Racer Profile:
Don
Amber
Forum user name: WinnipegStPaul9
Don Amber started snowmobiling in the late 60's, usually riding Scorpions. He started cross country racing in 1973 using a Polaris 295. He ran the Polaris in the I-500 during 73 and 74, which was sponsored by the small town of Churubusco, Indiana. People of the town donated money, had bake sales, and the fire department held bean dinners, all to raise money to support the "'Busco Bullet", which was the only race entry from Indiana. The name 'Busco Bullet came about when the town held a contest to name the machine. A motor home and a set of snow tires was loaned to the team for race support by local businesses. Don became a local celebrity, with newspaper articles highlighting his team's story and progress during the multi-day races.
In the words of Don: "Here is a picture of our race truck for the '75 race. It is parked beside the JD factory team truck called "Wet & Wild". On the morning of the race start in Winnipeg, the temperature with wind chill was -85 degrees. The high dollar cameras hired by JD would not work as the oil in them was too thick. JD asked us to use our truck first to warm the cameras and then to let the "team" warm up. Needless to say we let those on the team that we liked in, the others had to fend for themselves."
The first day of the 75 race went pretty well for us. We arrived in East Grand Forks, Minnesota in plenty of time giving us a decent starting
position the following day. Unfortunately the second day didn't go as well. It was warmer than the previous day and I lost time when snow got in around my air intake, warmed and turned to ice shutting off air to the engine, just like pulling the choke. I lost time when I had to stop, break the ice, and continue on.
Here you can see where the snow got in to block the intake:
continued on crossing the finish line 10 minutes past the legal time. We were all disqualified. Needless to say it left a quite bitter taste in our mouths especially after our appeal was denied. I came home, put the sled away until it came out again this past spring." - Don
Forum user name: WinnipegStPaul9
Don Amber started snowmobiling in the late 60's, usually riding Scorpions. He started cross country racing in 1973 using a Polaris 295. He ran the Polaris in the I-500 during 73 and 74, which was sponsored by the small town of Churubusco, Indiana. People of the town donated money, had bake sales, and the fire department held bean dinners, all to raise money to support the "'Busco Bullet", which was the only race entry from Indiana. The name 'Busco Bullet came about when the town held a contest to name the machine. A motor home and a set of snow tires was loaned to the team for race support by local businesses. Don became a local celebrity, with newspaper articles highlighting his team's story and progress during the multi-day races.
Getting ready to leave for the
trip:
In 1975, Don was fortunate enough to get
a new ride with the Northeast Indiana
John Deere Dealers through JD's Columbus Branch. The new machine
was a 340/S.
Don's 340/S Sitting just outside
of their race truck:
In the words of Don: "Here is a picture of our race truck for the '75 race. It is parked beside the JD factory team truck called "Wet & Wild". On the morning of the race start in Winnipeg, the temperature with wind chill was -85 degrees. The high dollar cameras hired by JD would not work as the oil in them was too thick. JD asked us to use our truck first to warm the cameras and then to let the "team" warm up. Needless to say we let those on the team that we liked in, the others had to fend for themselves."
The first day of the 75 race went pretty well for us. We arrived in East Grand Forks, Minnesota in plenty of time giving us a decent starting
position the following day. Unfortunately the second day didn't go as well. It was warmer than the previous day and I lost time when snow got in around my air intake, warmed and turned to ice shutting off air to the engine, just like pulling the choke. I lost time when I had to stop, break the ice, and continue on.
Here you can see where the snow got in to block the intake:
The killer though was yet to come. There were approximately 10-12 sleds in a pack when we entered a woods. In the woods we encountered a "Y" on the trail and as usual the "wrong" way was closed with barricade tape. What we didn't know was that someone intentionally changed the tape and we went about 10 miles or so before we figured it out. We returned to the "Y", where we found the tape was back in it's correct position and
continued on crossing the finish line 10 minutes past the legal time. We were all disqualified. Needless to say it left a quite bitter taste in our mouths especially after our appeal was denied. I came home, put the sled away until it came out again this past spring." - Don
Recently,
Don decided to sell his 340/S after years of sitting in the
shed. This was the first time it saw daylight since the '70s.
The odometer showed 1,263 miles, the engine was stuck.
The buyer appreciated the sled for what it was.
The buyer appreciated the sled for what it was.