Les Pinz takes you on a tour of his vintage snowmobile museum

[@drott150]

I like how the young guy recording mostly stays silent and gives all the time in the world for the old man to tell his full story on every display. When the old man is gone, this video will remain as an important historical record documenting the fascinating history of snowmobiling and its technological development.

[@happyindeed6392]

This man is a legend and has dedicated so much of himself to his sport for us to enjoy. I would like to shake his hand some day.

[@WIHONDAGARAGE]

Watched this whole video and gained a plethora of knowledge, thank you.

[@patriotrob7066]

I'm tearing up when I saw the trail cat ! We had one at our cabin in outing Minnesota my Dad bought it from Don Falls sports center. We had two hood's for it and the windshield that turned with the steering. One of the hoods was custom pinstriped by Dave eckels. It said Aristocat on the side. We had an opportunity to get it back some years ago at a show in Waconia. I was talking to a fella about our trailcat when a guy walked up and said I know who bought that snowmobile we never got the guy's number and you ended up disappearing that day I'd love to get that snowmobile back it was a family heirloom. I miss my Dad and that sled we grew up on

[@riders.oregon4474]

Thanks. Old memories coming back to me.

[@mikedeming7207]

I did not intend to watch the whole 2 hour video... But I couldn't stop watching! The man knew his stuff and enjoyed sharing his knowledge/ experiences. I was really wanting to see a Raider Twin Track in his collection.

[@Crushin123]

No Kiddin!!...when IIIIII do it, I sound more like Cliff Clavin from Cheers. lol

[@stevewight1409]

Agree...me as well.....just wish h e didn't have a scratchy throat. I'm sure he wished that too..not his fault..if I wasn't so interested I would've stopped....

[@Grim0954]

@@stevewight1409 Dude, really? The whole idea of "being at piece" or "being one with thy self" inevitably means you can be ok with anything and blow everything off. Within reason, ofCorse. Someone hitting you in the head with a hammer would be a bugger to ignore. 😂 I sentence you to watching a 2-hour long action-adventure film of your choice with a 10 second buffer every thirty seconds. 🥳 I have a feeling you wouldn't survive. 😆

[@Grim0954]

Me, as well. This was a random while cooking and was hooked listening. 😆

[@sebaru555]

Thank you Mr.Pinz!!

[@dirtyfacegeorge9938]

Thank you so much for sharing these amazing machines and keeping them alive ❤

[@HedgehogLodge-Dale]

Excellent show. Growing up my dad had a Husky and went to Scorpion. Had 3 1964, a 1968,1969,2 1970 and a 1971 !

[@stephenvansevenant2577]

Wow that fella knows his history very cool thanks for sharing

[@coolhawk2003]

Great video. Love this guy . Knows all the stories. Great place for a look and listen

[@jamesglenn2006]

This fella has an amazing collection and such a wealth of knowledge. So great👍

[@cannedham3774]

every young snowmobiler should watch this video.

[@korylorrigan9018]

Already on it I collect and Restore ARIENS sleds this video helps a lot

[@marioteston6865]

I'm waking mine up to watch it!!

[@acurarl9929]

I think this is just amazing. Would love to walk thru in person! Great place. Decent video.

[@joakimbjorkman1784]

What a great piece of snowmobile history archived for the future. Fantastic stories really well told. Don't have to be a snowmobile geek to enjoy, if you just into motors this is also a must see. Really great!!

[@cappystrano1]

Love this guys passion and respect. Awesome video

[@gordonmckay914]

True legend, preserving the pioneers of snowmobiling and racing. Win on Sunday sell sleds on Monday.

[@andrebondu7790]

Love the stories with the sleds

[@acurarl9929]

Maybe the best video I’ve seen ever ever.

[@JB101inc]

My Dad's neighbor Mike had a '79 TxL 340 that was a legitimate world beater. I remember it being competitive well into the 90s at our local annual snow drag. Very cool.

[@madmodifier]

Thanks for recording and sharing this!

