John Ehlert began his editorial and publishing career in 1970 when he was hired as managing editor of Snow Sport magazine. He jumped into the job with enthusiasm, his success enhanced by an understanding wife, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a work ethic befitting the oldest of 12 children.

He had a great capacity for drink, a memory for jokes, the ability to stay up late and other qualities that served him well in the roaring snowmobile industry.

The energy crunch of mid 1970’s hit and soon John was out of a job. It was then his entreprenurial spirit really took hold and soon he was the publisher of his first magazine, Minnesota Snowmobiler. He wrote it, sold the ads, did the layout, did the billing and everything else that was needed. He was a true one-man company.

By 1980 his magazine titles grew to include Midwest Snowmobiler. He then bought SnoTrack and combined the two into Snowmobile Magazine. Soon his publishing empire expanded into the bowhunting and personal watercraft markets. To this he also added Snow Goer and Snow Week. For the industry, John then produced Snowmobile Business and, in a effort top entice new riders into the sport, came Invitation to Snowmobiling with special editorial for beginners.

On the personal side, John has been mayor of Minnetonka Beach, active in political volunteerism, charities and contributions to St. Mary’s University.

John sold the business to Affinity Publishing in 1997, leaving a legacy unparalleled in the publishing industry. In addition to the magazines, he pioneered the way snowmobiles were tested with his Rode Reports event. John Ehlert truly was a major player in shaping the industry and publication side of snowmobiling. He has initiated many award programs honoring people who were instrumental in the development and promotion of the sport.

Fred Fox raduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1958 with a degree in Engineering, Fred went to work in the family business manufacturing truck bodies, mini-bikes and go-karts. He had seen a few of those strange machines called snowmobiles and decided that he could do better. So, in 1960, he built a prototype and spent the winters testing and improving it.

Fred soon met up with other innovators and their designs for a machine that would ride over snow. In 1964, hearing about an event in Eagle River featuring snowmobiles, Fred entered his Fox Trac. At that time, it was a bunch of friendly snowmobilers enjoying their new toys. He won the “woods” event against names like Allen Hetteen, Roger Skime and Steve Ave and was second in the “lake race” event.

Back at work Fred continued yearly improvements to the Fox Trac brand of snowmobiles. Such improvements included a rolled edge on the skis for better steering control, improved slide-rail suspensions, all rubber tracks and increased use of light-weight materials. Painted bright orange, the sleds were easy to see and added to the company’s marketing image.

Fred brought to market a 6 gallon gas can for easier mixing of old/gas ratios, created Sno-Bil, an oil that was more mixable for winter use and bought out Union Carbide Company’s competing oil line.

Not stopping at engineering, Fred created many marketing innovations and promotions. He also bought scores of snowmobile manufacturers parts and sled inventories as they went out of business during the turbulent 1980’s. This large inventory of parts soon led to another business that today is the largest snowmobile, motorcycle, ATV and mini-bike aftermarket parts distribution company in the industry.

arts Unlimited, in Janesville, WI supplies over 12,000 dealers in the US and over 4,000 in Europe with 20,000 orders a day that ship 45 minutes after being received out of a 500,000 square foot warehouse. And its three stories tall. To tour the state of the art facility is to take a graduate course in distribution supply.

he company motto, “We support the sport” reflects Fred’s enthusiasm and commitment.

Judy and Bob King A job transfer for Bob from Iowa to Minnesota in 1974 got them into snowmobiling. It is a hobby that has consumed much of their leisure time ever since.

They joined the Dell’s Sno-Rovers Snowmobile Club and were soon very active in planning and producing the club’s many events. By 1978 they both were highly involved with the NorthWest Trails Association and the newly formed MnUSA state association.

Organized snowmobile activities soon became their consuming passion. Their involvement with NWT and MnUSA was exciting and fulfilling. By 1980 Bob had taken over the Trail Administer job and kept it till 2004. Each of them kept getting more and more involved in organized snowmobiling.

They both chaired the International Snowmobile Congress in Minnesota in 1989 and again in 2007. Bob has served as president of MnUSA and Judy has been president of NWT. They spent five years developing the NWT trail maps, coordinated the Landowner Appreciation functions.

