3RD ANNUAL BIG EAST CLASSIC VINTAGE SNOWMOBILE SHOW RESULTS

BY JOHN T . PRUSAK

Like many dedicated sledheads , Rich Sgroi of Chittenango , New York , may not remember what he had for lunch yesterday . But he can vividly recall his father bringing home a 1969 Ski-Doo when he was a child .

“ My father would fix them up and then I ’ d ride them until they broke ,” Sgroi said , recalling his riding memories that started when he was age 8 on that and other Ski-Doos .

Sgroi also clearly remembers standing trackside at historic snowmobile race events in Booneville and Tupper Lake , New York , in the mid-1970s , cheering on the yellow race sleds during a highly competitive era .

Flash forward 50 years from his first ride . That same Rich Sgroi is now 58 , but his love of those early snowmobiles – particularly Ski-Doos and Moto-Skis – is as strong as ever . It ’ s reflected in his collection of more than 50 vintage sleds in various states of restoration and repair .

Beyond that , though , his specific fascination with the 1976 Ski-Doo Sno Pro sleds he witnessed on the racetrack is particularly compelling . A vintage picture of three of 340cc Free Air Ski-Doo race sleds has long hung on his garage wall , and a similar poster can be found in his trailer .

Over the last two years , Sgroi turned

Two years of work and fabrication led to this award-winning sled .

that passion into a project . The resulting sled was unveiled at the Big East Classic vintage snowmobile event on October 5 .

By the day ’ s end , his re-creation and the story behind it earned him Best In Show honors at the high-profile vintage event , held annually in conjunction with the Big East Powersports Show in Syracuse , New York .

Big East Classic

Initiated in 2021 , the Big East Classic is hosted , organized and run by Ron Fesko and his friends in the MSR Vintage group . Each year the show includes an interesting mix of returning machines , new custom-builds and various other machines from a long-past colorful era of snowmobiling .

This fall ’ s Classic was no different . Sleds on display on the sunny fall day covered a 40-year span ( 1962-2002 ), with everything from rear-engine relics to exotic drag sleds , better-thannew restorations to “ as-is ” hot rods , and much more .

Among the highlights this year were a variety of John Deere snowmobiles ( particularly Liquifires ) that aren ’ t usually seen outside of the Upper Midwest , a Moto-Kometic MK-II , a plethora of Yamaha sleds ( the featured brand that had its own class ), a rarely seen 1966 Sno-Ro

Antique 1966 & Older , Restored : 1 . Ken Crozier ( 1962 Polaris ); 2 . Jeff Mower ( 1966 Larson ); 3 . Ed Stabb ( 1966 Sno Ro ). Antique 1966 & Older , Unrestored : 1 . Ed Stabb ( 1964 Scorpion ). Vintage 1967-1973 , Restored : 1 . Jim Blunden ( 1973 Chaparral ); 2 . Glen Ford ( 1973 Moto-Ski ); 3 . Mark Money ( 1971 Arctic Cat ). Vintage 1967-1973 , Unrestored : 1 . Roger Rice ( 1971 Arctic Cat ); 2 . Ray & Cheryl Bean ( 1973 Arctic Cat ); 3 . Aaron Zeoli ( 1967 Moto-Ski ). Vintage 1974-1985 , Restored : 1 . Chuck Gleason ( 1981 John Deere ); 2 . Jim Blunden ( 1974 Chaparral ); 3 . John Schavemaker ( 1984 John Deere ). Vintage 1974-1985 , Unrestored : 1 . Skip Albanese ( 1978 Yamaha ); 2 . Rich Sgroi ( 1976 Ski-Doo ); 3 . Gus Vivenzio ( 1982 Ski-Doo ). All Free Air Trail Sleds , Restored : 1 . Ken Crozier ( 1971 Polaris ); 2 . Glen Ford ( 1973 Moto-Ski ); 3 . Zeke Brown ( 1975 Arctic Cat ). Factory Built Race Sleds , Restored : 1 . Zeke Brown ( 1971 Arctic Cat ). Factory Built Race Sleds , Unrestored : 1 . Joe Clark ( 1991 Ski-Doo ); 2 . Mark Money ( 1970 Arctic Cat ); 3 . Ken Crozier ( 1970 Polaris ). Combo With Cutter : 1 . Guz Vivenzio ( 1978 Arctic Cat ). Custom Sleds : 1 . Rich Sgroi ( 1976 Ski-Doo ); 2 . Wayne Palmatier ( 1990 Yamaha ); 3 . Joe Clark ( 1974 Ski-Doo ). Classic 1986-2000 : 1 . Kevin Coombs ( 2000 Ski-Doo ); 2 . Emil Ahmed ( 1995 Yamaha ); 3 . Wayne Palmatier ( 1993 Yamaha ). Featured Sled : 1 . Wayne Palmatier ( Yamaha Exciter SS ); 2 . Wayne Palmatier ( Yamaha Phazer SX ); 3 . Skip Albanese ( Yamaha SS 433 ) Oldest Sled : 1 . Ken Crozier ( 1962 Polaris Sno-Traveler ) Best Display : 1 . Chuck Gleason ( multiple John Deere ) Best Of Show : 1 . Rich Sgroi ( 1976 Ski-Doo Sno Pro Clone )

34 / JANUARY 2025 / SNOWGOER . COM