[@loveistheanswer8137]

I had a 1973 Yamaha 338 that had oil Injection on it. Thank you for the video. Very interesting. I was young in the late 60s and remember when there were many snowmobiles available from Ski whiz , to John Deere, Evenrude, and many more. We owned Rupps, Skiroules,Snowjet, as well as a few others I can’t remember the names. One had reverse I remember and was blue and red. I enjoyed the trip down memory lane hearing all these old names again.

[@loveistheanswer8137]

I remembered it was a Snowcruiser.

[@tlc8865]

Impressive collection and I love both the sleds histories and yours. Thanks for showing us your museum.

[@acurarl9929]

I like when he came to the drone motor. The camera guy was like oh drones wat. Really shows his techy age

[@ricknelson4764]

Brings back so many memories of my youth in Northern Manitoba. I was 13 in 1976 and had a good job, saved my money and on my 14th birthday my dad helped me buy a brand new merc trail twister... I really wanted the snow twister but dad that it was to much for me

[@nybergsgarage]

I wish I was around then. I just have to settle for fixing up my dad's old ski whiz and ski daddler. Who can afford a modern sled? Those things cost a ridiculous amount.

[@Rlip]

Wow thanks for posting the history is priceless !!

[@michellegault4590]

We visited this exhibit and snowmobile museum in Michigan U P in 2016 very good selection of so many different machines in show condition

[@freezerburn04]

That was just really great to see. Just wow and thank you for posting. A++

[@johnb5519]

What a treasure Les and his museum are. I had a 73 tx 400. The first time I rode it, I thought I was on a rocket ship. Going from a 71 Moto Ski Capri to that was part of the reason why. I then traded the tx to a cousin for a 76 Yamaha SRX 340. He worked at a local dealership, where he had the chance to buy it. It was in the Kawartha cup races. When he brought it home and his father saw how fast it was, he made him get rid of it, and that's how I got it. I swear it went 100 miles per hour. It would turn almost 11 grand, and if you did that it would blow the water pump drive belt, and you knew that happened when the tach wasn't working anymore. I love the old days of snowmobiling, and prefer those days of fun and adventure, more than anything today.

[@bobhoffman5581]

The '76 SRX 340 was supposedly faster than the 440--I HAD a '76 440 SRX--A knuckleheaded drag race guy owned it before me, and had milled the heads, clueless as HELL about port timing, among other issues. I took it to a guy who was a legend (literally!) named Chuck White--field test engineer for Mercury Marine, instructor at Jackson County Community College I believe also. Chuck told me one cylinder could have "lived" (kept seizing pistons--$$ chrome bore) if I was burning methanol--the other cylinder wouldn't have lived on alcohol! The 440 had 40mm Mikuni carbs, and for '77, they changed the port timing and put on smaller carbs--THOSE 440's were BEASTS... Some years later, I took my daughters to Michigan's oldest oval track, Whittemore Speedway--they had a (touring) class called "Mini-Mods"--snowmobile engines stuck in about a 1/2 scale Indy type chassis---two cylinders, liquid cooled (they weren't LC at first) machines, they turned 12.70 lap times on the 1/4 mile oval. Chuck had recently passed away when the girls & I went to Whittemore that night--they had a moment of silence--you could have heard a pin drop, from 100 yds. away--everyone seemed to KNOW who Chuck was. I can guarantee you THIS--There are people reading my words here who most likely KNOW who Chuck was--did I say the word "legend?" FACT... RIP. P.S. Chuck had a sled entered in the I-500 that finished 4th one year---the sled? Why, it was a '76 340SRX, of course... lol

[@johnb5519]

@@bobhoffman5581 Great story. Yeah my SRX 340 had a small racing tank, around 2 1/2 gallons, aluminum skis, and a super thin fiberglass hood, and flat track suspension, with chrome molly cross shafts. Like the guy at the dealership where my cousin got it from said to me every time I went in for parts, " that's a racing machine"

[@bobhoffman5581]

@@johnb5519It WAS a racing machine! I also had a booklet that came with mine, telling how to go into/come out of corners. 36" ski stance, aluminum skis--the tank was 2.5 gallons---oh, to have that machine today, with '77 jugs & carbs on it...

