There may not have been any snow in Marienville for Winterfest Saturday but there were snowmobiles, very special snowmobiles.
Snowmobile collectors from around the region held a vintage snowmobile show at the Marienville Area Civic Association building. Among the classic sleds were Rupp, Evinrude, John Deere, Chaparral, and a Scorpion.
Mark Swartzlander of Karns City and Jerry Decker of Kittanning started the show about two years ago. Between them they brought about two dozen classic sleds to Marienville for the show.
He now owns “about 60” vintage snowmobiles.
“My oddest is a twin track, two-seater Allsport. It was only built for a couple of years. I just got it running,” he said.
Swartzlander said he finds parts for the 40-year-old sleds online.
“When we first started collecting you could buy a sled for a hundred bucks. Now they go for anywhere between $600 and $1,300 depending on the model,” he said.
“There hasn’t been a lot of snow so we go to the vintage shows and in the summer we drag race on grass,” said Swartzlander. “All you really need is a flat grassy area about 500 feet long. We went to one last year where they had a real drag race Christmas Tree starting system and another one where they just had hay bales with a flag starter.”
Decker’s Raider snowmobile has a “wheelie bar” on the back. He also has a homemade sled with an original motor, original body but with wheels from a go-kart.
Looking over the 14 sleds he brought to the show, he said, “I really love the Mercury and the Evinrude but I am also into the John Deere. I am into all of them.”
His wife, Debby, is also into the snowmobiles. She rides one of the 40-year-old Raiders.
“I’m not allowed to touch it unless I am loading it or unloading it,” he said.
“Snowmobile racing is coming back,” said Swartzlander. “Until then we will go to the shows and race on the grass.”