Conference asd::snowmobiles

    Gsary,
      How did you do at the time rally??  Have some fun??  Did you get to
    ride other sleds??  What did you think??  What do you think of the
    Yamaha 600 SX??
      Hey, curious minds want to know..
    
    
    Later,
    Kurt 
    

    Hi Kurt,
      Due to finicky weather, the rally was delayed for two weekends. We 
    could have run it but the people running decided this on Friday night.
    I might get to try some other sleds this weekend. Depends on everyones
    schedules.
     Personally I don't think I have a chance in hell of winning the rally.
    Doing the speed limit isn't my cup of tea.
    
    snowman

    Hi,
    
    Here in New Hampshire where there is not alot of snow anywhere, there
    have already been 6 deaths most of which are purportedly due to
    excessive speed and alchohol.  The state is getting very serious about
    enforcement of the 45 mph speed limit and checkpoints to combat DWI. 
    To that end Channel 9 here in NH is doing some indepth work with the
    state and will have some information on the 6 o'clock and 11 o'clock
    news tomorrow, Thursday, January 30th.  I'm not sure what the upshot of
    this will be but perhaps it might be of interest to some of you.
    
    There was an article in the Union Leader yesterday about Pittsburg and
    how Fish and Game is working long hours at rescues and checkpoints. 
    One of the stories was that a family group was run off the trail with
    the mother and daughter being jettisonned from the sled.  Upon meeting
    a F&G officer they complained and gave a pretty good description of the
    offending group.  When the F&G officer caught up to the 6 males, only
    one showed any concern or remorse and the others thought it was a good
    joke!  It's that kind of attitude which will close the trails through
    the private property that we all use.
    
    Please be careful and ride responsibly.  I don't want any of you being
    a statistic.
    
    Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.....  Sorry for the interruption.
    
    Dana
    

    re _1
    
    I read that article also.  On top of what you've mentioned I was 
    also allarmed at a comment some official said.  Something to the
    effect that in days past the problem element was say... 1%, but
    now it's more like 10%. That's quite a problem and really lowers
    our odds of survival out there.  I'm all for them cracking down 
    on serious offenders and those that display that certain "attitude"
    as long as the remaining 90% of us aren't negatively impacted by
    the increased pressures.  The article gave the impression that the
    fines aren't enough of an deterant since these problem sledders have 
    deep pockets :^).  Not this guy.
    
    Dick          

    The newsgroup has been riddled with these types of posts this year. 
    Also, the posts have even gone as far as "what to do about it" .  My
    suggestion is this.  Let the idiots do their thing and crash and burn .
    (see the laugh here) and then buy a few nice BIG sleds .  Heavy and
    full of lead.  (like 72 skidoo used to be) Then follow these idiots
    around with it and when they start doing the stupid thing aim it their
    direction and proclaim your victory !! Ha.. good one huh??  
    Anyway,  
      The consensus in the newsgroup was that there was very little (other
    than laws and enforcement) that anyone could do to make it better. I
    feel that really whats necessary is to do a cost increase in trail and
    user fees.  That would help keep some people at bay.  Also, that would
    allow the police part of the job to happen. (they really aren't
    complaining of new fees .. Yet) It's going to take a combination of
    better enforcement and laws to help it out. Drinking and driving is
    also a really big part of the problem although if you ask people you'll
    hear them say "not me".  So who is the problem??  
    
    l8tr..
    Stevem..

    Yea.. but.  Increasing the fees is penalizing the innocent.  I think
    the idea of less people on the trails is great but take down those people 
    that shouldn't be there in the first place.  It shouldn't be a function 
    of $ as far a the privilege goes,... those with deep pockets are the
    privileged.  To me it's simple.  Make it REAL painful for violators so
    they think,  do I really want to do this again?  We don't have to 
    esculate this into a war on snowmobilers by increasing the number of
    wardens to a point where it takes whatever pleasure is left out of the
    sport, always looking over your shoulder, etc.   Agreed, a greator
    presense may be needed but they'll still need a big stick to convince
    those with a attitude.
    
    Dick  

    
    
        Dick, 
    
        It could be regarded as penalizing the innocent, but the 
     other side of the coin would be;  It would provide a much safer
     environment for you, your family and friends.  That's *if* 
     those increased funds were used to monitor the trails. 
    
        I would have no problem paying more to have a greater F & G
     presense on the trails.  (Not that these people are my pals.) 
     It's a matter of first getting the drinkers off the trails and
     then getting the out'n'out wackos off the trails. 
    
