#snowmobiles — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #snowmobiles, aggregated by home.social.
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https://www.europesays.com/africa/118098/ This Egyptian Army ATV is Actually a Polaris Snowmobile With Wheels and a Machine Gun #atv #b2b #DualOperatingVehicle #Egypt #EiselinLandsystems #FnMag #OffroadCapable #opinion #polaris #Reddit #SandX #snowmobile #Snowmobiles
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#Snowmobile #camp in Swedish Lapland 🫎
#Live your #dream - The #wind blows through the #valley. Our #snowmobiles are parked by the #river, under the mountains. They are waiting. For the next #winter. For the next generation ⛄
In the #rhythm of the #seasons. With the seeds that have taught us what respect really means. We #drive, #guide, #laugh, #repair, #freeze, #marvel 🎿 ❄️
660.000 €
Rooms: 14
Living space: 800m²
Plot: 5.000m²
#Sweden 🇸🇪https://www.bluehomes.com/PS0036/en/Snowmobile-camp-in-Swedish-Lapland/expose.html
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Snowmobiles on the Columbia Icefields, Alberta, c.1960s - Double L Postcard
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If we lived in a Matriarchal Society, would the snowmobiles, jet-skis, and lawnmowers all have better mufflers? Snowmobiling 1977. #patriarchy #matriarchy #patriarch #matriarch #society #humannature #snowmobile #snowmobiles #jetski #jetskis #lawnmower #lawnmowers #machines
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Snowmobiles are fun, but this Old Fart prefers a jet ski any day. 1976. #snowmobile #snowmobiles #jetski #jetskis #sport #sports #wintersport #wintersports #snow #playinginthesnow #excitement #thrillride #fast #faster #fastest #1970s #twentiethcentury #midtwentiethcentury
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Jennifer and Natalie Campbell - Playmates of the Month December 2008
#Natalie #Campbell #Jennifer #Campbell #NatalieCampbell #JenniferCampbell #playboy #playboyplus #playmate #twins #sisters #snow #winther #snowmobiles #candid -
Museum of Ingenuity: Ski-Doo Snowmobile Museum in Valcourt, Quebec
The Museum of Ingenuity is about much more than the machine J. Armand Bombardier is most famous for — the Ski-Doo snowmobile. Built in Bombardier’s hometown of Valcourt, Quebec, in 1971, this museum attraction celebrates ingenuity and creativity.
On your visit, you can also take a 3.5 hour tour of the Bombardier recreation products manufacturing plant.
What’s in the Ski-Doo Snowmobile Museum?
The Museum of Ingenuity, or Ski-doo museum, highlights the legacy of skidoo inventor, J. Armand Bombardier.
His story begins as a teenager, when he managed to get an old Ford engine running and mounted on a sleigh. He even managed to drive the contraption on the town’s main streets!
Original shop owned by Bombardier – now part of the museum. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.After that, Bombardier’s dream was to invent a machine for one rider that would float over the snow.
Who invented the snowmobile?Credited with inventing the snowmobile, Bombardier was one of various inventors who registered patents on snow machine related innovations. In fact, Carl Eliason, built a snow machine in 1924 that he patented as a motor toboggan. It was the forerunner of the snowmobiles we ride today.
However, Bombardier was the first to move from hand built machines to an assembly line production for his Ski-Doo snowmobile in 1959.
In fact, the first production sled rolled off the Quebec assembly line in 1959. A mere 54 years from that first sled, the three millionth Ski-Doo, a 2014 Ski-Doo Summit X E-TEC 800R, was built in Valcourt. Today, these are just a few of the originals in the museum.
In the Collection
The Museum of Ingenuity has around 6500 artifacts in its collection. This includes:
- 175 models of machines, including many skidoos
- 44 engines
- 124 personal items that belonged to J. Armand Bombardier
- 5000+ other objects
- 200,000+ photos
- 11,185 technical drawings
- 5500 videos
- 1600+ advertisements
- About 1 km of linear documents
The most signficant part of the collection consists of various snowmobiles and their contribution to the development of Ski-Doo. In addition to snow machines, you’ll also find spec sheets for most of the models on display.
1981 Alpine Ski-Doo. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.More of Bombardier’s Inventions in the Museum
J. Armand's first major invention was the sprocket wheel/track system in 1935.
With this develoment, his little garage expanded and he added a production plant that saw the development of many different types of tracked machines.
Bombardier’s machines started with his initial multi-passenger snowmobiles, known where I lived as a kid as bombardiers. During the war years, he developed snow machines for the military, including the Kaki, an armored tracked vehicle.
Post-war, his biggest increase in sales came from the C18 snowmobile that carried up to 25 school children.
