About Snowmobiles
Snowmobiles, also known as snowmachines, snowsleds or by the brand name "Ski-doo," are land vehicles designed to travel over snow and ice. Modern snowmobiles are propelled by continuous tracks at the rear of the vehicle and steered by skis in the front.
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History
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Snowmobiles originated from the Aerosan, a propeller-powered vehicle invented in 1910 by Russian inventor Igor Sikorsky. The first U.S. snowmobile was created using the formula of rear tracks and front skis by Ray H. Muscott on June 27, 1916. In 1937, Canadian Joseph-Armand Bombaridier began production of a large, seven-passenger snowmobile he called the B-7. In 1942, he introduced the B-12, a 12-passenger model. More than 2,800 units of the B-12 snowmobiles were produced from 1942-1951.
Edgar and Allen Hetteen and David Johnson created the first personal snowmobiles in 1955-1956. Their company, Polaris Industries, became a major manufacturer of snowmobiles, although those created were heavy and slow. In 1959, Bombardier invented what we recognize as the "modern" snowmobiles, selling them under the name "Ski-doo." In the 1970s, there were more than 100 manufacturers of snowmobiles, selling more than half a million machines in 1971 alone.
Function
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Snowmobiles are designed to be operated on snow and ice, where no road or trail is present. They can move across steep, slippery hillsides without sliding. Snowmobiles allow access to remote areas that are otherwise unable to reach. Although snowmobiles are made for cold weather, they are still used by enthusiasts when the snow has melted. In the summertime, snowmobile riders drag race on grass, asphalt or occasionally across water.
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Features
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The first snowmobiles had rubber tracks, but modern snowmobiles use tracks made of Kevlar composite. Snowmobiles have skis in the front, and the tracks are located in the rear. Original snowmobiles featured two-stroke internal combustion engines, but four-stroke engines are more commonly used in modern machines. There are also many snowmobile modifications that can be purchased, including custom hoods and windshields, running board supports, hand guards and handle bar risers.
Types
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There are five basic types of snowmobiles including entry-level, performance, touring, mountain and utility snowmobiles. Entry-level snowmobiles, sometimes called trail models, are easy to ride, inexpensive and recommended for the novice. Performance snowmobiles are responsive with larger, more powerful engines than entry-level machines. Touring snowmobiles are designed with comfort in mind, especially over long distances, and feature room for two riders. They are larger and heavier than entry-level or performance snowmobiles. Mountain snowmobiles are designed specifically for riding in the mountains. They are longer and narrower than other models and handle better in the mountains than on trails. Utility snowmobiles are used for work and utility purposes. They are used for towing and handle well even in deep snow.
Warning
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Loss of control when riding snowmobiles can easily lead to injury or even death. Many accidents involve the rider losing his grip on the handles and underestimating the power of the engine. This causes the rider to be thrown from the machine and the snowmobile crashing into trees or other objects. Turning too quickly is another common accident, causing the rider to flip the machine or crash into a tree. Riding over frozen rivers and lakes too early in the season can cause drowning if the rider falls through the ice. Avalanches are another risk facing snowmobile riders. Contact with buried logs or rocks can cause damage to the snowmobile or injuries to the rider. However, with proper education, training and equipment, most of these risks can be decreased significantly.
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Resources
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