        My personal risk is that some F&G may take me for a wacko. 
     Truth be told, I enjoy running my sled up to the higher 
     performance levels.  HOWEVER!!!   I do not do that unless I 
     have a clear shot at it. 
    
        Two weeks ago the trails were fair to good up at Pittsburg 
     and Colebrook.  The down side was the tight corners were a 
     sheet of ice.  Take a trail like 18E out of Colebrook and then 
     the trail heading up to Coleman State Park.  Nice but on the 
     real twisty stuff you had to brake down to 5 to 15mph.  There
     was no way in the world the sled would stay on yur side of the 
     trail with that ice.  Even five miles per hour seems fast when 
     there is no way in the world to control the sled until you 
     cross the entire corner and pick up the soft stuff on the other 
     side.
    
    
     -Rick.      
    

    
    
    
        Did anyone see the channel 9 spot at six on snowmobiling?
    
        If you saw the part where the F&G's were pulling four sleds 
        over, I was the number two sled.  Then the camera zoomed in
        on Mike Laravee sitting on his ZRT, (he was wearing a 
        leather Cat jacket.)  During this shot, the F&G said;
    
        "Richard, do you have a registration?"
    
        "Yup!"   
    
        Great, my 15 seconds of fame got cut short at 1.2 seconds.  
        Oh well.  
    
        The bnext shot showed us hanging there on the trail talking 
        to the F&G's.  I was the dude in the Polaris white leather 
        jacket.
    
    
       -Rick. 
    
    

    Great,
      Now Rickratt's(tm) ego will be even *bigger* due to his latest t.v.
    shot. Soon, he will be quitting his job and modeling blue underwear.
    I just hope he remembers the *little* people who got him this far....
     sigh...sniff...sniff....
    
    snowman
     p.s. Really Rick, I'm just glad they didn't show pictures of you being
          hauled away. See you in Quebec!
    
    

    	I think something is missing in the "throw $ at the problem" approach. 
    Yes, additional enforcement does cost more money, but it also brings in 
    MORE REVENUE. If it is really that bad out there, then additional 
    enforcement would PAY FOR ITSELF, in the form of fines. 
    
    	What's the fine for reckless driving or DUI ? Nail one a day and it
    probably more than pays for the wardens actual expenses for the day; Not 
    to mention the additional revenue from other lesser violations they're 
    likely to find. If it truely is 10% of the population that's a problem, 
    should be pretty easy to write tickets.  F + G wardens do not typically 
    make big bucks. I assume this sport, like anything else, already has 
    sufficient laws that don't get enforced. 
    
    	Ray

    
    
        The state house is (trying) to respond to the recent media 
        attention that sledders have caused.  While I was pulled 
        over by the Fish & Game, it took all but two seconds for 
        me to realize that these guys were acting *way* to nice.
    
        At that time I didn't know that the camera was owned by
        channel 9.  The F&G were nice as pie, *until* he thought 
        that I didn't own the sled. He asked me a couple of times 
        if the sled was borrowed.  His manner changed slightly.
        He had my registration with Mike's lic. and got slightly
        defensive when I said it was mine.  I reached for the 
        documentation to see what the heck he was looking at and 
        he pulled away.  (Never reach for something in his or her
        hands.)  A brief moment later he realized his mistake and 
        was nice as pie again.
    
        I thought it was funny to watch the difference in manner
        but at the same time I have to think that I would have 
        done the same. 
    
        All in all, I support the state getting their hands 
        around these problems but I see the chance of them 
        getting a tad bit over zealous. My run in with them four 
        years ago is still fresh in my mind. 
    
    
       -Rick. 
    
              

	exactly Rick !  My 'woof' with F&G is that they're power -hungry and
	the innocent (or slightly confussed) are guilty and thrown in with 
	the bad eggs who *know* exactly what they're doing.

	For instance... I have seen two F&G speed traps set up and they
	were both in areas that were wide open and totally appropriate
	for 'airing it out' - net result - they could've bagged anyone
	because everyone was doing 60-70 MPH (45MPH max) !!! That's not
	what you & I want !  I want them out there riding the trails and
	when some Yahoo takes a blind corner at 45 MPH (The legal limit)
	he's sited for reckless driving !  Instead they go for the easy
	kill.  

	Regards,

	Chuck

    
    
          Chuck, 
    
          That couldn't have been better said.  I never thought 
      of it but your idea of changing the behavior at the corner
      is nothing short of brilliant.  
    
          With your say so, I'll send it to the F&G's,  (or, I 
      could take credit for it and pass it along!) 
    
          The result would be that sledders would be forced to 
      be *responsible* for their actions.  I like it!!  At the 
      same time I can see why they may not go for it. 
    