In the 1950s, Bombardier manufactured and sold a BT (Bombardier truck) and Muskeg tractor. He also built various tracked machines for forestry.
Bombardier V.F.B. for forestry. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.Beyond the Ski-Doo Snow Machines
J. Armand died in 1964, but the legacy of his innovations and patents continued to keep the company growing. The main part branched out into manufacturing trains and planes.
Blueprints for a Ski-Doo. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.BRP, the leisure product line of machines, diversified to provide rides for all seasons including: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am off-road vehicles, Can-Am Spyder 3-wheel vehicles, karts and light and ultra light aircrafts.
Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits
My favorite exhibit was the machine driven by Jean-Luc Bombardier on the Plaisted Polar Expedition. Having driven lots of miles off trails with my own Ski-Doo, I’m amazed that the team ever got through those 800 miles on 1968 models!
Ski-Doo snowmobile driven by Jean-Luc Bombardier on the Plaisted Polar Expedition (notice the additional gas tank in front of the handlebars). Photo by Linda Aksomitis.However, they were successful at driving four skidoos 800 miles across the frozen Arctic Ocean. Indeed they reached the geographic North Pole in 43 days. A United States Air Force weather reconnaissance plane verified their position at the North Pole the next day, April 20, 1968.
What adaptations do you think they may have made to the Ski-Doo snowmobiles and snowmobile riding gear?The snowmobiles were modified to add an additional gas tank (check it out on the photo of Jean-Luc’s sled) and the seat was shortened for storage. Iron rods were added to the track to reinforce it for better traction.
Since they were crossing frozen water at the end of the winter season, a styrofoam flotation system was added. This helped them cross the thin ice.
Snowmobile gear of the time wasn’t at all like we wear today! So, they had specially designed parkas and pants made with goose down and wolf fur. The suits were based on the traditional clothing of the Inuit who live in the Arctic. They also had caribou leather mitts.
Linda’s Road Trip Tips
Pin me! Photo of Linda Aksomitis & David Aksomitis on a trail in the Chic-Choc mountains.David and I visited the Museum of Ingenuity on a trip hosted by Tourism Quebec. We started in Valcourt, visiting the museum and watching the Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt. The race is held annually, so do plan your visit to Valcourt to take it in if you enjoy speed and competition.
And of course, we toured the BRP factory. Do plan to take it in as well.
After the race, we drove further east out of the Eastern Townships region to Gaspesie for a snowmobile trip. We snowmobiled 1000 miles in five days (four nights) with everything we needed strapped to the snowmobiles (including my laptop computer so I could teach via videoconference in the evenings!).
If you ever get the chance to go snowmobiling in Quebec, I highly recommend it! The scenery is supurb and Quebec has 6000 km (3700 miles) of groomed trails.
Who Should Visit the Museum of Ingenuity: J. Armand Bombardier?
The museum is a great opportunity for adults and children alike to explore the history of winter travel in Canada’s snowiest regions. Snowmobilers, even if they don’t ride Ski-Doo, will also enjoy the visit.
Of course, the Museum of Ingenuity also has information on the later transportation products produced by Bombardier. So those interested in planes and trains will find it interesting, too.
As well as seeing the museum, visitors can also get tickets (advance only) for a 3.5 tour of the Bombardier manufacturing plant.
How Do You Visit the Ski-Doo Museum in Valcourt, Quebec?
Visit in person at 1001 Avenue J.-A.-Bombardier, Valcourt, QC
Trapper 600 Ski-Doo. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.Visit the museum on the Web to check opening days, pricing, and to buy advance tickets.
Watch a short YouTube video introduction to the museum.
Plan your trip with Google maps.
Read More Quebec Museum Reviews
Check out all these museum reviews for the Canadian province of Quebec!
Discover More Snowmobile Museums
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Vilas Historical Museum: Snowmobiles to Paul Bunyan in a Wisconsin Museum
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World Snowmobile Headquarters Museum: Eagle River, Wisconsin
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Polaris Experience Center: Polaris Snowmobile Museum in Roseau, Minnesota
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Museum of Ingenuity: Ski-Doo Snowmobile Museum in Valcourt, Quebec
Reference(s)
Aksomitis, L. (2003). Amazing Stories: Snowmobile Adventures. Winnipeg, MB: Altitude Publishing.
Snowmobile Hall of Fame. (2023). Joseph Armand Bombardier. https://www.snowmobilehalloffame.com/joseph-armand-bombardier/
Acknowledgements
We visited the Museum of Ingenuity on a trip hosted by Quebec Tourism. Our experiences were amazing!
#Canada #history #motorsports #museums #Quebec #richAndFamous #snowmobiles #travel
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Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum: Naubinway, Michigan
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum is situated in the village of Naubinway, the northernmost community on the Upper Peninsula’s Lake Michigan shoreline. With an active snowmobiling community and close to 200 snowmobiles on display, it’s a great year-round attraction for travelers.
