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

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.

2018 Jul - Open House Highlights

JUST SOME of the many Scorpion racers, dealers and collectors who joined us for the first-ever Scorpion Snowmobiles Summer Open House and Driving Tour (July 14, 2018). At this stop, the group visited the original Trail-A-Sled, Inc. offices and manufacturing facility. Amazingly, the building still stands today. Noted in this photograph is co-founder Dick Harrison who together with Glen Gutzman and Stub Harrison founded the company in 1959, in this small Lakeview district garage. #scorpionsnowmobiles