The weekend of Sept. 14-15-16 will see a gathering of many
of the most influential and well-known snowmobilers in the sport. They will
come to Eagle River, WI, for the annual International Snowmobile
Hall of Fame inductions. The Derby Track is again presenting the "Reunion" with grass drags, vintage show and swap
meet.
International Snowmobile Hall of Fame
Three new members will be inducted into the Hall. They will
join 87 previously inducted snowmobilers into this prestigious Hall which was
founded in 1984.
Being inducted are:
Russ Davis from Sayner,
WI, has been consumed by
snowmobiling since his first sled back in 1964. From that time on Davis has been involved
in the sport and business of snowmobiling as an avid consumer and even more so
as a leader on the industry side of the sport.
As a racer, Davis successfully
competed in cross country and ovals across the Midwest
from 1967 to 1976. This racing career
soon led to a sales position with Scorpion snowmobiles. His novel and very
successful promotional ideas had him quickly moving up to general manager and
then to national sales manager.
After Scorpion, he switched to the Ski-Doo sales department.
Again he continued moving up rapidly to finish his 20 year long career with
them as vice president of sales and marketing world wide.
He retired from Ski-Doo in 1995 but joined Fast, Inc. (Blade
snowmobiles) as their president for three years.
Davis
now operates his own marketing and sales consulting company and is still
involved in many snowmobile organizations and activities.
Within the industry, Davis
and his accomplishments are well known. He is a most respected member of the
snowmobile community.
Chris and Jeannie Brewer are from Regina Beach, SK, Canada. So avid are these two that
they got married on snowmobiles in 1990 dressed in matching snowmobile suits.
Smitten by the bug at age 11, Chris has spent the rest of
his life promoting, developing, volunteering, grooming and organizing snowmobile
clubs and activities. He has received numerous honors including the
International Snowmobile Industry Association Snowmobiler of the Year and
Saskatchewan Groomer of the Year.
In 2000 Chris was hired by the Saskatchewan Snowmobile
Association as its executive director, a position he continues to hold.
Jeannie started snowmobiling in 1967 and has the same
passion and dedication to the sport as does Chris. She annually rides at least
1,000 miles. She is very active in many local and provincial club functions,
grooming promotion, fund raising and volunteering for almost any needed job
that involves snowmobiling.
A breast cancer survivor, Jeannie was instrumental in
starting Prairie Women on Snow to bring attention and to raise funds for the
cure. She has won the CCSO Snowmobiler of the Year in 2008. Her administrative
talents have been recognized and she now serves as the chief financial officer
of the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association.
Kim Raap makes his home in Sioux Falls, SD.
He has dedicated most of his life to making snowmobiling better every where he
can. His accomplishments range from trail development and partnership building
to national leadership and program development.
Raap has a passion for snowmobiling that has carried him
well beyond job duty. He has been rewarded many times for his untiring efforts
by being honored throughout his 25 years serving as a snowmobile trails program
administrator and consultant for several western states.
Among these honors are: Snow Goer Magazine for Best
Snowmobile Trail System (Black Hills), Professional Excellence Award from
International Association of Snowmobile Administrators, Iron Dog Brigade
Distinguished Service Award and Most Valuable Snowmobiler award from Snowmobile
Magazine.
Raap's professional career was first with the state of South Dakota and later with the state of Wyoming. After leaving
state government work eight years ago, he founded his own consulting company
called Trails Work.
In this new capacity, he has produced several manuals on
trail development, grant programs, ATV trails and trail guide books that are
used by many state and national trails programs. His passion continues.
International Snowmobile Groomer of the Year
Jerry Emery is from Aitkin, MN.
Building his own groomer, Emery started his grooming career back in 1976. After
35 years of planning, building and developing the trails around Mille Lacs, the
club now has 130 miles of trails, 90 percent "Jerry built." For him,
grooming is a year around passion that he is dedicated to.
All snowmobilers are invited to attend the weekend events
that will include pontoon boat rides on the Chain O'Lakes, vintage races and
show, open house at the World Snowmobile Headquarters and lots of good times
visiting with other sledders. The inductions will be held at the Eagle River
Inn the evening of Sept. 15.
For more information call (800) 746-8963.