NOV/DEC 2012

Vol. 3 Issue 11

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Front Cover Photo by Jenny Ludowese

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OWNER
PRESIDENT Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719

OFFICE STAFF
AR/AP Stacy Robinson 763-421-4400 OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR/AR Vince Griffith vince@wheelsofthunder.net 651-280-8658 JUNIOR BOSS Zack Robinson 763-421-4400

EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Betty Schurmann editor@wheelsofthunder.net 763-421-4400

Special Features

Photographers/Writers
BILLY BOYLE MIKE BENOY CEAJA PHILP ERIK TORMOEN BRAD COPLAN JENNA OSTERLUND JOSH MOEN MYLIE LAVOLD KIM NILES JOHN LENTZKOW

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Kayla Solheid ...............................................4 The Next Generation - Tyler Metz ................20 Out of the Ordinary - Ricekiller ....................28 W.O.W. Jennifer Eriksen ..........................42 Duluth ISOC ...............................................46

ADVERTISING STAFF
SALES Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719 Ceaja (CJ) Philp ceaja@wheelsofthunder.net 763-458-5019 WISCONSIN - Brad Coplan bradc@wheelsofthunder.net 715-497-8090 IOWA - John Lentzkow John.lentzkow@mchsi.com 319-239-1375

Tech Reviews

Tire Pros .....................................................16 Ask Mike ....................................................32 Sickies Garage ..........................................54

Rallys & Shows

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Frankensteiners Ball 7..................................14 Route 65 Classics ........................................34 Bobbers Car Show on the Lake...................56

Departments

SUBSCRIPTIONS
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All content published herein is owned exclusively by Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine. Reproduction or further dissemination of the content herein is strictly prohibited without the express written authorization of Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine.

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Garage Built ...............................................10 Boiling Point................................................12 KimmyCats Corner .....................................24 Off The Beaten Path Osceola Train Ride ....38 ABATE of MN.............................................40 Game On!..................................................50

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#93 KAYLA SOLHEID

sually little girls have dreams of being an actress, model, doctor, teacher, or maybe a full time mom, but it isn't often you find one that says she wants to be a Pro Motorsports athlete. Kayla Solheid of White Bear Lake, Minnesota was no different, until.....the many trips as a little girl to her grandparents cabin and the numerous hours riding with her younger cousins who were racers, turned her into a race junkie! There were a few tracks nearby that the family would take her cousins and their PW 50s, which Kayla would ride also. She had the time of her life, and up to this point nothing seemed to spark her interest as much as riding, so her family made the decision to take Kayla to one of her cousins' races to see if it was something she would like to do on a regular basis.
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Written by Ceaja Philp Photography by Jenny Ludowese

Every Girls....Dream???

It was obvious Kayla fell in love with the thrill of racing, so her Dad, Dan found her a Honda 50 to call her own. Kayla started racing at local tracks around Minnesota at age 9, and each year Dan would buy her a new bike to fit her size as she grew and experience showed she could handle it. She went to a Kawasaki 65, to a Honda 85, then to a Suzuki 105cc. It was when the Suzuki came into play Kayla started getting serious! The family started going to national events, where Kayla did quite well and continued to prove herself. They decided to have her start training sessions, and she

was already gaining sponsors and attending nationals with the good results she was kicking out. With everything happening Kayla was driven even more to make this a full-time lifestyle, so her Mom, Nancy and Dad bought her a Yamaha 125, which allowed her to start competing at a higher intensity level! It may sound like many years would have had to take place, but this young athlete managed to advance to the top in just eight short ones. It isn't like she has sat back and just let things happen. Kayla has put in her time training in every sense, working hard on and off the track. Her offtrack training consists of a lot of plyometrics and cardio to help battle off fatigue and build endurance. When it comes to on-track training, she pushes the limits but never forgets the basics that make a good rider. She will be the first to admit, "No matter how skilled you are, it's always important to keep the basic fundamentals of motocross in mind in order to keep you safe and on target." When I asked Kayla what she felt the best part of her racing was, the answer was simple for her. "I love how it brought my family together!" Kayla is talking about her immediate family, and also the race families she has gained along the way. It hasn't all come without consequences;

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this young woman has had her share of bumps and bruises. Well actually all out injuries! She has a wrist with three pins holding it together, a shattered ankle with screws, and not too long ago...an injured collarbone. She had broke it and they allowed it to heal, however she continue to have problems, and after a few tests they found it had never completely healed and it needed to be re-broke. They needed to put a plate and six screws in to fix the issue this round. With injuries and surgeries Kayla was frustrated having to be out for three months of competitive racing, but I think that's pretty good for what she has been through. Kayla has some big things on her resume of accomplishments, besides getting herself back into race condition after injuries she took 5th place at the 2011 Loretta Lynn, 4th at the 2011 Mesquite National, and 2nd at the 2010 Winter Olympics. She is currently training for her last amateur race, the 2012 Winter Olympics in Florida. She will be riding and training with mentor Shannon Niday to make sure she is ready. Kayla is extremely excited for 2013! With everything that has happened and at only

19 years of age...she will be racing in the Pro Circuit on her Kawasaki 250F! She would like to thank The Service Pavilion, Foundation 529, Alias MX, Scott USA, Feine Tune Motorsports, GPR Stabilizer,

Shannon Niday, EVS, Racing Unlimited, and all of her friends and family that have stood by her and is looking forward to finishing out strong this season and getting ready for the next!

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Owner/Enthusiast:

Greg Root

Woodbury, MN

1968 Ford Mustang Fastback

Stock Original Stock Original
This is where it all started! This is where it all started!

Sound Familiar?
Do you have a story of your custom ride? E-mail editor@wheelsofthunder.net and you could be featured with your ride in the next issue!
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The motor was gone through; heads were ported and dressed up with all the goodies to make it look Old School under the hood. Then with Alum 5 Spoke Wheels and Mickey Thompson Tires we were ready to After storing it for the winter, I got it burn rubber. (no tickets yet) back out again and thought, lets tear this apart and redo this Fast- Now that car is done, I take it to car back! Oh Boy! shows and for rides down to Redwing. It gets a lot of attention! I The body work started in March and think everybody knows a Mustang was finished in June. I had replaced when they see it, and give me the all outside chrome, lights, bolts, thumbs up. Being retired now, I screws, gaskets, new seats, headliner, enjoy building cars to drive, but visors,...well you get the picture. never seem to keep them very long When we would put an old part on as Im always looking for a New Projit, it looked bad so we just bought ect. Maybe a Factory 5, 66 Cobra everything new on the car. Roadster next. A good friend, Brice Anderson who Past Projects: does all my body and prep work, did *1932 Highboy (steel car) another perfect job on this, which it *1946 Ford Truck

As all of us growing up we saw the movies like Gone in 60 Seconds and Bullet. They had these 67 & 68 Fastback Mustangs in them and someday we wanted to get one! So at the Back to The 50s Car corral I found this 68 Mustang and it was in great shape for a Minnesota car. I had 2 friends look at it and they thought the same. Well I bought it, drove it all summer as a driver and had fun! Even thought my hair was growing back. (no tickets yet)

has to be for painting it black. Then took car to Raymond Auto Body in St. Paul for Paint. Then I started the hard part of putting the car back together without me putting a scratch in it, Brice took care of that also.

