Wheels of Thunder January 2013 Issue

JAN/FEB 2013
Vol. 4 Issue 1
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Front Cover Photo by Keith McKenna
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Find us on Facebook Wheels of Thunder
January 2013
OWNER
PRESIDENT Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719
OFFICE STAFF
AR/AP Stacy Robinson 763-421-4400 OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR/AR Vince Griffith vince@wheelsofthunder.net 651-280-8658 JUNIOR BOSS Zack Robinson 763-421-4400
EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Betty Schurmann editor@wheelsofthunder.net 763-421-4400
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Special Features
Photographers/Writers
BILLY BOYLE MIKE BENOY CEAJA PHILP ERIK TORMOEN BRAD COPLAN JENNA OSTERLUND JOSH MOEN MYLIE LAVOLD KIM NILES JOHN LENTZKOW
Levi LaVallee / Team LaVallee .......................5 Next Generation - Andee Nestaval ..............16 The Collector - VW Past and present.............24 Going Grassroots...in the snow! ...................20 Legends - Ed Kretz Sr. and Jr. .....................28 W.o.W. - Joyce Nordquist Scott ...................52
ADVERTISING STAFF
SALES Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719 Ceaja (CJ) Philp ceaja@wheelsofthunder.net 763-458-5019 WISCONSIN - Brad Coplan bradc@wheelsofthunder.net 715-497-8090 IOWA - John Lentzkow John.lentzkow@mchsi.com 319-239-1375
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Reviews
Ickler Machine............................................32
Rallys & Shows
BRRP ..........................................................42
ISOC National - Bessemer, MI .....................48
ISOC Regional - Elk River, MN.....................49
The Jack Race.............................................60
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All content published herein is owned exclusively by Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine. Reproduction or further dissemination of the content herein is strictly prohibited without the express written authorization of Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine.
Garage Built ...............................................10 Off The Beaten Path ....................................38 ABATE of MN.............................................40
Boiling Point................................................12 Game On!..................................................56
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www.WheelsofThunder.net
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Photography by Keith McKenna Written by Ceaja Philp
Levi LaVallee Fan Favorite, Record Breaker, Team Owner

There is no doubt why Levi LaVallee has been labeled a fan favorite for four consecutive years! His competition accomplishments fill pages and easily speak for themselves, but his personality, drive and will to continue doing what he enjoys is why so many swarm to support him. This Longville, Minnesota native has never forgotten his grassroots, and has continued to stay connected with the small town of about 180 people. Levi started riding when he was very small and recalls riding his first 4wheeler, entertaining himself and his family doing jumps off an old car hood propped up on blocks. Snowmobiles were just another common thing growing up in the Midwest, but Levi told about how they were able to ride them everywhere, including school. Last year he was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and laughed as he told how after school activity consisted of doing jumps off the snow piled up around the school yard. With all of this riding so early on, racing just came natural to Levi. He placed 2nd at his first snowmobile race, which instantly had him hooked on the speed and adrenaline from competing against others. He quickly worked his way up to the Pro level, and with over 16 years of racing under his belt he is still pushing himself to be at the top of his game. Since some of the first things Levi did before racing were jumps and tricks, there was no surprise he was able to take 1st place at the first freestyle competition he entered in 2007. With that win he was given an invite to compete in Freestyle, Speed & Style as well as Snocross in
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the 2008 Winter X Games. There has always been a drive in him to see how far he could push himself, and he has taken this to an extreme. Levi was the first athlete to ever attempt a double back flip on a snowmobile, which he showed the world at Winter X 2009. Freestyle, snocross and distance jumping seem like quite a hand full, but 2009 also brought on new adventure for Levi, starting his own race team, Team LaVallee; co-owned by Glenn Kafka. Being an owner put new and more things on Levi's to-list. "My focus has changed a bit," says LaVallee, "The business side of running the team takes a lot of time and energy. It is much more than loading the sleds in the trailer and going to the races. It's scheduling where and when everyone is going to be, making sure every detail is covered, working with sponsors on different ideas, making sure the riders are all good, making sure mechanics are happy, and that's just to name a few. It is all something I am passionate about and wouldn't want to change so it doesn't bother me." New Year's Eve 2010 was to be another memorable moment in Levi's career, when he was to break a distance jump for the Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. event. The day practices went great and he was able to break the previous 301 1/2 ft record set by super star Paul Thacker in 2009 at Minnesota's Brainerd International Raceway. Levi landed a massive jump of 361 feet. During a night practice his sled had a hiccup in the carb, ending with a devastating crash and cancelling his New Year's attempt. Many would have thought that after such a
huge crash, having suffered broken ribs, punctured lungs and pelvic fractures, it would have put a stop to another attempt and possibly his career. That thought didn't cross Levi's mind. Only 3 months to the day after the accident he was back on his sled, ready to get back what he enjoys! His first competition after the accident was Thanksgiving Weekend at the annual ACFF National Race held at Spirit Mountain. Even though his record of 361 feet held, Levi wanted to break it this year by completing a live jump at the 2011 Red Bull: New Year. No Limits event in San Diego, CA. With Robbie Maddison on his motorcycle, attempting to take back his record, and Levi wanting to break his own, this dare devil duo put on a show! The long awaited record jump attempt for Levi LaVallee was well worth the wait! He didn't just break his old jump distance, he managed to leave it in the dust by over 50 feet! After having to cancel the year prior due to his accident, Levi approached Red Bull and said he wanted to give it another shot. They were quick to respond, and by early spring had chosen beautiful San Diego again. The set up was beautiful with over 300 feet of water beneath Levi LaVallee and Robbie Maddison. (Robbie unofficially broke the world record for distance jumped on a motorcycle during practice for Saturday night's event. He jumped 392 feet during practice but during the live event, he came up just short of the 391 foot record, landing at 378 feet, 9 inches.)
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Written by Ceaja Philp Photography by Keith McKenna
eam LaVallee had a few changes this year to prepare for. The addition of Pro rider, 21 year old Kyle Pallin #324 of Ironwood, Michigan and the return of Pro Lite rider Jake Scott #42 of Port Jefferson Station, New York. The other challenge would be the return of Snowmobile SnoCross and Speed and Style at the X Games in Aspen this January. The team is good at learning, growing and pushing each other, while doing what they enjoy the most.
They all train year round but come fall the guys move to the Longville and work side by side preparing for the season. From the but either way Team LaVallee would advance to the next round. The next round would again be tough for LaVallee, having which he has had since he first started racing at age 12. Team LaVallee is very happy to have Pallin on their side. As for Jake Scott, he was hoping to start where he left off last year at the season finale in Lake Geneva. He took his first national Pro Lite race win there, putting him in 3rd overall for the season. He had quite the battle at opener this year with over 50 Pro Lite riders battling for the finals. His mix of great holeshots, smooth running lines, and level headed thinking to make the right passing maneuvers got Scott to 2nd place on the podium Saturday night.
weight room, shop, foam pit, and to the practice tracks, they work as a true team. LaVallee is proud that his team races snocross and does freestyle, and plans to always have a jumper on the team. The 21st INSS season opener held at Spirit Mountain was full of excitement for the team. LaVallee started off the weekend strong while working his way into the semi-finals Friday night in the AMSOIL Dominator. In the first round, LaVallee was matched against Pallin, which wasn't exactly how the new teammates had hoped,
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to take on last year's defending ISOC Champion, Tim Tremblay. Moving into the semi-final around, it was LaVallee against Tucker Hibbert. Hibbert would be the winner and advance, but LaVallee wasn't done there. Still wanting to put on a show for the fans, he once again did his infamous back-flip intro to kick of the races. The two Pro racers would battle to get qualified and run in the finals that weekend. This will be Kyle Pallin's second season as a Pro rider. He has a great reputation for endurance and a never give up attitude,
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on a snowmobile for the first time, my Dad's Polaris Indy 500. Since that day I have rode Polaris' and I plan to forever! Also big hats off to our other sponsors; Parts Unlimited, Arctiva, Fox Shox, Earth Inc., Woodys Traction , Unequal Technoligies, and all the other sponsors that make this happen." Continue to get the latest on the team on Facebook, Team LaVallee or their web site www.teamlavallee.com
LaVallee has brought on a great group of sponsors that have continued to stay with the team. "Mystik Lubricants has been awesome to work with! The people have
been great to work with and the lubricants are even better! We have been with Loctite for quite a while now, and they are what hold us together! Back in the early 90s I got
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Owner/Enthusiast:
Tom Schwartz
1968 Honda CB450K1

