KawasakiTrax Community
General Category => Events => Topic started by: jimvw57 on January 01, 2014, 09:58:15 PM
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Just got the info in the mail for Waconia (Jan 24-26, Waconia, MN) Looks like it will be a fantastic event. Plenty of ice on the lake, lots of snow!! Quite different from the last few years. Feature sled is Yamaha and Yamaha powered sleds. Someday they might get around to Kawasakis...
Keep thinking I may skip this year, but most likely I will be there.
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Toss up for me.
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should take some stuff to sell....there's always an empty spot on my trailer just in case....sounds like i'm going.. 8)
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yup we gotta talk...
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Do you have any 4/6 cylinders I'm gearing up for next yrs project
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sorry, I don't have any spares (I wish!!)
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OK, so I made reservations at Chanhassen Inn, and sent in my registration. Guess I will be making the trip. Hopefully the new tow vehicle will do the trick. Anybody sees a 1997 Land Rover with a trailer and some Kawasakis sitting by the road, stop and give me a hand... or at least honk and wave...
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I'll be there. Will be staying down on the lake over night on Saturday enjoying some barley pops. ;D 8)
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Keep thinking I may skip this year, but most likely I will be there.
The Waconia Curse hasnt set in yet? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Been fighting it all month!! It was warm out today so I got the lights working on the trailer, (broken wire at trailer connection on the trailer side) Intruder running, once over on the Land Rover, etc. the 4/6 is on the trailer waiting to go to it's new home(??) maybe the Intruder too, we'll see. May be my last year at Waconia....
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Ha!! lights... I hate trailer lights!! Hooked up Sat morning (in the dark) and found the lights from the Land Rover don't work (stupid British wiring) so I cheated with a battery and wires to get tail lights. Ended up splitting a sled cover on the drive out, and this morning a dead battery on the Intruder. Seems the brake light switch tends to magically come on whenever it wants to. So I made it an early day (Sunday) and did the long drive home. The storm hadn't even been trough or started yet and roads were already bad.
We did get a Kawasaki Picture but only a few sleds. The wind was blowin, temps were darn cold, but we still got the photo!!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/jimvw/sleds/Waconia%202014/DSCN1401_zpsf7fcb7cc.jpg) (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/jimvw/media/sleds/Waconia%202014/DSCN1401_zpsf7fcb7cc.jpg.html)
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Yep- that looks like almost all the Kaw sleds I saw on Saturday. About 4-5 Invaders, a couple LTD, and a few Drifters, and 2-3 Intruders. Not one Interceptor, and zero Intriguer and Inviter models.
This was my first Waconia event. I showed up in time to walk the swap and wathc the sled ride take off. With a total of Kawasaki sleds around 10-12 I was a little disappointed. I had a hard time finding parts in the swap meet also. Is this because of the weather, or are kaw sleds not popular in MN or at Waconia?
By the way, when was Kawi motors and sleds the theme at Waconia? Anyone know?
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Kawasaki has not been the featured sled yet as far as i know.
1999 Scorpion
2000 ???
2001 Merc
2002 Sno-Jet
2003 Johnson/Evinrude
2004 Cross Country sleds/Rupp ??
2005 Boa Ski
2006 Moto-Ski/Skiroule- Twin Track sleds
2007 Cat
2008 Polaris
2009 Ski-Doo
2010 John Deere
2011 Rupp
2012 Chapparal
2013 Scorpion
2014 Yamaha and anything that had a yamaha motor in it
2015 Polaris and Cat
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Apparently we are like the 'red haired step child' and have never been a featured sled, even though there are a number of sleds that have used Kawasaki motors...
I'm guessing they go for the more popular sleds to get the participation up there.
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Hec- just a couple years ago the theme was Rupp, and 2015 is Rupp again. It seems the top brands of popularity are Cat, Polaris, SkiDoo, Yamaha, Scorpion, Rupp, Chapparal, John Deere, then it tapers off quick to all the other brands.
Yes- a motor theme would be nice to see. Kohler power (American motor) would be another nice theme to see. But yes- I'm sure it has something to do with popularity. I'm just glad to see such an event celebrating the unique and individual heritage of this sport. Nowadays, without the sticker on the sled, if they were all the same color, it is hard to identify any brand uniqueness. They all look the same to me. Prior to the 2000's, the brands still had an unique identity. I find it ironic the brands are renaming some models after vintage heritage. The car companies seem to be doing the same thing in the last few years.
Anyway, any attempt to remember where you came from is a good effort. Good rule to live by, I'd say.
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My 82 Intruder likes to kill the battery also, due to the switch plate note holding the pin in far enough to turn off the brake light. Need to fix that some day.
