LOCAL HISTORY ON DISPLAY AT CROSBY’S UNITY BANK – In conjunction with the 16th Annual Cuyuna Lakes Ice Fishing Contest & Scorpion Homecoming (2020), you can find an original 1971 Scorpion Mark II on display inside Unity Bank’s lobby (https://www.unitybanking.com/). The Mark II is an excellent example of the thousands of snowmobiles manufactured by Trail-A-Sled, Inc. and Scorpion Industries in Crosby-Ironton from 1959 to 1981. Available for viewing during regular lobby hours, through February 7th at minimum. Presented by the Cuyuna Iron Range Heritage Network (http://www.cuyunahistory.org/). #cuyunalakes #cuyunalakescontest #scorpionhomecoming #scorpionsnowmobiles
2019 - Jun - ASCOA Summer Open House
2nd Annual ASCOA Scorpion Summer Open House & Driving Tour
Hosted by the Antique Snowmobile Club of America and the Harrison family.
Saturday June 15, 2019 - Crosby, Minnesota
Low-key and casual, this second annual potluck event is a great opportunity to swap stories and learn more about Trail-A-Sled and Scorpion snowmobile history. The event is free, but participants are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, food item and make a modest cash donation to contribute when visiting the Soo Depot Museum (during the Driving Tour).
COMMEMORATIVE ITEMS
At the Scorpion museum from Noon to 1:00 PM, a few miscellaneous Scorpion commemorative items will also be available for purchase (bring cash and small bills please). Wear your Scorpion apparel!
AGENDA
10:00 AM: MEET-UP at the Scorpion museum. Tour the facility and share stories.
12:00 PM: POTLUCK PICNIC at the Scorpion museum. Bring a lawn chair and food item to share.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: SCORPION commemorative items available for purchase at the Scorpion museum.
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Departing from the Scorpion museum, Driving Tour of the Crosby-Ironton area, including historic buildings and locations unique to Scorpion history.
DRIVING TOUR
General outline, some variance is expected (especially if raining).
1:00 PM: Lakeview Garage, original Trail-A-Sled manufacturing building (late 1950’s).
1:30 PM: Manufacturing Campus (post 1967 fire), including primary manufacturing plant, rubber plant, administrative offices and Quonset huts.
2:30 PM: Former research and development facilities.
3:00 PM: Former test track location.
3:30 PM: Historic Soo Depot Museum.
4:00 PM: Crosby maintenance building site (1967 fire).
CONTACT
If you information regarding the location of the museum, email rangewhip@gmail.com. Serious inquires only.
To learn more about the ASCOA, please visit http://www.ascoa.org/
Highlights from the 2018 event.
2019 Jan - KARE 11 Cuyuna Country Feature
Loved the recent KARE 11 Sunrise feature highlighting the many exciting winter-time activities available right now in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Included in the segment is a gorgeous, locally manufactured 1971 Scorpion Mark II snowmobile (thank you Butch Holmvig). With the iconic fiberglass tear-drop hood (designed by Eugene “Stub” Harrison, who together with Glen Gutzman and Dick Harrison founded the snowmobile company in 1959) the 1971 is very popular among vintage snowmobile collectors. Shout-out to KARE11’s Kris Laudien, Jessica Vukelich, Jenny Smith (Cycle Path and Paddle, Crosby, Minnesota), Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails, Joel Hartman, Brenda Backberg Booth Klippenes (Crosby-Ironton Courier) and everyone else who helped put the story together - the mountain biking, snowshoeing and overall landscape was stunning, as usual. For more behind the scenes information and a nice shout-out to the soon-approaching Cuyuna Lakes Ice Fishing Contest & Scorpion Homecoming (2019), check-out the linked article and video: https://www.kare11.com/article/travel/winter-wonder/explore-the-winter-wonder-of-cuyuna-country-state-recreation-area/89-70f9b0e7-4d7b-4940-80cc-e66547505001.
