Vintage snow machine owners come together

By TOM STANKARD

tstankard@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer - Vintage snow machine enthusiasts gathered at Big Powderhorn Mountain Ski Resort Saturday for the third annual "Clowder in the Powder" to display their "prized" machines and meet with other fans of these unique over-the-snow vehicles.

Throughout the day, more than 10 vehicles were on display for skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers to look at and admire.

While enthusiasts socialized in morning and afternoon, they talked about their snow machines, ate snacks and had adult beverages.

On display was a 1977 Sno Trac owned by Steve Pierzina, of Hill City, Minn. Pierzina said he got his machine in an auction 30 years ago and likes to abuse it and have fun. He said his machine used to be a cross county ski groomer "back in the day."

While riding his snow machine, Pierzina says he stays "nice and warm" and can bring his friends with him while going through the "deep snow without getting stuck."

Also on display was a 1976 Tucker Sno Cat owned Matt Van Tuyl, of Wakefield. Van Tuyl said the event is called "Clowder in the Powder" because a clowder is a gathering of cats.

Van Tuyl said Sno Cats are designed to ride on top of the snow, rather than cutting through it. Sno Cats have been used in projects from Alaska to Antarctica and some have even been outfitted to function in the sands of the Saudi Arabia and Texan oilfields.

When the enthusiasts got bored, they played "snow machine games," including a drag race and a timed obstacle course event.

Van Tuyl said the goal of the obstacle course was to pull up to a wooden post and then try to approach the same side of the post in reverse without knocking it over.

Later in the afternoon, enthusiasts rode their machines to the Caribou restaurant at the resort for dinner and a "short program." After dinner, they headed up the slopes for a parade that ended at Alpen Inn.

Van Tuyl said the event has grown since it began three years ago. At the inaugural "Clowder in the Powder," he said there were four machines on display. He said the event grew last year with 12 machines being displayed.

On Friday, the snow machine enthusiasts went riding along the recreational vehicle trails.

"It was a good event for everybody. We went to Copper Peak and then got to see Lake Superior," Van Tuyl said.

Bruce Noren, Big Powderhorn general manager, said the resort enjoys having the snow machine enthusiasts there and to have the old machines on display.

"I usually have one or two old snow machines that I'm working on," he said. "We have a common interest."