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Hmmm I seem to miss you guys I was parted right next to the drag race fence saturday got to drive around a little bit have a Porkchop and see some others stuff in the swap meet but never got to talk with many people including the Kawasaki guys
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Just a note about when John Deere was featured: Jesse Babler made it happen. He didn't just float the idea to the committee, he also had to serve on the committee, organize all the Deere features, promote the event, etc. He put a lot of leg work into winning the support of the people in charge, and actually making the event a success. JD would not been featured if it wasn't for his work. They may need someone in the Kawasaki fandom to step up.
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Good information!! Thanks!!
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They may need someone in the Kawasaki fandom to step up.
Great thought. Who will it be? I'm a new guy to this Kawi stuff, but I have a deep appreciation for the old sleds. I'll yield to those more senior than me to talk it up. Rupp is already picked for 2015, so I guess we better start the discussion soon for 2016, yes?
QUICK STORY: I met a guy on the trails last week while riding my fresh rebuilt Invader and '77 SST. He was a vintage collector and member of a local vintage club. We had a great conversation, but one thing he said got to me. He acknowledged the engineering and performance of the Invader but boldly said "nothing compares to a Yamaha" as he pointed to the SnoJet SST. He said "Kawi motors are just way too finicky and trouble to be worth anything, that is why they are so cheap and nobody wants them".
I didn't respond, but I wondered- couldn't that be said for almost all old motors and carbs? I mean I grew up with a Scorpion and Walbro carb that was more trouble than it was worth...And by the way, the sled he was riding was a modern Polaris, not a Yamaha...
Anyway- the point is, Let's get Kawi at Waconia and make some noise.
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Just a note about when John Deere was featured: Jesse Babler made it happen. He didn't just float the idea to the committee, he also had to serve on the committee, organize all the Deere features, promote the event, etc. He put a lot of leg work into winning the support of the people in charge, and actually making the event a success. JD would not been featured if it wasn't for his work. They may need someone in the Kawasaki fandom to step up.
when you say promote Kawasaki what do you think Trucker has done for years ? Jesse knew for a fact that Kawasaki was helping John Deere. I find it funny that us Kawasaki guys has stepped up to the plate helped out so many people including other brands that ran Kawasaki engines to get denied at a show. Jesse could of split the show with Kawasaki that would of been one heck of a show. I don't think just a Kawasaki show at waconia will have a big show not trying too piss anyone off but this size of show costs huge money to put on something I don't have laying around anytime soon. As for stepping up I raced my sled for 7yrs at ice ovals not too many people stepping up for that is there wonder why oh yeah cost you think ?. Next year is another year can't wait to debue my new builds they will be interesting.
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i'd also say you would need a kaw sled/ kaw powered sled event with deere and cat....and it takes a ton of time to set this kind event up....and i can't wait to see sprockets new stuff :) :D
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Waconia started out as a few hour event outside the local bar back about 25 years ago and has evolved into what you see now. It all takes time and patience. I believe a lot of the choice as to what sled to feature is driven by what will bring the most sleds and give people what they want to see.
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True I was there 25yrs ago so I do know how it started
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As I recall, I was mostly pushing a Karmen Ghia to the trailer ...
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Macs80hp440 - FYI the 2015 theme is Polaris and Cat according to the flyer. www.mwvss.com
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when you say promote Kawasaki what do you think Trucker has done for years ? Jesse knew for a fact that Kawasaki was helping John Deere. I find it funny that us Kawasaki guys has stepped up to the plate helped out so many people including other brands that ran Kawasaki engines to get denied at a show. Jesse could of split the show with Kawasaki that would of been one heck of a show. I don't think just a Kawasaki show at waconia will have a big show not trying too piss anyone off but this size of show costs huge money to put on something I don't have laying around anytime soon. As for stepping up I raced my sled for 7yrs at ice ovals not too many people stepping up for that is there wonder why oh yeah cost you think ?. Next year is another year can't wait to debue my new builds they will be interesting.
I have no idea what discussions have been made in the past with Trucker and Waconia - I'm just passing along what I've heard that worked. The Kawasaki-powered idea seems like it would be a no-brainer, lots of people & sleds included in that case. I'm not sure why you seem to be offended that Kawasaki wasn't bundled with Deere. They were two very different manufacturers aside from the contracted engines.
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They have in the past included sleds made by one manufacturer with a different name on them. This year was Yamaha and Yamaha powered sleds.
I can understand why they did not say John Deere and other sleds with John Deere motors since they used not only Kawasaki but other motors over the years.
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Jdmatt I am not sure about Trucker talking with the group from Waconia but at that time all (the board from waconia) May have talked about it or not, we can't change it now so let's look forward for next year
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I agree with Sprocket. It is what it is. I just attend and have a good time, volunteer what I can.
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Macs80hp440 - FYI the 2015 theme is Polaris and Cat according to the flyer. www.mwvss.com
Ok- good to know. I also saw a flyer at the event and on the website something about 2015 Rupp Build Off. So I assumed it was a Rupp theme in 2015. As it turns out, I guess in 2015 they are combining the top two brands in one year... That outta do it when it comes to participation, eh?