I believe there were less than 8000 of these produced, so you won't find one on every corner!
I bought this bike locally for $800 bucks, the guy said his son bought it in Canada and brought it back with him about two years earlier, had a title and said it ran. They had had it for two years not doing anything with it so decided selling was a better option.
Stock Original Stock Original

This is where it all started! This is where it all started!
Sound Familiar?
Do you have a story of your custom ride? E-mail editor@wheelsofthunder.net and you could be featured with your ride in the next issue!
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It had only 8400 miles on it, but it looked like those miles where on a lot of dirt roads or trails, and it had obviously been laid down more than once, on both sides! The before pictures don't really show how rough the bike actually was. I had intentions of restoring it for my wife to learn on because it was low, a smaller bike in general, and the price was right. I took it home and cleaned the tank and carbs, put fresh gas in and the bike ran great! I knew I had a good low mileage motor to start with, but the bike was in pretty rough shape. It had a thick layer of dirt, oil, and grease covering the whole underside of the frame and motor. Both foot pegs had been broken off and welded back in place, all the turn signals were either scratched or broken, the bars were bent, fork ears and head light shell too, but I didn't notice most of that stuff till I got it home. I ended up stripping the whole bike down to bare frame and motor. The compression was good so I never touched the motor ("I'm a firm believer in "if it isn't broke, don't fix it").
new rear shocks new brake shoes in front, back was good polished all aluminum & chrome on the bike new turn signals new head pipes and mufflers new rear fender new tank badges Phew, and here is a list of new or original parts that took me a lot of time to source, and I know I'm forgetting a ton of smaller stuff. Most of this was impossible to find in good original condition, and came from a mix of dealers, EBay, Craigslist, or swap meets...and none of them came as cheap as I had wished....lol. Original seat, head pipes, correct reproduction mufflers (shipped from Holland), correct reproduction tank badges, NOS front fender reflector, NOS handle bars, NOS switches, turn signals, foot pegs, fork tubes, fork ears and headlight shell, chain guard, rear fender, brake pedal/lever, and new correct size and tread tires and tubes
With a good power wash to the rolling frame with the motor still in it and some deep detailing to the frame and motor, I started rebuilding the bike, replacing or rebuilding as needed. It ended up taking me about two years to complete the bike, but well worth it, it's a real head turner! Here is a 'mini-list' list of work done to the bike, but I'm sure I forget some. I know I'll never get my time, labor, or the money I rebuilt front end with new fork tubes, seals, and oil spent back out of the bike, but everywhere I go people new fork ears and head light shell. want to talk to me about it and when I show the bike people love it.... and to me that really is priceless! new tires and tubes new handle bars It really was a labor of love, and I'll probably never part new switches and grips with it. My wife never did get the nerve to get on it and new cables ride, so one day I bought a set of clubman bars and bar end mirrors and now cleaned and sealed the gas tank it's got a really cool rebuilt carbs and petcock cafe style look to it. new fuel lines Funny thing is, my set timing and adjusted valves wife and I still refer to synched carbs it as 'her' bike. new points, condenser, and plugs Like most projects it's painted the frame never truly finished. new foot pegs and foot peg rubbers One day in the near new chain future I'd like to put a new chain guard Pamco ignition in it, or maybe a solid state new clutch plates regulator recti new bronze swing arm bushings fier....that'd be cool! new tapered headstock bearings
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Written by Billy Boyle
ITS A MAD, MAD WORLD