Their list of awards and honors is long. They both were inducted into the Iron Dog Brigade in 1992. Judy was named one of the “Women of Snow” by American Snowmobiler in 1996. Both were also honored as Snowmobile Magazine’s “Midwest Snowmobilers of the Year” in the early 1990s.

Their list of offices, chairs and positions in Minnesota snowmobiling is long and extremely impressive. Whenever the need for leadership occurred, the Kings were there to step in and do a masterful job. Not just in Minnesota, but also on the regional and national scene, the Kings have been tireless and dedicated leaders in the promotion of safe, family oriented snowmobiling.

They are the ideal and consummate representatives of snowmobiling with total energy and devotion to the sport from the grass roots club level all the way up to the national level.

Charles Kurtz, Jr., much better known as “Charlie”, is a fixture in the development of the New Hampshire snowmobile trail system and state association. Both are alive and well today largely due to the efforts of Charlie and his many years of service to them.

Since 1971, snowmobiling has taken hold of his life, be it winter, summer, spring or fall. His progression in organized snowmobiling rose quickly from the local club level, to county positions, to regional and then statewide programs and organizations.

He has been involved in numerous decisions on the state level to improve the sport. He has served as the NHSA president, vice-president, county director, been president of several snowmobile clubs and chaired many committees including the advisory board and the Ride In For Easter Seals.

In addition to all this, Charlie has been a delegate from New Hampshire to many International Snowmobile Congresses.

Passionate about trail developing and funding, in 1997, needing funds to continue developing trails, Charlie was the co-founder of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Show. Today it is one of the largest snowmobile events in the state.

Charlie has shown a true devotion to the sport through 40 years of service. His induction into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame adds just one more recognition for his dedication to the sport and the state of New Hampshire.

Ed Skomoroh His passion for the sport of snowmobiling came early for Ed. His father owned an Arctic Cat dealership in Dryden, Ontario where Ed started his career in 1967 as a salesman. He would make several trips a year to the Cat factory, bringing with him numerous ideas to improve the product. Cat thought enough of this young man to hire him. So, in 1969, he became the Manager of their Rainy River, Ontario operation in charge of clothing and parts distribution.

His travels up the corporate ladder took him in 1980 to Winnipeg as Vice President of Sales and Operations where he led the buying of Arctic Cat distributorships as the company went factory direct.

While Cat went into Chapter 11 receivership in 1982, Ed’s reputation for excellence found him on the Polaris payroll as General Manager of their Canadian operation in Winnipeg. By 1985 he was named Vice President of Polaris Global as well as President of Polaris Canada.

By 1988 he moved to Minneapolis as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in charge of snowmobiles, watercraft, ATV and parts, garments and accessories. A position he held until retiring in 2000. He remains available in an advisory capacity for the company.

A “motorhead” at heart, Ed also had the trust of the dealers and the passion for the sport of a consumer. He melded this combination into the successful development of many successful marketing and product introductions. Snow Check was copied by all brands as a marketing bonanza. The Indy Lite sled was just one of the many products he developed. He was a true “paper to clay to the snow” designer and developer of new products for Polaris.

Passion for the sport best describes Ed’s involvement. He still loves to ride all company products and is a true “hands-on” person. He has been inducted into the Polaris Hall of Fame and also the Iron Dog Brigade. Tonight he joins the ranks of the prestigious International Snowmobile Hall of Fame.

SNO BARONS Snowmobile Club No other snowmobile club has demonstrated the dedication to the sport and the snowmobile community as the Sno-Barons. Not only have they created perhaps the biggest snowmobile event in the country, they have given back to countless snowmobile and charity groups from the proceeds of this event.

Founded in 1966, the club’s first grass drag race was the next year. They have continued to move the event to higher levels each year since, moving the event four times to bigger and better facilities. The name “Hay Days” came from the first race when alfalfa was used to build the track. And the name stuck.

But there is more to the Sno-Barons and their Haydays event than the races and the swap meet. Money generated is used to fund a wide variety of things. There is their Grant Program, offering financial assistance to clubs for trail development and maintenance. Scholarships and donations to several charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Sheriff’s Boys Ranch and the Food Shelf are just a few.

This year they move to a new facility, this one owned by the Sno-Barons. They continue to mark the beginning of a new snowmobile season with their “Haydays” spectacular which will have upwards of 15-25,000 snowmobilers attending.

And this is why we are naming them as the International Snowmobile Club of the Year.