Snowmobiling is back in Southern Minnesota. The event at Douglas is one of the largest 1 day events held in the Midwest with over 4000 paid attendance!

            The Weatherman thru us a curve ball on Sunday morning waking up to light showers but the show must go on & the gates opened at 7am to let the swappers & vintage show sleds get set up for a day of show & tell /sell. It cleared off around 8am the vintage show sleds started coming out of the trailers to get registered in the show.

            This years show had 70 sleds registered competing for the 22 trophy plaques to be awarded. This years show had many multiple winners with AJ Emrick of Morristown, Mn. leading the way with his 1979 Polaris RXL Sno Pro winning 1st Place in the Race Class, The Presidents Choice Award & Best of Show. AJ took home 1st Place plaques with his 1979 Polaris Centurion & his 1977 Polaris TX-L. Al Bruggenthies'of Rochester ,Mn.brought home plaques with his 1970 Ski-doo Blizzard Custom "Make a Wish Sled", 1972 Ski-doo Nordic & a 1983 Ski-doo 9700 while Clear Water, Mn's.Bruce Gohman's 1974 Ski-doo 640er Nordic & his 1973 Scorpion SuperStinger won plaque also. Randy Clark from Tomah, Wi.took home a 1st Place plaque in an Original class with his 1980 Yamaha Exciter & a 2nd Place plaque with a 1980 Yamaha SRX in a Restored class. Kevin Wietzel's of Glenville, Mn.custom Cat was the talk of the show with triple chrome megaphones & Patriotic theme. Two twin track Bolans won 1st Place awards with a 1966 Hus-Ski owned by Sue Pearson of Elk River, Mn.& Kilkenny,Mn's.own Dustin Balfe with his 1967 Diablo Rouse. This years Mini class was won by The Holland family from Big Lake, Mn.with their custom Minidator & the Cutter class was one of the toughest classes to judge with Greg Kjellberg from Monticello, Mn.with his Mercury Sno Cruiser taking home the 1st Place plaque. 2nd Place plaques were brought home by John Vierling of Forest Lake, Mn. with his 1970 Mercury 250E , Mike Witham from Lake City, Mn. took home a plaque with his 1974 Viking Vigilante & Hopkins, Mn's own Tom Schulz with his 1973 Rupp Nitro.

            Dry & sunny weather made it perfect conditions for snowmobiling racing at Douglas & made for a good turn out at the 17th Annual Grass Drag Nationals. Over 120 racers registered in Vintage classes, NSRA Circuit & Mini sled classes. Mitchell Sebastian from Spener, Ia. was a big winner at Douglas on his Yamaha's winning Stock AA,B,C,Open Mod.0-440cc & Mitchell also won "The 5th Annual Tracy Kruger Memorial Speed Run" for Mod.Stock sleds on his 1977 Yamaha SRX at 79.7 Mph..Delano,Mn's. Josh Erdman of Delaughter Racing was a multiple class winner on his 1977 Polaris TX winning Mod.Stock F/A 0-340,MS F/A 341-440, MS F/A 441-up, MS Liq.0-340, & Josh also won the Open Mod.441-up on his 1977 Polaris 1000. Fletcher John of Stacy,Mn.rode his 1975 ElTigre to a win in Stock A & he won Stock E on a 1971 EXT while Matt Lefebre from St.Peter,Mn. drove a 1979 SRX to victory in MS L 341-440 & MS L.441-up.The MS F341-440 class winner was Ben Bosch from Alexandria,Mn.on a 1977 Yamaha STX & the legendary Rupp rider the "Reverand" Dale Sloper managed a win in the Stock D class on his 75 Nitro . Of course vintage racing wouldn't be what it is at Douglas without our race sponsors like the Midwest Vintage Snowmobile Shows-MVSS "Waconia 2012" feature sled in 2012 is Chaparral, "Outlaw Grass Drags" in Princeton, "The Vintage Sled Shop" & The Byron Snow Bears Snowmobile Club. The Snow Bears use the profits from "The 17th Annual Great Souhtern Grass Drag Nationals, Swap Meet & Vintage Sled Show" to maintain and groom the expansive system of snowmobile trails in the Rochester area. We hope to see you at the 18th Annual Event in 2012.