Website:  www.trailbusters.net                                                                      January 2007

Where is all our snow?? Guess we’ll all have to move or at least visit Colorado to do any riding. The lack of winter this late is not a good thing for our sport or us snowmobilers. Guess all we can do is keep hoping that one day soon this will all turn around. On the other hand, our trail workers have had some extra time to do some extra trail work. By extra, we mean the trail reroutes and fishing out a 40’ bridge that was washed 50 feet downstream because of high waters and debris that got wedged underneath it. The bridge was on a portion of our trail that is no longer used, so it was removed to land with some heavy equipment, boards were stripped off and transported to our groomer barn. With all the rain, the trail workers had hardly a dry day to work in and were constantly working in mud and getting the equipment stuck.

- TRAIL PARTY: Whatever the weather, we have scheduled a trail party for Sunday, 21 January 07 at noon at our groomer building on Sly Hill Road. We will have hot dogs, hamburgers, soda, chips and cookies. All members and families are welcome.
If you would like to bring along a snack to pass, that would be fine. If not, come anyway. You may ride your sled (if there is snow) as the groomer building is right off the trail, or drive your car up Sly Hill (off of Stokes-Westernville Road). Our driveway is about ¼ mile up the hill on the left. Watch for our snowmobile club sign on the post at the driveway. If you need more info, contact one of us listed above. Stop in and meet your fellow club members. Since we have many new members, we would like to meet all of you.

Club Membership: With the new two tier membership in effect, our membership has grown by over 100 more memberships than in previous years. This, considering the lack of snow to date, is a significant increase. We want to welcome all our new members and thank all for choosing our club to join. Remember our monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of the month (note schedule above). We urge all members to attend and welcome your inputs.

Trail Maps: The Oneida County snowmobile trail map has not yet been received by our club. As soon as it is available, it will be on sale at Stewart’s on Route 26N in Stokes, Mike’s Cycle & Sport Shop, also on Route 26N and Schoff Polaris, Elmer Hill Road & Route 26N.

Governor’s Ride: This annual event sponsored by NYSSA will be held on Friday, 26 January at the Beeches, Rome. Participants in this event include a representative of the Governor, other NYS officials, and local politicians. Perhaps this year the new Governor himself will be present. The group is led by representatives of clubs on whose trails the ride covers. Specific details and destination have not yet been provided to us.

Trails: Because of all the rain, there are a lot of water holes and muddy trails out there. When we get snow and on your first time out, be very cautious of this. Also, be aware of trail changes and stay on the trails. We are so grateful to our landowners who give us permission to have a trail on their land so please RESPECT them. You are also reminded to yield the right of way to a groomer. When meeting a groomer in tight places, move off the trail as far as possible and stay there until the groomer and drag passes by you to avoid sliding down into the equipment. The groomer cannot move off the trail nor back up. When following a groomer, stay back 100 feet until you can safely pass or are given the signal by the operator to pass. Always dim your headlights when meeting or following a groomer as the high beams blind the driver.

SNOWMOBILING WEBSITES: Our website, www.trailbusters.net is being updated so check it out regularly. Other snowmobile websites that offer interesting information are www.nyssnowassoc.org and www.trailconditions.com. Also, the radio talk show IROC (I Ride Oneida County), hosted by Lee Hinkelman, President of the Oneida County Snowmobile Association, is broadcast on the Frog station 104.3 Thursday evenings from 7PM to 8 PM.

Snowmobile Racing Returns to Boonville: Racing returns to the fairgrounds the weekend of 27-28 January 2006. These races were a huge attraction back in the 70’s with exciting racing teams, lots of action and high attendance, along with a lot of cold and snow. We hope the resurrection of this event will bring back that excitement and continue to be a yearly event. Better snow for it!

Gas Receipts: We will be collecting gas receipts for purchases of gasoline for snowmobiles at Stewart’s in Stokes/Route 26N, and Nice N Easy, Route 26N/Hawkins Corners Road ONLY. All receipts for sled gas purchases at these locations can be deposited into the box provided by the club inside store. If you don’t see the receipt boxes, please ask the clerks who will deposit them for you.

Southern Tug Hill Trail Changes: Some good trail news from our neighboring club which joins our north trail includes the re-opening of the trail off of Spencer Road behind the Hilltop Tavern (new owners suppose to open) down to the Quick N Easy in Constableville. New trail from West Leyden (C4A), (C7B) Intersection near the Borwick Road (C4A) North crossing State Route 26, North crossing Rimillar Road onto the Apple Mill Trail. Also, C4A south of Highmarket, this new trail eliminates three miles of road running of the Meyer, Junction, and Sweeney Roads.