How sweet it is ..... Check it out

AirborneX4Special · Post by **AirborneX4Special** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:06 pm

I'd say it would be a fairly blurred line between work and play when one is paid to drive snowmobiles for evaluation, but comedy is still a requirement.

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:41 pm

I wonder about the license plate. WI never ran plates for sleds, and the number doesn't match my memory of letters and digits.

Oh, and Ed had the dream job!

Post by **Wildfire II** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:09 pm

Those were special factory plates that x amount were ussued from state. At end of testing we remover from sleds before scrapeing ,threw in box, and used the next year, dont know how long they were good for but later on we had orange plates. You can see them on alot of my test pictures. No paper work involved, just pop rivet or duct tape on and go. Plate numbers have no meaning, not sure if they were ever recorded anywhere. Yes cool job and at times VERY COOL as in cold testing in Alaska. enjoy ED Pic is -25

Post by **Wildfire II** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:20 pm

PS; Those were not Coldwave suits back then, Vest and newspaper top and newspaper and duct tape on legs. Enjoy ED

Horicon Joe · Post by **Horicon Joe** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:30 pm

Ed ..... I often wondered if anybody ever came up to you guys and questioned what these test sleds are or even noticed something different about them?
Did you ever see your competitors out testing prototype sleds?

Here is a shot of under the hood.
Do you think this thing would have done an endo over the first jump? A bit nose heavy perhaps ......

Joe

spitfireguyII · Post by **spitfireguyII** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:51 pm

Those pictures are great Ed testing a proto type trailfire and the set up on that most likely 340/s or cyclone proto type. Love the old pictures can't wait to see more.

Post by **Matt** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:49 pm

Wildfire II wrote:PS; Those were not Coldwave suits back then, Vest and newspaper top and newspaper and duct tape on legs. Enjoy ED

This picture makes me think: Ed Kruel is.............................."The most interesting man alive"

HoosierDeereMan · Post by **HoosierDeereMan** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:48 pm

Not only is Ed Kruel the most interesting man alive but he also had the prescence of mind to carry that camera to provide us with all these great photos! Atta Boy Ed!

There are alot of things going on in that photo! What are the additional gauges for? Also why are there ground wires running from the steering tower to the spark plugs? Is that a Arctic Cat gas tank? Note the Walbro carburetor!Interesting exhaust pipe! Very busy photo! Wanie, thanks for sharing Ed's photos they are trully priceless!

Troy

S_Kyle · Post by **S_Kyle** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:04 am

HoosierDeereMan wrote:Not only is Ed Kruel the most interesting man alive but he also had the prescence of mind to carry that camera to provide us with all these great photos! Atta Boy Ed!

There are alot of things going on in that photo! What are the additional gauges for? Also why are there ground wires running from the steering tower to the spark plugs? Is that a Arctic Cat gas tank? Note the Walbro carburetor!Interesting exhaust pipe! Very busy photo! Wanie, thanks for sharing Ed's photos they are trully priceless!

Troy

I would think that they are cylinder head temp gauges. But that still leaves one gauge unaccounted for

Post by **Wildfire II** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:14 am

You are right. One is spark plug temp the outher yellow wires under the eng are exhaust gas temp. This picture is from the late Lee Hardesty collection that Joe Wanie has. Not much is knowen about this sled. was not tested in Horicon. Not sure where it was built. Looks like it was early attempt at front mount. The first front mount proto was built in our shop, the second built by Dale Cormican. Eng and dyno pipe could have came from Japan factory as Lee made many trips to the Japan eng factory. I know a person that might have more info on this sled. will give him a call. Pictures below are my best pics ever. Showing John Orvis, Dale, Roger Jansen. and Jr Peterson 340/s proto Enjoy ED

Post by **Wildfire II** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:16 am

Pics not working will send later

AirborneX4Special · Post by **AirborneX4Special** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:31 am

Were you testing those green "Trailfires" in the mid - seventies? The one in the background has the unpainted tunnel concept.

Thanks for hauling your camera and then remembering to use it! The people who do get harassed at the time and then praised 35 years later......

Horicon Joe · Post by **Horicon Joe** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:55 am

Most interesting man in the world? Well there is a strong resemblance ..........

Post by **Wildfire II** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:13 pm

Joe!!! One question. Where's the girls?

Horicon Joe · Post by **Horicon Joe** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:56 pm

Ed ..... are you sure there was never any girls around?

But you took these pictures ...........

How sweet it is ..... Check it out

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