7909-R2_MSA_Mar2022_MaineSnowmobiler

St . Al bans Sno-Dev i l s Host F i rst Annua l V i ntage Snowmob i l e R i de By Mike Grass Jr.

T he St. Albans Sno-Devils held their first annual Vintage Snowmobile Ride on February 19, 2022. I’ve always wanted to participate in one of these rides and this was my chance. With nothing else on the “Presidential” calendar, I decided to load up the 1984 Ski-doo and head for St. Albans and “The Vintage Assault on Devil’s Head”. I was greeted by a crew of vintage “regulars” who were already there and checking out what everybody brought. A quick “drivers meeting” was given to the riders by Sno-Devils President Chris Ring and we were ready to head out. Chris led our group of about 12 vintage sleds and a couple newer sleds (tow vehicles just in case) out behind the club house and headed for Devil’s Head, an overlook with a nice view of Great Moose Lake. The grooming crew had spent most of the night before trying to fix bare spots and loosen up some snow for “slider lube”. I was hoping for lots of slider lube as I was running the only liquid in the bunch and needed to get some of that up on my heat exchanger to keep the 462cc monster from overheating! I had to keep working at it but I found enough here and there to keep the Rotax mill from getting too hot (I didn’t want the tow strap picture). We made the trip up St. Albans mountain and down the side trail to the lookout and lined up the old iron for some pictures, banter and more bench racing. Some nice Arctic Cats, Ski-doos, a Polaris and a Homelite

made it to the look out and back without any problems other than some spinning on the icy trail(s). Back at the clubhouse, more sleds had arrived including a beautiful Bolens, a couple Mantas and a few others. More pictures and a fantastic lunch was served to a clubhouse full of vintage owners, spectators and some trail riders who made the trip in. As a special gift for the day, Salesman Chris Ring had a deal. They had come into the possession of some original Sno-Devils patches. There were about 36 of them and if you joined the club that day for $30, you got a patch to go with your membership. Needless to say, I have a limited Sno-Devils patch now! I had a great day hanging with all these vintage people, enjoyed my first “trail ride” with my 84’ and got my first view from Devils Head of Great Moose Lake. Thank You to all the Sno-Devils crew who made it possible. I can’t wait for next year’s event and would encourage everyone to put the Sno-Devils vintage event on your calendar.

Mike Grass Jr. MSA President and now Vintage Rider!

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