Ride with the Champs: Vintage Challenge 2012

[JoeRainville]

Hello JD Collectors,

Saturday, February 18th will be the next Ride with the Champs and Vintage Challenge at The Hall of Fame in St. Germain, WI. I hear rooms are about sold out at the Whitetail Lodge already. As a recap for anyone who has never gone, each year the HOF inducts 4 new members in an induction cerimony dinner. The start of the day is breakfast at the Whitetail Inn, where the Ride with the Champs events are staged. At the conclusion of the ride, the participants regroup at the Whitetail Inn for an autograph session, dinner and induction cerimony.

There are two modern rider groups for the RWC. One stays more local to the St. Germain, Eagle River area, while the another group rides 75 miles north to Lake Gogebic to have lunch at Fishtails Restaurant. Since 2009 there have also been two vintage rider groups, once staying more local to the St. Germain area, while the other takes "The Challenge" to ride the 75 miles up to Fishtails also. We do "cheat" a bit, as we leave before the modern riders, hitting the trail right after breakfast while the modern group make a visit to the HOF.

Also new last year was a womans group lead by Joanne Kruger. Last year snow was scarce, so many of us trailed up north to ride an abridged route of mixed sleds, new and vintage. The womans group charted a bus to hit a wine tour, but with some luck they will be able to ride this year also. Rumor has it several "JDSLEDS.COM wives" will be making the event for the first time this year.

Past celeberty riders have included the likes of Brian Nelson, John Carlson, Stan Hayes, Jim Dimmerman, Archie Simmonson and many other notables. We have been very fortunate to have several I-500 champs join the vintage group in years past. And there is always an element of surprise between custom "big block" vintage sleds and new celeberty's joining the group as Jim Dimmerman did last year on a 900cc ElTigre mod.

The Deere collectors have always made a strong showing since Robert Carlson was inducted in 2007, usually making up nearly half of the Vintage Challenge attempters. Questions remain from last year however...
Will Brian Lindner ever get to ride a 340/s, or is the the trusty X-8 going for the 4th time?
Can I kill less than two sleds on one ride, or should I bring a trailer full of spares?
Can a Liquidator finish the full ride? Can Todd Myers pull it off?
What sled will our own JRC pull out of retirement to lead the way with?
How many Pretolite CDI boxes will meet their maker?

For answers to these question and more...BE THERE!
-Joe Rainville





Last edited today because I felt like it:>)

[80spitfire]

I'm in! I've always wanted to do this ride!

[400brian]

I had procrastinated long enough, I reserved a room Tuesday. I did not pointedly ask, but the impression I got from the room choices offered me, was that the Whitetail Lodge was pretty much booked up. There are many other motels in the Eagle River - Minoqua area, so if you can't commit until closer to the event, you'll most likely be able to find a room. Cancellations at the Whitetail happen as well, with last year's snow conditions, the place went from overbooked to mostly empty within a week.

I'll make no predictions as to what I will ride, but the X8 will come along, it has become a tradition.

If everything works out, the wife may come along...be very afraid for me.

I've attended everyone of these since the Carlson induction. We ALWAYS have a good time. Last year was a test, but even with the terrible snow conditions ( Loren said it was the worst in all the 27 years of the event ), we got it done.
The snow was gone, the lakes were barely frozen slush on top of the ice ( 60 degrees will do that ), but with a road trip north, we did get some miles on. It was a great time, and obviously long enough for some guy to trash 2 sleds.

The Deere guys have really made a statement with our support for this event, and we'd like to keep that up.
In the interest of full disclosure, I will state: this is not an inexpensive weekend, but judging by the repeat participation, it is worth it.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Made reservations for Bob, Sean, and myself a couple weeks ago. Hope the snow condition is better this year.
Friday night fish fry on again???

DA

[HoosierDeereMan]

I made my reservations at the Whitetail also and as Brian mentioned it was slim pickings. Some guy from New York had spoken for several rooms and the entire garage area!



