Wade tried to set a record to see how many times he could pass me, so I crashed hard 3 times to help him along. I will say that rolling into the gas stop for this first time was a surreal experience. It was great to have Todd and the Dustins there to greet me. Needed a longer straw for the Gatorade bottle next time.

Although I was the top finishing Deere that year, I was only in 15th place. Chris Reeves finished 16th and Wade finished 18th. This was the second time both Chris and Wade finished the race, no small accomplishment. I was loosing a jackshaft and bearing causing me to slow down and stop hitting the eject button, while Chris broke suspension springs I believe, but we finished. I don't think Wade had any problems the whole 180 miles.

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 2:15 pm

Unfortunately low snow canceled the I-500 for 2015 and again in 2016. I was ready for 2015, but due to the birth of RJ, racing in 2016 was not going to happen. Brian Nelson, now owner of USXC, is trying to make the I-500 a real point to point race again, instead of the cloverleaf around the 7 Clans Casino. It will now be called the Winnipeg to Willmar 600. Missing the first two attempts at a real live point to point race has been a disappointment to may I am sure.

With this new format, the vintage guys will run the last day, about 120 miles from Alexandria to Millmar after all the modern sleds head out. If the weather holds out, you will finish 120 miles south of where you started. Gas stops will be like the old days, with a gas truck and such. Some of the vintage guys may need cans for pre-mix though.

I hope to see more JD guys show up, and its great to see some new faces building and testing sleds. I know Matt Gabler and Lincoln Huffman are hard at work. I am going to do a few small updates based on testing results (and blown shocks) around St. Germain back in 2015. I might start on another racer from the big-body 70's era for 2018, but nothing is confirmed yet. I want to see if I can get my 80 Liquifire across the line in better than 15th place first.

Feel free to share your plans and stories...

-Joe Rainville, #621

RAT540 · Post by **RAT540** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 9:34 pm

HOW SENSIABLE WOULD IT TO ENTER A AIR COOLED SLED IN THIS EVENT? I DONT THINK ITS THE H P OF THE SLED THATS GOING TO WIN OR AT LEAST FINISH ,BUT ONE THAT WITH STAND THE RUN.WELL PLUS A
LOTA LUCK.

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Fri Jun 24, 2016 10:57 pm

Hi Dave,

A gentleman named Brett Lessman tore up the track with a Yamaha SS440 in 2011 and 2014 until break downs took him out. That sled was a single carb, fan cooled 440 with HP competitive with a Sportfire. While the HP of the 440 Liquids is nice, suspension and durability are more important that top end speed. Average winning speed has been 45 to 50 mph for the vintage class the 3 times its been held.

Since a Trailfire and a Sporfire share a chassis, but the Sport has a claimed 15% power advantage, or 42hp, I would start there. The rules only allow up to 1981, but you can ask for an exemption for a sled that was not significantly changed from it's 81 model. The 82-83 Sport has the same motor, but with oil injection and also a rubber track. If you going to run an 80/81 Sport, I would swap in Liquifire drivers, track and suspension rails with the stock rear arm.

The main updates I think give the best bang for the buck are adding a front skid coil over shock and updating the rear shock to a fox or other rebuildable and calibratable unit. Next up would be ski-shocks, I run a very stiff FOX unit to make up for the minimal shock travel and it makes a huge difference. Updating clutching is nice, but a hydraulic brake is probably more important.

I hope this helps. Vintage rules should be posted at www.usxcracing.com, but the just is that you are allowed any track, clutching, brake, spring or shock upgrade. The motor must remain stock to the chassis and not modified from the airbox to the muffler. Seat and gas tanks can be updated. Suspension must retain stock travel.

-Joe Rainville :letitsnow:

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Sat Jun 25, 2016 5:46 pm

Not only must the sled be up for the challenge but so must the driver.
The machine takes a pounding and so does the rider.
It is as much speed as it is endurance.

If the temps were low I see no problem for even a FA machine completing the task.

340sracer · Post by **340sracer** » Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:54 pm

Joe that is a very interesting recap of the vintage racing. That really gets the adrenaline pumping.
After finishing vintage challenge 150mi on my 340 S on February 13, 2016, I thought I would like to take on the challenge of the last day on the I 500 for old time sake . I have the OK from my wife but she does not want to drive the motorhome from Alexandra to Wilmar, but I'm sure we can work that out.

340sracer · Post by **340sracer** » Sun Jun 26, 2016 10:06 pm

The 340 ran well on the vintage challenge but it seemed to be hitting bottom not sure if it was the front end or the suspension. I haven't had time to check out the shocks but it seems to me that one of them was leaking . Can a person suggest a number for the I 500 as I would like to use 361 because it was a lucky number for me finishing the I 500 in 1975 .

I-500: Who is Getting Ready?

I-500: Who is Getting Ready?

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