[@bobhoffman5581]

@@johnb5519 The only faster machine by Yamaha was the SSR--Saw one of THOSE, in the back of a pickup truck, when I had my 440SRX--sitting in the parking lot of a bar on Wampler's Lake, Irish Hills, Michigan. All you could see was its handlebars--unique as they were, when you saw them, you KNEW what they were attached to! lol

[@johnb5519]

@@bobhoffman5581 I hear ya, I sure wish I had mine too, plus the old TX. Oddly enough I kept an old 76 Bombardier, Moto Ski Nuvik 340, that I bought off our neighbor, when her husband passed away in 78. No racing machine, but driving it reminds me of the good old days.

[@PongbyAtari]

That MN orphans poster was pretty cool I counted 32 different Snowmobiles Manufactures on that poster.

[@smplyizzy]

Amazing - obviously this guy knows his stuff

[@breaultstephane9196]

i like this man, he is a snowmobile encyclopedia!! he is a SLED DEVOTED MANIAC

[@jtothefx]

Incredible. Sachs auger, so nifty.

[@dwkentinc]

wow, does this bring back memories. incredible is all I can say.

[@cherylt8590]

Love the old vintage sleds,guessing I'm becoming vintage myself lol👍😆...

[@frankwallen5178]

Edgar Hetteen was a great guy and a friend, He was a wise man with many great comments. My favorite was, “ there’s nothing wrong with my memory, the problem is my retrieval system”.

[@dan2397102]

very nice collection. amazing wealth of knowledge.

[@justinsteinley4093]

Awesome video! Great to hear the history of the snowmobile, and so knowledgeable. My 1971 Yamaha GP396 has oil injection, they patented it as auto lube

[@jamesglenn2006]

I remember working on one of those in power mechanics, I knew it was 71/72. 👍

[@harPerhawk]

I almost expect the next segment to be “handyman’s corner”. Great video

[@stevelittle8404]

Absolutely superb video. Like others said, lots of great memories of a lot of really great machines.

[@scottsandquist5381]

Les + snowmobiles = true love

[@davidjump5544]

Excellent collection .. very interesting! Thanks for sharing

[@TheZacharySutliff]

What a collection! Thanks for filming this and thanks for allowing it to be filmed. So awesome!

[@williamelkins1613]

Tank you for posting. Amazing video. Many memories. Good memories.

[@blk77sunshn]

Awesome video! Brings back so many memories! I started out on a 1969 Skiroule se370 with the Sachs 370cc single banger. Then onto Polaris and articcat those were the days! You have the ultimate collection! I really would love to tour the museum, but live too far away 😢. Well thanks for bringing this to us!

[@terrykuehn2686]

Hey Tyler! That was a flash of the past that was awesome! My dad had one of the first alouette snowmobile in MN old one lunger Sachs engine way back late 60s early 70 not sure then a Arctic cats cheetah and then Yamaha 433 and then a SSR 440 oval track racer that he used as a grass drag sled and then a GPX 440 and then a 79 SRX 440 liquid cooled and did 105 mph right out of the box fun sled to ride! Then he was out for awhile then he jump in and bought one of those 4 cylinder V Max 750 and that sled was one of the most powerful sleds I drove and fast and with that center drive you could smoke anything off the line it went so straight off the line no pulling to the side from the torque! I loved all the practice grass racing got to hang out with Marv Jorgensen Polaris, Bill Renyolds Articat, Ray Kuehn Yamaha, thanks for the memories! Great video!🤔😉👍📹

[@davekimbler2308]

Both my uncles worked at Scorpion in Crosby/Ironton and my dad graduated from there and we would go up and ride sleds , we had a Motoski with a 338 Hirth long track ! I purchased a SuperStinger 440 from one of the plant supervisors and he purchased another one because they could buy 3 per year at cost .

[@joshbrekke6374]

I don’t miss working on and trying to find parts for all the cool vintage sleds I had, however I sure do miss looking at them and riding them. I would like to visit this museum and meet Him. One of those posters has a spot in my garage too.

[@wackedoutdude]

Amazing video. I never realised the amount of tech and engineering that went into a snowmobile. I'm from the uk so i have never seen one up close. They are an awsome piece of engineering.

[@WilliamCrooks]

Great video! So much information , a vast wealth of knowledge being shared here? I myself think this is important and should be shared.

