The following story outlines what it took to get Tim, Nick, Greg and myself to the HOF for the 2008 Ride with the Champs. The facts may be close enough, or slightly skewed to make fun of Greg, TOYMECH, (AKA: The Trailfire Terrorist) or to make myself look better...
Back up to Christmas: Due to a carb and fuel issue, I burn a jug and piston on my 2002 Sno Pro that I was planning to ride at the HOF RWC. Rats, broke ($$) from Christmas and from stocking the wedding fund.
3 Weeks to go, I ordered new crank seals and gaskets. They still haven't arrived.
2 Weeks to go, I ordered the pistons and jug. They show up in 2 days.
1 Week to go before leaving I enlist the help of Tim and Nick to finish the rebuild of the 02. Had to reuse the seals and head gaskets, as dealer was able to find a base gasket. Goes well, but takes into Sunday. No time to rebuild the shocks or test any new gearing before leaving NY Thursday AM in a vain attempt to make Wanies party.
Wednesday, Feb 6th. Up until 12:30 am studding the 02 and loading the trailer. Found a few broken front suspension bushings that need to be fixed.
Thursday, Feb 7th: Up at 5:00 am to finish loading trailer, gear and NOS parts for the guys. Roads are terrible on way to Lockport to pick up Tim and Nick. 1 hr drive takes 1:40.
About 8:00 pick up Tim, then swing over to Nicks. Unlike me, the guys are ready and we hit the road to Canada to pick up Greg. Get a full interigation at the Rainbow bridge. Inspector Helga want to see all sled registrations and insurance paperwork. We get to Gregs around 10:30.
At Gregs I introduce him to Tim and Nick, and I am compelled to take his Trailfire around the parking lot before loading it up. Like riding a new sled, it runs great. We load up and head to Port Huron, MI on the 401, 403, and 402 or 4 oh somethings.
We need Diesel after crossing back into the good old USA, so I pull the truck off at Port Huron. Found a station with a Diesel sign and a very small lot. I go around back to try to get to the right side of the pump. End up rubbing the side of the trailer on the front of a beater Ford Ranger. Owner says don't worry about it, as it didn't do damage, and the truck was previously crumpled and rusted everywhere. We find a larger station closer to I75 to full up at. I then realize I've driven all morning on less than 4 1/2 hrs of sleep, and hand the wheel over to the one of guys. Nap time for me.
All is going well until we hit a parking lot called I94. We end up stopped several times totalling at least 2 hrs of delay. I called Wanie after my nap to let him know we are trying to make his party, but it's not looking good after the 2nd hour long delay. Rats.
Once in Chicago, we attempt to deliver a motor to a customer who can't come meet me due to time delays. He send a friend to meet up with me at an exit of I90 that does not exist. We take the first I-294 exit and have him come find us. Another 30 minute delay. Rats.
11:30 pm Horicon time: We finally roll into Wanies place. Joe and Duane stayed up to BS with us, and told us how we missed Ed Kruel, Carl Firehammer, Jack Hoffman, etc. We are bummed, but at least we got a set of repop ski spring wear pads.
1:30 am: Off to crash at some cheap hotel on the outskirst of Horicon.
Next up: Friday Morning drive to the HOF...
-Rainville
B)
1000 Miles to the HOF or Bust...
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JoeRainville
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1000 Miles to the HOF or Bust...
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.
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grantnelson00
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1000 Miles to the HOF or Bust...
reads like Homer's "The Odyssey."
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JoeRainville
- Posts: 4355
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:00 am
- Real Name: "John Deere Joe"
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1000 Miles to the HOF or Bust...
Friday Morning we got up reasonable early to head up to the HOF. I have a sled to Deliver about 50 miles north of Greenbay, kind of out of the way to the HOF. Talked to a few of JD guys on the way out of town.
We made our way to Leon Koch's Performance Center to drop off a Yamaha GP 396. Turns out Leon is the guy that found all those rare Yamaha racers from the early 70's including a sled wih a sand cast motor Mike Trapp raced. He also has a 634 racer with the external bearing on the end of the drive clutch to keep the crank from braking. Pretty cool stuff, we were on a mission to get to the HOF as early as possable.
As luck goes, we were about 2 1/2 hrs from the HOF when we left the drop off location. Rats. I drove as quick as I could, but the NY crew missed the HOF dedication of the Ramstead library. We arrived in St. Germain about 4:00, too late to see the dedication, but plenty early to visit with everyone. One of my highlights was seeing the pic's I sent Loren this past summer of CJ Ramstead signing the 340/s hood I brought for Aaron Z, and another pic of CJ taking a pic of Brian Nelson signing the same hood. It was an honor to be a small part of Ramstead Library.