          It just became a subjective call vs hard numbers on
      the rader gun. Maybe it should be both combined?  I like
      the idea too much to walk away from it. 
      
          Great call there Chuck-ster.
    
    
         -Rick.
            

    
    
      Not sure exactly how I feel about it.  Part of me says, so what
     if 6 idiots totaled themselves.  The remaining thousands of people
     should be left alone.  Also, something tells me that the state wants
     a piece of the money us snowmobilers are bringing in. It may be a
     coincedence, but this "crack down" started happening the minute some
     of the local paper published the dollar figures the snowmobilers 
     were bringing to the state.  Some jughead sitting at his desk up in
     Concord saw that and wanted him some.
    
     Chuck, a bunch of us were up to Pratts Pond on Sunday.  Guess who
     was hiding in the bushes at our camp on our return from a little
     trip.??  The F & G along with a Mason cop.  Then after checking us
     out and leaving, we spot them again in their truck further up the
     road with binoculars.  All of us there were with our wifes and kids.
     It's not like we were raising any hell.  (O.k, every now and then
     maybe) ;^).  When are the F&G going to start these crackdowns on
     the summer dirt bikers and ATV riders??  
    
     On the other side of the coin, there are come crazy's out there.
     And I wouldn't be very happy to meet one of these nuts on a corner
     with my kids on-board.  So, there has to be some control from the
     F&G.
    
     Lance
    

      I believe this set of issues will plague us for awhile.  When I think
    about technology, recent updates to suspensions/engines,  now permit
    the average/above average/expert snowmobiler to go faster over rougher
    terrain.  These "extra long travel" suspensions,  lighter sleds, more
    horsepower smaller engines are great, but, they have the down side of
    the drivers need to be sharper and more in control. The technology has
    closed the gap for rider mistakes.
      Someone mentioned snowmobile signs be developed like the "Moose
    Program" utilizes.  That's a pretty good idea...I remember a sign on
    the trail between Rangely, Maine and Pittsburg, NH that read "97 miles
    to the closest hospital"...Boy did that make me think!!
      
    
    Kurt
    

	Well, along the lines of signing .... perhaps there can be areas or
	trails set aside for high-speed running .... basically "YOU ARE 
	FOREWARNED !!!!" sort of like black diamonds for skiing.
	
	In those areas or trails it's 'anything goes' otherwise it's 'keep	
	it under 45MPH and no "fuggin' 'round out there" !

	Experienced Snowmobiler's do not crash-and-bash (tm) at 1:00 PM on 
	a Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh, Twin, Moosehead, IP, or any other
	high density Snowmobile mecca.  Inexperienced Snowmobiler's (with 
	the high OP engines and deep pockets) do !  and that's the problem.

	Regards,

	Chuck

    Nothing to do with the NH thing but this past Saturdays NY times
    had a big article about snowmobiling in Maine and how much $$ it brings
    to the area.

    Got to get some riding in with a few nut cases this past Saturday.
    We get to this friends place around noon where everyone meets. A few
    minutes later were cruising down a trail when the whole bunch stops.
    Guy driving a '92 Mach has hood open. All morning he was changing spark
    plugs. This time he pulls plug out of left side of motor and its 
    aluminum coated. So much for that piston. We look at his track and he
    is missing the large rear idler wheel on the left side. Get out tow
    rope and drag him home. He grabs his sisters Super Sport and we go
    out. Meet up with a bunch of others and ride until lunch at about
    3:30p.m. The restaurant had sleds parked everywhere! Lots of new iron
    including the new ZR500's and Ski-doo Mxzx. Eventually we journeyed
    back home and dropped people along the way. Great day, bright sunshine,
    good food, doesn't get much better.
    
    
    snowman

    
    
        How was Seattle? Did you get a chance to visit 
        Pioneer Square?
    
        
        Black Flag Winter Motorsports (tm)
            "E Throttlus Maximus"
    
       -Rick.    8^)
                    

    
    
        Hey, is Jukka still around?  
    
        I got the sweatshirts in last Friday and I owe him one.
    
        Jukka, say something!!!   (Hope you're still here.)
    
    
       -Rick.
    

    Hey Rickratt(tm),
      Seattle was very, very , very, wet. It rained every day!
    We did get to see a bit of the city but what it was called
    I don't remember. One area of town I couldn't even get a
    cab in and had a two mile walk back to the hotel in the
    rain.
     I wouldn't mind getting a couple more shirts from you Rick.
    Please send me mail with the price and I'll send you the cash.
    