My wife Amy is planning on attending this year too and participate in the women's ride. I guess I was having way too much fun hanging out with all you guys in the North Woods!

Is there going to be a poker run on Friday again? That's always a good time hanging out with the Warning crew. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones! The sleds that show up for this event are second to none!

I can't wait! What are the odds on Rainville this year? That guy can burn down an icecube and throw a track off a tank!

Troy

[JoeRainville]

80 Spitfire, great to have you join us!
Don, no doubt you should make plans for another fishfry. I think Bob should pay this year too.

Troy and Lindner, Cari is looking forward to meeting more "Deere Wives". Not sure if letting them compare notes is such a good idea though.

I was jinxed last year when Jeff Zeller awarded me the "John Burlintino (sp) Mechanical Failure Award" even before I broke something. Both that and the Jon Carlson First Out trophie are proudly displayed on my mantle. I would take a weekend of busting up sleds with you guys over reading about it on the internet any day!

I do expect the poker run to happen again this year. I hope to have a 2 up Deere ready for the run. Something nice and trustworthy...like a Texas Cyclone!

[deereoftheyear]

Is this event always been held in mid-February? I wish they would hold it in the 3rd or 4th week of January. I
ve road alot up there and January always seems to be the best. Colder, and plenty of snow. I just hate to run a old sled when its barely below freezing. Maybe more sleds would finish??? Either way I'm sure it's fun.

[ICCSF 108]

3rd week in Jan I-500, last weekend in Jan Waconia, can't compete with those too!! dates..

Kenny

[Norton]

Not sure yet of the number of riders heading east from ND but we will be there again for the HOF Ride Saturday and the Banquet too. We have a room at the Whitetail and are hoping that the Friday Poker Run and DA's now legendary Fish Fry are also in the weekend activities. Sleds will be ready for the snow by the end of this month so that should give time to test ride.
I am hoping to see and get a chance to exchange ride (with caution of course) other colors from the past this year. Love to spend 15 miles or so on a bright yellow RV from the day and a Cross Country Cat too. ETJ is color blind you know!!
Joe, I would also love to see a Liquidator go the distance without a need to open hood! Now two things to wish for St. Germain weekend, snow and a bullet proof Dator. I am not up to the challange of making mine bullet proof... will stick to the Cyclone's and LF's.

keith

[JoeRainville]

Hi Kieth,

I really would have liked to have finished the Challenge on a Liquidator. I tried twice, smoked a Pretolite the first time, and then the track last year. I will try it on a Dator again, but not this year, and not that Dator. I do love this pic that Larry Preston took two years ago:



For this year, I am planning to bring another Deere racer. I ran a 78 CC Liquifire the first year w/o opening the hood, tried a Dator twice, so it's time for a 340/s. Based on my, and those sleds, past performance, wish me luck...lots of luck.

We look forward to seeing you there again, bringing the Cross Country again?



And here was Jeff Zeller casting an evil spell by awarding a break down trophie BEFORE I even killed a sled...or two:>)



-Joe

Edited because Grumpy made fun of my spelling, or lack there of:>)

[ICCSF 108]

You know Rainville IF I was a Dator & you screwed up spelling my name like you did I'd break down also!!

Kenny

[S_Kyle]

Anyone tried it on a 295s yet?

[Den]

If my 83 Sprintfire "Rider" survives the season & our 150 mile club run the week before MAYBE I can show DA how
I ride with only 1 arm instead of trying to tell the story. Keeping my fingers crossed for snow.
Cleaning up & out 2 of mine this weekend. I've still got 3" of snow in the back yard from 2 days ago.
Won't last long enough to ride on by the time I clean everything out, but it got my wife ready to bring them
back home anyway.

[400brian]

Anyone tried it on a 295s yet?

Troy did the poker run 2 years ago on his freshly restored 295/S, but I don't believe anyone has tried the VC on one.

[HoosierDeereMan]

The 295/S did survive the poker run. I've flirted with it but would like to survive the long version of the ride with the 340/S first.

Troy