My article for January was just about written and going to the editor when the most disgusting thing that could have happened took place; I am talking about the Sandy Hook elementary school shootings. The incident was by far the worst of the many crazy acts of violence that happen in America every single week. If you dont know my professional background, I dabble in a bunch of areas, one being emergency response and human behavior. Over the last 6 years I have presented to countless individuals and corporations on workplace violence, most directed at the employee who is for whatever reason going off the deep end. For example, I presented to a company in Missouri in 2008; while in the 3 day session I mentioned that one of the participants was a little on the unstable side. The guy in question was irritated at every mention of the positive things his company was doing. I voiced my concern to the plant manager, and received this response, we know it, but we want to make him feel like one of the team. I had an uneasy feeling about this guy and I was proved right. Four months later he walked into work armed with a high powered rifle, killing 9 of his co-workers and finally pulling the trigger on himself. The nut cases issue was the 401K plan, now thats a reason to blow everyone away. My friends this is not a once in a great while thing that happens in the USA; these despicable acts of violence happen every single week. This summer I did a class and mentioned what we call the lone wolf the lunatic that is scheming, planning, and fantasizing about death and destruction. I used the example of the creep from Norway who blew up a building killing 9 people and followed that up with a trip by boat to a Christian youth camp where he killed 68 innocent teenagers. One of the class participants told me that thats a once in a lifetime incident. That night the dirt bag in Aurora took out a good portion of the movie goers at the Batman premier. It doesnt take much research to see that with acts of multiple murders by guns in
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the workplace, malls, large gatherings, and schools, we have a major problem in the United States. Knowing what I know, I cannot relax going to ballgames, amusement parks, the Mall of America, any large gathering, and traveling by air. I watch everyone as we all should be doing. A mother in Missouri recently reported her son as acting strange when he came home with several recently purchased automatic weapons and 400 rounds of ammunition. The local authorities detained him and found out through interrogation that his plan of action was to position himself at the gun case at the local Wal-Mart and kill as many people as he could and follow that up with a visit to the theater next door and blow people away at the premier of Twilight. Kudos for this mom. How many of you would have turned your son or daughter in? Looking at the caliber of offenders that are the culprits, how the heck did they get a gun their hand to begin with? I recently did a class in Brookfield, Wisconsin specifically on this topic. Two days later a distraught scorned husband walked into the beauty salon killing his wife and 4 others. Maybe I am just more aware of the violent situa-
tion than most of public, but I could go on and on with the stories, examples, and tally of the carnage that happens at the hands of these poor people that have been set aside by the human race. The moral of the story - its not the guns that are killing our workers, friends, family, and now our children, its the nuts that manage to find a way to purchase, borrow, or steal a weapon. How can we as a society manage the sale of guns in America? Many Americans are looking to arm themselves after the Sandy Hook incident. In Minnesota a self-defense bill has been the topic of discussion for quite some time. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton vetoed an explosive self-defense bill, saying the lives of police officers could be at risk if citizens are free to use their guns when they feel threatened. The governor rejected the measure, saying Minnesota citizens facing threats already have the legal authority to defend themselves and their families. He said state law and court decisions "already provide the authorizations for law-abiding citizens to use deadly force to defend themselves or others, either inside or outside of their homes, so long as that force constitutes 'reasonable force. The law states that
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the deadly force has to be in the home or around the property. Breaking news as I write the article another wacko decided to start several homes and cars on fire, position himself on a bluff and proceed to pick off the firefighters with a high powered rifle as they responded in the middle of a cold, snowy, December night The tally 4 firefighters down, 2 dead. The shooter already did 17 years in prison for bashing his 90 year old, grandmas head in with a hammer. The poor guy was released in 1996 but has had a number of documented episodes with the local nuthouse. Heres another case of classic warning signs. Older guy, lives with his mother and sister, loves the mom, hates the sister, mom dies, loses his mind, kills sister, starts fire, kills the public servants. The question is what are the signs to look for? Here are a few classics, loner, bullied, disgruntled employee, financial problems, romantically scorned, lives with mom, and 50 cats. The problem is I just identified a good portion of the people that just might be your friend, family member, co-worker. The professionals call them the lone wolf, tough for law enforcement to identify, but not so tough if it is a person that is close to YOU! Like the Missouri mom we all need to be on guard for the signs even with a loved one that is ready to crack. Since the Sandy Hook shooting all that is talked about is limiting the purchase of weapons or in some cases arming our teachers. Governor Rick Perry went on record and recommended that teachers in the state of Texas openly wear their firearms in school. Heres my issue - what about the teacher that has a license to carry and wears that weapon, are they really trained? Training goes beyond marksmanship. What about the men-
tal side of using a weapon. By mental I am not talking crazy, I am talking handling the situation. Are they a hot head? Do they watch too many CSI or NCIS shows? That has also happened in the United States in the last year as well. Some people, even law abiding citizens, make bad decisions too. The people who opposed the new bill have some valid reasons; they argued that the bill could endanger officers by emboldening homeowners to "shoot first" into darkened yards and garages where officers might be in pursuit. In the United Sates 134 police officers lost their lives last year while in the line of duty. Many of the fatalities were from the use of deadly force by handgun. These are well-trained professionals that go through an extensive training program on the proper handling of firearms and they still continue to be the target of the bad guy. What would happen to a untrained soccer mom or dad that just happens to buy firearm? Are we really protecting the law abiding citizens or are we opening a can of worms for open season on anyone that we think is a bad guy? Believe me I am all for taking the bad guy off the street, but I can see every scenario where deadly force was used as being a long, drawn-out process with the outcome not being good for anyone involved. I was people watching at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, and I noticed there are a whole bunch of people out there that I would never trust with a weapon. I had to ask myself if I would give this loser a gun. My answer was short and quick - no freaking way! I am sure there are capable people out there that would play by the rules, but I think the majority of people walking the streets may not make the best decision.
I have a friend that carries a weapon every single day. Hes a blue collar worker, a little rough around the edges, you know, kind of the stereotypical biker. When people notice his safely holstered side arm they tend to freak out, but what they dont know is that they are in the safest environment while he is in their presence. He is a guy that is cool, calm, collected and would only resort to using his weapon as THE last resort. He can use the weapon and make those quick decisions much like some of our professional law enforcement officers. I can tell you, my friends, he is a minority. The point here is can you, your family members, or friends make that on the spot decision to use deadly force? My friend didnt become an expert overnight. It took years of training to sharpen the skills needed to be an expert marksman, but as he stated, you have to practice the mental awareness and decision making everyday. A couple of other things to think about when having a weapon in the home - can you safely keep it out of the hands of the kids that reside there? Kids will find the things that they cannot have. My very good friend from South Boston lost his 12 year old son Tommy 20 years ago when another 12 year old found a pistol in a closet and put a bullet right in his forehead. My friend and his wife have never recovered emotionally, and the teen shooter ended up committing suicide year later. Are you prepared for this scenario? Im not! In the Sandy Hook elementary shooting, Adam Lanzas arsenal came from his first victim, his mother. Folks, I am a big supporter of deterring crime, taking the criminals off the street, and protecting my family and yours, but letting every Tom, Dick, or Dirty Harry make the decision of using deadly force is asking for trouble. I am sure if you ask the parents of the slain Sandy Hook Elementary students you might get the same answer. For if Adam Lanza never had that opportunity to arm himself, the children of Newtown would have had a long, healthy, and happy life as kids should have. If you carry a weapon use good judgment for yourself and your family. If you suspect a friend, family member, or neighbor is having some emotional issues and talking about incidents like Sandy Hook, Columbine, Virginia tech, or Aurora, report it. Its the right thing to do for everyone involved.
The views expressed in The Boiling Point are solely the opinions and research of Billy Boyle and are not necessarily the view point of the magazine or its creators.
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Page 16 Find us on Facebook Wheels of Thunder
eet Andee Nestaval a junior at Kennedy returning as a seasoned veteran in the popular Bloomington Kennedy chopper class. Andee, lives in Bloomington, and is one of those seventeen year technician protgs. One of the reasons Andee wanted to be in chopper class was because she wanted to learn how every part inside and out worked, she was also interested in the history of motorcycles and how they became to be today. Before entering the Chopper class Andee would often help her dad and his friends work on their bikes. Thats where some of real life learnings came from.
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Written by Billy Boyle
Andee Nestaval
The Kennedy Chopper Class Spotlight Student
Andee was first introduced to the chopper class in her freshman year and according to Mr. Baas Andee is one of the brightest and best chopper class students I have seen in a long time. Andees specialty is TIG welding and custom fabrication. Andees is energized and excited about the technical side of the business, with all the things about chopper fabrication she can now feel comfortable building bikes with her dad. As Andee puts it It has always been a dream of ours to build bikes, I have fun doing it. I also LOVE welding, I made a metal archway for my moms garden out of rebar and it has metal work on the inside. I like to do metal projects or just work out in the garage all day. Andee was inspired by my aunt and dad,, but mostly by her aunt whom has always loved bikes. Her aunt wrote a book Called "Women of the Road". Her aunt loved that book, but she passed away awhile ago, Andee said, I have just wanted to be independent and go for my dreams just like she did We have a picture of me when I was younger sitting on her purple soft tail and It has always driven me to ride bikes. I also was inspired from my dad because ever since he was a teen he was into bikes, he
went behind his parents and bought a bike and stored it at a friends house, he told me to never do that. My dad always said that if I needed help finding a bike he would help me find the perfect bike just for me. I have always looked up to my dad and he has always been supportive of me. Andee recently took her motorcycle safety course last summer and now has her Motorcycle license. This basically means she can now ride what she builds. My family has always supported me in what I have wanted to pursue and it has always been things that most girls wouldn't consider doing. I've had so many ideas of things I have wanted to do or go and I finally feel set on Mechanical engineering. I have thought of going to MMI in Arizona or I wanted to go to Wyotech for motorcycle technician. I am focusing on trying to get into the University of St. Thomas majoring in the mechanical engineering program. I have always been determined to go for my dreams, my dreams are becoming a reality and the support I get from my parents and Baas I can make those dreams happen! Mr. Baass class rounds out each student
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grasp the process better than others. Andee wanted to personally thank Baas for everything he has taught me, he has been a great teacher and I plan to learn more! I am confident no matter which direction Andee takes with the skills she has obtained from Mr. Baass class she will defi-
nitely be added to the long list of successful Bloomington Kennedy stories. To find out more about the Bloomington Kennedy Chopper Class and the continued success stories contact Kevin Bass directly at, baasmetalcraft@yahoo.com.
with the technical skills with a strong emphasis math and design. The class introduces all the Bloomington Kennedy Chopper Class students to the education side of the business, but some seem to
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Going Grassroots in the Snow!
Photos by Dave Moquin Images
RX Motorpark, located just north of Elk River, Minnesota, started in 2008 with a simple mission. Provide an affordable option for amateur snocross racing enthusiasts to try out the sport first-hand, regardless of age or skill level. Little did co-owners Chris Carlson and Todd Plaisted know, their Thursday Night Grassroots Snocross Series would blossom and grow to the point of capacity within just a few years. The facility offers several class levels from 120cc Pro-Lite for kids as young as 4 years old to the advanced Pro Open class for experienced snocross racers to get a little extra track time in before the next ISOC regional race.
Page 20 Find us on Facebook Wheels of Thunder January 2013
Written by Kim KimmyCat Niles
ERX offers race classes for just about everyone! In an effort to keep races fair and fun, the racers are split up by age, skill level and type of snowmobile. In the 120cc classes, the riders are divided first by skill ranging from Pro-Lite to Champ. All Pro and ProLite 120cc classes must be 100% stock sleds no engine modifications of any kind. Within the Pro and Pro-Lite classes, the riders are also split into groups by age, with the youngest riders between the ages of 4-6 years old racing separate from the older kids. The next level of classes includeTransition and Junior classes with engines ranging from 300cc to 600cc. For the adult classes, each group is divided by type of sled with Ditchbanger riders competing on stock trail sleds and Vintage class riders on just about anything thats a leaf spring or 1995 or older. And, of course, the Snocross class racers compete with sleds up to 600cc, highly modified specifically
for the snocross track at both novice and pro skill levels. By now, youre probably wondering what it takes to take a spin for yourself. With the 120cc, Ditchbanger and Vintage classes, you dont need much more than a trailer to haul your factory stock sled to the track. Youll also need a few safety gear essentials, including a helmet, eye protection, a tekvest and shin & knee guards. This year, ERX has also added an electronic scoring system for more accurate racing results. The required transponder is included with a track membership for either a single night ($15) or the whole season ($30). If you just want to watch the action, races start at 5:30 pm on Thursday nights for just $10 per person (free for kids 12 and under). Its a great place to take the whole family for an evening of entertainment. Watching the 4-6 year olds 120cc pro-lite class puttering around the track is simply adorable. And, in stark contrast, its exhilarating to watch the snocross pros come off the jumps and easily clear 10-15 feet of pure air. If youre into vintage, theres always something interesting happening on the track as those old sleds struggle to keep their parts and pieces attached. Last season, the rider who crossed the finish line literally carrying his hood under his arm received a huge round of applause from the crowd. To help make the park a success, ERX offers a Learn 2 Ride Snocross Clinic each December where the top pro riders spend an entire day mentoring up to 50 students with tips on topics such as character, cor-
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nering, moguls and starting line procedures. Geared toward 120cc racers and young adult racers just getting started, the lessons are open to anyone looking to improve their riding skills both on and off the track. The Learn 2 Ride program has been a huge success and typically sells out well before the class date. Students start by walking the track with the pros where they learn what to look for and how to find the early lines. Younger riders often get tunnel vision where they tend to fall into a pattern of following the rider in front of them. The sooner they learn to look for and take advantage of opportunities to pass, the better they will do in the sport. As part of the full day of lessons, the students receive open practice times, lunch with the pros, plus autographs and photos with their favorite big name racers.
dures, what to look for while staging at the line, holeshots and what to watch for from the flagmen. Watch for details on classes
the track before race night. With the winter we had in Minnesota just last year, there were more than a few practice sessions for trail sled riders just looking to get an opportunity to ride! The season has already started at ERX, but there are still plenty of opportunities to catch the action. The remaining 2012-2013 season schedule for Thursday Nights and ISOC Regional races include these dates: Grassroots ERX#3 - January 10th Grassroots ERX #4 - January 24th Grassroots ERX #5 - February 7th Grassroots ERX #6 - February 28th ISOC Minnesota Regional ERX#2 March 1st - 2nd
The lessons include tips from the pros on detailed topics such as mental preparation, sponsorship, body positioning at the starting line, on corners and through moguls, speed, finding lines, cornering tactics and pre-load tactics. On the starting line, the pros give instruction on pre-start proce-
next year and remember to sign up early! Riders who arent able to attend the Learn 2 Ride program can hone their skills during the frequent open practice times offered at ERX. These practices give the less experienced riders a chance to get a feel for Cant make it to the races? Be sure to watch live on XSAN!! For online registration, details on the Learn 2 Ride program, practice/raceday schedules and the link to XSAN, visit the ERX website at www.erxmotorpark.com. Well see you at the track!
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veryone has a passion. Everyone has something that takes up a large part of their life that pushes them to become a fanatic, or enthusiast. For everyone reading this magazine, we're all a bit fanatical about cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Some even take this passion and turn it into a living. One such person is Tristan Henderson from Minneapolis who owns Further Performance. Tristan is a specialist in all things Volkswagen and Audi, and his personal car collection is proof of that.
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Written and photographed by John Krueger
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a very capable car. Tristan wanted to highlight the R's capabilities of a formidable daily-driver that can also double as a weekend track toy. The car has made numerous, cross-country road-trips to shows and events, and one track day under its belt. Keeping the stock turbo makes it great for the road-course and provides a very large, and usable power-band for the screaming 4-banger. This car is a representation of how far Volkswagen has come with their technology. The rest of Tristan's collection, however, takes us back to the beginning. Tristan's air-cooled collection is definitely unique and equally as cool. I don't know if it's just something about air-cooled VWs, or if it's just the ones that Tristan owns, but they do have a special aura about them.
Anytime you visit Further, you can always expect a rather eclectic mix of German metal. The shop is always a hive of activity whether it's performing routine maintenance, or doing full on restorations on classic Porsches. However, when the shop doors close for the day, Tristan will either stay late, or venture over to his warehouse to turn a wrench on his own. He has always had a love for VWs, especially the vintage air-cooled models, and his collection is made up of some especially cool, and custom VWs. An enthusiast, most definitely, but Tristan is also about as laid-back of a person as they come, and a good friend who's always willing to lend a hand when necessary. If you haven't noticed by now from the photos, one of the cars you are looking at is indeed bright green. It's a new car too. The in-your-face color is a stark contrast to Tristan, but it certainly suits the car. A brand-new Golf R is exclusive enough for
many, but Tristan had to take his a few steps further (oh hoho, clever pun!) by wrapping it in bright green vinyl. Just as the sticker says, It Ain't Paint! The 2012 R is pretty much one of the shop's rolling billboards, and the color certainly does a good job getting people to look. Of course the car is much more than a bright vinyl wrap though. Being a dealer for APR, T's R has pretty much their whole catalog of parts thrown at it, minus their turbo upgrade package. The intake, down-pipe, 3 exhaust, and tuning software bump the horsepower figures up to around 350awhp and equal torque which certainly makes this one hot hatchback. The stock suspension was replaced in favor of an adjustable coilover suspension to lower the car and, while the car is currently sitting on the stock wheels, Tristan does have a set of Lamborghini Gallardo wheels for the car as well (which it did wear for awhile at one point). The rest of the car remains as Volkswagen left it from the factory which is still
We'll start with my favorite (and probably T's as well) the '64 Notch-back convertible. If you know air-cooled VWs, you'll probably be scratching your head at the convertible part, and you should. You see, there's only one other like it, and even still that one is probably not as cool as Tristan's. Rat-look, patina, hot-rodded, whatever you want to call it, this car is Tristan's style. Slammed to the floor and with plenty of attitude, this '64 Notch certainly demands attention wherever it goes. It even sounds meaner than it looks! The nicely fettled flat-four may not produce the dyno-crushing figures that most are used to, but it doesn't really need to. That's the beauty with these old VWs is you don't need a lot of power to have fun, and I have first-hand
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experience with that in the yellow '72 Notch pictured. I got to spend a day cruising around in that with Tristan, and for a car with about 70hp, it was an absolute blast! I don't know what it is about these cars, but they're just so much fun and have so much character to them. The '72 is another special, diamond-in-the-rough find for Tristan. In its 40 years on the road, the car has only had two owners. Yep, that's right, Tristan is only the second owner of the car, and the car is all original! Of course T went through the motor and freshened things up as well as brought the car down to a ride-height that's a little more suitable to his liking. He does have plans of putting in a big motor with a turbo to really bump up the power, but we'll see what pans out. That's the only problem
with having so many toys is you can only work on one at a time! The final car here is the '71 Karmann Ghia coupe which is also known around the shop as the UFO. Why the UFO? Well as Frank, one of the techs at Further explains, no one on the road knows what it is, and with the wheels sucked in it looks like its floating down the road. The narrowed stance, which is a trademark air-cooled mod, is definitely the center of attention for this silver Ghia. The front beam has been narrowed a total of 5
inches which sucks in the wheels so well from certain angles the car indeed appears to be floating. The exterior of the car has been restored to near factory condition with only the bumpers being shaved for that ultra-clean look. The interior has been kept factory fresh too, although a modern head-unit and stereo add to the creature comforts. A freshened-up flat four sits in rear compartment, but soon may be removed to make room for a larger, aircooled motor. It is definitely a treat to see this car in action on the road. It's super low stance with the wheels sucked in, and the smooth, silver body you can really see where the car earned its UFO nickname. These three air-cooled VWs each have their own story and their own character. I think that's what makes them so appealing. It doesn't take much to make one of these your own, and Tristan here has done that three times over. Each of his air-cooled
cars is distinctly different from the other, but if knew Tristan, you would know that all three belonged to him because of how they've been modified.
I'm definitely thankful that Tristan was willing to share a small bit of his personal collection with me to share. Without people like him we wouldn't be able to go back to the beginnings and see where the modern cars have progressed from. It's really great that he embraces both new and old, owning VWs and Audis from all generations. His passion and enthusiasm are what the scene is all about, and it's all captured and preserved in his shop and warehouse.
January 2013 www.WheelsofThunder.net Page 27
Ed Kretz Sr. and Jr.

