Vintage snowmobile show and fun run brings classic sleds back to Lincoln's trails

The sights and sounds of vintage snowmobiles around Lincoln Saturday hearkened back to the towns days as one of Montana's earliest snowmobile destinations.

For the fourth year, the Bootlegger Inn hosted their Vintage Snowmobile Show and Fun Run, featuring sleds built prior to 1996.

Bootlegger owner Allen Brandt said this year brought in the largest group of historic sleds in the event's history, with upwards of 50 vintage snowmobiles taking part in the fun run.

The route for the fun run this year wasn't a particularly long one, covering a loop from the clubhouse around Keep Cool Lakes and back again. It was kept fairly short in part due to the trail conditions, which reportedly were rather challenging given that the Snow Warriors' groomer is still out of action for repairs.

Brandt said participants this year included riders from the Pacific Northwest Vintage Snowmobile Club and a group of folks who made the trip up from Sheridan, Wyo.

"People are just tired of not doing anything, so they're jumping on it," he said.

The popularity of the event was also reflected in the Ponderosa Snow Warriors clubhouse log, which had about 80 signatures by noon.

For some, the show was a fun excuse to return to Lincoln

Gary Poepping of Helena, who has been coming to Lincoln since 1969, brought his family and his collection of historic Ski-Doo sleds up for the occasion.

"I go out of my way to find them" he said of the Ski-Doos, which range in age from a 1969 Alpine 640/e to a 2002 Winter Olympic limited edition sled. He said the 1969 Alpine was very similar to the one he had when he first began coming to Lincoln.

His collection also included sleek, low profile Ski-Doos form the late 70s: a '76 RV, a '77 T'NT and a '79 Blizzard from 1977, 1978 and 1979. By contrast he also had a blocky 1983 Alpine that had been used by the Forest Service to groom narrow trails in the Libby area. The design, with a single ski and twin tracks, looked like it should have been from the early 70's, but Poepping said they actually manufactured that design until 1993.

Dan Grooms of Bozeman, whose 1971 Rupps 800 Magnum took first place in the show, brought three vintage Rupps snowmobiles to Lincoln, along with a 1972 Ruppster, a vintage dune-buggy style four wheeler he drove as a kid when his family would come to Lincoln to go camping.

The trip provided a reunion for Grooms, whose mother had once been a roommate of Ethel Sutej. Doug ran into Chad and Chuck Sutej, which he said was the first time he'd seen them since he was about ten, the same year he flipped the Ruppster while riding with Chuck.

Larry Grooms, Doug's uncle, rebuilt the little machine in 2009. Like Doug, he brought along his pride and joy for the show: a rare 1976 Mercury Trail Twister. Larry said it was one of only 125 ever made. His was the 95th manufactured and was featured in the 2015 edition of SnoWest magazine when he rode it to a first place finish in a stock vintage oval race in West Yellowstone that year.

Larry said he'd like to see the vintage fun run expand here in Lincoln, which he feels is a great place for it. He may get his wish. Brandt said they are looking at making it a two-day event next year.

"That should fill up the town and be a good boost for everyone," Brandt said.

The Bootlegger co-hosted this year's event with Mount Helena Motor Sports, Tim and bud Hagen Quality Carpet Services of Great Falls, Bob Jean at Curbworks Helena and Chad Sutej.

Brandt also thanked the Snow Warriors for their support of the ride and thanked Steve Hartman for the use of his property across from the Bootlegger.

"It was great, and we appreciate everyone who came," Brandt said. "We love the old machines. That's the stuff we came up on."