[@drott150]

The drone engine shown at 35:20 was widely used in the Bensen gyrocopter. It was also used in the British "Little Nellie" gyrocopter shown in the James Bond movie "You only Live Twice."

[@davidbevins8796]

I think my parents might still have the parts he needs for that stingerette! I learned to ride on that sled!

[@feellucky271]

Very cool. Thank you Les.

[@shawnbaraw2637]

Great video thank you

[@jessbottom9580]

Very cool video. It looks like Les Pinz has a great museum. He saw a lot of snowmobile history being made and knows a lot of it. Very interested in the Scorpion history. Thanks!

[@tomchrisfield7348]

Very informative video, thanks for posting it. Could have been broken up onto individual manufacturing videos. Really liked the engine design progression, from a 1 cylinder engine to 4 cylinder and everything in between. Please do a video on the "Minnesota Orphans", about 100 sled manufacturers gone forever.

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Great tour. Would love to stop by to see it next time I am in Isle. I started racing in 1966 always on a scorpion snowmobiles. Peterson's Brother out of Isanti, MN was my dealer. The Rum River Speedway was my home base

[@kimf1877]

Hi Larry , small world , recognized you from comment section from OWTM videos . Matt F

[@themonopolyguy4365]

Ever make it to Mans snowmobile parts in Hinckley?

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

@@themonopolyguy4365 One time for a Idler Wheel for my 1970 scorpion. Great place

[@mixermanbear.4002]

The workings of Heaven on display.

[@chadkohler793]

Such amazing history, great video glad you shared.

[@3gasman]

I love it. Great job Noticed throttle lever on the Polaris where he talked about the teather, was a pull back instead of normal push throttle lever

[@mikedeming7207]

I noticed that too... Very dangerous.

[@kohosalmon3637]

nice video and all the history , thanks

[@johnwitkowski8462]

Great video! Also, in the 70's, Columbia snowmobiles (mfg. by MTD) had a slide rail option that used a flat wear bar and no hyfax type slide rails to replace. In my experience, it worked well with no real track wear as you might expect.

[@jonlennon3348]

That Polaris X-3 is a living wet dream for me. I have been around snowmobil;es, performance outboards, even race mini bikes. I love it all.

[@kattywampass]

This is just so fucking awesome to see!

[@donaldfuller5041]

I've been trying to find one of them Bullwhips to restore. I remember seeing one as a kid and it had a menacing look about it. It still does to me.

[@freetimecrawler]

They only made 200 of them, so they're pretty rare now days.

[@av6067]

Never forget when my dad brought me home a merc 340 trail twister it could of been a 440 cant remember nice video very cool

[@milojanis4901]

The 440 LC Mercury Sno-Twisters were competitive for almost 15 years after the last one left the factory. I doubt there is a 440 anything anywhere nearly a half century after the fact that could stay with one. They were made for 1 thing only, and that is to race on oval tracks. Even the seat was tilted to the riders left so he could have his butt flat on the seat for comfort in longer races. Today they'd only be good for lake racing.......

[@rustykrys888]

Uncle had a 440 Merc. I busted my lip on it and he sold it.

[@miked8227]

Those mercs where bad ass sleds. Tried to buy one from a guy that had two just collecting dust back in the late eighties but he wouldn’t move on it.

[@BobMckinsey]

There's a Snowmobile Museum in Hector MN that wasn't been open for a long time.

[@davelarsen9230]

That was amazing! Where is this museum?

[@twintwo1429]

I've never seen a snow mobile in person. Yet this is very important and interesting. Do they have electric yet?

[@toasteroverdrive1097]

Amazing collection, I enjoyed the visit. At 1:15 i'd would have liked to know more about the dual engine set up.

[@toasteroverdrive1097]

Loved the x3

[@gregoryworth6644]

A really nice video of early racing ,trail sleds and motors.one question on the moto-ski bse free air engine in 1971, isn’t that a Kms that they used in the bullet race sled, what I have read is they built a really good race sled in the bullet but never did much testing on the engines until they were raced and the motor tolerances were too tight leading to seizure, what drivers said was the sled handled great an if the motor stayed together and few did they were fast, especially the 292 single which was said to have huge porting,

[@nwcove]

i am loving this, wonderful vid!!

