Archive for April 23, 2010

Choosing the Best Snowmobile for You

People who are just starting out with their love of snowmobiles might not have any idea what to look for when they are trying to pick out the right snowmobile to fit their needs. With the high cost of new snowmobiles and the uncertainty of used ones, buying a snowmobile can be an intimidating venture. With a little bit of research and some buying tips, a new snowmobiler can be confident in making a snowmobile purchase.

For first-time snowmobiler owners, buying a used snowmobile might be the best option. Investing a lot of money into a brand new snowmobile when you are not sure how long your enthusiasm will last could lead to a waste of money for something to sit in storage for years. Purchasing a used machine will allow you to gain experience on a snowmobile that has been broken in already. This will help you learn the nuances that go along with gliding across the snowy landscape rather than needing to learn the feel of a snowmobile that has never been ridden.

But there are some other more specific things to remember when choosing the best snowmobile for you, too. To choose a machine to fit your needs, first decide what your needs are going to be. If you want to learn how to compete in snowmobile competitions, you will want to find a high-performance sled that is designed for racing and optimum performance. Other snowmobiles are designed specifically to make it easier to travel through deep snow which would be ideal if you live in an area that receives a large amount of annual snowfall. Others are designed for recreation and are not made to travel at high speeds.

The engine size that will best fit your needs is related to what you will be using your snowmobile for, too. Research information about what engine size is designed for specific snowmobiling needs. Larger engines typically have more horsepower which results in higher speed possibilities. One of the disadvantages, however, is that the larger the engine, the heavier the snowmobile. If you will be loading and unloading your machine regularly, a larger engine may not be your best option. Ideally, inexperienced riders will want to stick with less horsepower to avoid the temptation of testing its abilities before gaining the necessary riding experience.

When purchasing a snowmobile, you will also want to find out the options for modifying the equipment. If you find your ideal snowmobile but want to change certain things (such as the skis, for example), find out how easy it is to do this or if it is even possible. Decide on the aspects you are willing to deal with in exchange for aspects that you are not pleased with. For example, would you rather have a high-performance machine that is more difficult to operate and load or a machine with less horsepower but is easier to maneuver? This could prove to be an important decision that will affect your overall enjoyment of your snowmobile.

Asking yourself a lot of questions before deciding on the best snowmobile to fit your needs is vital in choosing the right one. Snowmobiles can be a great investment in your recreational opportunities and they can be costly. Therefore, doing research on the various models that are available to you along with the advantages and disadvantages of each will be sure to provide you with the maximum potential for enjoying the outdoor winter landscape.

The Antique and Classic Snowmobile Club of Canada

Canada is famous for its consistently snowy weather and frigid temperatures during the winter months. Visitors and vacationers come from all around North America to take advantage of the awesome powder that is available for winter sports and outdoor activities. Snowmobiling is one of the most popular winter activities that residents and vacationers enjoy in the provinces of Canada. As a result, an organization has formed that is dedicated to snowmobiling enthusiasts who want to preserve the nation’s rich history in regards to snowmobiling. The Antique and Classic Snowmobile Club of Canada (ACSCC) is also interested in keeping the available land and trails intact so they can continue to be used to fully enjoy the many winter sports that residents and frequent vacationers are accustomed to.

One of the main activities that the ACSCC enjoys is finding snowmobiles and equipment that were built during the time when the snowmobiling industry first started. The organization enjoys rebuilding these machines and, in some instances, putting them on display to showcase the evolution of the machine’s versatility. In addition, members delight in collecting rare and vintage snowmobiles from previous decades along with those that have been used for racing. Snowmobile memorabilia is also collected in order to show the expansion and popularity of the snowmobile subculture whose members are often referred to as “slednecks.”

The ACSCC began in Ontario in 1982 as an offspring of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America (ASCOA). Canadian members from the ASCOA decided to form their own club in order to have a forum in which to gather to talk about, collect, and share their love and enthusiasm for the sport of snowmobiling. The members of the new ACSCC informally congregated and shared stories and appreciate the old snowmobiles that other members of the organization bought. The group acquired an investor shortly after – the Ontario Snowmobile Dealer’s Association – which afforded them the opportunity to rent a booth at Toronto’s snowmobile show later that same year.

Although the ASCOA considered them to be the ultimate authoritative snowmobile group in North America and took exception to their Canadian members breaking away, there was never intent of ill-will in the actions of the ACSCC. The ACSCC was formed not out of an intention to break off from the American model of the ASCOA, but it was rather an organization formed due to convenience. The Canadian members of the ASCOA simply wanted to form a similar group that was closer to their hometown so they would not have to travel so far in order to share their snowmobile enthusiasm with like-minded people. In fact, the ACSCC holds a great appreciation for the ASCOA because it is the organizational model to which they try to adhere in their own group.

Since that inaugural show in Toronto, the ACSCC has flourished as one of the premier snowmobiling clubs in not only Canada, but also in North America. Currently, members of these two main organizations along with others enjoy the opportunities to gather at swat meets, races, and snow mobile shows to appreciate the equipment and memorabilia that other snowmobile enthusiasts have acquired. The ACSCC also sponsors snowmobiling events that take place year round rather than being limited to just the winter months. Some have wondered about their excitement over machinery that has not been around long enough to be considered antique, but that does not stop the ACSCC from consistently gaining new members and snowmobile-related equipment and memorabilia. The organization has come a long way from their beginnings, especially considering that it was begun on a whim without a focus or vision for what they intended to do.