Those who love antique sleds are invited to a breakfast and antique sled show at The Pointe Afta, a restaurant in Winslow, followed by a ride. The event is sponsored by the Fort Halifax Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club. The all-you-can-eat breakfast costs $8 for adults and $4 for children and will be served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Proceeds from the event go toward trail grooming and maintenance.

“Last year we had 37 sleds on display, although there was no snow and it was 55 degrees,” said club president Mark Welch. “This year we have tons of snow and the trails are in pretty good shape. Last year, the antique sled show was our biggest fundraiser.”

Additional Photos

The Fort Halifax Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club will host an antique snowmobile show and breakfast on March 6. Last year, the show was held despite a lack of snow and temperatures in the 50s. Courtesy photo

The club has three snowmobile drags and two track trucks. This year’s high price of gas has put a strain on the club’s budget. The club maintains 38 miles of trails in a fairly urban area, which run through the property of 160 individual landowners.

“In the town of Winslow, you may have 20 landowners as part of a single mile of trail, and that takes a lot of time to get the landowners’ permission,” said Welch.

“Our snowmobile club does a lot to help in the local community. This past fall, club members did a town-wide cleanup on land where there had been some illegal dumping.”

No matter what project the club is working on, there are usually the same eight or so people who do the majority of work. Welch hopes the antique snowmobile show will generate new blood for the club.

“If we get two new members as the result of this event and they help with the trails, that would be great. Last year, I paid kids to stack wood at my house while I was out working on the trails. If everyone gave just one full day to a local club, it would make all the difference in the world. People are quick to criticize a trail saying it was rough. The first question I ask them is: ‘Are you a member of a snowmobile club?’ Also, you have some people who join a club because they want to run the groomer the next day. It doesn’t work that way. We need to make the club fun for everyone, whether we’re riding or grooming the trails. It needs to be a positive experience in order to attract new members.”

One thing that has certainly attracted new “friends” rather than members is the club’s Facebook page. While the club has 85 members, it had, at last count, 270 friends.

“There are days when our Facebook page will get 1,300 or 1,400 hits,” said Welch. “It is a great way for people to stay in touch. When our groomers get back from grooming a route, they will post it right away. People can get current trail conditions and find out which trails have just been groomed. Our Facebook page has really taken off, and it has been a really good thing for the club.”

RIDE LIKE THE WIND

The second annual Stetson Wind Snowmobile Ride-in held on February 19 in eastern Maine was a big success, hosted by First Wind, builder of the Stetson project, and the Quad County Snowmobile Club in Springfield. Snowmobilers were able to see the project’s wind turbines up close as well as enjoy a barbecue luncheon. During the construction of the Stetson Mountain Project, several snowmobile trails were displaced.

“To make up for that, First Wind helped the clubs with new trails and for the past few years has hosted the ride-in to the mountain,” said Bob Meyers, the executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association, who attended the event.

Several area snowmobile clubs were invited to the ride-in, which took place in Danforth.

Cathy Genthner is a registered Maine Guide licensed to guide snowmobile trips. She owns River Bluff Camps in Medford, located off ITS-83. She can be reached at:

riverbluffcamps@maine.rr.com

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