    Later,
     Snowman

    
    
       Did your pals like the shirt?
    
    

    Yup,
     I set another fashion statement. Green with envy they were.
    Wannabe Polaris riders.....sorry I was getting ahead of myself.
    
    
    snowman

    
        Gary,
    
        Black Flag(tm) gear is as follows.   (See note on bottom.)
        You can see an image of the Black Flag logo at this web site,
        WWW.SignPost-USA.Com     Click on Clubs and you'll see the 
        decal on my trailer.
    
        I might mention that this was and *is* my design, it is not 
        their original design, (but I let them take credit for it on 
        the web in trade for some free decals.)
        
        -  Polo Shirt; Long sleeve, heavy combed cotton (XL), 
           black with Black Flag Logo embroided (4 inch) on 
           front left chest.  ---------------------------------  $40.00  
    
        -  Polo Shirt; Long sleeve, heavy textured cotton 
           (large),  black with Black Flag logo embroided (4 
           inch) on front left chest. -------------------------  $40.00
    
        -  Polo Shirt; Long sleeve, heavy textured cotton in
           a medium, embroided, must be ordered.  Four weeks 
           delivery.  -----------------------------------------  $40.00
    
        -  Sweat Shirt; Five screen color, heavy cotton, black 
           with small logo on front left chest and full color,
           full size logo on back.  Large and X-large available. 
           Medium must be ordered, 4 week delivery. -----------  $42.00  
    
        -  3.5 inch sled decal --------------------------------   $3.50
    
        -  5 inch truck/trailer decal -------------------------   $5.40
    
        -  11 inch truck/trailer decal ------------------------  $20.00
    
        -  20 inch trailer decal/installed -------------------- $120.00
    
        
    
    
        Note: It is against Digital Policy for me to sell these at a 
              profit.  Each Polo cost me $42.66 and each Sweat Shirt 
              cost me $45.66.  The decal costs are pretty much spot 
              on.
      
       Black Flag and the Black Flag logo is fully protected by U.S. 
       trademark laws
    
    

Hey Rick,

 How's it going..? Congrats on the new sled...heard they move well...

 What's the deal with 'Black Flag'...? I did notice the shirt you were
wearing up in St Donat and thought it was sharp...

Brian

    
        More than a year ago I worked up a rough sketch design for 
    a shirt.  The driving force behind it was that there were no 
    cool shirts out there to be found for sleds.
    
        The theme Black Flag is a pick up on racing, not the bug 
    spray.  It's making light of my attitude towards snowmobiling,
    meaning your kill switch is one of the highest targets on my 
    mind.  <grins>   Just kiddin'.  The whole thing of racing, 
    cheating (and not getting caught) seemed funny and cool at 
    the same time.  That's what I went with.  
    
        The design needed something more.   I had two ideas and 
    could not decide on which one to use.   The first was a play 
    on Latin; "E Throttlus Maximus".  (I freakin love that.) The 
    second was a tag line;  "Only The Brave".  Hell, I gave up 
    and used both.
    
        Yeah, there is the No Fear(tm) line with some cool 
    sayings and funny lines on them, but they are made of cheap 
    material to fit a low cost buyer and still proivide a healthy 
    margin to the company. I wanted grade-A stuff. 
    
        With this in mind I decided to create my own stuff. I 
    started with a shop who was to finalize my design and they 
    promptly ripped me off for a quick 120 bucks.  This soured
    me a bit and didn't pick it up until this past fall. 
    
        By chance, the people next door to Debbie, (the semi-
    wife) is a sign company.  One afternoon after stopping by 
    Deb's office I went in for a visit to see what they were 
    all about. 
    
        I started off by checking out their past work and then 
    checked out their business practices.  In the end I handed 
    over my rough design and had them finish it for me.  Of 
    which you can see at that web site.  I only hired them to 
    finish the design but I was so pleased with the output that
    I bought a hundred thirty bucks worth of decals. 
    
        I then took the design output to a place in Billerica
    that my buddy deals with for silk screening and embroidery
    work.   All along the goal was to produce something "cool" 
    that I could have put on a very high quality product. Let 
    the kids buy the cheap t-shirts, I wanted top notch stuff.
    Instead of t-shirts I bought the long sleeve, heavy Polo 
    shirts.  The sweatshirts are ultra heavy also.  So it all
    turned out pretty good. I have had only praise on the design 
    and people have stopped me and asked where do I get one?
    (I have to admit that I like that.)
    
        I don't have my file in front of me right now but I 
    think I've spent WAAAAAAAY too much money.  Let's see.
    
