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Sno Mo Cade Early 1970s
These past few weeks we have been
exploring the days of the Roseau Lion’s Sno Mo Cade winter festival.
Each year this expanded and by 1970 it was at its height. Snowmobile
racing in places such as the Winnipeg to St.Paul “500” and Eagle River
Wisconsin Derby were a big drawing card. When Polaris racers Leroy
Lindblad, Greg Grahn, and Bob Eastman who had just taken 1st, 2nd, and
3rd in the “500” said they would lead the parade of Polaris
Snowmobiles the crowd came out in force.
The events of the weekend were
presided over by Miss Dominion of Canada, Diane Coulter, who was the
honored guest at the Saturday night banquet. The Sunday program
included a ski-diving exhibition from 7,500 feet up. With all weekend
activity it was no wonder 6,500 people showed up for the events.
The weather cooperated and everything
went off without a hitch. 127 drivers participated in the 1970
Cross-County race while 158 competing in the lap races. At the
Saturday night banquet MC A. J. Kramer and the classy Miss Dominion of
Canada presented the trophies and cash to the Saturday Cross Country
winners. Some of the top winners in the weekend race events included
Leonard Janousek, Greenbush, Dana Byfuglien, Kim Messelt, Roger
Helegeson, Roseau, Armand Westlund of Strathcona, Roger Skime of Thief
River Falls, and Powder Puff
winner Karen Sikorski.
1971 was not the same. The weather
didn’t cooperate, snow and the wind kept the crowds away and the
contestant entries were down. The Polaris racers competed regardless
of the weather.
Again Miss Dominion of
Canada
was the presiding Queen. Miss
Canada, Norma Hickey, was escorted by Steve Hetteen. Saturday evening
she presenting Bob Eastman with his trophy, he had broke Marv Ode’s
Cross-Country race record earlier that day. The top racers were Bob
Eastman, Robert Przekwas, Dick Johnson, Don Feuillerat, Roger Helgeson,
Randy Erickson, Wayne Konickson and Karen Dick and Vicky Lorenson
taking the Powder Puff races.
The only accident to mar the races
happened when Roger Helgeson’s snowmobile crashed into a auto, causing
$500 in damage, after he went over a bank during a race. Helgeson
injured his wrists when he bailed off of the snowmobile, but was
otherwise uninjured.
1972 brought new changes, queen
candidates from the local area vied for the title of Sno Mo Cade
Queen. Marcia Olson of Roseau was the 1972 queen. The 1973 queen was
Kim Dwight, Baudette, Myrna Eklund in 1974, Dorren Hammerback in 1975,
Julie Dahlquist in 1976, Cindy Gunderson in 1977, and Shelly Rice in
1978.
(Information for this week’s article
was gleaned from the Roseau Times-Region and various individuals)
RCHS Footnotes
This past week the Bob Eastman
photograph collection was brought in for scanning. This wonderful
collection contains photos of his racing years plus photographs of
other snowmobile racers. These photographs give the Society a great
opportunity to exhibit the history of snowmobile racing. We are
interested in your photographs of snowmobiling, Polaris, and Sno Mo
Cade, any photographs or memorabilia. These items help residents and
future generations understand the impact snowmobiling has had on
Roseau
County. Call us at the museum if you
have anything that will contribute to this history.
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