experimental DRONE engine in Scorpion snowmobile antique race

This is an example of an experimental mid-1960s racing snowmobile using a 600 cc Hirth "DRONE" engine. Other examples are also shown.
The period of the mid-1960s saw tremendous growth in the snowmobile industry. Some of the manufacturers used proprietary motors (think Ski Doo and their Rotax engine, or OMC with their own engines). The other manufacturers were using European engines, sourced from the likes of JLO, Sachs, or Hirth. Also at this time, snowmobile racing became popular and manufacturers wanted to win, as a means to drive sales. Engine suppliers were asked to supply bigger engines - more horsepower - more speed.
Hirth offered up an unusual 4 cylinder two-stroke engine that earned the name "DRONE" because the US Air Force utilized the engine to make up sacrificial aircraft (drones) to be used for target practice! Three manufacturers anteed up to purchase a handful of these bigger motors for their racing programs. Arctic Cat, Rupp, and Scorpion experimented with the motors.
A rare motor, indeed...

[@kpc40]

Never heard of it until now ...Learn something new every day !!!

[@D_rock44711]

That engine must sound interesting

[@glenmallory9982]

I’ve seen the 1967 Panther with one in it. Sounds just like a two stroke Subaru! Same flat four cadence just a higher pitch. Like he said in the early days everyone was scrambling to get anything above 40hp into a chassis. They built a bunch of prototypes and had at it . If it worked great it was on the show room next season, if not, on to the next idea.

[@sergebrunet4218]

Hi ! wow ! LoL Well that makes 3 differences from the Scorpions i used to ride !the color, the hood light and the motor ! sachs was the common engine make, 2 of my friends had a Scorpion. I think it was 20 and 24 hp. i think the reason there was many Scorpions in my town was that there was a Scorpion dealer and it was owned by a friend s family. So anyone from our school bying a sled would get a Scorpion ! LoL boy ! i was dreaming of having a sled like that ! those winters were very long and snowy ! and the fields and woods were close to us all ! in those years there was snowmobile clubs in golf clubs ! lol ! we could ride on the golf grounds ! that golf club was huge , there was 2x18 holes one private and one public going around the main one ! in Ville de Lery, QC ! not very far from Montreal ! in the summer i i would leave home at 3.00 am and ride my bicycle to that golf club ( club de golf Bellevue ) and sit on the bench and wait for the first golfers who would hire me as a caddy ! 18 hole walk for 5.00 $ + a chip and drink at the small shack that was half way in the course ! that was good old times ! 😎

[@lukenellermoe6266]

I think skiroule got some also

[@BigBore525x]

There is another video on KZbin of a 1967 black Scorpion with the 4 cylinder 570cc Hirth boxer titled "Scorpion 2009 50th Reunion"

[@hoffbug]

Are there any videos of one running?

[@mikeyager146]

Wish he had a contact tab. I would like to reach out. Hello from the old Newport Riders Valdi!!! Mike and Jullie Y.