        Graphic Design  -------------------------------  300+
        Decal 5" @ 24 ---------------------------------  130
        Decal 3.5 @ 24 --------------------------------   85
        Trailer decal ---------------------------------  120
        Embroidery set up and 15 shirts ---------------  640
        Set up, 5 color screens and 15 sweatshirts ----  685
        Trade mark, (you don't want to know.) ---------   **            
    
        
     ...and that's the story behind it. 
    
    
       -Rick.
    

Hey Rick,

 I checked SignPost on the WEB...that is pretty sharp...I would 
buy one IF it was a ZR instead of an XCR...!

    
    
        The Polo shirt, because of the detail allowed by
        embroidery, is generic enough to fit Cat, Polaris
        and provides a slight resemblance to the new Yamaha.
        I was concerned about cross market penetration but 
        there was no way to get close to the SkiDoo's. The 
        one thing that gives it away is a single black thread
        in the middle of the light, (a Polaris trait how-
        ever small in detail in might be.)
    
        The fact is that sled-heads are so loyal to their 
        current ride, that even a semi-generic design may not
        be acceptable.  That's cool by me, aka; no skin off my
        er, ...nose.
    
        The silk screening provided a more clear image. That, 
        coupled with the fact that the back of the sweatshirt 
        has a giant 12+ inch logo, shows that it is clearly a 
        Polaris.  The silkscreening was done bold vs digital
        imagery so it looks like the decal but only in design 
        concept.
    
        There are a fair amount of Cats in my pack, they 
        have all expressed a desire for a Cat shirt.  I won't 
        do it for the embroidery Polo as it is semi-generic, 
        but I may for the sweatshirts.  
    
        The graphic redesign is 80 bucks, apprx.  That would 
        make the decals available. The prices would be slightly 
        higher but only by a dollar or just change. The sweat-
        shirts would have a set up charge and also a screen 
        charge that would come out to 120 dollars for both. Then 
        there is the actual charge for the product.  
    
        If you have two other pals that would split the cost
        with you, I would do a Cat run at actual cost for you. 
        The ugly part is already finished and I have taken that 
        hit, (with no regrets I might add.)  But further design
        work needs to be sponsered to some degree.
    
        If you are serious about Cat wear, get in touch and 
        we'll talk.   Anything I did would have to conform to
        DEC policy since we're talking about it here in the 
        notesfile.  Meaning I can't make money on it.  I have
        no problem with that at all. 
    
        BUT!!!   As you saw from that last note, I won't 
        invest any more money as I've already spent a large 
        bundle on it.  So cost would be down to the penny.
         
    
        "E Throttlus Maximus"      Ride fast, ride safe.
    
    
        -Rick.
    
              

    Rickratt(tm),
       Congrats to you on this endevour. The shirt gets nothing but praise.
    I will be ordering more from you once I figure out how many of what.
    They are tres cool!
    
    later,
      snowman

    
    
        Jukka, 
    
        Watch for a package in the mail later this week.
    
    
       -Rick
    

Rick,

		  The size of the shirt was perfect. What is was 
                  surprised about was the top quality of that 
                  silkscreened sweatshirt. A real taste of quality.  
                  Decals OK!

		  I was up north in Lappland with customers for the 
                  last week (150 km north from Polar Circle level). We 
                  rented sleds and a guide. With two different 
                  customer goups (2  customers+ guide + myself in 
                  each) we pushed unforgetable 120 km/3 hours 
                  'backwoods' safaris riding in totally untouchable 
                  wild open nature (of course with landlords 
                  permission). There was about 1.2 meters of packed 
                  (but still quite soft) snow and over that it was 
                  25-40 centimeters of new powdersnow. It was 
                  something that I myself have never ever experienced 
                  earlier. Real dreamworld with all that soft snow 
                  stream flying over the top of my head... 

		  Believe or not but the guide was carrying a German 
                  passport (and a Finnish wife).

		  The rentals we had there were Formula 500's and 
                  Formula Z's. Superb sleds for those conditions. 
Regards,

Jukka
Jukka Tapola
Service Delivery Manager
MCS Service Delivery Finland
tapolaj@mail.dec.com
tel.358-0-4345110

		  
		  
		  http://www.kesmotors.com/lsisalto.htm	       

		  
		  Regards,

		  Jukka

    Well,
      Spent last Saturday morning putting the sleds into storage. Sigh.
    I'm still looking for another rear shock for my sled. Our SRV has a
    major oil leak. Looks like either one of the oil injection lines to
    the pump or the crank seal is gone. I will be looking at it this
    summer. 
    
    
    Later,
       snowman