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Written by Billy Boyle

WILL WE BE BETTER OFF IN 2013?

As some of you are reading this article the Presidential election is gearing up, for others you may be reading this after the election so you late readers know the outcome. No matter when you are reading, no matter whom you supported, no matter whom won, we will have to live with the decision good, bad, or indifferent. The bottom-line whatever candidate is in charge will we Americans be better off in 2013? I really hope so, for me I am sick to my stomach when I see Americans forced to live the way they are living and I am speaking to those that are struggling like many of us to make ends meet. The term paycheck to paycheck used to mean you constantly had your back to the wall, in 2012 it would be a blessing for many to have a weekly paycheck every week. As I watch the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates I have to wonder do these guys really have our back or are they watching out for their own best interest. Listening to the candidates commentary, knee jerk answers, and babbling endlessly with off topic answers I found it hard to sway one way or the other. I never had a problem making a Presidential decision before and when the time comes to pull the lever I know my mind will be made up, but until that moment I am fence sitting, however leaning pretty solid in one direction. My issue is more jobs related, I have not had what my exwife would call a real job in quite sometime. I define real job as go to the workplace everyday, have medical and dental benefits, and a opportunity to move up with an occasional promotion and raise. Now that sounds like 1970s and 1980s mentality, and thats exactly what it is. Just when you think the economy is taking a turn for the better, did I just say that? Thats what one candidate is saying, but businesses continue to go belly up, the workforce is downsized, still importing jobs abroad, and frequent cutting of wages. Does anyone at the top get it, or have they been getting it all along? Im talking green backs. After all isnt this situation lack of money and credit whats it all about? Think back 10 years before the attack on United States soil. Were you better off then than you are today? Speaking for myself I know I was. I was gainfully employed at a job that I always thought that I would retire from, I had a house, 2 cars, a boat, and a very tight knit family. Then a couple of years after 911, my world came crashing down, job loss, followed by selling boat, losing house, divorce, but as bad as it gets not caving into losing my family. Sound familiar? The American dream followed by the American scream. Well this scream is going to be heard loud and clear. I thought I was the only one that had the legs got cutout from underneath me, but this was a typical scenario for most hard working American families. Its bad enough when youre kicked to the curb once, but every time you try to pick yourself up wipe off the dirt, big brother goes to kicking again, and again, and again. My friends many of my former co-workers and acquaintances do this every single day. There doesnt seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. The light might be a secure job, having a home once again, or a normal family lifestyle. Way back in the day when I went to school, yes I can think back that far. I learned about the multiplier effect. Simple equation was creating jobs; employees spend money within a community, which creates more jobs, and so on. Will we ever get back to the good old days? By the looks of it, the economy.not for a while. But

why rollover and play dead. Im sure if enough of us got irritated to the point of the old movie saying from the movie Network, where Peter Finch had his viewers open the windows and had them shout Im mad as hell and Im not going to take it anymore. Then maybe some of these media grabbing politicians would do something about it, and not just use it for an ad campaign, for the sake of us voting you in, FIGURE IT OUT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT. The world turns on money, precious metals, and credit. I know some of you are saying thats how we got into this mess, and I couldnt agree with you more. Think back to 2001, whom gave the credit, why give the credit, and why keep giving it especially to people that couldnt afford it to begin with? The banks were banking on people not being able to keep up and tacking on interest at a rapid rate. For example here was one method to entice people to keep spending after they had people over a barrel. How about reverse amortization. Thats where you can pick and choose your payment. The lesser amount would add interest.lots of interest to the principal. But these criminals would tell you, the way the price of homes are increasing you could reNovember 2012

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finance again and never miss a beat. Thats how we got to where we are today. Thats just scratching the surface of tactics by corporate America to suck the life out of YOU! So here we are today do a quick survey in your neighborhood, community, town or city. How many people do you personally know that are no longer employed or employed where they were 10 years ago? Were foreclosed on? How many businesses have shut down? How many of your family, friends, neighbors are businesses, or communities are hanging on by a thread hoping to get past this financial mess? Its not a pretty situation. I can think off the top of my head of a dozen once thriving and successful custom bike businesses or supporters like fabrication, frames, paint, maintenance, and accessories that had to shut the doors. I mentioned earlier in the article of the multiplier effect, just the opposite the domino effect can crush an industry, community, and a society quickly, . Heres a synopsis of that dilemma. Custom bike shop produces a work of art, but the banks are reluctant to give loans for the toy as they put it, even if you were gainfully employed with a solid credit score. So the bike, like the other 2 dozen sit and collect dust. Cant move these bikes, why build more. Frame builder cant build more without getting paid for the hard work and craftsmanship that they put into the previous bunch that went out several months ago. Painter has no orders either so they keep themselves busy with a variety of projects because thats what painters do. Repair shop lay off 4 of the 5 mechanics for

lack of work; bike accessories are sold at flea market value just to put a little food on the table. The bottom line no one is getting a paycheck, no one is spending money at the grocery store, local restaurants, Movie Theater, bar, liquor store, etc. Which in turn these businesses lay off some of their employees because of lack of spending from the consumer. This is reality, this is what crushes a community, and this is what turns people to a life that they never would fathom. Have you reached your Boiling Point yet? Are you mad as hell and not going to take it anymore? Some situations although dismal as it appears some people and businesses have managed to survive the financial crunch, or did they? What about these survivors? Heres another example of a survivor friend recent situation. My friend has a job, pretty decent job, my friend has a home not a lot of equity but its his, my friend has a credit score above 700, for those of you that dont know much about credit scores a 700 was carte blanche 10 years ago. My friend had his eye on his life long dream of owning a once very expensive and now affordable motorcycle. My friend put money down as a sign of good faith; my friend spent a good hour completing an on-line bank application. By the end of 2 days of submitting loan applications, my friend was denied by 21 banks. The moral of this story; if the banks wont give loans to people of this caliber then why would a dealer remain open? The bike shop closed shortly after, the frame builder and painter have closed the doors too and have ventured off to other

projects. My friend found some old beater that he could pay cash for, but certainly not what he had in mind. My friends this a bike scenario, but the scenario plays out in the other arenas as well, watercraft, ATVs, snowmobiles to name a few. I can see the banks being cautious, but I have to think back at how these bloodsuckers enticed many with the villain like, mustache twilling, stove top pipe black hat tactics with Ill tell you what Im going to do for you. The short answers squeeze you and screw you for everything you got. I think about the businesses that are still popular, but yet still struggling. Even with in house financing available its not always an option for everyone that walked through the door because of the bumps they may have hit in the road the last few years. Even these popular businesses feel the pain everyday. Whether it is physical stuff bought off the floor or repairs and service. We all take the hit. Again think back at 10 years ago, would anyone of you reading this article have ever thought that our economy, financial system, everyday life would be where it is today? The bastards did more than fly jets into our buildings and the ground. They hit us in the pocket and hit us hard, and thats all of us. Thats what terrorism is all about. Its not about killing people its about killing a society, a dream, a livelihood. Terrorist come in all sorts of attire other than what first comes to mind; they also wear suits, frequent Wall Street, drive expensive cars, and live their dream, much like the moguls in the desert. I dont know about you, but I am mad as hell and I wont take it anymore. You can hit us in the pocket, but you will never kill our spirit! I would welcome any feedback, comment, issues that may have been raised regarding this article we need to keep the spirit alive, thats what America is all about. We will bounce back!!! We just need a leader that believes in America!