[@SheriffofYouTube]

amazing museum

[@gobear83]

Back in the 70s I road a Ski doo 775 blizzard ..with expansion champers..burnt my boots ..was fast for the day

[@rowdytillwedie]

Wow amazing and where is this located ? id love to see the collection and meet this legend 🤝

[@supersoul4541]

Isle, Minnesota based on info

[@nomoremr.niceguy4778]

Les found two 76? El Tigre’s late 2019 that were low mileage original barn finds. One 440, one a 500. All they needed was a bath and the usual cleaning of the fuel system. He takes them to vintage rides.

[@midlifemike4916]

Cool video!! My first sled was a scorpion sting 111 400cc ccw

[@bearbait2221]

and i thought i knew sleds. LOL great vid thanks for sno-go history from Alaska

[@breaultstephane9196]

FIRST SLED I RIDE WAS 1968 SNO JET 400 my dad always told me if u can start it you can ride it i started it at 12 yo for first time and keep on ridin 40 years later thanks dad

[@DavidSmith-tu1nd]

This time frame was when American ingenuity was at its peak. We were going into space, you could drive a muscle car from any of the big three. The snowmobiles were maxing out the hp output. The good ol days. Then came regulations and red tape and more regulations.

[@Playsinvain]

Regulations are double edged

[@gordbaker896]

I had a 340 Snow Jet back in the late 60's 72mph flat out.

[@robertarnott1368]

Have you heard of the snowmobile museum in Cochrane Ontario Canada. Let me know. Thx. Great site.

[@redmesa2975]

Had a liquid cooled Chapparral sx440, in the late 80’s. Was quick, but the small fuel tank didn’t give much range. I still have the owners manual, somewhere.

[@coldspring624]

You say you know snow machines.....this man sure does

[@rustykrys888]

I had a 79 TXL 340 Liquid. It rivalled My uncles 91 Indy 500 EFI even. I had it at 90+ mph. Was the damn best sled I ever had. Could ride all day on 4 gallons of fuel.

[@daleolson3506]

Impressive 👍🏻

[@genelukes160]

Makes me want to get my 75 tx 500 out for a ride

[@lawrenceparker1523]

Green line belts on my 76 440 snowjet FA were the ticket.

[@reallarochelle1346]

Nery cool video, remind me nice souvenirs

[@Pat-RickSmith]

Super blenzoil I know what that stuff is good way to blow up your two stroke motor lol. Also that oil is poisonis if memory serves me . And yes it smells cool . My friends father used to race two stroke bikes and did flat track stuff back in the 70's . They taught me a lot about riding and engineering .

[@The-Digger]

Is this the snowmobile Museum from naubinway in the U.P

[@randylanhart1387]

He is near isle Minnesota.

[@erickauppila7294]

Great I had a 72 399 ski door first sled last was a 800 mach z

[@richarddubuc9727]

in 1974 yamaha had oil injection GPX 433

[@mixermanbear.4002]

Gas shortage?!It’s 2021 and we are burning it like it’ll never run out!

[@acurarl9929]

Maybe you can get rid of all the black outs in the last 1/3 of video. Them black outs kill it and video deserves better

[@jamesmower1852]

Two strokes don't have cams maybe a balance shaft or better known as a counterbalance but not a camshaft

[@douglasfence]

Hi Les I have a 77 bull whip that i have owned for 25 years I was wandering if you would know some history on it it only has 600 miles on it I believe it was raced in the I 500 I also have a 1970 brute 44 with 900 miles on it would love to talk to you

[@tylernelson4985]

Hello! Shoot me an email at [e-mail] and I'll try and arrange a chat with Les.

[@bpagan7781]

Wow, such great info! I really LOVE all of these old sleds. Brings back so many memories. Thanks for this wonderful video Tyler!

[@JohnSmith-yn8pl]

My cousin Wayne Kooman with his son held the fastest drag race record for 10 years in a row using SnowJet sleds. Why did you not mention this fact on your very long video. I can email a article to prove it. John S. Thanks