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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-12-22, Page 35SP( RT Times -Advocate, December 22,1093 Phee 35 Snowmobiling Desplte tough economy, it's still popular By Fred Groves T -A staff DASHWOOD - Machine, sled, snowmobile, toy...call it what you will but no matter how you say it, it comes out fun in the end. While the slow economy has put a crimp on some recreational dol- STIOWMOating safety hits the road As part of an innovative new $250,000 safety :initiative an- nounced this fall by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), responsible snowmobil ing messages will be delivered* millions of Ontarians this winter on the . sides of transport trucks. These unique moving billboards adorn Fluke Transports and are made possible through corporate sponsorships: as a part of the Fed- eration's new multi -faceted SLED SMART Safety Program to en- courage .safe family snowmobil- ing. The initiative is being sup- ported by <.similar print .ads < in major snowmobile publications. "Ther longe of any publiced- ucation tstgram is to . reach : as many people as possible with an eye-catching message." says OFSC Marketing Manager John Blaicher. "Transport trucks are visible.. and mobile. They target a captive audience and share the roads with thousands of:snowmo- brkrs heading for the snisv each winter day. Studies showthaLcach safety : message will : hirVe4sin astounding 231 million exposures *over its three year lifespan." • The transport messages are one component of the SLED SMART Safety strategy announced Octo- ber 14 by the OFSC to coincide with the launch of snowmobiling's annual RIDE SAFE, RIDE = SO- BER campaign. Hosted by the On - hula -Snowmobile Safety Commit- With' the assistance of Zurick . Insurance Canada, this- initiative iiso includes OFSC partnering with the Ontario Ministry of Cul- ture, Tourism and Recreation to produce the dramatic and sobering new snowmobile safety video, "No Second Chance." The no-hoidibarred video ad- dresses the rutin snowmobiling risk factors - ice travel, riding after dark, snowmobiling on roads, speed and drinking - with .hard- hittingaccident simulations inter- spersed by stark personaltestimo- nials from recent accident victims and their families. Viewers were • moved to tears by the prospect of Chris,MacDonald's life in a wheel- chair and Mrs-:Merrifield's despair at the loss ofher son. •: "No Second Chance" will be dis- tributed across the province to snowmobile clubs, police .agen- cies, high schools, community groups and safety organizanotai together with a leader's gtiideltui facilitate discussion and debate on owmobile safety issues. it will giSo receive. extensive use in. the gasping OFSC Driver raining; program which, will teacii respon- *le.riding to over 5,000 young- lers this winter. A second major component of the OSFA SLED SMART Safety campaign hits the road in Novem- ber. A,two person SLED SMAKT Safety Eucation Team, Lesley An- drews and Steve Galang, support ed by coordinator Jeff Sinclair,1 will mount a travelling caravan across.the province throughout the winter months targeting high risk snowbett communities. The team will deliver the OFSC responsible snowmobiling and anti -drinking message to snowmobilers at snow= Cling events, winter carnivals; ;•tiling and community met - rigs.; Made possible through the generous support of many spon- sors, the team will also distribute the new OFSC safety brochure, "SLED SMART: A GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE F,AMJLY SNOW- MOBILiNG'and screen the "No Second Chance" video. In a companion effort, the OFSC safety message will also be castled to snowmobilers on.thc trails. Each of this seasons ;anticipated 100,000 OFSC members .will receive an,at- tractive SLED :.SMART - RIDE SAFE RIO& SOBER to leciive, de- cal suitable for :;helrrtct, 814d, trier or vehicle xpplicstion ac a visible statement of an individual snow- mobiler'spersonal contmilrnettt to no drinking while riding. tars, snowmobiling is still going strong according to local enthu- siasts. With the very popular Pineridgc Snowmobile Club plus two dealer- ships which can provide complete packages from the machine itself right down to boots and gloves, southern Huron County is a hot spot for this sport. Inside the showrooms of both Brian's Service Centre and Elder's Enterprises, new snowmobiles sporting different brand names glis- ten awaiting for a buyer. "Some keep them and others trade them. There's more interest in snowmobiling then there has been in other years," said Brian Kipfer in Dashwood. From his showroom in Hensall, Paul