AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Many varieties
The bright orange Jetstars always stood out on the trails and now are easy to spot at vintage shows. They were available in five different models, all featuring German JLO engines with horsepower ranging from 15.5 to 33.5 and cc ratings from 227 to 428. The company also listed an optional 399cc McCoulagh twin-cylinder engine, but I’ve never seen one, so not sure any were actually made.
All the sleds came with 15-inch wide Goodyear rubber internally driven tracks. Brakes were Kelsey-Hayes calipers and disc mounted on the driven clutch for quick stopping. The Jetstars also came with an aluminum Apex chain case, which was quite durable, and Salisbury drive and driven clutches were used for smooth power delivery. Jetstar also developed its unique Flo-Trak suspension with a bogie wheel system using a lot of rubber bumpers, again to create a smooth ride.
Other new ideas developed for this sled included Jetstar’s exclusive Shock-Eze handlebars. These used a rubber pad to reduce shock coming through the handlebars, creating a more enjoyable ride. There was a 3-inch seat riser for storage on all models. That made the sled’s seat 6 inches higher and added to rider comfort.
One great feature I liked was its latches on the front of the hood. The latch hooked under a nice chrome front bumper. So it was easy for the hood to come off for service work. Jetstars also came with a light fiberglass hood and belly pan. The sleds’ engines were center mounted, so right in your lap. Such an arrangement might have kept you a little warmer on a cold winter ride though.
These were unique, attractive sleds that pushed our sport forward. As the company said in its ads, they were “A Dynamic Machine Whose Time Is Now” … or, sadly, whose time has now passed.
Thanks to Jim Sailer for some info and use of his Jetstar in some of the photos.