What’s in the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum?
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum has a collection of around 200 machines. Time-wise, the collection spans the period from the first car-track conversion snow machines of the early 1900s, through to the early 2000s. But that’s not all!
The museum’s collection also includes lots of memorabilia, gear, signs, owners manuals, and more.
One of the great things about this snowmobile museum attraction is the signage.
Snowmobiles in the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway, Michigan. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.There’s lots of information on the history of the brands and the specific sleds on the floor. The volunteers who’ve put this together have shared magazine and newspaper clippings, details on ownership where available, and historical insights.
There are, of course, a number of sleds from the history of today’s brands: Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat, Polaris, and Yamaha, in the collection. However, they’ve also got lots of snow machines manufactured by companies that have long since hung up their skis.
Some of them include:
- Home made snow machines like the 1936 Westendorf built by local machinist, Fred Westendorf, to go ice fishing
- 1969 Snow Ghia first produced by Ghia Industries, Torino, Italy, with a move to US New Jersey Headquarters in 1968, with a low profile for better vision and tracking
- 1969 Wheel Horse from the Wheel Horse, Inc. company in South Bend, Indiana, which offered riders the choice of an electric start or dash mounted recoil
- 1971 Big Boss manufactured in Ovid, MI, for the 1970-71 season, however 20 were built but only 8 sold, and the rest destroyed as part of bankruptcy proceedings
- 1973 Polar Bear, originally produced one machine at a time and only sold in Connecticut
Linda’s Pick of the Displays
Of course, I’ve been snowmobiling for … well not quite since the beginning of the industry, but close, so I have a lot of favorites. However, my pick here was the 1968 Sno-Bunny manufactured by the Jac-Trac Company of Marshfield, WI, for distribution through the midwest and by J.C. Penney.
Sno Bunny snowmobile and accessories. Photo by Linda Aksomitis.I love the name — snobunny or snow bunny. The history of the term goes back to the 1950s as a slang term for a novice skier or snowmobiler (usually female). Also, of course, it’s been a slang word used to describe an attractive woman since the 1700s.
While I don’t know how much weight the manufacturer meant to put into the name it picked, advertisements of the time did describe it as one of the lightest, quickest machines on the market. And that’s exactly what we ladies wanted!
Linda’s Road Trip Tips
Most of this trip we spent on U.S. Route #2, which goes from coast to coast just below the Canadian border. So, we headed to Escanaba, a port city on Lake Michigan around 100 miles away from Naubinway.
We stayed at the Hiawatha Motel, which provided a comfortable night for a good price. Our favorite part of Escanaba, however, was Hudson’s Classic Grill where we went for dinner. I especially enjoyed the pumpkin pie and whipped cream!
Pin me!Who Should Visit the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum?
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum is a must see for anyone interested in winter sports, especially its history. Many of the snowmobiles in the museum were mainly used in Michigan’s UP and down the east coast, so for westerners, there are lots of different models to check out.
The museum is open year round, so you can get your “snowmobile fix” in August if you like, as we did!
How Long Does It Take To Visit The Museum?
Going through the museum can take half a day if you’re reading all the information cards! It’s also a fun way to introduce young snowmobilers or non-snowmobilers to the sport, so is great for all ages.
How Do You Visit the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum?
Pin me!The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum is located at W11660 US-2 Naubinway, Michigan.
Visit the museum at its website for a virtual tour, admission costs, and upcoming snowmobile events:
Follow the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum Facebook page to keep up to date on all the happenings.
Take a virtual tour with YouTube and the excellent video, Tour a collection of RARE and Vintage Snowmobiles with an Expert Guide.
Plan your visit with Google Maps!
Discover More Snowmobile Museums
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Vilas Historical Museum: Snowmobiles to Paul Bunyan in a Wisconsin Museum
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World Snowmobile Headquarters Museum: Eagle River, Wisconsin
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Polaris Experience Center: Polaris Snowmobile Museum in Roseau, Minnesota
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Museum of Ingenuity: Ski-Doo Snowmobile Museum in Valcourt, Quebec
#2 #history #Michigan #museums #snowmobiles #travel #US #US2
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#Buffalo #NY Request for people with #snowmobiles to assist in search and rescue efforts. #ArticBlast #disaster #ErieCounty
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The Tesla Effect: Snowmobiles, Boats and Mowers Go Electric - They’re quieter and better for the climate. But snow and water create new technological c... - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/15/business/electric-snowmobiles-boats-mowers.html #electricandhybridvehicles #all-terrainvehicles(atv) #boatsandboating #taigamotorsinc #teslamotorsinc #brpcompanies #snowmobiles #batteries