Elder said the machines are bought very quickly once the new models are announced. "Most of our big stuff ($6,000 and up) was sold in March and April before it was built," said Eld- Local club has over 475 members Cr. Southwestern Ontario does not exactly have ideal weather condi- tions, there simply isn't enough snow for snowmobiling. But that's why they have trailers and week- ends. "The bulk of my customers travel north to do their snowmobiling," said Kipfer. This is a fast sport and some ma- chines can reaolf over 140 kilome- tres an hour. That's a lot faster than you go in your car and a lot more dangerous .because you are riding only a few inches off the ground. Just like with motorcycles, hel- mets are mandatory with snowmo- biling and both Elder and Kipfer are very safety orientated. "Helmets are mandatory and I can put cheap helmets on the The following is an average price of both machine and accessories, in- surance, etc. if you want to get started in snowmobiling: Snowmobile (Yamaha Phaser II)......$5,500 Suit. $215 Insurance $200 Helmet. $150 Trail permit. $80 Boots $65 Gloves .... $50 License $30 TOTAL $6290 , Note: This does not include the cost of a trailer to haul your machine and it should be also noted that the trail permit is $65 if purchased before Dec. 1.... shelves but 1 believe you only have one head," said Kipfer. Outside and waiting for the snow at Elder's is a large selection of used machines and at'both dealer- ships, servicing the older snowmo- biles is still a big part of the busi- ness. "We still do a lot of work ,on the older machines. A lot of people spend money getting them ready,"said Elder Fast growing club: Elder is a member of the local Pine Ridge Snowmobile Club which has a whopping 478 members to date which come from all over. "We have members out of Sarnia and St. Thomas that come up here. We're probably the closest club with the most snow," said Jack Brintnell of the Pine Ridge Snow- mobile Club. The club is part of the Lake Hu- ron Regional Snowmobile Associa- tion which comes under the eye of the very organized Ontario Federa- tion of Snowmobile Clubs. The sport has always been a fam- ily orientated activity for mom, dad and the kids. Often trailers are put behind a snowmobile for the younger ones to ride in. It's a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Pine Ridge, which already has asen more members than last year, recently had a Snowmobile Driver Training Course for those drivers 12 years .old and up. Brintnell said one of the rules of the sport say that younger drivers. can be on the machines by them- selves but they must have an adult with them when crossing a road. As already mentioned by Kipfer, safety is important and over the past few years the OFSC has placed a high priority on drinking and :driving. "We have signs up along the trail but the federation is getting into it in a big way," said Brintnell. Local well-groomed trails go through the popular Hay Swamp in Hay Township just outside of Exet- vsr. There are two trail masters who retake sure stakes and stop signs are p and they are .responsible for doming the trails sometimes as •-auuch as twice a week depending on the amount of use. "The trail systems are getting bet- ter. There's maps and it's easier to fmd your way," said Elder. Permission has been granted by private land owners for the use of their land for trails at no remunera- tion to them of which the club is grateful. Upcoming events planned by the Pine Ridge Club are a cookout in Hay Swamp on Jan. 6, and a Poker Rally on Jan. 23. Anyone wishing more informa- tion about the local club can con- tact Jack Brintnell at 263-5264. Hope for snow Used snowmobiles suet: as prises are bought up quickly. these in Hensall at Elder Enter - We're tuning up to wish all our many customers and friends a Christmas that's perfect in every way! Kyle's Shell 78 London Rd. Hensall 262.2832 AUTO REPAIR Art and Staff would like to thank you for your patronage during the past year. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 'Closed Dec. 27 & 31 444A Main St, Exeter 235-2277 Helmets am mandatory as Brian Kipfer displays one model while sitting on a new Yamaha snowmobile. If you like to ride cross-country with all the intensity and agility of a gritty motocrosser, the1994 MX' and MX Z• are engineered for you Both feature Bombardier HPG high-pressure gas shocks, delivering the ultimate in handling and bump -absorption properties. Considering, something less than a new MX or,MX That's rough. DAN Eider Enterprises - Hemstall 28 , HTwOenwY. d �aaErdrt� � •• , 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0