While at the HOF I introduced, (or ment to!) Tim, Nick and Greg to Jon Carlson and some of the other Deere guys. I then took Lindners 340/s for a short spin, and handed out NOS Deere parts to a few of the guys like Kevin Campbell and Don Amber. Since Don's bratty kid Bob was there, we had to talk to him also. Since he wasn't buying beer, it was a short one.
After checking in to the Rustic Manor, we met up with the JD Crew at the 19th hole for a fish fry. Jon Carlson kindly joined us also, and provided more ETD stories to entertain us. Turns out this Fish Fry my have been the root of stomach evil, but for this evening I was fine.
The guys wanted to ride, we headed out about 7:30 to hit the trails. After all, we were in St. Germain to ride. I was also egar to see how my freashly rebuilt sled would hold up on the RWC, so an early shake down was in order.
Tim, Nick and I were on Arctic Cats, fitting since Chris Twoney, the COE of Cat was getting inducted. We had an F7, F5 and my beat up old SnoCross sled. Greg was on his Trailfire. We rode from the Rustic Manor to the west of St. Germain, and cross a few of the smaller lakes. We then decided to head toward Eagle River and turned around. At every intersection, I checked with the guys to make sure I got the thumbs up from everyone. The trail was freashly groomed, so Greg could hang with our brisk pace on his soon be law breaking Trailfire.
We arrived in Eagle River around 11:30 at night, and filled up all the sleds. I was a bit surprised it was so late, especially since we were getting up for a 7:30 breakfast. We ran like Deere's back to St. Germain, but I missed a turn, (big surprise right?) and we ended up a few mile in the wrong direction.
We arrived back at the hotel after 1:00, and in the rack by 1:30, setting the alarms for a scary early 6:30 am. But, what the heck, we were here to ride, and an excellent ride it was!
Next up: Fast (as hell) Ride with the Champs, food issues, and more fun...
-Rainville
B)
We made our way to Leon Koch's Performance Center to drop off a Yamaha GP 396. Turns out Leon is the guy that found all those rare Yamaha racers from the early 70's including a sled wih a sand cast motor Mike Trapp raced. He also has a 634 racer with the external bearing on the end of the drive clutch to keep the crank from braking. Pretty cool stuff, we were on a mission to get to the HOF as early as possable.
As luck goes, we were about 2 1/2 hrs from the HOF when we left the drop off location. Rats. I drove as quick as I could, but the NY crew missed the HOF dedication of the Ramstead library. We arrived in St. Germain about 4:00, too late to see the dedication, but plenty early to visit with everyone. One of my highlights was seeing the pic's I sent Loren this past summer of CJ Ramstead signing the 340/s hood I brought for Aaron Z, and another pic of CJ taking a pic of Brian Nelson signing the same hood. It was an honor to be a small part of Ramstead Library.
While at the HOF I introduced, (or ment to!) Tim, Nick and Greg to Jon Carlson and some of the other Deere guys. I then took Lindners 340/s for a short spin, and handed out NOS Deere parts to a few of the guys like Kevin Campbell and Don Amber. Since Don's bratty kid Bob was there, we had to talk to him also. Since he wasn't buying beer, it was a short one.
After checking in to the Rustic Manor, we met up with the JD Crew at the 19th hole for a fish fry. Jon Carlson kindly joined us also, and provided more ETD stories to entertain us. Turns out this Fish Fry my have been the root of stomach evil, but for this evening I was fine.
The guys wanted to ride, we headed out about 7:30 to hit the trails. After all, we were in St. Germain to ride. I was also egar to see how my freashly rebuilt sled would hold up on the RWC, so an early shake down was in order.
Tim, Nick and I were on Arctic Cats, fitting since Chris Twoney, the COE of Cat was getting inducted. We had an F7, F5 and my beat up old SnoCross sled. Greg was on his Trailfire. We rode from the Rustic Manor to the west of St. Germain, and cross a few of the smaller lakes. We then decided to head toward Eagle River and turned around. At every intersection, I checked with the guys to make sure I got the thumbs up from everyone. The trail was freashly groomed, so Greg could hang with our brisk pace on his soon be law breaking Trailfire.
We arrived in Eagle River around 11:30 at night, and filled up all the sleds. I was a bit surprised it was so late, especially since we were getting up for a 7:30 breakfast. We ran like Deere's back to St. Germain, but I missed a turn, (big surprise right?) and we ended up a few mile in the wrong direction.
We arrived back at the hotel after 1:00, and in the rack by 1:30, setting the alarms for a scary early 6:30 am. But, what the heck, we were here to ride, and an excellent ride it was!
Next up: Fast (as hell) Ride with the Champs, food issues, and more fun...
-Rainville
B)
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.