On
Sept. 30, members of Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MNUSA), the All
Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) and the Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources (DNR), along with representatives from Midwest Sports
Publishing Association (MSPN) officially dedicated the North Shore State Trail
as the C.J. Ramstad North Shore Trail. The ceremony took take place at the C.J. Ramstad North Shore Trail Martin Road
parking lot in Duluth.
MN.
Terry
Mattson, President /CEO of Visit Duluth, and longtime friend of Ramstad, said,
"This is a tribute to my friend and commemorates the legacy of one of
snowmobiling's most enthusiastic advocates. C.J. captured the soul of
snowmobiling with his writing and photography. Winters may come and go, but the
tracks C.J. left will always remain."
Former
MNUSA President Greg Sorenson initiated and lobbied for
the name change. It was carried by Minn. Rep. David Dill and State Senator Tom
Bakke and got a buy-in from Minnesota DNR. The state legislature agreed to
approve the change only if the cost of replacing all the signage found along on
the 146-mile trail from Duluth
to Grand Marais, MN, was funded by the private sector.
Sorenson
recognized Dill, Bakke, the Minnesota DNR and also his gratitude to others.
"Funding for the sign change came from the C.J. Ramstad Memorial Trail Fund,"
he said. "I would like to thank the members of ATVAM, MNUSA, ISOC
[International Series of Champions] and MSPN for their time and donations and a
special thanks to C.J.'s family members who helped organize and manage the fund
raising."
Ramstad,
the former editor Snow Week, Snowmobile, Snow Goer, Supertrax and Sledder, owner of MSPN, publisher of Minnesota Snowmobiling and Minnesota Offroad and a motorized recreation
advocate for more than 40 years, died along with his son J.J. a in tragic car
accident in 2007. The North Shore Trail was one of his favorite places to ride.
It's one of the few snowmobile trails in the state that bear a person's name.
The re-naming of the trail took place in 2009, but it's now official on signage
and maps.
The
C.J. Ramstad Memorial Trail Fund is dedicated to preserving, supporting and
expanding trails for motorized recreation. For more information or to make a
donation contact Kathy at MSPN (952) 473-7870 or Kathy@sledder.net.