Deere Racers at the Vintage I-500

[JoeRainville]

Hi Guys,

Most of you probably already know that our very own ETD racer Jon Carlson is going to run the Vintage Class of the I-500 this January in Red Lake, MN under the USCC organization. (usccracing.com) It's going to be a 170 mile run on Saturday, the 2nd day of the main I-500. We will be going out after all the modern sleds, so I am sure they will leave a nice...uh...smooth trail for us to follow.

Brian Nelson will also be racing on a 79 Cat, and now I hear at least one other former ETD racer is going to join the fray. To add to the fun, Joey Halstrom of Cat and retired SnoCross champion Aaron Scheele are going to race. Even in August, this event was a popular discussion at Princeton.

How many of my follow collectors are going to join us? Tim Kudla plans to run the modern class all three days on his Cat 500 Sno Pro. Watersboy and I are building an 81 and 80 Liquifires, plus practice/back up sleds. I've heard rumblings of some of the MN guys might be riding big body Liquifires out there.

So...will you join us? And if not, will you come and run our gas stops, LOL!

Later Liquidator!
-Rainville

[69camaro]

I would love to Joe. I'm almost positive my bad back could not take it especially if we are following the new stuff with big moguls. Darn, if we weren't following them I would have given it a try. Good seeing you at Princeton.

Duane

[WinnipegStPaul9]

So...will you join us? And if not, will you come and run our gas stops, LOL!

Later Liquidator!
-Rainville

No and No but thanks for asking.

[deereoftheyear]

I WILL HOPE TO BE JOINING !!!!!!!!! GOD WILLING I CAN GET MY LIQUIFIRE BACK TO TOGETHER. i MAKING GOOD PROGRESS THOUGH. SUSPENSION DONE BUT JUST STARTING ENGINE REASSEMBLY. PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED ON THE DETAILS JOE!

THANKS, LUKE.

[lwb140]

im there dude wade

[lwb140]

just read the rules , ooooh that sounds like fun ,not sure my tender bones would repond well to such an event too bad my 76-78 dator clone would be an automatic out wade

[pjr]

So...will you join us? And if not, will you come and run our gas stops, LOL!

Later Liquidator!
-Rainville

No and No but thanks for asking...

[ICCSF 108]

Hey Rainville, I know a midget I might be able to pour gas for you.. you know lower to the ground so he won't have to lift the can so high.. it might subtract a sec. or so from you fuel stops??

Kenny

[Norton]

Hello Joe and others,

I will be at the Red Lake race as a pit crew for ETD Jekyll and his planned sled, a Polaris TXC. No plans to race as of this time but it is not out of the question. Roger is planning on practicing some ditch riding & cold weather testing here at the farm a few days before, as we are about 95 miles from TRF. If someone is short a pit crew, I can maybe find a local farmer type that is looking for a winter activity, to help that day.

I have been doing some what-ifs about JD sled setup within the rules of the race this winter. It will be interesting to see how the early LF and the later LF do againist each other. Does anyone know if they ever run head to head in the day? I had a visit this summer with I500 Chuck and we both think that the big LF and the longer wheel base has a very good chance in the ditches which I have read is mostly what this course is! Read on Vintage sleds that Nelson is breaking in tracks on a dyno. If true, it tells me some guys are really taking this race VERY serious.....

So would this be a good time and place to share ideas about sled prep for the Red Lake? Kinda like a modern day "Liquidator Newsletter".

kb

[lwb140]

im kinda in a big stew thinking about this, will be there but way too ...well alot of things to race but this will be great to see and be a part of , breaking in tracks?? omg wade

[BU1]

Read on Vintage sleds that Nelson is breaking in tracks on a dyno. If true, it tells me some guys are really taking this race VERY serious.....

If you only knew...............................

[deereoftheyear]

How do we sign up for the race?
-Luke

[kenwaters]

I'm down thirty pounds, exercising daily, shock development well underway, I have a dedicated chassis, discussions daily with my race partner.....If you only knew is an understatement.

[AirborneX4Special]

[JoeRainville]

How do we sign up for the race?
-Luke

Hi Luke,

You can sign up with USCC (United States Cross Country) racing circuit at: http://www.usccracing.com You can either do a weekend membership or sign up for the full season as a racer. The vintage rules are posted under the news section.

I know many former Pro racers are in fact taking this VERY seriously. Aaron Scheel and Joey Halstrom are going to be joining Brian Nelson on Cat's. Aside from JRC, I hear rumor that Doug Oster may be building a Liquifire. I'm working on a few more NOS parts care packages, so there are about 1/2 dozen Liquifire's undergoing race prep that I know of. I would hope to see a strong Deere showing, and finish!

Kenny is in better shape than I've seen him since he worked on a farm. And he better be with the compition running the main class. The +50 legends will be a return of the monumental battles of the mid to late 70's with JRC, Brian, Archie Simmonson, Doug plus other racers from back in the day that made the I-500 the legend that it is. In the main class, no doubt some major riders will show up to join Aaron and the rest of us regular guys.

As for the sleds, many of them are recieving the class legal clutching and shocks updates, not to mention current tracks and ski skins. I hear 30 year old motors are being dyno'd, modern clutching being caibrated, new brakes are being retofitted.

Yes, I would say this is going to be a very serious event, and probably the most fun I'll ever have on a 1980 Liquifire!
-Joe Rainville
#621 Liquifire