'I r o n M an ' vs M ac h i n e a n d a C o n t i n u e d L e g ac y
T
he battle to be the best-of- the best in any sport is a position fought for on a daily basis with blood, sweat and tears being a true part of the life lead by those trying to accomplish it. The Kretz family has shown this to be true for decades.
January 2013
Written by Ceaja Philp
Ed Kretz, Sr. was born September 24, 1911, but was not born into a race family. He spent his early years driving a hay truck from El Central to El Monty, California, loading and unloading all the hay by hand. His racing didn't actual get started until he was 20 years old and came from just seeing the races from afar at first as he hauled produce through the valleys in California. He eventually started going to the track as a spectator, creating more and more interest as he watched the men try to out ride the next at top speeds. Ed knew he didn't have near the finances or equipment many other racers did, but it didn't stop him from making a name for himself quickly. Ed used his first motorcycle, a 1930 Harley Davidson VL as his street and his race machine. What he physically didn't have in height he made up for with a stocky build with shear strength, almost seeming to throw the motorcycle around the track. Racer, Floyd Clymer, who was promoting many of the events in which Kretz competed also took notice to his raw talent, finding him a new Indian 45 Scout to race. With his new machine Kretz began winning races on a regular basis. In 1936 he won the 200 mile Savannah, which prompted Indian to sponsor him $200 per month plus some travel and other expenses. This was a huge deal considering what the country was going through at that time. He fully took on a brutal and violent style of racing for the time, but there was no
other competitor who rode harder and faster than Kretz Sr. It was his drive, fearlessness, and amazing talent that made his competitors dislike and respect him all at the same time, nicknaming him the name 'Iron Man'. Kretz raced his Indian warhorse from the coasts of California to the beaches of Florida. With his all-in attitude when it came to the dangers at the track, it wouldn't take long for him to have to face the two loves of his life....racing and his young pregnant wife, Irene. She watched as many of his friends lost their lives a weekly basis. From severe injuries to death, she saw enough to know they had big decisions to make. A man torn would get another blessing besides the expected birth of this child, his young wife gave him her blessing to continue chasing his dream to be the best. Without a doubt the 30s and 40s would be peppered with the Kretz name in motorcycle racing, winning more championships than anyone else in history. Big titles would be the Savannah 200 mile road race, the Langhorne 100 mile and the Laconia Classic. The win he will forever be remembered for will be his victory in the inaugural Daytona 200 in 1937, which became the most influential motorcycle and car race in American. He put himself in the history books that day on his Indian Sport Scout. This was good because even though he lead the race many times through the years to follow, he was never able to grab that title there again. Along the way Kretz befriended others legends, such as race car driver/actor James
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mer school. He would head to the shop to clean floors and wash bikes after school. Ed couldn't wait to follow in his father's footsteps and recalls, I was riding his 'big' old Indian when I was just 10 years old. I had to pull up to the curb to get off the bike because my feet couldnt touch the ground. With Ed Jr.'s continued will to prove his desire to race along side his Dad, he finally got his chance when Sr. finally asked if he wanted to give it a try at only 16 years old. It may have been 1948, but he used the same Indian '45' Scout his father had used in 1937 to win Daytona, and in honor of Sr., used the same number, 38. During the 1950s Ed. Jr., joined his Dad on the national circuit and became a rider of the same reputation, taking the fame of the Kretz name even further into the record books. He went on through the 50s and
Dean, and Triumph motorcycle racer/actor Steve McQueen. These men would remain long time supporters and friends. Though the years Kretz had earned nine American Motorcycle Association national wins, numerous Pacific Coast titles, was voted the AMA's Most Popular Rider in 1938 and again in 1948, and carried his nickname ' Iron Man' through his many years of success in what was a young man's sport by the time he retired from racing in 1959, at 47 years old. After coming home from serving his country in World War II, Kretz opened a motorcycle dealership which he ran until he retired in 1986. Once he had retired, he continued to make frequent popular appearances at vintage motorcycle meets across the country. At the 50th running of the Daytona 200 in 1991,
Kretz was the guest of honor and took a lap on the Indian he won the race with in 1937.
Ed Kretz, Sr. passed away in January of 1996, nearly 60 years after he had won Daytona and after many years of respected success. Ed Kretz, Jr. was born in 1932, during the heat of his father's quest to be the best. From as far back as Ed Jr. can recall there was a motorcycle in his daily life, whether it was running errands or spending time at the track. Ed J. said he only ever had one job, which started while he was in gramPage 30 Find us on Facebook Wheels of Thunder
60s atop Indian and Triumph motorcycles, and made great friends with Steve McQueen, Lee Marvin, television star Jay Leno, and the world famous racers Bobby Hill and Bill Tuman (Indian Wrecking Crew). Ed Jr. knows how lucky he was to grow up around some of the most famous racers to date, like Burt Munro, who used to go into the shop to tinker with his motorcycle and later broke the land-speed world record in 1967. That is a story we
January 2013
should all be familiar with, making the big screen as The Worlds Fastest Indian, starring Anthony Hopkins. Ed Kretz Sr. was there to coach Jr through his racing career with a good mix of encouragement, tolerance, acceptance, and gratitude.He was a pretty good coach, Kretz said. He never pressured me into racing, instead always said that if I wanted to do it, hed help me get started, but most of what I would learn would come from experience." His Dad missed a few racing seasons while serving in the U.S. Army overseas. He was stationed for two years in Germany, where he was assigned to the motor pool to work on tanks and jeeps, but Jr. continued to carry on the name while his Dad was away. When not racing on the national circuit, Kretz did a lot of road racing events on the West Coast, riding a number of different bikes. "The Indian was pretty close to my heart, but in 1953 they went out of business, explained Kretz. My Dad took on Triumphs in 1949, but they didnt get popular until the 1950s. They were easier to ride, handled better and they had more horsepower which we could more to make them run faster. Ketz Jr. continued running the road racing on the west which altimately ended up with him building a relationship as well with racer/actor Steve McQueen. Due to some movie oligations, McQueen wasn't able to ride for the American team on his Triumph in the 1965 ISDT (International
Six-Day Trials), a strenous off-road race held on the Isle of Man in England. McQueen asked Jr. if he wanted to ride for him, which he gladly accepted. Sadly it turned out to be 3 days of mud on top of shale, and the weather was so bad that not one of the Americans was able to finish the race. Jr. ended up crashing and bending up the front fork so bad on the bike there was no hope to finish. Through the years Ed Kretz Jr. has kept the most important pieces of memorabilia from both his Fathers racing career and his own. In the small outbuilding behind his home are several Indians, a few Triumphs and a half-dozen other motorcycles that Kretz
still tinkers with from time to time. Perhaps the most valuable to him and his family is the original Indian 45 Scout used by Ed Kretz Sr. when he won Daytona along with the trophy. Jr. also has his trophy for winning Peoria in 1955. There are hundreds of pictures, many of which are signed and framed. Kretz Sr. was inducted into the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame in the late 80's, and Kretz Jr. was inducted in 2002. Another honor the two share and is in the history books. Today, Ed Jr. is grateful to be coming up on his 60th wedding anniversary with his high school sweetheart, Elaine this coming February. Their daughter and four granddaughters plan to be at their side to celebrate. There is so much more to the long life of the Kretz family that a movie is in the works. To get the latest information on its release please visit www.kretzmovies.com or on Facebook Kretz Movies. Thank you Ed Kretz Jr for spending time sharing your stories with me in Sturgis and being there to share in a large part of Indian Motorcycles history with Bill Tuman and Bobby Hill (Indian Wrecking Crew). You are true legends and to have shared time with all of you was an honor. -Ceaja
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Ickler Machine Company