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F
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or most 12 year olds their interest tend to lean more towards, music, video games, texting, and horsing around. Tyler Metz is no different from most 12 year old boys, but this almost teenager has found a niche in a sport. You see sport doesnt involve a bat, ball, or a puck, but it does involve speed and a helmet. Tyler Metz is on the fast track excuse the pun to being one the next champion sled racers.
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Tyler Metz #19

From a Kitty Cat to a Growling Champion!
Written by Billy Boyle
Tyler has been racing since he was four, out of the car seat and onto the snowmobile! Tyler obviously has the support and help from his mom, dad, at every race and grandparents when time allows. I spoke to Tyler and found him to be interesting, funny, and one of the most enthusiastic 12 year olds I have ever spoken to! Tyler is one of those kids that can make anyone smile. He talked not only about his racing and family, but talked about his friends, teachers, his school, his dogs, and of course his chickens. You see Tyler is just like any 12 year old with chores and and responsibilities. One of his chores are the 26 chickens he raises. Tyler doesnt know it yet but he is already is a champion. His commitment to his friends, family, pets,

Dan Lewis Photography www.danlewisphoto.net

2005, Tyler was 5 years old

The urge for snowmobiling started with his Mom and Dad at that early age tooling around the country roads and fields, Tyler was bit by that bug way back then. For some of us that way back when is decades for this guy a few years. In just that short time Tyler has gone from Kitty Cat sleds to an Artic Cat 370. Tyler has jumped right into the top rankings for his age group. Last year his accomplishments were 13 first places, 2 second place, and 1 third place. Thats a lot of hardware to lug away from the Oval track for a 12 year old.

Tyler taking on a corner on his F1

and yes, even his chickens, is what is shaping him for the future of being that champion racer. I asked Tyler if at 12 years old what the girls thought of him, he laughed at the question, I was serious, Do they look at you at being a Justin Beiber?, his answer No, the girls are my friends they think of me of being Tyler Metz. Tyler has goals in the racing oval. He is setting his sights on being a World Champion at the Eagle River Derby in the 440 Class. Thats a heck of a race to set your sights on, but after talking to Tyler and looking at his accomplishments I think this 12 year old will be on to National or World stardom as a teen or adult. Like most young boys that have an athlete they look up to and mimic everything that athlete does, Tylers hero is Nick Van Strydonk. If anyone knows Nicks
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120 Champ Class, taken in 2010. Tyler has the lead in front of Daulton Schoon. (Schoon has since quit racing sleds, but their group of family/friends were sure great to race with for that year!) November 2012

story they can see why this boy idolizes this champion oval racer. Tyler cant wait until the snow falls and get out on the track and maybe a chance or two to watch Nick compete, but in the mean time Tyler spends his time hunting, playing with his dogs, a Rottweiler named Zena and a German Shepard/Husky mix named Crayon. Crayon? As Tyler laughed, he explained, his tail looks like a crayon. Tyler also has another family fan his younger brother Teegan. His brother Teegan is right at the age of 4, which the same age as when Tyler started to race. So do you think we will be doing a Next Generation on this little guy in a few years? Im thinking YEAH!

Speaking to Tylers mom, Tyler strictly races ice oval, We decided it was best to put all of our efforts into one sport. We have come a long way as a race team from our first race with the kitty cat in the back of the truck and who knows where it will take us in the future! Racing is what makes Tyler

smile and as long as he wants to do it, we as a family, will do everything possible to get him to that world champion dream! From this writers perspective and a parent I couldnt agree with you more. Good luck to Tyler Metz and his family!

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Retired at Age 11
ark Strand started racing Ice Ovals with Kids Pro Ice (KPI) back in 2008 when he was 7 years old. The very first class he ever entered was aboard a borrowed Kitty Cat Snowmobile. The machine was donated by Greg Bihner. It had already competed for several years so it was ready to race. Mark progressed in Kitty Cat and in no time was aboard a ZR 120 Arctic Cat.

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Written by Kim KimmyCat Niles

Throughout his years with KPI, Mark raced several classes including Vintage Kitty, Stock Kitty, Improved Stock Kitty, Stock 120, Improved Stock 120, Super Stock 120 and Champ 120. Mark finished up his Ice Racing career at the 2012 KC Pro East Northern Nationals in Chisholm, Minnesota in March. He has earned many trophies and awards during this period and they are all displayed proudly at the Strand family home in Mapleton, Minnesota. class in KPI is like racing Eagle River every weekend. The amount of top class equipment and talented drivers and teams they draw is the absolute best in the snowbelt. Mark began Grass Racing in 2007. He placed 3rd at the Princeton Outlaw Grass Drags his first time out. Typically, the 120cc class racers spend about 2-3 years racing ice ovals before moving up to grass drags, but Mark was able to tackle both sports in the same year. Racing 120cc classes can be very cost effective when youre running year round. You just need to swap out the skis for a wheel mounted grass ski and the rear suspension that is set up for grass with a series of wheels instead of hyfax slides. The engines are also switched to the 250cc two cycles. Dan Strand is Marks dad. He is the owner and head mechanic for the team. He does most of the work on the equipment and handles all the pit duties on race day. The team also relies on help from fellow racing dad Gregg Childs (www.bulldozerracing.com) at Bulldozer Racing in Rochester, Minnesota. Bulldozer does the bulk of the chassis work and troubleshooting whenever needed. This also consists of swapping engines from winter 120cc four stroke racing to summer 250cc two stroke racing. The 250cc single cylinder Suzukis are the prominent engine used in the Kids Pro Mods class. The kids that race grass drags around here are mostly the same ones who race together
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Photography by Darryl Gershman Photo CPTC Beausejour, MB Canada

Being a member of Kids Pro Ice (www.kidsproice.org) has its benefits. They are well known for producing some of the finest racers in the Oval Racers Alliance (www.ovalracersalliance.co), the Big Guys! Weekend youth racing of the 120 Champ

on ice in the winter. So, some racing dads got together and started up a grassroots organization called Kids Pro Mods. They give credit to Perry Schlueter with the NSRA for allowing this circuit to compete with his organization. We want the kids to be safe and have fun, but not get into dangerous speeds until they are older and able to handle it, said Dan. One of the rules they have put in place is Single Cylinder Engines Only. On ice, the kids can reach speeds of just under 40 mph. However, the grass drags are a bit faster! The kids run some pretty impressive times with the 250cc engines in 500ft. In 2012, Mark raced the Pro Mod 250 bracket series and placed in the semi finals at Princeton and Douglas, and took 3rd place in the finals at Wausau, Wisconsin. That earned him the bragging rights of being the biggest money maker in the class aboard a youth size machine. He plans to

though he only saw what happened after the crash. Mark knew just what it was like after he raced his Ski-Doo at the Chisholm Nationals. He spun out three times in the final and when he finally got ahead he spun out again in turn 3 and the race was over. In addition to racing snowmobiles, Mark enjoys playing trumpet in the band and also likes to play chess, when he has time. Fishing and hunting with how dad are also at the top of his list. When asked what his favorite season is, it was no surprise that he answered winter. Although, its not for the snow or ice racing that he prefers wintertime. When asked why, he simply stated no ticks.

