The Humboldt Vintage Club and the Naicam Snowblasters combined to do what they do best with the vintage and snowmachines at the second Vintage Snow Rally in Humboldt on Feb. 25.
The rally marks the second straight year both the vintage club and the snowblasters have teamed up for the event.
After seeing a small turnout for year one with just 18 sleds, the event grew significantly, with 109 riders registered this year.
Humboldt Vintage Club Treasurer Craig Poncelet did note that Mother Nature played a role in the lower numbers one year ago.
“Mother Nature decided to have spring in February and when all the snow disappeared the week before all we had was the lake for them to ride on. That was pretty tough and we didn’t have a lot of sleds.”
Still, the numbers that came out this year were impressive, noted Naicam Snowblasters Vice-President Daniel Hinz.
“You look outside, I’m just, no words can explain how happy I am, it’s just awesome,” he said.
“We’ve got last year blown out of the water.”
Included in the 109 riders, where 40 who rode vintage sleds, with the oldest recorded sled being a 1965 Skidoo.
“To join up with the vintage club and do a vintage rally says hey this is what it was like back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. It so cool. You go outside and look at the sleds it’s just where the heck did this come from,” noted Hinz.
In addition to people riding vintage sleds, some of them even wore vintage equipment, like suits and helmets, which is another glimpse into how sledding used to be.
“We’re in Saskatchewan and we’ve had minus 30 and 40 for hundreds of years so I think there were just a lot tougher people back in the day. Now we’ve got these things that we pay $800-900 for to keep us warm, where those guys they had paper thin snowsuits,” laughed Hinz.
But people were coming out just to check out the machines and the auction as well, notes Hinz, who says that is exactly what they were hoping for.
“It’s not just about sledding it’s about getting people out here. Drawing some attention and it’s worked. Last year was a start and this year added to that.”
With the rally being held jointly between the two organizations, all money raised from registrations will be split 50-50, while the vintage club will be the beneficiaries of the rest of the money raised.
The Vintage Club is not a cheap place to operate, noted Poncelet, so the money raised from the rally will help pay for both operation and maintenance of the club.
Poncelet notes that having the event in conjunction with the snowblasters is about more than just the money however.
“The great thing about the conjunction with Naicam is they got to groom the trails so by doing it with them (the riders) have a place safe place to ride.”
Riders were given three options as to which trail they would like to ride, with one being 40km, the second being 80km, and the third being 155km.
Of course, in addition to riding, the rally also featured an auction, with many businesses, both in Humboldt and outside stepping up to lend their support, which was great to see, says Hinz.
“You can have snowmobilers but without that support to bring in the snowmobilers you don’t have a whole lot.”
Poncelet would like to thank both those who sponsored the event, and anyone else who came out to support the event in any way.