With the Change of Seasons
The holidays have come and gone and the cold has set in. Many garage stoves are being fired up and projects being worked on. You have made your list and checked it twice....now what? You know what you would like or what you need to have to complete your project, but struggle trying to find it. Maybe it's your hot rod and you want it ready for the first spring car show, maybe you are going finish your custom bike in time for the Donnie Smith Show, or maybe your sled took quite the beating from you last year and needs some improvements to make it better and stronger so you don't end up on the side of the ditch or trail. No matter your project or concerns, Contact Ickler Machine Company in St. Cloud, Minnesota to have it created or repaired once and for all. 'This company has been around forever!' Sounds like an over exaggerated conversation, but in truth....when I'm talking about Ickler Company, it's not! It is almost unheard of when you talk about small businesses in the Midwest to see them last through the ups and downs of the economy and changing times. Ickler Company has had years of non-stop innovative owners/employees with attention to craftsmanship, detail, professionalism, and high quality products. Stay with me on this story because it has a lot of successful years and ideas filled with twists and turns, leaving you wanting to know about the next product they will create. There is so much more behind the scenes...let your imagination and creativity run wild! As current general manager Mark Held said best, "If someone brings us an idea, we don't say no or we can't do it. We all like the challenge and creative part of what we do." From minor repairs to custom wheels...what a spectrum! With that in mind, take a closer look at how Ickler Company became such an icon in their industry. The story begins in the early 1930s with Elmer Siebert, Seibert Machine, doing work out of his garage for Pan Motor Company of St. Cloud, Minnesota. He designed and manufactured their wrist pins, which is a short tubular piece of steel with thick walls. It handles the stress from the force slammed upon from the piston top to the connecting rod, making it an extremely important part of any race engine or performance vehicle. In the mid 1930s another innovative entrepreneur, Fred Ickler designed and manufactured the Hilger Wood Floor Sander, which was a huge success with its performance, cost and durability. In the 1940s Elmer purchased Ickler Company, merging it with Seibert Machine. At that time Ickler was producing products for the government for the war effort. Once
the war had ended, Seibert again moved on to another idea. He had always loved to ice fish, so thoughts of how to make it more comfortable and appealing were on the design board. He designed an ice fish house stove and folding ice skimmer, which is the 'scoop' used to remove the pieces of ice after drilling the hole, and the ice that builds up on the surface while fishing. The 1950s brought a design partner, Claire Lantz to Siebert and they brought forward a bifocal lens grinder, which took Ickler to begin manufacturing optical lens grinding machines. As you can imagine...things were becoming very busy, which lead to the welcoming addition of Dick Speiring, who became their general manager. They also needed to find a new location to handle their growth, which is where the shop remains now.
The 1980s brought on some unexpected changes for Ickler Company. It had seen amazing success and creations from Elmer Seibert until his passing in 1981. This was an important time for Dick Speiring to continue managing and making sure the company remained enthusiastic about growth and quality to their current lines, as well as new things coming through the door. He did this successfully all the way to his last day with the company. The 80s also brought Todd McGonagle, Elmer Seibert's grandson. He joined Ickler as its manager and continues to keep the family tradition running in full force. In the 1990s came about a time of excitement and security. Things were changing very fast and Ickler knew they needed to keep up. They brought on automated machinery, which allowed them to keep their
continued supply for dairy parts going, and also the ability to manufacture one of a kind job shop projects. Ickler was able to bring more ideas to life with some of the equipment added during this time. Now, with all of this your head may be spinning. One thing to remember is how many years they have progressed and kept up with the times, which is extremely important in any industry. Having innovation, craftsmanship, quality, and their longevity of success in today's world can assure you they will be there for many more years to come. Ickler has all the things offered by a tradi-
The 1960s were full of changes again. They were expanding their optical business to other local firms, busy designing and building room-sized ovens that were used to temper the optical lenses, and the adoption of the St Cloud Bearing firm. The bearing sales are still a large part of Ickler's business. In the 1970s the needs for the optical industry were changing, and Ickler decided to move on to dairy equipment. They took on the manufacturing of homogenizer blocks.
tional machine shop, welding shop and manufacturing operation. They offer more than the norm with custom fabrication to prototype manufacturing that is delivered throughout North America and Internationally. They are able to cut, shape and modify anything made of metal.
Their specialties include homogenizer pumps and parts, manufacturing, repair, and the Ickler Belt Sander. Ickler's manufacturing is top notch with their in-house CNC mill and lathe, and CAD and engineering services. They take on the big task of repair, whether it is industrial, agricultural, residential, boat propellers and skegs, snowmobile cranks, or mower decks. Don't forget, they also do retail sales on bearings, oil seals, sheet metal, and cut-to-size stainless steel, aluminum, and brass. The motorsports world has become a regular piece for Ickler with the addition of a few new 'motorheads' in the shop. They have built things such as custom front
suspension systems to one-of-a-kind motorcycle wheels. Taking on the youthful and innovative ideas from their staff and you will again keep Ickler on top for design, fabrication, and manufacturing. The StomperTech ATRV is just another example of that. The idea was brought to the table and Ickler was there to assist. It is an off-road ice fishing, camping, hunting, and rescue vehicle, featuring a Weber 750cc engine and strong Wasteland Performance CVT transmission. Underneath is their custom designed chassis built strong but light, making the total gross vehicle weight under 2000lbs. Bring your ideas to them and watch as they turn it from a vision to reality!
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Written by Brad Coplan
Winter is now upon us and rather than stay in our warm homes, I have come up with some great ideas for you and the family to do. Most of us would be snowmobiling or ice fishing, but thats not enough. The great thing about living in Wisconsin and Minnesota is that we are blessed with some beautiful country and some great skiing. Around the Twin Cities area we have four great ski hills. One of those is Afton Alps in Hastings; Afton Alps has a 350 ft vertical drop, 49 ski runs and the longest run is 3,000 ft. Next is Buck Hill in Burnsville, which has 310 ft vertical drop, and 16 ski runs, the longest of which is 1,250 ft. The final one, Wild Mountain, is in Taylor Falls and has a 300 ft vertical drop, 25 ski runs and the longest here is 5,000 ft. In Wisconsin we have Trollhaugen, which is located in Dresser and has a 260 ft drop and 22 ski runs; the longest run is 2,500 ft. Keep in mind most all of these ski hills will have an area for ski boarding and tubing but if its just tubing you want to do, then head over to Hudson Wisconsin and visit the Badlands Sno Park. Here you will find
five different slopes with four tow ropes, so you can get back to the top of the hill sooner. At Badlands they brag about having one of the longest tubing runs in the area 1,300 ft long. This will be great fun for you and the buddies or the family. To get the greatest thrill and fun, tie the tubes together and hang on. If downhill skiing doesnt do it for you,
then I have to recommend cross country skiing. I myself also enjoy this activity; its perhaps the most peaceful, and offers you the best workout for your entire body and mind. Imagine yourself skiing through the woods and all you see is nature. Birds and wildlife, beautiful scenery, and best of all silence, the quiet outdoors. Another great thing about cross country skiing is that you can go at your own pace and stop when you need to. Wisconsin and Minnesota have a large abundance of cross county ski trails. Minnesota is said to have over 100 trails and in Wisconsin there are 65 trails in the 10 Northwest counties of the state. In and around the Twin Cities you can find 25 cross country ski trails and if youre looking for the longest ski trail, then head up to the Gunflint Trails on the North Shore. The cross country ski trails are for both the novice and the veteran; you will find them marked easy going, intermediate and expert. Remember that most ski trails do require you to have a trail pass. Then, after a day of cross country skiing, head to the cabin or lodge and relax by the fire with your favorite beverage. If the quiet isnt what youre looking for, then head to the lake. Family and friends
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Off the Beaten Path