www.kidsproice.com Kids Pro Ice Racing is a non-profit youth ice racing association based in the Twin Cities. They have over 30 active families from Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota who teach kids safe driving and racing practices, as well as good sportsmanship and friendships. www.bulldozerracing.com Bulldozer Racing is a Performance Business designed & operated strictly for the Modified Youth Racing Snowmobile market. www.ovalracersalliance.com The Oval Racers Alliance is an organization operating Professional Snowmobile Ice Oval Racing during the winter racing season.

save up his big winnings for video games and maybe a car. For those kids who might be interested in taking up racing Kitty Cats, Mark pointed out that it is a good sport, lots of fun and pretty competitive. Plus, you get medals and trophies and goodie bags! Mark shared his funniest race, which was at Turtle Lake, Wisconsin when he was eight years old. He was doing great until his right ski flew off in turn 3, putting him in last place. Dad calls those the memory makers and they serve as a reminder that you can do everything right and prep the engine, but still have something unexpected go wrong. Although Mark was both angry and sad at the time, hes able to look back that day and laugh about it now. Mark also raced in Canada last year and was there when Curtis Boivin crashed, al-

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Written and photographed by John Krueger for Ricekiller.com

hen you think of road-racing and autocross events, trucks and SUVs are usually not what you expect to see out on the course. Trucks and SUVs generally find their home as 4x4 off-roaders, drag-trucks, or show-trucks. Rob Brooks' Yukon though does a little bit of everything which is what makes it stand out in its own right.
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I first met Rob, and saw his Yukon, through the RKC Monday Meets in Minnesota. I would always see his truck, and usually run into him at some point during the meet to shoot the breeze. He's a real enthusiast who likes all areas of the automotive community, so it's easy to talk about anything. I always liked his truck; the paint job and the wheels add a lot of presence to the towering SUV. I've always liked when someone takes a boring, familyhauler, and makes it something special, and Rob's done just that. Well, actually let me take that back. Rob's Yukon was never a family-hauler to begin with. The story of Rob's SUV starts as a state vehicle, doing work as a commercial inspector vehicle for the Minnesota State Patrol. Rob bought the SUV from a state auction, and turned it into what you see here on these pages. A bit of irony wouldn't you say? A State Patrol vehicle turned into something that warrants its fair share of unwanted attention from the authorities, haha. After taking possession of the SUV, Rob wasn't too keen on the State Patrol maroon that adorned the body panels. He decided on a very bright, GMC white, and while everything was stripped out he changed the interior over to blue replacing the dash, seats, door-cards, and carpet. With the interior and exterior freshened up, Rob moved onto the motor next. The stock 350 small-block was removed, and in went a mildly built 383 small-block Chevy motor with a 400 RV cam to boost the power level to something a little more re-

spectable. This is no straight-line monster, but a SUV that Rob uses everywhere including the road-course at BIR. This motor setup ensured that he could have his fun while turning laps.

After running the SUV in that setup for a bit, Rob soon became bored of the monotone paint job and decided to give the exterior another make-over. Rob, and his trusted painter, settled on a 3-tone paint job; a dark, navy blue on top, and the GMC white on the bottom being separated by a silver stripe. Before the paint was laid down, a few body modifications were carried out. The stock hood got the nudge in favor of a cowl-induction hood to toughen up the front end. Out back, a custom, oneoff roll pan was installed. Rob said it took a lot of work to make it, and that he'd never do another one. The big highlight of the exterior is the airbrush work which was done by Dave's Custom Airbrush. The work is phenomenal and is what really makes this SUV stand out. The flames, and the eyes on the passenger fender, are extremely well done and really add a subtle pop to the vehicle. Rounding out the exterior modifications are the chrome, 18 inch wheels with Nitto Dune Grappler tires. I remember commenting during the shoot that the tread pattern of the tires compliment the airbrushed flames really well. It's nice when little details like that work out. As I said earlier, Rob and his SUV definitely

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it's shaping up to be something quite special, and definitely something that will stand out from the ordinary.

make their rounds. You can see the two at pretty much any meet or show in the Twin Cities. The cool thing though is Rob isn't

creation whether it's on the race track, the show field, or just cruising around. Of course Rob isn't done with SNWBALL as the Yukon has been dubbed. He has a few plans to really take the SUV to the next level. This winter, Rob has a 6.0L LQ9 truck motor that will be going in to replace the 383 along with a pair of turbo-chargers. Talk about upping the horsepower stakes. Rob also plans on redoing the interior again and adding an upgraded sound system. So, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the next iteration of Snwball as

afraid to drive this SUV. I saw him up at Brainerd International Raceway over the summer for the Powercruise 2 event where he was putting his Yukon through its paces on the road-course. I never thought I would see a big SUV flying around a roadcourse, but Rob showed me. It really is great to see an enthusiast enjoying his/her
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Q. A.

I am beginning a frame-off restoration of a 65 Mustang this winter. I am going to do some custom body work and I am trying to decide which brand and type of welder I should purchase for doing this kind of work at home in my garage. Any suggestions? Kyle, Princeton, MN

Thank you for the question Kyle! Choosing a good all around welder for your home workshop depends entirely on your skill level as a welder and ultimately what kind of things you plan to do with it. Like everything these days, the technology has advanced rapidly and the choices have expanded when looking at welding equipment. For most people that are welding at a hobby level, I would recommend a MIG welder. There are a lot of choices out there and they are generally easy to work with even if you are a beginner. I would, however, avoid machines that are limited to flux-core wire as the shielding method. Flux-core rigs can be OK for certain things, but I found gas shielding to be much more consistent. One of the best new innovations I have seen with MIG welders is Millers Auto-Set feature that is available on many models. This allows the user to enter two variables into the machine and it decides where to set the wire speed and amperage to give you the best results. You simply select the wire size you are using and the thickness of the material and the machine does the rest. I was able to play with one of these a little bit recently and it made perfect welds with every material I tried when welding in position. When welding out of position (vertical, overhead, etc.) I found that I prefer to adjust my settings manually. This most likely has more to do with personal style and skill, but regardless, that is how it was with me.