2019 Jan - Scorpion Trivia - Crosby Bar and Scorpion Hood
SCORPION TRIVIA -- At The Crosby Bar and Grill in Crosby, Minnesota you will find a fascinating display of Scorpion memorabilia, including an iconic tear-drop 1969 Scorpion hood (distinct from 1970 hoods which featured white-bordered rally stripes). Completely homegrown and designed by Crosby native Eugene “Stub” Harrison, the fiberglass tear-drop hood defined the distinctive Scorpion look for several years (1968 to 1971). #scorpionsnowmobiles
2019 Jan - Scorpion Trivia - Air Sled Headlights
SCORPION TRIVIA -- The Trail-A-Sled air sled (predecessor to the Scorpion snowmobile) deployed an interesting automotive headlight system. An aftermarket single-to-dual conversion kit was used, and custom ground to mirror the contours of the air sled.
2018 Dec - Scorpion Trivia - Deerwood True Value
SCORPION TRIVIA -- Proudly displayed at the Deerwood True Value Hardware Store, you will find a rare 1965 model year Scorpion snowmobile. This 1965 was among the first Scorpions to feature the firm's newly patented rubber track. Offered in turquoise or pale red, 575 of these nimble little machines were manufactured for 1965, and offered at a retail price of $795. Lightweight, stylish and fun, the 1965 was a big hit in the marketplace and foretold several years of exponential growth for the firm. (Note, the 1964 model featured a cleated track and the 1966 brought-in a steel tunnel.) #scorpionsnowmobiles
2018 Dec - Scorpion Trivia - Red Raven Bike Cafe
SCORPION TRIVIA -- When Trail-A-Sled, Inc. (eventually Scorpion Snowmobiles) brought seat production in-house, the firm leased the former Erickson Chevrolet building and set-up vacuum formed seat manufacturing for the very first time (approx 1965). Through many changes, this sturdy building now stands as Red Raven Bike Cafe (http://www.redraven.bike/). #scorpionsnowmobiles
2018 Dec - Scorpion Trivia - Model Year 1963
SCORPION TRIVIA — On display at Crosby, Minnesota's historic Soo Depot Museum (a part of the Cuyuna Iron Range Heritage Network) you will find an extremely rare early model 1963 Scorpion snowmobile. Donated to the museum by co-founders Glen Gutzman and Dick Harrison in 1980, this little machine reflects the company's early forays into tracked snowmobile production. In this case, although labor intensive, plywood, fiberglass and lumber construction were deployed atop a cleated track suspension. Only 25 of these machines were produced, and a handful remain today. If you haven't seen this machine, be sure to check it out at the Soo Line Depot Museum, open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The museum also contains a wealth of Cuyuna Range historical information. Don't miss it!
2018 Dec - Scorpion Trivia - Quonset Hut
Following the devastating fire of 1967, Trail-A-Sled, Inc. (later Scorpion Snowmobiles) set-up a make-shift assembly line in the former Inland Steel Quonset huts located in NW Crosby. In only 15 short days, Scorpions were once again being shipped to distributors and the following summer, a brand-new manufacturing campus was opened to meet ever-increasing demand for Scorpions. This amazing turn-around story, from certain ruin to top-two domestic manufacturer of snowmobiles, remains among the most miraculous turn-around stories in the history of Minnesota manufacturing. #scorpionsnowmobiles
1965 Scorpion Home Movies
1965 Scorpion Home Movies - This amazing footage highlights the 1965 Scorpion, 2014 Homecoming's feature sled! Numerous friends and Trail-A-Sled, Inc. employees are shown through-out this amateur 8MM footage. Shot at the Cuyuna Country Club, Kenora Ontario, and Mud Lake (Highway 6 & 36 - north of Crosby) during the winter of 1965.
Featuring Trail-A-Sled, Inc. employees and staff. Shot in and around Cuyuna Country Club, Kenora Ontario and Mud Lake (Crow Wing County, Minnesota).