2009 Ride with the Champs & Horicon Reunion

kwc · Post by **kwc** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:23 am

gumbofarmer - I rode my 76 300 at last years ride (pictured 2nd one from the end) and I was getting laughed at everywhere I went.....come to find out it wasn't the sled they were laughing at!

Gas that 300 up and join us for the ride, you will not be disappointed.

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Post by **JRC ETD** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:42 pm

Plan on riding a Liquidator on the HOF vintage ride, give the old girl one more chance! Looking forward to seeing all. JRC

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:34 pm

Wow! It had appeared that absolutely no one had the will to ride a Dator

It will be an honor to ride with you sir!

One thing I'm concerned about though... with Don doing the Vintage ride with Keith Warning, we don't have a first responder riding with us ( that I know of ).
So we really need to keep Rainville out of the trees! :lol22:

Post by **JRC ETD** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:03 pm

Looking forward to it Brian....no worries, nice and smooth, we want all the sleds to complete the trip. Best JRC

JoeRainville · Post by **JoeRainville** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 2:35 pm

For the record: It was "Sidekick Nick" that Doug Hays pulled out of the woods last year's RWC. Shows the value of studs and carbides, as Nick was running his F5 unstudded at the time.

Brian, I will also have my "Safe-Jac" on just in case I get caried away trying to keep up with JRC... And Ken Kenope, the inventor of the "Safe-Jac" is being inducted into the HOF this year.

Jon: Glad to see you and the Dator are trying to make up after all these years. Remember the pep talk Brian gave her. She is not heavy, she is strong. She is not tempermental, she is built for speed. And most of all, she is not ugly, she is uniquely beautiful!

Can't wait for the ride. Praying for snow (and no break downs!)
-Rainville

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:24 pm

Hmmmmm....

Kenny claims his Dator weighed 740 pounds in race trim fully fueled.

When he told me that, I was speechless for a moment! This is a bit like digging fat chicks! :lol22:

Strong indeed! there's a lot of her to love.

Post by **JRC ETD** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:47 pm

Shes a fast ride and demands that she is in control........suicide blonde in green drag, I need Bob and Brian to pour some fairy dust on her before I pull the rope, evil resides in her soul. JRC

Post by **dator** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:50 pm

I wish all you guys going to the HOF ride, a good time,i wish i could join you, ride hard and be safe.

"Jon,the Dator engine is music to my ears. " you lucky guy!!!

Have fun.---------Bob

Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:44 am

Great time!!! Here are some of my pictures.

Friday afternoon a bunch of us rode with Kevin (kwc) over to the HOF for the handing over of his 295/S to it's new owner Keith Warning. I hope everyone get the opportunity sometime to meet any or all of the Warning Family. You'll never meet a nicer bunch of folks and they have a terrific collection of sleds.

While there, we met Brian Nelson and his wife. Brian had been signing his posters which are a big fund raiser for the HOF. Bob (Deerekid9) was especially thrilled that Brian signed his helmet. Note: Bob's never asked me to sign his helmet...........hmmmm.

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Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:51 am

We were honored to have Jon Carlson, Brian Nelson and his wife Karen join us for dinner on Friday night. A great time was had by all, good food and more importanly great race stories. As I listened to both Jon and Brian speak about "making up time" to win the I-500, I couldn't help but smile inside thinking about how I only wanted to finish the race.

Indeen they had a totally different mission than I did. Also joining us for dinner (nearest the camera) was Roger (Jekyll) from the VSCA board and his buddy Dan. It was a real pleasure meeting them.

The second picture is supposed to be of the "real" John Deere Joe Rainville. I understand that there were several imposters at Horicon.

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Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:58 am

Saturday's event starts with breakfast. When possible, the JD guys tried to stick together. Here is a picture from breakfast and left to right are Brian (400Brian) Lindner, Troy (Hoosierdeereguy) Miley, Tom Cowing, Guy (JDGuy) Cowing, Bob (Deerekid9) Amber, Ross Heavener, and Kevin (kwc) Campbell.

At a nearby table were our buddies, L-R, Pat (Harleysportster) Scott, Matt (JDMatt) Spiece, and Kenny (Watersboy) Waters.

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Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:04 pm

Our ride group was lead by Keith Warning. We only rode about 60 miles but had a great time. Our first stop was at the Eliason Hardware in Sayner, WI. Does the name Eliason sound familiar? Carl Eliason invented the first motorized toboggan or the precursor to our modern sleds. On display at the hardware are some of his earliest work. What a great time we had there. Sorry I didn't take photos.

We ate lunch at Pope's (note: middle of nowhere but darn good food!). I met a new friend there who sat by me and agreed to have their photo taken with me.

After we left Pope's we rode onto a lake where we gathered for a group photo. It was a gray day so the photo isn't the greatest.

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Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:06 pm

Following the ride, and by the way both the 340/S and the Cyclone performed flawlessly, Harleysportster took a picture of Bob and I.

Brian Nelson left his truck unattended during the day so Bob and I decided it was only appropriate to write in the snow on his windshield.

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Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:12 pm

I said earlier that Brian Nelson signed his posters for the 2009 HOF fundraiser. At the banquet there was a silent auction to sell poster number 1. Our own Jon Carlson spoke about his friend Brian and managed to get the bid increased a lot bringing much needed funds to the HOF. We're all proud of you Jon! Here's a shot of Loren Anderson and Jon.

As you may have already heard, Jon blew (not figuretively, but literally) a clutch early in the ride. I only wished I could have given my sled to Jon for the rest of the ride. At the banquet Jon was given his own personal trophy by Loren. I don't know who created it but they did a great job.

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Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:16 pm

Finally, I was honored to have my racing suit and bib from the 1975 I-500 hung in the HOF. In my mind, it's a testament to the "independents" that have participated in the Winnipeg-St Paul International 500. Also hanging near it but not in the picture is my coat with my three I-500 patches and Park Rapids patches. Thanks Loren for the wonderful opportunity and special thanks for another great "Ride with the Champs". DA

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