Winter Family Fun!
will have a great time watching ATVs, motorcycles or even cars racing on the ice. There are a lot of different places to go and see this, and one that comes to mind is at Cameron Lake by Erstine, Minnesota. Here you can watch cars and ATVs travel around on an oval ice racing track. You will witness several different heats and classes, and enjoy both males and females competing for the white and black checkered flag. While watching the ATVs you will see many spills, the operators of the ATVs clinging onto the ATV handlebars, or simply just letting go with the hope they will fall away from the path of the other competitors. Just like with the motorcross bikes on the ice, the ATVs are allowed to Now the cars are also allowed studded tires but only on the drive tires. Here they run a class of front wheel drive vehicles and a class of rear wheel drive vehicles. And yes there is a big difference. To make this sport more exciting at this track, drivers are allowed riders in their vehicle. Drivers are allowed up to four people in their vehicle, the driver and three others. The only stipulation is that the driver and his passengers must wear seatbelts. Helmets are recommended but are not mandatory. If its speed, the crashing of the cars, or just the excitement of the race youre looking for, then this is the sport for you and the family to watch. One other event that needs mentioning is the Red Bull Crashed Ice Racing. This event is new to our area, and its back for only the second time. This event is held in St. Paul on Selby Avenue by the Cathedral, and will be held around the 26th of January. This is a downhill race that occurs with over 200 racers and matches them up with four skaters in each event. They race down a handmade course thats over 1,640 feet in length with a blanket of ice for the skaters to compete on. Here they will reach speeds of up to and over 43 mph. The top two racers in each heat advance in the competition until they reach the final four. The St. Paul race is one of five for the championship. The other four races are held in Canada, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. This is indeed a great event for Minnesota and its residents, so get down there and watch this thrilling show. Hopefully now you have some new ideas to keep you busy over the long winter. Have a great Holiday Season.
run with studded tires. This allows the ATV to better grip the ice, which also gives them speed and handling around corners.
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ANNOUNCING ABATE UNIVERSITY 2013

