We are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Bolens Diablo Rouge Snowmobile made in 1967 in Port Washington, Wisconsin January 13th thru the 15th. For the weekend, we are planning a variety of activities and expecting a huge number of people to come out and join us.
We will start the weekend with a trail ride on Friday afternoon. We are planning to leave from the Country Inn & Suites about 3PM and head over to Harbor Hills Recreation Center for snacks and refreshments. Tello’s will be catering in food and the cost is $10/person. After a few hours, we hop on our sleds and drive back to the hotel and finish the evening at the hotel pub.
Saturday morning finds us gathering at the beautiful Upper Lake Park near downtown Port Washington. Hosted by the Snowrunner’s Snowmobile Club, the day’s events go on from 9AM till 3PM and include:
– A display of all the Hus Ski and Diablo models of snowmobiles plus a few unique models of these units along with some Spring Snowmobiles
– Snowdog Snowmobiles will be showing their product new to North America and have a place for you to try their new design
– Port Yamaha plans a to be on hand with something special in mind
– There will be areas around the park and city to drive your Hus Ski and Diablo
– A group picture at 1PM. We will be making history with this many Hus Skis and Diablos in one place and you with your Hus Ski and/or Diablo sure want to be a part of that!
– A trail ride at 2PM. Just think of how many Hus Skis and Diablos could be driving around Port!
– Food and refreshments and more
Saturday evening starts with a social hour from 5 to 6 and ends with another social hour (or two). In the Banquet Hall will be various exhibits including:
– A fully restored 1967 Diablo 500 that is the Diablo Rouge we are celebrating this weekend
– A Prototype Diablo that was experimented with as a follow-up model to the 502/503 – this is a complete prototype and is the only complete one in the world to our knowledge
– A Snowdog Snowmobile along with representatives from Snowdog and Power Equipment Company
– We should fit a Hus Ski in there too somewhere!
– The Historical Society and Bolens Employees will be putting a display together with memorabilia from the Bolens Company
– Everyone who has cool Hus Ski and Diablo Rouge memorabilia should bring it to and we will build a display with these items
A fantastic dinner provided by Saz’s Catering featuring a full buffet of Chef Carved New York Strip Loin of Beef and Baked Herb Chicken with all the fixings along with cake. A cash bar will be serving beverages throughout the evening. After the dinner, a great lineup of presenters along with videos and recognition mixed into the evening:
- Charlie Vallier – Antique & Vintage Snowmobiles
Charlie and Marilyn Vallier are the curators of the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway, Michigan. Charlie Vallier began riding snowmobiles in 1966 when his dad bought a used HusSki and he has been deeply involved in collecting since then. After he returned from the Service in 1971, he talked his dad into becoming a Viking dealer. He retired from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as a Wildland Fire Fighter 5 years ago and is now spending his time at the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum and loving every minute of it!
- Barrie Graham – Hus Ski – The Early Years
Barrie is from Arundel, Quebec and has been connected to the Hus Ski Snowmobiles it seems his entire life. Through many years of listening, asking and research, he has become a world recognized expert in how Hus Ski began and their plan for the future. Barrie has been published multiple times in various magazines and will share his thoughts on the early years of Hus Ski.
- Ken Mueller – Hus Ski – The Later Years
The first snowmobile Ken ever rode was in 1964/65 and it was a Hus-ski 200A owned by Rapids Distributing of Plover, WI. They were one of the first USA distributors of Hus-ski snowmobiles and Ken’s father was the Service Manager for the products they distributed including Hus-ski snowmobiles. Ken is a Sr. Systems Architect/Computer Programmer for Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company of Sheboygan, WI. Ken has restored a number of unique sleds and has several Hus Ski’s in local museums.
- Scott Mueller – The Hus Ski 600
Scott too like his cousin Ken grew up with wrenching in his blood. Scott is a rural mail carrier for the US Postal Service and was a past director and Secretary/Treasurer for the ASCOA. In the early ’90’s, Scott interviewed Ken’s father Paul Sr about the 600 and it’s problems, and how he tried to modify the single track machine to be more manageable before the decision to recall and convert to twin tracks. That article was published in the ASCOA newsletter.
- Guest Speaker to be determined to talk Bolens
We have been in contact with a number of Bolens Employees and will be looking for one or two of them to share their experiences about Bolens.
- Randy Heinle – Passionate Owners
Randy is from Richfield, Ohio and when not doctoring in the Emergency Room, in his practice or on the ski hill, he is passionate about old wooden boats, Diablo Snowmobiles and life.
- Bruce Schoblaska – Bolens Diablo Rouge
Bruce is a Senior Project Engineer at Expera Specialty Solutions. His family was introduced to the Diablo when his Uncle Dale (who worked at Bolens) called Bruce’s dad and said “Ron, get your ass down to Port. You’re buying a Diablo!”. He has loved Diablos since and in the last 10 years, has devoted much of his spare time to support the world with technical knowledge, the Go Go Diablo website and parts needed to put many Hus Skis and Diablos back on the trail and is the host of this weekends events.
Many generous Sponsors have provided funding to help keep the cost of this event reasonable. In addition, there are many door prizes for those attending the banquet including:
– For those presenting Hus Ski or Diablo Restoration on the forum at gogodiablo.com and attending the banquet, Barrie Graham will giving a pair of skis (or the cash value) to one lucky restorer. Click here to see that post.
– We have some very impressive 5′ x 5′ banners made up with the 50th Anniversary logo on them and we will give two of them away.
– An NOS (New Old Stock) Bolens Snowblower cab kit which should really excite someone who collects 70’s Bolens Snowblowers.
– Larger prizes that include Stihl Power Equipment, a custom Diablo Cover Set and a custom fire ring made especially for the occasion.
– Many smaller prizes that include gift certificates, hats, caps, apparel, Diablo and Hus Ski Parts, Patches, Maple Syrup and other cools things.
We expect many to go home with a prize from the banquet. Costs for the banquet is is $35/person. RSVP is required and room is limited. Fees for the banquet and other items can be sent to Bruce Schoblaska.
On Sunday Morning, the hotel will be serving their Continental Breakfast and the banquet hall will be open from 8:30 till 11 for more gathering and enjoying the camaraderie of your new friends. Grab your breakfast and join us in the banquet hall for more videos and conversation.
We expect coverage of this “Once in a Lifetime” Event by a number of TV Stations and other Snowmobile Publications. If you have a Hus Ski or Diablo or even ever thought of how cool these sleds are, Port is the place to be come mid-January. Contact Bruce at bruce@gogodiablo.com or check out the Newsletters for more details.