MIG welders are great for welding steel in many varieties and with some time and experience, you will find that you can be very precise with it. I prefer to use a 25% CO2 / 75% Argon gas mixture when welding thinner steel material with a MIG rather than 100% CO2. I also use the smallest wire diameter I can for the material; with most automotive bodywork, I use .024 wire. If you are thinking of welding aluminum as well, I would consider a TIG welder instead. The TIG process is different and requires more skill and experience to be done well, but in my opinion it is the best choice for someone who wants to be able to weld both steel and aluminum precisely. You can make good, strong welds on aluminum with a MIG welder, dont get me wrong, but it is difficult to make them clean and precise like you can with a TIG. The key to becoming proficient with a TIG is practice, practice, practice! The TIG process requires coordination of both hands as well as one foot to run your heat controls (in most systems). The technique itself is much like welding or brazing with a good old-fashioned torch, so if you have any experience with oxyacetylene welding, it is generally helpful when learning to TIG weld. So, here is what I recommend to anyone looking to purchase a welding machine:

1. Give yourself an honest assessment of your skill as a welder and choose your machine accordingly. 2. Go to a welding supply retailer and let them help you choose something that will be a good fit for you. They are the experts! 3. If you are planning on doing work with both steel and aluminum, look at TIG equipment rather than MIG 4. Be prepared to spend some time practicing and learning whichever machine you purchase before you dive headlong into any projects! 5. Get yourself a good set of welding gear that is comfortable for you to wear. I prefer the auto-darkening style helmets and they are available in many varieties and price ranges 6. Have fun with it!

I hope this answer helps you in making your choice! If you have a question you would like answered, please send them in as I am always happy to do the best I can to give you an answer. Please email your questions to editor@wheelsofthunder.net, or mail them in to the following address: Wheels Of Thunder Magazine, 13915 Radium NW, Suite D, Ramsey, MN 55303.

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Route 65 Classics celebrated its one year anniversary on September 29th at its location on Highway 65 in Ham Lake. Great weather attributed to a terrific turnout. There were 229 cars registered for judging and estimated at over 350 cars filled the dealership lot. Brian Zepp and the crew of KQ started out the day. Brian was thrilled at the chance of firing up the GSTA, Gopher State Timing Associations

dragster. Following KQ attendees listened to the great sound of Amethyst. It was a day of sunshine and hot cars. Winning the awards this year were; Special Interest: 1962 Volkswagon BeetleYolande Tillmans, Corcoran MN Street Rod: 1937 Ford Club CabrioletMark Spah of Andover, MN

Top Car-Stock: 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Daniel Curtis of Oak Grove, MN Top Car-Custom: 1974 Oldsmobile Cutlass Keith Steies of Oak Grove, MN Top Truck-Stock: 2003 Chevrolet SSR Rosemary Bonnett of Blaine, MN Top Truck-Custom: 1956 Chevrolet Shortbox Tom Eilek of Lindstrom, MN

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October 2012
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Written by Brad Coplan

passenger trip. As it rolled by, people were standing and looking out the sliding doors of the cargo cars, and others were looking out the open windows of the passenger cars. I kept waiting for someone to run and jump on as it was in motion or to jump off and roll down the hill like in the movies. After a short wait, we were boarded and went to an air conditioned passenger car. The train consisted of nine cars, with the locomotive. Once the train started to move a man came through and asked for our tickets and then punched them like history shows. As the train moves you are encouraged to walk about the train. In each car there is a part of history. I was advised by an employee on board, to walk to the back of the train, where they have the dining car. Here I was advised by an employee that this dining car was built for dignitaries

Its getting very close to that time of the year when you realize the riding season is over. We are blessed with a few nice days here and there. I know there are the diehard bikers out there that put the leathers on and go until it snows. The fall colors this year were somewhat disappointing. In Western Wisconsin we had a very small window of opportunity to ride and see some good color. I did discover a place in Osceola Wisconsin that assisted in the viewing of the colorful leaves. I decided to take a trip to the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway which is located at 114 Depot Street in Osceola. Ive driven past this many times and always wondered how the train ride would be. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon we decided to stop. We thought it would be fun

to ride on the historic train and look at the fall colors. Lucky for us the fall leaves were just starting to turn, this made the sightseeing very enjoyable. As you pull into the railway area you observe old train equipment and trains. We then walked inside the old brick built train station and picked up our tickets for a 90 minute ride from Osceola to Marine on the St. Croix and back to Osceola. Inside you can check out the history of the days gone by, the old train signs and legends of that day and age. Theres several old time train equipment for you to look at and read about. As we waited outside the train station we could view the vintage baggage transport containers and vintage train cars, with the side doors open. Looking down the tracks I could see the train returning from another

and later redesigned for business people and now is used as a dining or party car, for the special trips they offer throughout the year. As your walking along from train car to train car, you will come across the Postal Car. This has been kept in its orginal condition and is a functioning Post Office. You can buy post cards on the train or write letters and have them send to family and friends. The Post Master is there to collect the letters, stamp them, and give you a history lesson on how the mail was caught on

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Off the Beaten Path

Osceola Train Ride Osceola, WI
the fly. This still occurs on the Saturday rides. The mail bag is attached to the drop off post and as the train passes by it will either pick up or drop off the mail bag. Also on this train, you will find a concession car and several passenger cars, which are either air conditioned or not depending on the year of the train car. The non air conditioned cars, gives you the opportunity to open up the windows and look outside at the view and take pictures. As the train travels on its ten mile ride you will see deer, turkey and bald eagles if your paying attention. Once you get closer to the St. Croix River the fall colors start to appear. Then the train crosses the Cedar Bend Draw Bridge and you have a great view of the river. The train then continues traveling south along the river, now on the Minnesota side and into Williams O'Brien State Park. I stood on the back deck of the dining car and took the pictures I needed of the fall colors and enjoyed the fantastic ride as I talked to one of the train's engineers. He would call by radio to the conductor every time we passed a mile marker or an area that the conductor needed to be aware of, like when we were coming to the river and crossing the bridge, or coming up to roads and driveways. We traveled for a few more miles and the train stopped, now we were going to head back to the train station. This time the locomotive would pull the train cars up the steep grade we just came down. You might be thinking, that now on the way back your looking at the same things you just saw, well thats not exactly true, its amazing what you now see from that different angle or from a different car. We then make our way up to the train station, after a twenty mile, ninety minute fun fiilled and historic train ride. This is a list of the train cars used this day: the 265 baggage car which was built in 1946, (2) streamlined coach cars built in 1946 and
November 2012

1947, (3) commuter coach cars built in 1929 and 1930. Also in line was a heavy weight triple passenger car built in 1914, the A-11 streamlined business car which was built in 1911 and the power unit was the 325-spd40 locomotive built in 1966. The Osceola & St.Croix Valley Railway is open from May to October, and offers several different rides. And if your looking for something closer to the Twin Cities then head to the Jackson Street Roundhouse on Pennsylvania Ave. in St. Paul. Here they offer a year round facility with several older locomotives and train cars. You will also see a operating roundhouse turntable, vintage steam engines and equipment. The restoration of all equipment, cars and locomotives are done at this facility. Here you have a chance to watch the hands on work done by the railroad employees, and to ride the trains and watch them moved

about in the railroad yard. So if your looking for some place fun for you and the kids or a group of friends on the bikes, then try this, it will be worth the ride there. So once we left Osceola, we continued on our journey. We jumped on the bikes and headed north of Osceola on Hwy 35. The further north we traveled the more we observed that the coloring of the leaves were allready past peak. We headed east toward Rice Lake and then finally south toward Menominee, and no mater what, the day was great and the ride was fantastic. We took some back country roads and found that alot of the leaves had allready fallen. But like kids in the yard throwing the leaves around, it was fun driving through them on the road and watching them blow back on the bikes traveling behind.