What is ABATE University? ABATE U is ABATE of Minnesotas annual conference, held at the Holiday Inn, Alexandria, MN, April 19 through 21 2013, to enlighten and educate motorcyclists about ABATEs mission and provide safety and legislative information that is important to all motorcyclists. This year we welcome back our good friend Slider Gilmore for an eye opening and informative special presentation. Slider has been inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame to honor his work presenting Two Wheel Trauma and Accident Scene Management classes to thousands of bikers worldwide. In appreciation for improving the image of motorcycling, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists awarded Slider the Silver Spoke Award. Sliders first motorcycle ride in 1960 ignited an obsession with riding on the open road and a lifestyle dedicated to hard work, family and helping others. For nearly 25 years he served as a volunteer EMT and CPR instructor and provided support for EMTs suffering from critical incident stress. Slider is a gifted teacher whose mix of humor, positivity and in-
spiration comes shining through to every member of the audience. You will not be disappointed! The ABATE University Guest Speaker Luncheon is always a big hit with excellent food and informative speakers. It will surely be the "can't miss" event again this year. There will also be a Saturday evening social with live music and a fabulous auction. And four (Yes Four) new motorcycles (two Harleys and two Victorys) will be given away at Saturday night's ABATE U Raffle. The hotel will sell out fast - Select and reserve your room now by contacting Marilyn at abateu@abatemn.org by February 1st. ABATE University is open to everyone and the seminars are free. All you pay for are your hotel room and the Guest Speaker Luncheon (and your raffle ticket of course!) ABATE U is a weekend event filled with education, camaraderie and fun. Come learn, meet new people and find out what we are all about. See you there! Mack Backlund
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LACK OF SNOW CANT STOP A TRUE SLED-HEAD

What Mother Nature has not delivered (as of yet), man will makelet the races begin!
S
nocross kicks off at Buffalo River Race Park on January 26th and 27th with ISOC (International Series of Champions) Regionals. Racing starts at 9:00 a.m. both days. Learning a lesson from last years races, take my advice and get there early if you want a prime indoor second floor window seat to watch from.
January 2013
Written by Mylie Lavold
When BRRP hosted the ISOC Nationals last winter, race fans arrived in droves for the three-day event, which won the 2012 ISOC Snocross series Event of the Year. Not only did 9,000 sled-heads show up in person, over 28,000 people from all over the world viewed the streamed races on the ISOC website. Fans of all ages filled the venue to cheer on racers as they attacked the course flying over jumps, careening around corners and speeding through straight-aways in search of the checkered flag. It was hard to believe the ISOC Nationals was the first snocross event to be held at the venue. Owner Kevin Nathe and his team labored for months getting a 185 by
30 two story addition ready. They added heating and cooling, a 6,800 square foot racer mall to house vendor booths, a sponsor area and indoor seating for spectators. Two older VIP booths were also remodeled and two new ones added. New infield poles and track lighting put the finishing touches on a world-class snocross track just in time for race day. BRRP will again host the National ISOC race, the AMSOIL Championship Snocross (ACS) Fargo National on March 8-9. The ACS is the featured national racing series within ISOC Racing. If the event is anything like last year, you will not want to miss this! Look forward to some great snocross racing from local semi-pro and national pro racers. This event draws local favorites like Tucker Hibbert, Christian Brothers Racing, Boss Racing and others, as well as racers from across the U.S. and Canada. This national event will also host a MN ISOC Regional non-points race on the 10th, which will allow anyone who hasnt qualified for the Affiliate Showdown an opportunity to do so. The top three riders in the Showdown classes at this event will get an invite to the Showdown at Lake Geneva. Example: if the winner in the 120 6-7 class is already invited to the Showdown, the next place finisher will get the invite and so on. For all races and events, Director of Sales and Marketing, Brad Rivers suggests booking your VIP seats and suites now. The indoor bleacher seating has been divided into general admission and VIP areas this year and is already sold out of VIP seats for the
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January races. Rivers says there are still a limited number of heated VIP suites available but they wont last long. The Racer Mall will be in full swing again this season, including the debut of BRRP clothing and swag. Last season the Racer Mall had a plethora of goods to choose
from, everything from snow boots to lingerieit will be interesting to see if someone tops Sled Bitch panties this year! New this year is the mini-donut booth (I can already smell them!). I also heard a rumor that ISOC is bringing in a 2 story Build a Bar to rival the one Michelob Golden set up last year.
There are still sponsorship opportunities available for those wanting to get some good advertising for their businesses. The newest motor head themed restaurant in Fargo, Quaker Steak and Lube has already partnered with BRRP. Stop by their location off I-94 and 45th street and ask how to win tickets to the 2013 snocross races at BRRP . Tickets for the Fargo National are available on the ISOC website. ISOC Regional tickets can be purchased at Mister Money locations in Fargo, West Fargo and Jamestown or at the BRRP gate. Out of town race fans can get discount rates at the Days Inn West Acres, the official host hotel for the 2013 snocross season. For race park details and event information visit www.buffaloriverracing.com. For advertising, VIP suites or Racer Mall (vendor) information, contact Director of Sales and Marketing: Brad Rivers, brrp@cabelone.net / 701-306-1509
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SledHead 24/7 TV Show airing on FSN-MN & FSN-WI

Sledhead 24-7 can be seen Sunday nights at 10pm on FSN
http://www.sledhead24-7.com/Airtimes/
Welcome to the wintery world of Sledhead 24-7
Its about tech and trail...... and spending time with people who embrace the snowmobile lifestyle. Each week host Meisha Johnson, former racer Paul Mack and tech expert Jeff Fisher steer you to some of the worlds greatest places to ride.....with some of the worlds greatest riders. "Sledhead 24-7" will check out cutting edge gear and gadgets and ride the latest model sleds from the major manufactures.
ance in Forest Lake Minnesota, has been crafting the how to for speed. Today StraightLine is a worldwide performance shop, but had humble beginnings in founder Jason Houle's garage.
Well test the limits of snowmobile performance through a series of ambitious builds at Speedwerx. But "Sledhead 24-7 " will always be about folks like you, the riders, the clubs, and families who cant wait to get out on the trail. From the Firecat, to the Pro Cross chassis, Arctic Cat has made big changes in the past decade and the test riders at " Sledhead 24-7" ride, rate and review.
StraightLine creates upgrades for just about all power sports machines. Today Jason shares 3 ways to quickly improve your Ski-Doo, starting with StraightLines exclusive exhaust kit, fuel programmer and clutch kit, which are easy, quick ways to upgrade your Ski-Doo.
Snocross super star Robbie Malinowski, races the pro circuit on a StraightLine enhanced SkiDoo, Robbie's proud to race w/ StraightLine. "If you haven't been to Jackson Hole, you're missing out. " Sledhead 24-7 " hangs out and has some fun at the World Championship Hillclimbs. "The Jackson Hole Hillclimbs are a favorite of every snowmobiler." "Jeff Fischer shows us the quickest way down the mountain." This is just a little of what we have going on, you can catch Sledhead 24-7 Sunday nights on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin. Tune in each week www.Sledhead24-7.com.
If you own a Ski-Doo, learn about Straightline Performance and find out about the Heart Breaker, a dyno room that hides no secrets. For more than 2 decades, Straightline Perform-
ISOC BESSEMER NATIONAL Dec 7-8 2012
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ISOC ERX Regional Dec 15-16 2012
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Wo W
Joyce Nordquist Scott

