Local attendance improves at snowmobile show

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

Rogers City was once again the host to one of the largest antique snowmobile shows in northern lower Michigan. The 4th annual Antique & Vintage Snowmobile Show, conducted in the parking lot of the Water?s Edge Restaurant, in plain sight of vehicles passing along North Third Street, put 180 machines of every shape, size, and color on display. There were 76 people registered and a steady stream of visitors. Organizer Tina Derry believes it is the most local people she has seen attend the event, and a cold northern wind didn?t seem to keep them away.

ROD ALTMAN, from PI Sno-Trails, groomed a trail around the restaurant and motel, and throughout the day, snowmobile enthusiasts not only showed off their unique machines, but they rode laps on them. ?The majority of the snowmobiles run and the owners like to run them,? said organizer Dan Derry. There were many indications that this was the best show ever. Along with filling up The Driftwood Motel, there were more meal tickets sold (147, 2008; 121, 2007), and different food items that sold out. Bob Robarge and Art Derry cooked a pig. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and brats were also served during the day. Organizers also made more money from the raffle of a specially designed Steve Witucki mirror. It was raffled for $310 with $25 in cash donations. All the proceeds were earmarked for Kellie Wang of Rogers City. Witucki also designed the trophies, which are unique to this show, and keep people from across the Midwest coming back. There also were many gifts donated by area merchants for the Chinese raffle.

?EVERY YEAR it gets bigger,? said Derry. ?Our trails didn?t hold up last year because it was 50-degrees. The trails held up beautifully this year.? The events Friday centered around a vintag

e ride to ?The 208 Club,? which 46 riders took part in, and entertainment at the restaurant. Keith Brewer played his acoustic guitar and sang, while Rick DuLac was the DJ. Locals also took advantage of open mike night. In addition, slide shows of the previous three shows were presented and went over extremely well. ?We like the hospitality,? said John McGuirk of Sydney, Ohio. ?Everybody is really nice to us. It is a great place to show machines and people from town can see them. It?s kind of fun talking to people.? He attends about five or six shows a year and is president of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America.

Winners include: best original antique, 1962 Polaris Sno-Traveler, Mark and Marcia Williams of Gulliver; Best restored antique, Chuck Ulch of Hillman, 1966 Olympic Ski-Doo; Best restored vintage, Eddie Chestney of Addison, Arctic Cat Z; Best of show, Jeff Johnson of McBain, Arctic Cat Sno-Pro. The committee that put the event together was commended for their efforts. ?We couldn?t do it without them,? said Tina Derry.