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ABATE OF MINNESOTA
sympathies go out to the families of those who have died in motorcycle-related crashes. But to understand the truth behind the CDCs study and this attempt to pass a modified helmet law here in Minnesota, consider these points and youll quickly realize how flawed their arguments really are: The CDC uses the same tired, wornout examples again and again. They cite a Florida study that said fatalities increased 63.4% from 2000-2009, which while true, like every other instance of using this statistic they fail to mention that motorcycle registrations increased over 100% during the same time frame. -- Jeff Hennie, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) The CDC makes no mention of rider education, the best way to prevent crashes. Take New Hampshire for example, according to Robert LeTourneau, New Hampshire State Official Motorcycle Education Specialist, they have had 15 fatal motorcycle accidents of riders who took the class since 1990. Thats out of over 44,000 students trained in the same time period and .034% of fatal motorcycle accidents. All with no mandatory helmet law. -- Jeff Hennie, MRF Motorcycle fatalities in Minnesota are down 7% compared to 2010. Last year, 42 people died in motorcycles crashes compared to 96 deaths in 1981. In that year there were 166,151 registered motorcycle operators. Last year there were 398,092 registered operators. So despite the fact that the number of registered motorcycle operators has more than doubled, the number of deaths has dropped by more than half. -- 2011 Minnesota Crash Facts In 1981 when the State of Minnesota began gathering data on crashes, the number of deaths per 10,000 registered motorcycles were 5.8. In 2011, the rate had plumetted to 1.8 deaths per 10,000 registered motorcycles. If what the CDC and other pro-helmet law groups claim was true, we would see the direct opposite, with the deaths per 10,000 going in the other direction. -- 2011 Minnesota Crash Facts The Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists studied the effectiveness of Virginias rider education program. They pulled five years worth of motorcycle crash statistics and with the help of the Division of Motor Vehicles broke down the crashes between graduates of Virginias rider ed program they found that graduates were tremendously under-represented in those statistics. Further, there were two out of the five years in which none of the fatalities were rider ed graduates. -- Matt Danielson, McGrath & Danielson, Attorneys at Law, VA) Why does every state have an extensive drivers education program if education is not a proven safety measure?
November 2012

Recently the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) -- specifically their National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention -- presented a study on motorcycle safety. The study is a collection of conclusions based on past studies and old statistics, some of which seem to be drawn from thin air. Likewise, certain legislators and public safety groups in Minnesota pushed in 2012 for passage of a modified helmet use bill that would require Minnesota motorcyclists to wear a helmet unless they purchased additional (and expensive) insurance. (These same forces have indicated that they will be seeking passage of this bill again in the 2013 legislative session.) A.B.A.T.E. of MN is always concerned about motorcycle safety, and our
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(American Bikers for Awareness, Training and Education)

-- Matt Danielson, McGrath & Danielson, Attorneys at Law, VA The CDC reported that People who do not wear helmets are more likely to be killed in a crash. Forty-one percent of m/c operators and 51% of m/c passengers who died in 2008 were not wearing a helmet. Doesnt that mean that 59% of m/c operators and 49% of m/c passengers who died in 2008 were wearing helmets? The CDC uses the National Highway Transportations Safety Administrations (NHTSA's) 1997 base year for motorcycle fatalities, which was also the lowest point of motorcycle fatalities over the past 30 years. In 1997, there were 2,116 fatalities for 3,826,000 motorcycles registered, or 0.055% of the motorcyclists were killed. In 2010, there were 4,502 fatalities for 8,368,000 motorcycles registered, or 0.053% of the motorcyclists were killed.The fatality rate was lower in 2010, but the CDC forgot to mention that. -- Jeff Hennie, MRF In May of 2011 the CDC issued a study on traumatic brain injury related deaths from 1997-2007. According to that study, the fatality rate due to traumatic brain injuries for m/cs was 14,972 per every 100,000 members of the total population. The number for occupants enclosed in motor vehicles was 87,510 per every 100,000 members of the total population. Yes, there are more auto drivers than m/c riders, but a head injury is a head injury and the cost of one is no greater than the other. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mm wrhtml/ss6005a1.htm?s_cid=ss6005a1_ w The CDC claims that the U.S. would have saved 1.3 billion dollars if all motorcyclists wore helmets in 2008. Since the number of brain injury deaths is almost 6 times higher in automobiles, that would mean a helmet law for automobiles would have saved 7.8 billion in 2008. In the United States in 2000, the leading causes of death were: Tobacco: 435,000, or 18% of total deaths Poor diet: 400,000, or 16.6% of total deaths Alcohol consumption: 85,000, or 3.5% Microbial agents: 75,000 Toxic agents: 55,000 Motor Vehicle crashes: 43,000 Incidents involving firearms: 29,000 If they make riding without a helmet illegal, what will they make illegal next? http://www.doctorslounge.com/primary/article/obesity_death/
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The CDC makes the argument that forcing all motorcyclists to wear helmets would save money. If this is true, then states that allow freedom of choice would have higher motor vehicle insurance rates. According to Insure.com, the top five most expensive jurisdictions for motor vehicle insurance in 2012 were Louisiana, Oklahoma, Michigan, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. Out of that list, only Oklahoma was helmet choice at the time. The five cheapest states were Maine, Iowa, Wisconsin, Idaho, and North Carolina, and of those states only North Carolina requires all riders to wear helmets.

November 2012

Wo W
ennifer Eriksen has been racing with, and beating, the boys since she was just a little girl. She first started racing when her dad put her in a quarter midget car at the age of eight. Jenni then raced thunder cars at Elko Speedway on pavement when she was 17. At 21, she took a few years off but then started racing dirt Go-Karts in 2004, just for fun.

Jenni was ready to move up to 360 winged sprint car racing and asked her dad if she could get a sprint car, if she won the King of Dirt race of Flying Pines Raceway. He didnt think she would win the race, since it was their first time at this track... she ended up getting fast time in both classes and winning one of them the following year in 2005. In the middle of Redwood Speedways racing season, she began to race sprint cars and won her first race there the 7th time in the car, making her the first female driver to ever win a sprint car race there.
November 2012

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Jennifer Eriksen
The Future holds Plenty of Promise
Written by KimmyCat Niles
The transition from quarter midget racing on asphalt to sprint car racing on dirt was a bit of an adjustment. Dirt is unpredictable and drivers are often chasing the track to keep the cars set up and find the best line. It may have helped that she was also racing against her brother Shannon, who started racing in 2007. Sibling rivalry often gave them each the drive to chase each other down! Jenni is no stranger to the mechanical work needed to run a sprint car and spends as much time as possible doing weekly maintenance to make sure the car is ready for the following week. On race days, Jenni has many family members and friends who show up to help, as well. Along with crew chief (and boyfriend) Mike Corning and her Mom Patty who are both there on a weekly basis to help her, she also has with her brother Shannon, Scott Broty and his son, James helping whenever they can be there. It makes a big difference to have the help you need, when you need it. And, I really appreciate all of the support that my mom has given me by being at every race and helping me to fulfill my dream and doing the only thing I have ever loved to do. Her 91 year old Grandpa Jack is also a huge part of the racing team. Hes the

