2023 Ride with the Champs!

[jep_800]

Few more pics.

[jep_800]

Oh, one more funny item while we were at lunch on Gull Lake. A group of guys from Iowa were at the bar getting food. They were up there doing some ice fishing for a few days and watched us pull in. You’d have thought we landed from Mars, because they’d never seen vintage JD sleds before, and it took some convincing that we actually ride them any distance. They even asked if we worked for John Deere, which we thought was funny, and had to tell them that the sleds were nearly 50 years old, and clothes we were wearing were also vintage, as JD hasn’t made this stuff in a long time. I think they finally believed us and let us go about our day.

[400brian]

Wade and I were planning to attend the banquet, so I had to get back to the motel to get cleaned up and dressed for that. It appeared that the RWTC was back to pre-covid form this year, as the event had been sold out a couple of weeks out.

If you have a group of any size you need to get there fairly early to find a table. When Wade and I pulled into the parking lot around 5:30, the lot was already pretty much full. We found an empty table and laid claim to it. David and Andrew Clark and Jason Peterson joined us, and the Rainvilles eventually showed up as well.

The banquet follows a familiar pattern, we eat, an auction of memorabilia takes place, President Craig Marchbank delivers some remarks, the 4 inductions take place with each inductee sharing their story, and things are pretty much wrapped up for another year. Kudos to the Hall of Fame and Jamie in particular for putting on the event!

This year’s trip was different in that while we arrived on Tuesday, we never unloaded the sleds until Friday. Nevertheless we had a great time hanging out with friends from all over the country.

Both of the sleds we rode went back on the trailer running, which is always nice. The Cyclone ran much better than it did a month earlier in Bergland, hopefully it will be a reliable rider for Katy for years to come, so I can work on some other projects.

I booked the room on my way out for the Round Up in May, and the RWTC next February. My 72 400 will remain on display at the museum until May.

[AirborneX4Special]

Hmmm
Is that an IFS Liquifire?

[400brian]

Yes, that is one of the prototypes. The only known survivor.

[AirborneX4Special]

I know. I was just messing around with the whole concept of your sled parked next to the prototype. Some day I'll actually get there to see that in the flesh.

[400brian]

I know. I was just messing around with the whole concept of your sled parked next to the prototype. Some day I'll actually get there to see that in the flesh.

Honestly, I would have thought by now Wanie would have custom built a replica of the IFS sled.

[AirborneX4Special]

There's been talk. A donor sled is on site for a project but it's classified top secret.