The 1961 Polaris Sno-Traveler looked like a set of blue-painted scaffolding next to the sleek, molded plastic bodies of the other snowmobiles in the parking lot. But on Sunday, it was the one that was getting the most attention.
The Polaris, owned by Jerry Swanson of Hamilton, was the oldest taking part in a vintage snowmobile show that was a part of Lolo Winterfest.
“Even before that, some of the very earliest ones were little more than motorcycle engines attached to skids,” said Tom Mullins, who organized the inaugural event held at Lolo Hot Springs.
Swanson had purchased the Sno-Traveler, along with a few others, when he lived in Maine about 25 years ago.
“Last weekend was the first time I got it running in all that time,” he said.
The other two snowmobiles he brought to the show were 1973 models from both John Deere and Harley Davidson, the latter of which only made snowmobiles for around five years in the 1970s.
“This thing’s been ridden continuously since then. The previous owner kept it at a cabin on Seeley Lake and they would ride it ever winter,” he said.
Dale Richmond wandered through the collection, which included snowmobiles from big names in the industry like Arctic Cat and Ski-Doo to lesser known makers like Brut. Richmond said he had been riding snowmobiles since he started delivering the newspaper on his dad’s eight horsepower 1964 Polaris when he was 12 years old.
“I’ve probably owned more than 100 in my life, I used to fix them up and sell them,” he said.
Instead of sharing a snowmobile of his own at the show, Richmond had brought along a binder full of original promotional materials and brochures for classic snowmobiles. He said he had started collecting the pamphlets when he was in high school.
“I would just write to every company asking for them to send me stuff on their new models,” he said.
Between the bed of his pickup truck and the trailer he was pulling behind it, Matt Whetzel of Arlee brought eight of his snowmobiles to the show.
“I’ve found them everywhere. In wheat fields, barns, behind the shed, and just ask if they are for sale,” he said.
Whetzel said he appreciated how many people had come to Lolo Winterfest, especially as it was a brand new event.
Across the highway from where most of the vintage snowmobiles were parked the organizers of Lolo Winterfest had set up a series of timed courses for riders, including slalom and barrel racing. The events were open to both vintage and modern machines, with the factor separating the two being the lack or presence of independent front suspension, Mullins said.
Mullins placed second in the slalom on his own vintage snowmobile, a 1978 Kawasaki Invader.
“I think that means I’m the first-place loser,” he said.