Time to Rejoice!
Joyce went in with a positive attitude she would be in, out, and on her way for the day. As the exam was in process she could sense from the nurse there was something not looking right. The nurse politely excused herself and came back in with a doctor to view the images. He asked Joyce who her primary care provider was said he would like to have him come in to talk. By now Joyce was starting to feel uncomfortable, realizing there must be something wrong. After what seemed like forever, her doctor, Dr.Americo Fraboni came in and took her by the hand. The next words she heard still ring in her ears today, "Joyce, you have breast cancer. There is a very large tumor in your right side and there is no time to wait." She recalls feeling like her world have fallen and the room was spinning. The very next week she was scheduled with Dr. Bruce Cunningham at the University of Minnesota for her biopsy, consultation, and to schedule her choice of surgeries. They discussed her options and three weeks later she had a mastectomy of her right breast, along with seventeen lymph nodes that had to be removed from her right arm. Surgery done, first phase of reconstruction, and a Jackson-Pratt drain was used to assist her in the healing process. Only three weeks had passed since the surgery and Joyce was feeling like a rock star, excited to go in for her first fill to move forward with the reconstruction process. Things seemed to go great and her attitude was all positive with a forward motion.
acked daily schedules with showings, meetings, closings, workouts, family and household choirs; Joyce Scott was a woman on the go from sun up to sun down. For over ten years Joyce ran a successful real estate company out of Elk River, Minnesota. She has always been full of energy and loves to socialize. Joyce's 45th birthday was approaching and she was happy to be having a party to celebrate. She had also just had her annual exam to which her doctor reminded her she hadn't had a mammogram in four years, so they should schedule that too. With no family history of breast cancer, no signs of issues and someone full of energy and exercised regularly she felt that is would be a piece of cake and set the appointment a few days after her party.
This was until about a week before Thanksgiving and for a woman who was never sick, she told her husband she wasn't feeling very well. With a phone call to the hospital and some discussion they thought maybe she had the flu, however the symptoms seemed to be getting worse and on Thanksgiving day her temperature spiked to 103. Living in Princeton, MN at the time and over an hour drive to the hospital they wanted to make sure she wasn't dealing with just a bad cold before making the trip in. With another phone call and explanation of what had been happening, she was told from the surgeon to get to the emergency room immediately. Once her temp fell below 103, they sent her home, which would only last a few hours before they knew it was something more and rushed back in that night. Her doctor told the staff on strict orders Joyce needed strong antibiotics. To make things worse, during the night no one notice her vein has collapsed. She recalls the fear she felt when she saw a pastor had even been called in. With Dr. Cunningham there in the morning giving direct orders under his watch they were able to pull Joyce through, and found out it was a horrible staph infection causing so many issues. From that moment on she would good through hell for almost the next year battling repeated staph infections, start and stopped sessions of chemo therapy due to them, with a total of six surgeries. During all of the treatments and hospital visits she was so happy to have received the call from the Pink Ribbon Riders (PRR). Joyce and her family had always
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been big snowmobile people and were amazed at the how easy and quickly PRR responded with full support. This was quite a tough time on her and her family, so to find an organization locally that was so gracious and sincere meant so much to them. Once she started down a clean path they made the decision they had been through enough and the land they had purchased for a future retirement home would become 'home' sooner than planned. These days you can find Joyce 5 years clean of cancer and living in their home in Finland, MN where they can ride their sleds right from their yard. She is also very busy helping support many breast cancers events and found a career. Joyce was so excited to tell me of how she had loved realty but always believed having a true passion was the key to success. With the help she had
been given she knew something inside her wanted to do the same. She went back to school and became an occupational therapist who now works with Veterans. She laughed telling me how she celebrated her
50th birthday and feels like life had just began for her! Joyce would like to express her love and gratitude to everyone who helped her along the way, and welcomes you to come take part in any of the Pink Ribbon Rider events. You will for sure see her at the Minnesota PRR ride in January along with her step son, Zac Scott who is an avid snowmobiler and was so moved by what the PRR do that he became one of the spokespersons for the PRR ride in Minnesota
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BEST OF THE MIDWEST!

Opportunities for business who qualify for The Best of the Midwest are now available!
Call Scott Robinson 612-730-3719

reetings once again Wheelers! We are getting as excited as you for the snow to fly! Yes, GameON! TV is excited to see you again and this issue of Wheels of Thunder continues to excite race fans with it's interesting stories and magnificent pictures. GameON! TV is growing and reaching so many of you with our sports programming and now we are expanding to the Dakota's and western Minnesota via MidCo Sports Network. As you know, GameON! loves sports, from the variety of professional, college & high school sports to all the outdoor events that dot our regional landscape. GameON's partnership with Wheels of Thunder is strong and just like you, we also enjoy the most comprehensive race magazine and website to be found! Wheels of Thunder magazine gets it and gets you the latest information, amazing pictures and all those terrific stories to the most passionate motorsports fans in the country! Looking ahead, there's special moments ahead for GameON! We recently taped our 100th broadcast and now we're putting emphasis on our social media reach. Every week GameON! comes to you in crystal clear full High Definition and we have just launched our first APP (it's free to for Apple & Android phones). The new GameON! TV app puts our show at your fingertips and we're now offering a weekly PODCAST available @ our show website www.GameOnTvMN.com. It's full of bits and pieces of sports from the region and what's ahead on our weekly TV show. GameON! still serves as the leadin to the award winning FOX NFL pre game show on FOX's MY29 here in the Twin Cities during the NFL Season. GameON! does what no other TV sports interview show (in the region) does. We offer a diverse and entertaining half hour of TV as we bring you the most visible and popular Minnesota sports figures. From the exciting season that the new look Vikings are enjoying, the new Wolves season underway, the NHL Wild, the Twins and we visit with the Lacrosse Swarm. There's NASCAR and we're all over your favorite drivers now that snow racing approaches. GameON! just featured championship racer
Levi LaVallee and we'll be all over the SnoCross racing season and Xtreme sports that touch all seasons! This show is interactive so we'd love to hear from you! Please visit our Facebook site (friend us @ GameON on facebook), our website @ www.gameontvmn.com and 24/7on twitter #gameontvmn. You are always welcome to visit our live tapings and each week we list guests and updates on the GameON! website as well as our Facebook site. Get upclose and personal with us!! We also partner with the one of the largest Vikings fan sites in the world, www.PurplePride.org. I've said it before and I'm saying it again! Get off the couch and get your GameON! Be a part of the exciting effort we're putting on! Here's to fall and the coming winter sports season ahead. Hope to see you at an upcoming GameON! taping!!
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Wheels of Thunder January 2013 Issue

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Front Cover Photo by Keith McKenna

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Rallys & Shows

ISOC National - Bessemer, MI .....................48

ISOC Regional - Elk River, MN.....................49

The Jack Race.............................................60

Boiling Point................................................12 Game On!..................................................56

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Photography by Keith McKenna Written by Ceaja Philp

Levi LaVallee Fan Favorite, Record Breaker, Team Owner

Written by Ceaja Philp Photography by Keith McKenna

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1968 Honda CB450K1

Stock Original Stock Original

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Written by Billy Boyle

ITS A MAD, MAD WORLD

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Written by Billy Boyle

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Going Grassroots in the Snow!

Photos by Dave Moquin Images

Written by Kim KimmyCat Niles

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Written and photographed by John Krueger

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Ed Kretz Sr. and Jr.

Written by Ceaja Philp

Written by Ceaja Philp

Ickler Machine Company

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SUN SUN MON TUE 2 3 4 5

Written by Brad Coplan

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Off the Beaten Path

ANNOUNCING ABATE UNIVERSITY 2013

LACK OF SNOW CANT STOP A TRUE SLED-HEAD

Written by Mylie Lavold

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SledHead 24/7 TV Show airing on FSN-MN & FSN-WI

ISOC BESSEMER NATIONAL Dec 7-8 2012

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ISOC ERX Regional Dec 15-16 2012

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Written by Ceaja Philp

Joyce Nordquist Scott

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BEST OF THE MIDWEST!

Call Scott Robinson 612-730-3719

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