Enjoy these pictures from Mercer, Wisconsin --- our Winter meeting - February 11-12, 2022
Click on any picture below to see in full-screen
Recap of 2022 Winter meeting - Mercer, WI
Our Wisconsin Directors, Jim/Terri Johnson found a great place for our Winter meeting. Mercer, Wisconsin is located south of Ironwood/Hurley and north of Minocqua/Woodruff. The host hotel is right on a busy snowmobile trail. Indeed, during the weekend, I personally witnessed the trail groomer go by five times! Moreover, the Hotel has a large, open room (a former swimming pool building extension) for our meetings and banquet. We were impressed and have already talked about a return to Mercer in a few years.
There was plenty of snow and cold temperatures. Several members joked that we must be a hearty bunch, with enduring 105 degrees of summer heat in Milbank and now zero degrees for our winter meeting!
On Friday there was plenty to do. About seven members went on a 30 mile trail ride. Others went on a whirlwind snowmobile museum tour, visiting Eliason Hardware store (Sayner), World Snowmobile Headquarters (Eagle River), Snowmobile Hall of Fame (St Germain) and the Warning Collection (Minocqua). Then, of course, bench racing and visiting at the evening Cracker Barrel.
Saturday began with the General Membership meeting where we heard of the robust raffle ticket sales activity and the exciting opportunity to travel to Old Forge, New York for our next meeting, in conjunction with the VSCA Nationals show in late June. In other business, on an unanimous vote, $ 1,000 donations will be made to the Eagle River and St. Germain snowmobile history museums. Also, we have been invited back to participate at the Hay Days show in early September.
The Saturday afternoon driving demonstrations were held on a small lake just beyond the Hotel and snowmobile trail. A great location, because the many trail riders were seen doing a double or triple takes as they rode by. Many simply swung in to see "those colorful and funny shaped" antiques. I was especially pleased to see young people's curiosity. Future members, perhaps. The racing included a new twist. Drivers were instructed to continue at the end of the course and cruise up to the Hotel and back down on the lake. It must have worked, because Terri Johnson was in the lakefront Hotel bar and racked up some $ 430 in raffle ticket sales that afternoon. After the races, we proudly parked alongside the trail and impressed the crowd.
Keith Warning and son Jack attended with two Eliasons, as well as a tin-cab Ski Doo and Moto Ski. I noticed that they had left the lake by the time we were running the reverse races. Later, I learned that the two had trail ridden that pair of tin cabs to the next town down the trail and back!
On to Banquet time and it's hearty meal. Jona Eliason was a featured speaker, and gave us a perspective on her grandfather's "first true snowmobile" invention. Yes, there were earlier snow contraptions or auto conversions, but Carl's machine was successful, commercially produced and practical. You see, Carl Eliason had a club foot and yearned for winter backwoods experiences. The self taught "blacksmith" built the first in a backyard shed. Got it to work in 1924. It was light enough to float on the snow. Schwinn Bicycle Company sold him parts. Excelsior, Indian or Harley powered. Orders came in. A handful each year. By 1940, some 40 machines in total. Finland wanted many, based on their World War II military projections. Well, that Finland deal fell through. The large order led to Carl's realization that the Sayner operation wouldn't be able to keep up. A willing buyer/manufacturer was Four Wheel Drive (FWD) Corp. in Clintonville, WI. By 1940, the US army bought and tested five units. Ultimately, the army purchased 150 white colored machines for the WWII defense of Alaska. Thereafter, the Eliason name continued through 1963/64.
After her history lesson, Jona Eliason was then recruited to pick the winning ticket stub for the 1963 Ski Doo raffle. The winner was none other than Steve McLaen, our North Dakota Director. Ironic, because Steve is donating the Es-Kee-Mo snowmobile that will be our next raffle sled build. The cute little ski Doo is our club's fifth raffle sled, and we can be proud that ASCOA members have won every one!
To round out the Saturday evening banquet, a case of Jerry Wanty's home-made wines were auctioned off. Club coffers were enriched with $ 590. (Jerry is our club historian.) Also, Jona Eliason donated cans of the tribute "Motor Toboggan Coffee Stout" beer, that feature images of Eliason machines. (Carl loved his coffee.) They were auctioned at $ 230.