Photography by Vince Peterson Track Rat Photos

owner of Viking Paints, Inc., which is her biggest sponsor. The #10 car is fortunate to have Viking Paints, Exotic Colors and Trent Signs & Graphics provide her with her signature black with hot pink, teal, and purple viynl wrap, making it an easily recognizable sprint car. Her other team sponsors are Broty Racing Engines, Al Bielke and GRP Motorsports. Some of the wins that meant the most to Jenni include placing 2nd at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals in 2007, making her the highest placing female at Boone in history. That same year she won the IMCA Jackpot Junction tour series. Jenni also ranks the 2009 Boone Super Nationals at Boone Raceway as a top race, even though she came in 5th place. That day, she and her brother Shannon dedicated the race to their father, Dave, who was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy at the time. Sadly, in February of 2010 Jenni and Shannon lost their best friend and biggest supporter when their dad lost his battle with esophageal cancer. In 2009, Jenni was able to prove her skills when she brought her 360 cubic inch engine to the Interstate Racing Association at Elko Speedway. Even though IRA runs 410 cubic inches with 800+ hp motors, she finished second in her heat race and was able to start her first IRA 410 A Main feature race.

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Sprint car racing has definitely been a tough sport for her though, including a couple of serious crashes. While at Elko Dirt Nationals in the spring of 2010, Jenni came upon the #21 car of Dwain Wilmes who had slowed for a stalled car. With no way to avoid him, she went for her first barrel roll ride of her career. Then, at the Mighty Axe Nationals in the fall of 2012, Jenni was again involved in a serious crash on the track. The Mighty Axe crash happened during the Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series (UMSS) Sprint heat races at North Central Speedway in Brainerd on Labor Day weekend. Jenni lined up in second position for the start and was in the lead on the second lap. Just as Jenni found the dirt on the high side and was thinking to herself, Here we go!, the #45 car driven by Tony Norem suddenly slid up into her. That contact left 3 sprint cars damaged in the melee and Jennis car was sent flying up and over the wall and into the pits, narrowly missing Dan Eberts modified race car waiting in the lineup area for the next race. Jenni recalled that it was 5 minutes after the crash before she even knew what had happened as she wondered why she was in the pit area and how she got there. Luckily, Jenni was not injured; safety has always been a top priority with the Eriksen team, and thankfully the investment in safety equipment paid off. The entire crash was captured on video by Mark Meeks (meeksvideo.com) and can be seen on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woUnEyYocls&sns=em. Jenni has also been very busy the last few years going to nursing school full time to earn her Registered Nurse (RN) degree. She was able to complete her finals last spring, just as the racing season was getting underway. Currently, Jenni is studying for her

Boards which she plans to take in November. When shes not going to school or racing, she also loves to get out into world and travel.

Photography by Vince Peterson, Track Rat Photos

Photography by Vince Peterson Track Rat Photos

Photography by Vince Peterson, Track Rat Photos

The future for Jenni Eriksen holds plenty of promise. For now, she plans to stay with dirt track racing, but shes been approached to try out the asphalt again and is definitely keeping her options open. And, after a tough season with a new crew chief and a new chassis, finding the checkered flag in 2012 has been a challenge. But, with those bumps behind her, she is ready for Elko next year!
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SledHead 24/7 TV Show airing on FSN-MN & FSN-WI

Sledhead 24-7 can be seen Sunday nights at 10pm on FSN

http://www.sledhead24-7.com/Airtimes/

Sledhead 24-7 ready to roar

From tech to trail, to the racetrack and spending time with folks who embrace the snowmobile lifestyle, thats what ahead on a new season of Sledhead 24-7 The Emmy nominated show is available of 93 million cable networks, including FOX Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin, Sunday nights at 10pm starting November 4th. Its North America's best TV show and website dedicated to the snowmobiles.

meet, the latest news from the manufactures and a walk down vintage sled row Paul Mack, and his running mate Jeff Fischer stroll down memory lane.

Amid the vintage sleds, they discover just how old they really are. Were counting down, till the green flag flies on the AMSOIL championship snocross season. Each week Meischa Johnson, former racer Paul Mack, tech expert Jeff Fisher and locals who know the scene, steer you to the worlds greatest places to ride with world class riders. Well test, rate, ride and review new gear and gadgets and the latest models from all the major manufactures. Speedwerx is known as the home of horsepower, and well test the limit of what a sled can do, through a series of ambitious projects and builds at the legendary Minnesota speed shop. For race fans Sledhead 24-7 has exclusive coverage of the greatest snocross racers on the planet, with a backstage pass to the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series. Simply put, if it happens on a snowmobile, then youll see it first on Sledhead 24-7. In show one we'll discover the first sign of winter; as the sledding season starts at Hay days. Its an end of summer snowmobile celebration with world-class grass drags, legendary swap November 2012 Check out our report from snow shoot. As our expert test riders put this years models though a no holds barred, test session. They put time in the saddle to discover the best sled for your riding style. And the setting? The big country of west Yellowstone. But Sledhead 24-7 is also about people, folks like you, who love to ride,well profile characters who love to grab a handful of throttle. Tune in each week www.Sledhead24-7.com. www.WheelsofThunder.net Page 45 Well flash back to last seasons highlights and fast-forward to the great racing straight ahead on the greatest snocross race series Looking for a new ride or curious about the latest in sled technology?

AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series / ISOC

DULUTH JUST AROUND THE CORNER

By Ceaja Philp
The leaves have fallen and daylight is shorter than we like, but on the flip side...that means the 21st annual ACS Series is just around the corner! Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minnesota is gearing up to show you all the changes that have taken place in the off-season, and as usual....give you one of the best snocross season openers ever! There have been changes within the ISOC structure, the addition of new event announcers Chris Hawkey and Carly Aplin, teams changing drivers and crew members, new event locations to host the show, your new Miss ISOC, Timi Leighton, and a new look overall! Don't miss the action this November 23rd25th, whether you can be there in person or via Ustream! I guarantee with all the intense off-season training, new teams created, movements of riders to different classes, athletes chomping at the bit to get on the track, and the return of the $10,000 Dominator, it will be intense!

