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Antique sleds come to the I-500 (12 photos)

Great Lakes Snowmobile Antique Series celebrate growing love for vintage snowmobiles

Mike Freel was getting ready to fire up his 1977 340 Yamaha Exciter for a couple of heats in Sunday’s Great Lakes Antique Snowmobile Series (G.L.A.S.S) Soo Super Stock Shootout.

The Cedarville, Mich. native calls his antique sled a community effort, enlisting the help of about five people in order to get it ready to go for Sunday’s race on the I-500 track in Sault Michigan.

Oh yeah, and this is his first legitimate snowmobile race - at the age of 47.

“I used to drag race years ago when I was in my early 20s, and I’ve always loved snowmobiles,” Freel told SooToday in the pit. “I just love the camaraderie, love to be with buddies and love winter.”

“I lapped it this morning, so those are my first three laps around here, and what a blast.”

Ric Federau, who’s served as chairman for the 1-500 board of directors for the past eight or nine years, told SooToday that the Great Lakes Antique Snowmobile Series is a relatively new - and exciting - event leading up to Saturday’s big race.

“We did a pilot program last year, and it was so successful that we opened it up and put a little more time into it,” Federau said.

With all the classes combined, there are 77 antique sleds registered to take part in the G.L.A.S.S Soo Super Stock Shootout.

“This vintage thing is growing, and it’s added to our program because we have a week-long series of events,” Federau told SooToday. “Now we’re starting it a week prior to the main event.”

A schedule of events for this year’s I-500 can be found on the event website.


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James Hopkin

About the Author: James Hopkin

James Hopkin is a reporter for SooToday in Sault Ste. Marie
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