US Antarctic Program Snowmobile – 1960s

 https://dailytimewaster.blogspot.com/2026/03/us-antarctic-program-snowmobile-1960s.html

snowmobile racing, northern Wisconsin by Eagle River

 

this little kid helps fix the Snow Machine! (light easy going enjoyment moment)

Scout II and a Quiet Flite Evinrude. From 1975 to 1976, the Scout served as the official vehicle of the U.S. Ski Team,

International Harvester saw an opportunity to showcase the Scout’s capabilities on the world stage. They sent 10 of the new long-wheelbase Travelers and seven Scout II Traveltops.

All 17 International Scout vehicles assigned to the U.S. Ski Team were outfitted with high-end options, typically mirroring the Patriot or Sno-Star packages. Ten of these Scouts were further equipped with Warn electric winches mounted on Warn bumpers. A bold “U.S. Ski Team” decal adorned the front fenders, and many featured additional driving lights.

Six of these vehicles were shipped to Europe for the Innsbruck Olympics and subsequent World Cup events, while the remainder supported training camps in Montana, Ontario, Washington, and Colorado.

https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM118248

https://offroadtripz.com/international-scout-olympic-suv/

https://www.tumblr.com/coolthingsguyslike

Sister Rita riding a Skiroule snowmobile around 1970

https://www.facebook.com/allagashwildonline/posts/a-nun-riding-a-snowmobile-in-fort-kent-maine/1034855075109658/

loving this snowmobile in disguise, with a rear steer independent operator just like the long ladder trucks

from the videos of Levi LaVallee, famous snow mobile stunt guy

This probably goes like crazy on a packed snow trail

if you don't know what you're doing, get someone else to do it for you

 

this is the first I've heard of snowmobiles getting Wankel rotary engines

Some thought the Wankel rotary would re-revolutionize snowmobiling like the two-stroke engine had done in the 1960s. Light and compact with few moving parts, virtually vibration free, quiet for the day and capable of producing more horsepower and greater low-end torque than a heavier two-stroke of similar displacement, the Wankel was popping up in many sled brands.

Arctic Cat was its primary rotary engine customer, receiving literally thousands of the engines for snowmobiles and lawnmowers. But Alouette and Skiroule were also allocated significant quantities.

https://snowgoer.com/snowmobile-features/timeline-the-alouette-silver-cloud/2580/

https://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2024/12/alouette-silver-cloud-and-ax125.html

vintage 1969 snowmobile rally coverage from Rhinelander

at the time there were 60 snowmobile makers in the USA, and a dozen in Canada

oh what a fantastic snowmachine made from a Messerschmitt

https://dailytimewaster.blogspot.com/2024/05/friday-open-road_10.html

Ski-Doo is the only snowmobile manufacturer to sell machines that meet the bullshit requirement of Yellowstone's eco-warrior jackasses

In 1997 animal rights organization Fund for Animals filed a lawsuit to ban snow grooming on paved roads in the park. Since snowmobiles were only permitted on groomed roads, the ban would have effectively eliminated snowmobile use as well.

Ultimately, snowmobiles remained, but with new regulations in Yellowstone so that the WINTER ecosystem is less affected (though the summer is wide open for any and every variation of interaction and frequently maxes out the parking and camping areas)

So the national park service only allows four-stroke snowmobile engines. Only Ski-Doo makes them, so far

Ski-Doo’s four-stroke engine, is efficient and emits less pollution than the two-stroke engines offered in other snow machines. The company’s advanced combustion efficiency engines are designed with a square bore and stroke in a spherical combustion chamber and tuned to use less fuel to create power. . 

Of the two Ski-Doo engine configurations allowed at Yellowstone, the 600 ACE is the most fuel efficient with a rating of 28 miles per gallon at 60 horsepower, while the 900 ACE is good for 90 horsepower and gets 21.8 miles per gallon. 

https://www.popsci.com/technology/snowmobiles-yellowstone-ski-doo/

A new Ski-Doo costs around 12,000 dollars on average across their line of machines https://ski-doo.brp.com/us/en/models.html not including the 4-8 thousand dollar kids machines

When looking on the Disney streaming channel for more 1960s-70s movies, I came across one I've never heard of... Snowball Express. Dean Jones, and Henry Morgan! (one of my favorites)

and George Lindsey, famous for playing Goober, and a LOT of the usual Disney cast members from the 60s and 70s movies

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069291/?ref_=tt_mv_close

Conservation warden in 1962

https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A6FL5OL3EFH4DE8V

a tractor collector is auctioning off an impressive collection, and in the mix, are three unusual items, rollers, and a very early Polaris

Above, a Buffalo Springfield

an ACME, so you know, it's unable to kill roadrunners. 

https://bids.aumannauctions.com/auctions/1492-jim-macfaddens-tractors-from-all-over-collection?page=2

Gary Grady's Snow Glide Harley snow machine.... thank you Marc!

135 plus or minus 5mph.... is how fast a pro mod wheeled snow mobile can zip down the 1/8th mile

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/nhra-pro-mod-snowmobile-class-in-august-has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed/ar-AA10Urp3

Rarely seen conversion kit for snowmobiles, seen here brand new in

 https://photobygibson.com/archive/collections/archive/Town-of-Greenport/

I just posted something similar in Feb http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2022/02/with-such-lousy-winter-snowfall.html

this Massey Ferguson Ski Whiz 500 SST seems to have hibernated a lot... it's in pretty good shape, and still has it's original cover

 

It's going for about 1600 at https://bid.aumannauctions.com/lot-details/index/catalog/29886/lot/4621764?url=%2Fauctions%2Fcatalog%2Fid%2F29886%2F

with such lousy winter snowfall recently, why not switch up a vintage snowmobile and have fun?

 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10214926253809078&set=pcb.2321744197944799