2012-13 ISOC SEASON SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER 23-25, 2012 FEBRUARY 8-9, 2013

AMSOIL DULUTH NATIONAL

Presented by Bully Dog Spirit Mountain Duluth, MN DECEMBER 7-8, 2012

TURTLE CREEKS U.S. 27 MOTORSPORTS SNOCROSS

Turtle Creek Casino Traverse City, MI FEBRUARY 22-24, 2013

BLACKJACK SNOCROSS
Blackjack Ski Hill Bessemer, MI JANUARY 4-5, 2013

SENECA ALLEGANY SNOCROSS

Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel Salamanca, NY MARCH 8-9, 2013

CANTERBURY PARKS TRAXXAS NATIONAL SNOCROSS

presented by Jimmy Johns Canterbury Park Shakopee, MN FEBRUARY 1-2, 2013

BUFFALO RIVER RACE PARK SNOCROSS

Buffalo River Race Park Glyndon, MN MARCH 15-17, 2013

NIELSEN ENTERPRISES GRAND FINALE DEADWOOD SHOOT OUT

Days of 76 Rodeo Grounds Deadwood, SD
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Presented by Grand Geneva Resort & Spa Grand Geneva Resort & Spa Lake Geneva, WI

November 2012

www.isocracing.com
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reetings Wheels fans! As Fall decends upon us, GameON! TV is excited to see you again! This issue of Wheels of Thunder continues to excite race fans with it's interesting stories and magnificent pictures. GameON! TV is growing and reaching so manyof you with our sports programming and now we are expanding to the Dakota's and western Minnesota via MidCo Sports Network. As you know, GameON! loves sports, from the variety of professional, college & high school sports to all the outdoor events that dot our regional landscape. GameON's partnership with Wheels of Thunder is strong and just like you, we also enjoy the most comprehensive race magazine and website to be found! Wheels of Thunder magazine gets it and gets you the latest information, amazing pictures andall those terrific stories to the most passionate motorsports fans in the country! Looking ahead, there's special moments ahead for GameON! With our 100th broadcast in the books, we're putting emphasis on our social media reach. Every week GameON! comes to you in crystal clear full High Definition and we have just launched our first APP (it's free to for Apple & Android phones). The new GameON! TV app puts our show at your fingertips and we're now offering a weekly PODCAST available @ our show website www.GameOnTvMN.com. It's full of bits and pieces of sports from the region and what's ahead on our weekly TV show. GameON! still serves as the lead-in to the award winning FOX NFL pre game show on FOX's MY29 here in the Twin Cities during the NFL Season. GameON! does what no other TV sports interview show (in the region) does. We offer a diverse and entertaining half hour of TV as we bring you the most visible and popular Minnesota sports figures. From the exciting season that the new look Vikings are enjoying, the new Wolves season ahead, the NHL Wild, the Twins and we visit with the Lacrosse Swarm. There's NASCAR and we're all over your favorite drivers now that snow racing approaches. GameON! just featured championship racer Levi LaVallee and we'll be all over the SnoCross racing season and Xtreme sports that touch all seasons!

This show is interactive so we'd love to hear from you! Please visit our Facebook site (friend us @ GameON on facebook), our website @ www.gameontvmn.com and 24/7on twitter #gameontvmn. And we're always planning bigger and better shows at the best location in the world, SEVEN Steakhouse/Sushi/UltraLounge/Skybar, in downtown Minneapolis. You are always welcome to visit our live tapings and each week we list guests and updates on the GameON! website as well as our Facebook site. Get upclose and personal with us!! We also partner with the one of the largest Vikings fan sites in the world, www.PurplePride.org. I've said it before and I'm saying it again! Get off the couch and get your GameON! Be a part of the exciting effort we're putting on! Here's to fall and the coming winter sports season ahead. Hope to see you at an upcoming GameON! taping!!

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BEST OF THE MIDWEST!

Opportunities for business who qualify for The Best of the Midwest are now available!

Call Scott Robinson 612-730-3719

November 2012

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Not Your Typical G ar ag e !

Written by Mylie Lavold
brews week after week. With craft beers rapidly gaining popularity, Sickies is keeping up with the trend. The keg room is a craft beer lovers paradise. But not all that beer is ready for drinking. Craft beer is almost like a fine wine. It gets better with age, says Sickies manager Bryce Weisser. We have kegs on reserve that will be stored for a year. Weisser says customers can look forward to seeing some fresh hop beers in November, as well as some darker malty varieties to go along with the changing of the seasons. Look for porters, stouts and brown ales, such as Bells Best Brown Ale to be on tap soon. The car shows have ended and the bikes are garaged but there is still plenty of action at Sickies. With winter fast approaching here in the upper Midwest, folks will be looking for toasty warm places to hang out until we see the first signs of snow melt. Sickies Garage offers a winter reprieve for the entire family. And with $5 burger baskets now on the menu, you wont have to dip into your Christmas stash to feed the fam. (Dont forget the chocolate malt!) The burgers at Sickies are the number 1 menu item, but customers can choose chicken or steak as an alternative on any of their mouthwatering home-style sandwiches. The key to the deliciousness of a Sickies sandwich is the technology of the cooking equipment that works like a pressalmost like a giant George Foreman grill. It cooks a burger (or chicken breast) in a minute fifteen from fresh, explains managing partner Kerry Fernholz. Along with the $5 burger baskets, new this fall is the ounce club. Beer connoisseurs get their name on the wall of fame when they have consumed 250 oz and 500 oz. (I do not recommend trying to do this in one visit). And there are plenty of beers to choose from! With 50 taps and a continuously rotating selection, one will not be bored by the same

Dont have the NFL Ticket at home? No problem! You can watch the games in HD every Monday and Thursday and enjoy Happy Hour specials all season long on Sundays. College ball fans can cheer on their teams on Saturdays. Get there early on game day if you want to claim a booth with the FM areas only tabletop taps. Sickies also offers a respite for the work

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Hours
Mon-Wed 11-11 Thurs-Sat 11-2 Sun 12-11
www.sickiesnd.com

(701) 478-SICK (7425)

weary. Stop in and shake the day off with happy hour specials 3-6 p.m. daily. Tap beers (all 50 of them) are $1 off and well drinks are only 2 bucks. Grab an order of fresh cut chips with Rusty Bucket, Cajun or sea salt seasoning for munching. Sickies loves families but when the clock strikes 9 its time for adult only activities like Beer Pong and Tippy Cup. (That brings back memories of garage keggers in my younger daysbut I digress). Not your average bar games for sure, but you can play darts and pool just about anywhere! Sickies is a great neighborhood place to hang with friends, have a few laughs, and get your late night party started. Speaking of partiesif you are looking for a unique place to have your office Christmas party, Sickies can accommodate. Being adjacent to The HUB entertainment venue allows them to accommodate even large parties. While your there, cross a couple of names off your Christmas list with something from Sickies line of apparel and accessories. Merchandise with fun sayings and cool designs is available for both genders. The snow is coming, no denying that, but whos worried about winter when you have a nice heated garage to hang out in?!

Sickies Garage is located at 2525 9th Ave. S. in Fargo, ND. Hours are Sunday through Wednesday 11am 11 pm and Thursday through Saturday 11 am 2 pm. Checkout the website for updates and menu at www.sickiesnd.com

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Written by John Lentzkow

North Liberty, Iowa Hosted by Bobbers Grill & Scales Point Campground, this annual event drew cars from both the local and surrounding area including Illinois. The variety and quality of vehicles on display offered those attending an opportunity to visit with builders and share their passion. Participants on this crisp fall day took part in the judging of cars, and some very unique trophies were presented to the top 50 entries. Throughout the day the bar and grill was packed inside with fans watching the Iowa Hawkeyes on several big screens. The day was capped off with a burn out contest and live music was provided while visitors enjoyed their favorite beverage and great Bobbers food.

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