This ASCOA E-Mail info came from Noel. On July 15, 2008 7;30 a.m. 88 years old Frank Smerch died. Noel research Frank before he passed away. He communicated with him and found Frank to be the true founder and designer of the first single track snowmobile with reverse and elec. start. "Frank was the real deal." I have seen Franks patent from 1950. Franks Husky Mobile production was from 1950 to 1954. This sled was built in Flin Flon Manitoba. His sled design was stolen by another Canadian. This pillager claimed he invented the same name snowmobile 2 years later than Frank, pretty fishy huh? He is now a the owner of tool & plastic injection mold companies. Frank speculated this individual probably sold the info to Ski-doo and that's how he financed his multi billion dollar tool & plastic mold companies. This is an image of Frank after his trip from Flin Flon & Pas North of 54 cross country to Winnipeg. He did this 500 mile trip in 32 hours. Franks cross country adventure was by one snowmobile. 11 years later in 1960 another famous pioneer of Polaris Edgar Hetteen made a famous Alaskan 1,200 mile journey. The difference in these trips was of course the distance, but, Frank rode one Husky Mobile while Edgar had three Polaris Sno Travelers snowmobiles and a group of four people. Frank Smerch will be remembered and missed!

Saturday Feb. 9, 2008 ASCOA members "Winter Meeting," Chanticleer Inn on Dollar Lake original location of the Eagle River Derby 45 years ago. This event was on the same date as the first 1963 derby. Thank you Keith Warning for historical sled dash plates, Miller Beer for endurance run class trophy's and Dick & Audrey Decker for the beautiful Peoples Choice and Best in Show Eagle River Derby trophy's! There were two tin cab Ski-doos. A 65 Moto-ski took Peoples Choice honors and 66 Polaris Best in Show. Talk about a great selection of brands in attendance. Ski-doo, Moto-ski, Arctic Cat, Polaris, Spartan, Trailmaker, Hus-ski, Bolens Hus-ski & Diablo Rouge, Blue Goose, Yukon King, Evinrude, Ski-daddler, Johnson, Sno Bunny. Everyone had a great time. Hope to see some you all in an image like this next year. Remember you don’t need to own an antique to be a member of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America! If your interested in an antique sled our Iron Dogs Tracks club news letter always has sleds for sale in our classified section. ASCOA MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION AND PRESENTATION OF SNOWMOBILES 1968 AND EARLIER - Your friends in snowmobiling!