Vintage Challenge

[T White]

Hi guys,
I was wondering if we had a total number of sleds that completed the Vintage Challenge this year.
What was on the oldest sled and who rode it?
How many Deeres started and finished?
How many of you are already preparing for next year to earn the coveted Vintage Challenge Certifercate Of Achievement?
I can't wait until next year!!!!!
Tom

[400brian]

I had the oldest Deere for sure, probably the oldest sled in the group.

[HoosierDeereMan]

After the 2010 VC ride this year there were several comments about getting one of these Deere race sleds to finish. I had forgotten but in the 2009 VC ride Rainville did ride his 78 CC to a finish.

Also there are some guys who have ridden the same sled two years in row that have finished. Brian Lindner on the '74 X8 and Guy Cowing on his '80 Liquifire. I'm sure there are some others that I'm not aware of. That's a huge accomplishment in my book!

Two years in row now I felt I've been as prepared as you can be. Each year we do this I come away with new knowledge and things to do different to enhance my chances for next year. Third time is a charm!

Troy

[JoeRainville]

I had the oldest Deere for sure, probably the oldest sled in the group.

And your JDX-8 muffler was slightly better than my Dator ignition, LOL!

Tom, I will have to go through the sign up list, but we had heavy Deere casualties. Both Dators dropped out (Todd and mine), none of the three 340/s' (Don's, Watersboy, Troy's) made it but Don,s was very close to finishing with Brian Nelson aboard, Kevins friggin sweet 800 dropped out just after the first gas stop, JRC's "TrippleFire" died right after the first gas stop, I think one the Cyclones dropped out on the way home, your LF was hungery for some bark. A 78 CC dropped out too.

My 84 Liquifire with Stan Hayes at the controls made the two way trip with no problems other than adding some chaincase oil to cover a slow leak, my 83 Sprintfire made it down from Fishtails after loading up my missfiring Dator, as did Troy on Todd's spare 440 Cyclone. Watersboy's 80's brought JRC back to the Whitetail from Cisco Lake. Other Deeres that did the complete ride included Guy Cowings beautiful 80 Liquifire, Linder's JDX-8, Matt's 83 Sportfire, Pat's 78 Cyclone, I think young Tucker(Comandants grandson) on Todd Myers 340 Cyclone.

I am sure I am missing a few sleds, but I will update the post after I check my facts with the guys.

-Rainville

[JDGuy]

My 80LF and 92EXT don't look so good at the moment. Both are in bad need of a good bath, especially to wash out the Wisconsin sand from the rear suspensions.

[400brian]

The 340 Cyclone Tucker was on, went down late in the last leg, perhaps due to a fuel pump.

[T White]

Joe,
The Liquifire might of got a mouth full of bark but did manage to make it
back to the White Tail under it's own power. I'm presently engineering
a chainsaw that will be an integral part of the front bumper for next year.
I'll call you if I need any NOS parts.
Tom

[plugged jet]

My son's 83 Sportfire made it with a minimum of fuss---two blown belts the last one replaced with the spare off my Merc. Other than this it ran very well.

Allen Teach--the guy on the 75 Merc SnoTwister

[Norton]

Hello Vintage Challenge enthusiasts,

Mechanically it was a difficult year to be on this ride. Our 78 CC has a loud grinding sound coming from the PTO side of the crankcase and our 82 LF ignition system just does not like high under hood temps as she only will idle when hot, then when cool runs like a champ. Both components on both sleds gone through within the last 3 months but failed anyway. Even our back-up sled, a 1996 ZRT, developed a heat exchanger leak on Friday. It is the same story for the other guys in our group, one with a Moto Ski and another with TXL. Running these old sleds more than 10 miles from the shop is not for the “faint of heart”.

One thing I have learned in the last two Vintage Challenges is this: “IT IS NOT ABOUT WHICH SLEDS FINISHED OR WHICH ONE SPARKLES THE MOST, IT IS ABOUT THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT I MEET AND SHARE MY HOBBY WITH"!!!

Great memories for a very long time....

keith

[lwb140]

definetly sounds like a great time !! will try to make it next year for sure !! wade

[I500]

Kind of sounds like if i was there with my checkbook i could of got some pretty good deals on some Deere racesleds. Thats cold

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Hello Vintage Challenge enthusiasts,


One thing I have learned in the last two Vintage Challenges is this: “IT IS NOT ABOUT WHICH SLEDS FINISHED OR WHICH ONE SPARKLES THE MOST, IT IS ABOUT THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT I MEET AND SHARE MY HOBBY WITH"!!!

Great memories for a very long time....

keith

Amen to that brother!!!!! Great people, great times!

DA

[lwb140]

so what would you say the typical average speed of the ride is ?? wade

[Matt]

Average speed would be pretty hard to pin down because we were on everything from forest trails, to icy roads, to lakes.

[lwb140]

sounds like a real blast , i guess im gonna have to keep wrenchin '!!!! wade