As I have developed my friendship with Al Garin, he started telling me more about this buddy of his with a 295/S in his barn. From the sounds of it, the guy just wanted it to have it to have it and it was in pretty rough shape. I have been hunting for a motor, pipe, air box and carbs for my spare 295 for awhile so I thought this might be the sled I need. The only issue with the whole thing was that the guy wasn’t interest in selling. Al finally convinced him to sell. After meeting “Aussie” and BS’ing for awhile, he got to telling stories about the race history. As it turns out, the sled was raced by a local guy, ICCSF #15, Bob Baniecke. The fan bearing blew on day 2 of the I-500, effectively taking the sled out of the race.
After posting on the FB page, a bunch of my buddies contacted me and told me all sorts of great things about Bob and his wife Midge, as well as things about the powersports store they operated. One friend had the pleasure of working for Bob and Midge as a high school kid in the 80’s. Originally, I had planned to transplant parts onto a future grass drag build but it looks like I added another 295/S restoration to my list. I look forward to meeting the driver and starting to tear into this sled after I finish Al Garin’s ERX 340/S. I now own one of each 295 suspension option.
~Jack
Saved Another One
- guitardude081
- Posts: 989
- Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: Jack Durand
- Location: Brainerd, MN
Saved Another One
Owner, Durand Motorsports
1980 Trailfire 340 (Grandpa bought new)
1983 Trailfire LX
1982 Spitfire (Grandpa bought new)
(3)1974 295/S
1975 340/S
(2) 1978 Liquifire
2003 Ski Doo Renegade 600HO
1993 Polaris XLT Special with AAEN pipes
2020 Polaris Indy 600 XC 129 40th Anniversary Edition
1980 Liquifire (currently in pieces)
1980 Trailfire 340 (Grandpa bought new)
1983 Trailfire LX
1982 Spitfire (Grandpa bought new)
(3)1974 295/S
1975 340/S
(2) 1978 Liquifire
2003 Ski Doo Renegade 600HO
1993 Polaris XLT Special with AAEN pipes
2020 Polaris Indy 600 XC 129 40th Anniversary Edition
1980 Liquifire (currently in pieces)
Re: Saved Another One
Great story Jack, I hope you chronicle this restoration just as you did with Al's.
Steve
Steve
- JoeRainville
- Posts: 4355
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: "John Deere Joe"
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
- Contact:
Re: Saved Another One
Awesome find and good save Jack! A bogie-slide 295/s is one sled I would make room for, even though I keep saying "I don't need anymore sleds". They are just too cool, especially with I-500 history.
See you at ERX!
-JDJR
See you at ERX!
-JDJR
Honorary Tech Editor
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.
Chuck Norris doesn't get frost bite. He bites the frost.