Our Wisconsin Directors, Jim/Terri Johnson found a great place for our Winter meeting. Mercer, Wisconsin is located south of Ironwood/Hurley and north of Minocqua/Woodruff. The host hotel is right on a busy snowmobile trail. Indeed, during the weekend, I personally witnessed the trail groomer go by five times! Moreover, the Hotel has a large, open room (a former swimming pool building extension) for our meetings and banquet. We were impressed and have already talked about a return to Mercer in a few years.
There was plenty of snow and cold temperatures. Several members joked that we must be a hearty bunch, with enduring 105 degrees of summer heat in Milbank and now zero degrees for our winter meeting!
On Friday there was plenty to do. About seven members went on a 30 mile trail ride. Others went on a whirlwind snowmobile museum tour, visiting Eliason Hardware store (Sayner), World Snowmobile Headquarters (Eagle River), Snowmobile Hall of Fame (St Germain) and the Warning Collection (Minocqua). Then, of course, bench racing and visiting at the evening Cracker Barrel.
Saturday began with the General Membership meeting where we heard of the robust raffle ticket sales activity and the exciting opportunity to travel to Old Forge, New York for our next meeting, in conjunction with the VSCA Nationals show in late June. In other business, on an unanimous vote, $ 1,000 donations will be made to the Eagle River and St. Germain snowmobile history museums. Also, we have been invited back to participate at the Hay Days show in early September.
The Saturday afternoon driving demonstrations were held on a small lake just beyond the Hotel and snowmobile trail. A great location, because the many trail riders were seen doing a double or triple takes as they rode by. Many simply swung in to see "those colorful and funny shaped" antiques. I was especially pleased to see young people's curiosity. Future members, perhaps. The racing included a new twist. Drivers were instructed to continue at the end of the course and cruise up to the Hotel and back down on the lake. It must have worked, because Terri Johnson was in the lakefront Hotel bar and racked up some $ 430 in raffle ticket sales that afternoon. After the races, we proudly parked alongside the trail and impressed the crowd.
Keith Warning and son Jack attended with two Eliasons, as well as a tin-cab Ski Doo and Moto Ski. I noticed that they had left the lake by the time we were running the reverse races. Later, I learned that the two had trail ridden that pair of tin cabs to the next town down the trail and back!
On to Banquet time and it's hearty meal. Jona Eliason was a featured speaker, and gave us a perspective on her grandfather's "first true snowmobile" invention. Yes, there were earlier snow contraptions or auto conversions, but Carl's machine was successful, commercially produced and practical. You see, Carl Eliason had a club foot and yearned for winter backwoods experiences. The self taught "blacksmith" built the first in a backyard shed. Got it to work in 1924. It was light enough to float on the snow. Schwinn Bicycle Company sold him parts. Excelsior, Indian or Harley powered. Orders came in. A handful each year. By 1940, some 40 machines in total. Finland wanted many, based on their World War II military projections. Well, that Finland deal fell through. The large order led to Carl's realization that the Sayner operation wouldn't be able to keep up. A willing buyer/manufacturer was Four Wheel Drive (FWD) Corp. in Clintonville, WI. By 1940, the US army bought and tested five units. Ultimately, the army purchased 150 white colored machines for the WWII defense of Alaska. Thereafter, the Eliason name continued through 1963/64.
After her history lesson, Jona Eliason was then recruited to pick the winning ticket stub for the 1963 Ski Doo raffle. The winner was none other than Steve McLaen, our North Dakota Director. Ironic, because Steve is donating the Es-Kee-Mo snowmobile that will be our next raffle sled build. The cute little ski Doo is our club's fifth raffle sled, and we can be proud that ASCOA members have won every one!
To round out the Saturday evening banquet, a case of Jerry Wanty's home-made wines were auctioned off. Club coffers were enriched with $ 590. (Jerry is our club historian.) Also, Jona Eliason donated cans of the tribute "Motor Toboggan Coffee Stout" beer, that feature images of Eliason machines. (Carl loved his coffee.) They were auctioned at $ 230.