2019, Jul: 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Homecoming & Driving Tour

June 15, 2019 - Highlights from the 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour sponsored by the Antique Snowmobile Club of America. Nearly 30 members of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America visited the Cuyuna Lakes to explore a number of locations of historical significance to the snowmobile industry; former locations used by Trail-A-Sled, Inc. and Scorpion Snowmobiles (1959-1981). The group visited the firm’s original Lakeview garage, manufacturing campus (Graphic Packaging), Crosby maintenance facility (current skate park), Riverton test track, research and development facilities and the Soo Line Depot Museum. The ASCOA plans a similar but expanded event in 2019. In this image, several members of the ASCOA enjoy an open house prior to the Cuyuna Lakes area driving tour. Featured in the foreground is a modified 1965 Scorpion manufactured in Crosby-Ironton by Trail-A-Sled, Inc. #scorpionsnowmobiles #scorpiondrivingtour #ascoa

2019, Jun: 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Homecoming & Driving Tour

June 15, 2019 - Highlights from the 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour sponsored by the Antique Snowmobile Club of America. Here, Les Pinz provides a portion of the group with an overview of this particular location's importance. This small garage in Crosby’s Lakeview district is where it all started. It was from here that Glen Gutzman constructed aluminum-based air sleds (having brought production from Donald L. Bergstrom in Eagle Bend, MN) in the late 1950’s. Once joined with Dick and Stub Harrison in 1959, the small company incorporated as Trail-A-Sled, Inc. and began constructing fiberglass-based air sleds from this same garage. The garage still stands today at the NE corner of Vermilion St and Michigan Ave, in Crosby. (GPS: 46.482204, -93.970957) #scorpionsnowmobiles #scorpiondrivingtour #ascoa

2019, Jun: 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Homecoming & Driving Tour

June 15, 2019 - Highlights from the 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour sponsored by the Antique Snowmobile Club of America. In this image, a portion of the group visits Scorpion Snowmobiles Portsmouth research and development facility. Here, a staff of 25 people designed, built and tested Scorpions, both for the recreational market as well as the racing circuit. Located north of Ironton, Minnesota and using former iron ore mining facilities, the area was operated by Scorpion from approximately 1973 to 1980. NOTE, this area is now private property! #scorpionsnowmobiles #scorpiondrivingtour #ascoa

2019, Jun: 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Open House & Driving Tour

June 15, 2019 - Highlights from the 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour sponsored by the Antique Snowmobile Club of America. In these images, a portion of the group visits a long forgotten test strip used by Trail-A-Sled, Inc. and Scorpion in the 1960's and early 1970's. Located just north of Riverton, Minnesota, off Iverson Road and found along the Portage Lake Trail, an interpretive sign commemorates the location and history of the test track (GPS 46.475300, -94.036267). While here, ASCOA members enjoyed views along the trail and learned of its historical significance to early settlers and indigenous peoples. Thank you Crow Wing County, Minnesota for such a lovely, and well maintained trail! Learn more about the Trail at the official Crow Wing County, Minnesota website: https://www.crowwing.us/1053/Portage-Lake-Trail #scorpionsnowmobiles #scorpiondrivingtour #ascoa

2019, Jun: 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour

June 15, 2019 - Highlights from the 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour sponsored by the Antique Snowmobile Club of America. Here, a portion of the group visits a fabulous local museum at the historic Soo Line Depot (Crosby, Minnesota). Thank you Cuyuna Iron Range Heritage Network for the amazing hospitality! We'll be back! #scorpionsnowmobiles #scorpiondrivingtour #ascoa

2019 - June - 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour

June 15, 2019 - Highlights from the 2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour sponsored by the Antique Snowmobile Club of America. Here, Les Pinz provides a portion of the group with an overview of this particular location's importance - Quonset huts in which Trail-A-Sled, Inc. first manufactured Scorpions after the devastating fire of 1967. Trail-A-Sled’s rapid recovery from the fire remains the stuff of legend in the snowmobile industry. #scorpionsnowmobiles #scorpiondrivingtour #ascoa